By By Jeff Byrd/The Meridian Star
Oct. 17, 2001
The last time Lamar won a big game, the next week they failed to show up. Raiders Head Coach Mac Barnes hopes that his club has grown more mature since then.
The Raider boss will find out Friday when his team heads to Ridgeland to battle Madison-Ridgeland Academy in non-district action.
Lamar is coming off an impressive 42-13 rout of Copiah Academy last week. It was the team's most complete effort of the season and it has put them into a showdown for the District 3-AAA title on Nov. 3 against Manchester Academy.
Before then, the 3-4 Raiders will have two tune-up games. Madison Ridgeland is the first.
Three weeks ago, Lamar was coming off a dramatic 33-32 overtime win over Central Hinds in its district opener. The next week, the Raiders were whipped decisively by Oak Hill Academy 31-12, on homecoming, no less.
The biggest change from that time to now is that the Raiders have found an offensive identity behind quarterback Drew Moffett. Moffett had a brilliant game against Copiah totaling 316 yards in total offense.
The sophomore rushed for 182 yards and three touchdowns and then passed for another 134 off nine completions.
The move, however, was more out of necessity than anything. Lamar was without its two starting fullbacks in Cameron Coleman and Lane Rush. Coleman is back in action this week but Rush will be out another week with a neck sprain.
Dylan Anderson, Monroe Mayfield and Zack Moore all rushed for over 50 yards. Anderson now has nearly 400 yards on the season.
Madison Ridgeland is 3-3 and will be the only AAAA the Raiders will play this season.
MRA has averaged just 11 points per game. They have allowed 21.3.
Still, the Raiders will need a big effort from safeties Eric Stubbs and Daniel Harrison.
The Raiders will also hope that the offensive line led by tackle Vaughn Waters and guard Michael Tartt will respond like they did at Copiah.