By By Ryan Satcher/staff writer
November 16, 2002
Magnolia Heights may have been the No. 2 team from the north in MPSA AAA Division II, but the Chiefs were on a roll. Lamar finished the year as the south winners, but came in banged up.
The result was a 28-0 victory for the Chiefs in their semifinal showdown at Lamar's Grey Cobb Field on Friday night.
With the victory, Magnolia Heights improves to 7-4 on the season and advances to the state championship game at Mississippi College next week. The loss finishes Lamar's season with a 7-5 record.
Magnolia Heights used a power running game to grind out 283 rushing yards. David Reed led the attack with with 156 yards on 20 carries.
Meanwhile, the Magnolia Heights defense held the Raiders all night long. Lamar finished the game with only 82 total yards.
The Chiefs used a mistake by the Raiders to jump out to an early lead in the first quarter. Lamar took over the ball after a Magnolia Heights punt at its own 34-yard line. On the second play for the Raiders, the exchange from quarterback to running back was fumbled. Josh Irvin picked up the fumble and carried it in from 30 yards out to make the score 7-0 with 9:18 to play.
The Raiders were unable to move the chains on their next two possessions and Magnolia Heights took the ball late in the first quarter at its own 20-yard line.
The visitors drove the ball down the field on nine plays and with 10:24 left in the half, Levi Lance carried the ball on a one-yard touchdown run. The extra point by Irvin was good to make the score 14-0.
Magnolia Heights threatened in the last minutes of the second quarter as it moved to the Lamar 18-yard line. A fourth-down pass with 1:07 left in the half fell incomplete and the Chiefs had to settle for the 14-0 lead at the break.
The Magnolia Heights defense continued to give Lamar's offense trouble and held the Raiders on the first possession of the second half. The Chiefs then got the ball and moved for another touchdown. Reed finished off a 45-yard drive with a three-yard touchdown run. The Irvin PAT was good to extend the lead to 21-0.
After stopping the Raiders on the next possession, Magnolia Heights took over the ball at its own 32. The visitors drove down the field to stretch the lead even more. Lance carried the ball in from 25 yards out on the first play of the fourth quarter. The PAT was good to make the score 28-0.
The Raiders, who were barely able to cross midfield in the game against the strong defense, were held the rest of the game. Magnolia Heights attempted to add a field goal late, but the kick was no good and the game ended as a 28-0 victory for the visitors.
Lamar may have come up against very good competition and fell short of the championship game, but Barnes was very proud of what the team was able to accomplish this season. The Raiders finished the year with a winning season for the first time since 1988 and were able to host a playoff game this season.