By By Ryan Satcher/staff writer
September 20, 2003
MADISON The football game between Madison-Ridgeland Academy and Lamar School on Friday night was expected to be a showcase for two potent offenses, but apparently the Raider defense didn't get the memo.
Lamar pressured the MRA quarterbacks all night and stuffed the Patriots to take a huge 35-7 victory.
The Raiders controlled both sides of the ball and outgained MRA 436 yards to 178 in the game. The Patriots were only able to score a touchdown in the final minute.
Lamar jumped out to an early lead over the 3-0 Patriots. The Raiders took the opening kickoff and drove 59 yards in seven plays.
Drew Moffett hit Randy Boyd Thompson with an 18-yard touchdown pass to finish off the drive. Tommy Edgerton hit the extra point to make the score 7-0 with 9:47 left in the first quarter.
Later in the quarter, the Patriots put together a nice drive and moved down to the Lamar 21-yard line.
That's when the Raiders took the steam out of the Patriots and took the game over.
On a fourth-and-one, the Lamar defense knocked the ball loose from the running back and stopped the Patriots short on the big play.
On the Raiders' second play from scrimmage, Moffett connected with Thompson on a huge 82-yard touchdown pass. With Edgerton's kick the Raiders took a 14-0 lead and took the fight out of the Patriots.
MRA went three-and-out on its next possession and the Raiders took over near midfield.
Lamar drove down the field and scored with 4:56 left in the second quarter as Moffett found Justin Smith in the endzone to make the score 21-0.
The Raiders again forced a quick punt and then moved down the field for one more touchdown before the half.
Moffett hit Thompson on a 20-yard pass in the drive to move the ball deep into the Patriots' territory. He then hit Lane Rush on a 10-yard scoring pass just four plays later and Edgerton hit the PAT to make the score 28-0 at halftime.
Lamar continued to dominate the game in the second half. The Raiders scored their final touchdown with 11:46 left in the game.
Zeb Swain followed good blocking into the endzone from nine yards out to give the Raiders a huge lead. Edgerton hit the extra point to make the score 35-0.
The Raiders were able to get some subs in later in the fourth quarter to give some younger players experience and the Patriots scored a touchdown in the final minute.
Michael Kirschten hit Brett Zitto for a 40-yard touchdown pass with 46 seconds in the game to make the final score 35-7.
Rush led the Raiders on the ground with 90 yards on 15 carries. Daniel Bennett added 51 yards for Lamar.
Thompson finished with a huge night as he rushed for 67 yards on just four carries and also finished with 120 receiving yards on three catches.
Moffett was 12-for-17 for 201 yards through the air in the victory for the Raiders.
The win moves Lamar to 4-1 for the year and drops MRA to 3-1 for the season. The Raiders will be off next week before hosting Central Private in a division contest the following week.