By Staff
LOOKING FOR ROOM Lamar's Lane Rush races up field against Heritage Academy on Friday night. Lamar lost the game 20-14. PHOTO BY PAULA MERRITT/THE MERIDIAN STAR
By Ryan Satcher / staff writer
Oct. 12, 2002
It's hard to win games when your offense turns the ball over and you allow the other team to jump out to a big lead.
The Raiders of Lamar School learned that valuable lesson at home against Heritage Academy on Friday night as they turned the ball over five times in a 20-14 loss to the visiting Patriots.
The game looked to be going in Lamar's favor on the first possession of the game. The Raiders drove the ball down to the Heritage nine after a 36-yard run by Randy Boyd Thompson and a 20-yard run by Drew Moffett. After an illegal block, the Raiders were pushed back and forced into a fourth down play. The pass was intercepted and the drive failed.
The Patriots took over the ball at their own 30-yard line and drove down the field for a touchdown. Lance Harrison capped off the 12-play drive with a 20-yard run. The kick by Wesley James was good and Heritage took a 7-0 lead.
The Raiders drove down to the Heritage 42 before throwing another interception on their next possession. After holding the Patriots, Lamar took over the ball and turned it over again. This time the Raiders fumbled the ball and Heritage took over on the Lamar 29.
The Patriots didn't take much time to put more points on the board. After the fumble, Conner Wise hit James on a 29-yard touchdown pass. The PAT was good and the Patriots led 14-0 with 11:19 left in the half.
The Raiders were able to drive to the Heritage 14-yard line once again, but another interception on fourth down stopped the Lamar drive. Lamar also was able to reach the Patriot 26 late in the half before turning the ball over on downs.
Heritage took the opening kickoff of the second half and drove down the field to expand the lead. The Patriots scored on an 11-yard touchdown pass from Wise to Dudley Swoope to give Heritage a 20-0 lead after the PAT failed.
Lamar drove to the Heritage 30-yard line before turning the ball over on downs on its next possession. Finally, late in the third quarter the Raiders got going. Joey Harrison picked off a pass to give Lamar the ball at the Heritage 45.
The Raiders drove the ball down and scored on a 20-yard run by Moffett. The PAT by Tommy Edgerton was good and the Lamar trailed 20-7 with 12 seconds to play in the third quarter.
On the kickoff, Heritage fumbled the ball and Lamar fell on it at the 25-yard line. Monroe Mayfield scored on a three-yard run eight plays later. Edgerton hit the extra point to cut the lead to 20-14 with 9:10 left to play.
The Raiders came out and stopped Heritage and took over the ball at the Patriot 44. Lamar again turned the ball over on an interception.
Lamar had one final possession in the game. The Raiders were able to drive to the Heritage 46 before a penalty pushed them back to their own 44. The Raiders turned the ball over on downs and the Patriots held on for the win.
The Patriots moved to 5-2 on the season with the win. The Raiders drop to 5-3 on the season. They will have a big division game next week when they travel to play Adams County Christian School.