By By Ryan Satcher/staff writer
September 21, 2002
Bad weather and the Patriots of Madison Ridgeland Academy spoiled Lamar School's homecoming night as the visitors came back to win 36-21 on a wet, sloppy field on Friday night.
Thunderstorms forced the homecoming festivities to move into the gym and pushed the start of the game back an hour. When the delay was over, Lamar came out to take a 21-14 halftime lead. The Patriots, however, took over the momentum of the ballgame and scored 22 unanswered points in the second half to take the victory.
Lane Rush rushed for 206 yards for the Raiders to keep Lamar in the game, but in the end the big plays by MRA put the game away.
The Raiders jumped out to an early lead after driving the ball down the field on their first possession. Lamar went 79 yards to reach the endzone. Rush finished off the drive with a 21-yard touchdown run. The PAT by Tommy Edgerton made the score 7-0 for Lamar.
The Patriots answered on their first possession of the game. Madison Ridgeland moved the ball down the field on just four plays and scored on a 35-yard touchdown pass from Wally Cummins to William Fincher. The extra point tied the game at seven.
Lamar put together a nice drive on its next possession and regained the lead. The Raiders again went 79 yards for the touchdown. Rush carried the ball in from 10 yards out. The PAT by Edgerton made the score 14-7 with 3:21 left in the first quarter.
The Raiders also finished off the half with a nice drive for a touchdown. Lamar scored on a three-yard run by Monroe Mayfield with 43 seconds left in the half to take a 21-7 lead into half.
The second half, however, was a totally different story. The Patriots scored on their opening possession and took over the momentum. MRA converted a third-and-24 play when Cummins for Phillip Harrison on a 57-yard pass. The Patriots also converted a third-and-17 when Cummins found Fincher open in the endzone for a 29-yard touchdown pass to cut the lead to 21-14.
The Raiders made a couple of fine defensive stops after MRA blocked a punt, but couldn't drive the ball down the field. MRA finally struck again with 2:41 left in the third quarter. On a first-and-25 play, Cummins hit Jim Owen with a screen pass and 51 yards later Owens found the endzone. The Patriots did a quick pitch to Ben Bush after lining up for the extra point to pick up the two-point conversion and take a 22-21 lead.
The Patriots blocked their second punt of the game to take the ball in good field position later in the quarter.
Two plays later, Cummins found Owen on a second-and-18 play. Owen broke a couple of tackles and took the ball in for a 24-yard touchdown reception. The extra point made the score 29-21.
The Raiders drove the ball down the field and got deep into MRA territory on their next possession. The drive stalled when Lamar fumbled the football at the MRA 27-yard line.
Lamar made another good stop on defense and once again drove the ball down the field on offense. The Raiders reached the MRA 15-yard line before turning the ball over on downs.
The defense for Lamar once again held strong and forced the Patriots to punt the ball with two minutes left to play. Special teams once again hurt the Raiders as the punt was mishandled and MRA recovered the ball deep in Lamar territory. Three plays later, Jonathan Hughes carried the ball in from seven yards out to make the final score 36-21.
The loss drops Lamar to 3-2 on the season. The Raiders will host Parklane next Friday in an important district matchup.