Lamar slips by Heritage
By By Ryan Satcher / staff writer
Aug. 28, 2004
COLUMBUS The Lamar defense came up with play after play on Friday night to propel the Raiders to a 30-20 victory over homestanding Heritage Academy.
The defense bailed out the Raiders in the third quarter as Lamar turned the ball over four times but gave up only one offensive touchdown.
"I thought our defense played really well tonight," said Lamar coach Mac Barnes. "There are obviously areas we have to get better on. We had a chance to put them away early and didn't do it and we started making mistake after mistake. We were pretty fortunate to get out with a win."
Lamar, the defending MPSA AAA-Division II state champions, jumped on the Patriots early as the Raiders kicked the opening kickoff short and recovered the ball to take great field position.
The Raiders scored after a 10-play, 40-yard drive when sophomore offensive lineman Parker Wright fell on a fumble in the end zone. Matt Owen hit the extra point to make the score 7-0.
Heritage scored on its first possession of the game with a little trickery.
John Zimmerman took a pitch and found John Michael Rollins on a 24-yard halfback pass to put the Patriots on the board. The extra point went wide and Lamar held a 7-6 lead.
The Raiders took advantage of a Heritage mistake later in the first quarter, when a snap went over the Patriot punter's head and out of the end zone for a safety to make the score 9-6.
Lamar took the free kick after the safety and drove down the field to pick up another touchdown.
Scott Owen scored on a nine-yard run with 10:04 left in the half and Matt Owen hit the PAT to make the score 16-6.
Heritage fumbled the ensuing kickoff and Lamar was able to add to its lead. After a pair of penalties, Scott Owen found sophomore Zirk Ray with an 18-yard pass to help the Raiders take a 23-6.
Lamar threatened to score again before the half ended but a great interception by Rollins kept Heritage within 17 points at the break.
The third quarter turned out to be a long one for the visiting Raiders. Lamar made an errant pitch on an option play on its third play of the second half and Tyler James picked it up and took it 33 yards into the end zone to make the score 23-13 with 10:31 left in the third.
After another interception by Rollins on Lamar's next possession, Heritage found the end zone again as Graham Wise scored on a quarterback sneak to make the score 23-20.
Lamar muffed a pair of punts later in the quarter but Heritage was unable to capitalize as the Patriots missed a 40-yard field goal and struggled to move the ball against the Raider defense.
Lamar finally took back the momentum in the fourth quarter.
On a fourth-and-inches play at the Heritage 46-yard line, Scott Owen took the snap in the shotgun formation and rounded the outside. He broke past the Patriots defense and went the distance to give Lamar a 30-20 lead with 8:05 left to play.
Nathan Harrison picked off a pass for the Raiders inside the Lamar 10-yard line later in the fourth quarter and Lamar was able to secure the 30-20 win with solid defense.
Lamar moves to 1-0 with the victory and will be back in action at home on Friday when it takes on Jackson Prep in a MPSA Class AAA battle.
Heritage drops to 0-2 with the loss.
