By By Austin Bishop/The Meridian Star
October 13, 2001
GALLMAN Lamar School exploded for 21 third quarter points to take a 42-13 win over homestanding Copiah Academy in MPSA Division 3-A football action Friday night.
The win moves Lamar to 3-4 overall, but more importantly to 2-0 in league play.
Up in the air
The playoff picture, however, is still much in question. Central Hinds defeated Manchester 28-14 Friday night to muddy the waters. Earlier this year, the Cougars lost to Lamar by one point in overtime. If Central Hinds beats Copiah on Nov. 2, and Manchester defeats Lamar on the same night, those three teams will be tied for first place, and it would come down to a point system. It would mean that Manchester would have to beat Lamar by eight points to eliminate the Raiders from the playoffs.
Another reason for Barnes to be excited is the play of sophomore quarterback Drew Moffett. The 5-8, 162-pounder rushed for 176 yards on 16 carries, passed for 130 yards, and scored on touchdowns runs of 20, 52 and 62 yards.
Copiah scored first on a 12-yard run by Patrick Williams. The extra point by Thomas Garland to make it 7-0 with 4:45 to go in the first quarter.
On Lamar's next possession, the Raiders put together a nine-play, 72 yards drive with Monroe Mayfield scoring on a two-yard run with 1:41 to go in the first quarter. Heath Rush tied the game with the extra point.
Lamar took the lead on its next possession when Dylan Anderson scored on a five-run early in the second quarter the kick was blocked. The touchdown was set up on a nice 41-yard pass play from Moffett to Zack Moore.
Copiah responded with a 10-play, 80-yard to tie the game on a 15-yard pass play from Garland to Christopher Hobkirk with 7:59 left in the half. Mayfield blocked the extra point and the score was knotted at 13-all.
Raiders bounce back
Lamar responded on its next possession, moving 61 yards on 10 plays to score on Moffett's 20-yard run. Moffett tacked on the two-point conversion to make it 21-13 with 3:57 left in the first half.
Lamar broke it open in the third quarter, beginning with a 52-yard run by Moffett with 9:45 to go. The kick by Rush made it 28-13.
Lamar then put together a 14-play, 92-yard drive to score on a 14-yard run by Mayfield. The kick by Rush made it 35-13 midway in the third quarter.
The last touchdown came on a 62-yard run by Moffett with 37 seconds left in the third quarter. The kick by Rush was good. The touchdown was set up by a touchdown by Daniel Harrison.
Lamar picked up 22 first downs in the game and 477 yards of total offense with 347 coming on the ground. Mayfield rushed for 60 yards, Moore 55, and Anderson 46, while Moore had five receptions for 86 yards.
Lamar pays a visit to Class 4-A Madison-Ridgeland Academy next Friday night.