MERIDIAN —
Jackson Academy extended its state-long winning streak Friday night at Grey Cobb Field.
But the visiting Raiders got a battle for most of four quarters from Lamar before pulling away for a 42-18 win.
"I won't say this was our best game," Lamar coach Mac Barnes said. "But if we play like we did tonight the rest of the year, we'll have a real shot at playing for a state championship.
"But obviously injuries and mistakes, we've got things we need to correct. And we'll work on those."
Lamar, which fell to 4-1 and denied a 5-0 start for the first time since 2009, had a chance to make things interesting midway through the fourth as it was driving deep in JA territory. However on a third-and-12 from the JA 24, Barrett Dudley's 20-yard strike to Andy Shine turned into a disaster for Lamar as JA's Wyatt Powell ripped the ball out of Shine's hands at the 4 with 5:10 left.
Ninety seconds later, the game was over as JA finished off a five-play, 98-yard drive on an 18-yard touchdown from Nick Guy. It was the first rushing score for Guy, who churned out 204 yards on 21 caries.
Guy's score was the final of JA's 14-point finish as Lamar had pulled within 28-18 in the early part of the fourth quarter when Corey Skinner carried half the JA defense into the end zone with him from 5 yards out on a fourth-and-1. Following a false start on the extra point, Lamar went for the two-point conversion and Dudley hit Chase Davis to make it a 10-point game.
However, JA had the answer as it did most of the night. The three-time defending MAIS Class AAA, Division 1 state champions pushed back ahead when Duncan Maxwell scored his third touchdown from 3 yards out with 7:54 remaining. Maxwell had 78 yards on eight carries as JA racked up 278 yards rushing on 47 attempts.
Following Maxwell's score, though, Lamar still had life. After struggling to run the ball the entire game, the host Raiders finally found open holes. Scrambling on the drive's first play, Dudley scampered for 34 yards and Skinner then followed with a 13-yard run. Skinner would pick up eight more yards on two straight carries before Dudley converted a fourth-and-2 with a three-yard run. The Raiders finished with 50 yards rushing on 30 carries. Three plays later, though, the Raiders turned it over on the pass from Dudley to Shine.
JA, which has now won 25 straight games and improved to 5-0, jumped on Lamar early. Following a three-and-out on its first possession, JA quickly struck for back-to-back scores. Guy put JA on top with 7:39 left in the first when he hauled in a 16-yard touchdown pass from Colin Welsh as he was all alone on a wheel route down the left sideline. Three minutes later, Maxwell scored from 12 yards out and JA led 14-0.
Lamar, though, answered back in the second quarter. After JA failed to convert on a fake punt and turned it over on its own 15, Lamar had to settle for a field goal which Danny Weisner nailed from 31 yards out. Then with less than two minutes remaining in the half, the Raiders' offense finally found a rhythym. Held to just 24 yards prior to that drive, Lamar moved 68 yards in 1:49 to pull within 14-10.
After two straight incompletions to begin the drive dropped Dudley to just 1 of 11 passing, the senior quarterback connected on 5 of 7 the rest of the drive as he marched Lamar downfield. That streak began when he found Davis for 13 yards on third-and-10. Another first-down throw to Davis was followed by a 14-yard strike to Shine and then on third-and-10 from the JA 30, Dudley found Burns Mayfield for 21 yards. Then with 13 seconds before the break, Dudley and Davis connected on a9-yard score. Dudley finished the game 11 of 32 passing for 168 yards and the touchdown.
JA, though, took control again in the third as Maxwell returned a punt 60 yards for a score and then scored on a 24-yard run.
"That kick return in the third quarter really was tough and our guys were just worn out," Barnes said. "I was proud we didn't quit."
Sports
Related Photos
-
Lamar School's Corey Skinner breaks through a hole in the Jackson Academy defense as he pushes for yardage Friday night. Paula Merritt
-
Lamar School's Lee Martin tries to evade a Jackson Academy defender on a reverse play Friday night. Paula Merritt
-
Lamar School's Andy Shine hauls in a pass reception against Jackson Academy Friday night. Paula Merritt
Discussion
Jackson Academy pulls away from Lamar late
- Sports
-
-
Not done yet
After being shutout less than 24 hours earlier, the Newton County Cougars used a 10-inning affair to force a Game 3 in the Class 4A championship series, topping Lewisburg, 2-1, in Game 2 at Trustmark Park.
-
Hollins focused on Spurs, not his contract
Lionel Hollins has been more successful than any Grizzlies coach and will be a free agent after June 30.
He has the Grizzlies in the Western Conference finals for the first time and has won more games with this team than any other coach. -
Slive focused on future after big changes
Mike Slive sprawls in a comfy arm chair, propping his feet on a coffee table between one massive tome on Winston Churchill and an even thicker "Encyclopedia of Southern Culture."
He's relaxed and feeling awfully good about the state of the Southeastern Conference.
It's a rare moment of calm for the SEC's cerebral commissioner, but he can afford it since his "A pile" of things to do has gotten considerably slimmer over the past two years. -
’Bama bounces Ole Miss from SEC Tourney
For the second day in a row, the Rebels went into extra-innings but were unable to emerge with the victory as No. 21 Ole Miss (37-22) fell to Alabama (34-25) 7-5 in 10 innings at the SEC Tournament on Thursday.
With the loss, the Rebels were eliminated from the SEC Tournament and will now await NCAA Tournament selection announcements at 11 a.m. on Monday. The selection of the NCAA Tournament field will be televised by ESPNU.
Tanner Bailey (4-2) suffered the loss for the Rebels, allowing two runs on one hit with two walks in 2.1 innings of work. -
Roy shows big-league talent in win
Every youth leaguer dreams of being a Major League Baseball player. In Tuesday's Cardinals-Mets game, 8-year-old Trace Roy swung the bat and flashed some leather that looked like a glimpse into the future.
-
Cougars fall in Game 1
A sixth inning rally by Lewisburg handed the Newton County Cougars their first lost of the postseason, 2-0, in Game 1 of the Class 4A baseball championship at Trustmark Park.
-
Bulldogs win again, beat S. Carolina in SEC Tournament
Demarcus Henderson and Wes Rea both had RBI singles in the ninth inning to lift Mississippi State to a 5-3 win over South Carolina Wednesday night in the second round of the Southeastern Conference tournament.
The Bulldogs (42-16) loaded the bases with one out before Henderson and Rea drove in runs on consecutive at-bats for the second time in the game.
Mississippi State had beaten Missouri 2-1 in 17 innings Tuesday night, matching the longest game in SEC tournament history.
Reliever Myles Gentry (4-0) limited the Gamecocks (39-17) to a one-out single in the bottom of the ninth.
Gentry pitched 5-2/3 scoreless innings, allowing three hits while striking out eight.
Rea was 3 for 4 while Henderson drove in three runs.
Mississippi State led 3-0 before South Carolina tied it up in the fourth.
Max Schrock drew a bases loaded walk and Brison Celek followed with a two-run single. -
Hogs top Ole Miss in SEC Tournament
For the second time this season the Rebels played an extra-inning affair with the Razorbacks, but with a different outcome as No. 21 Ole Miss (37-21) fell to No. 15 Arkansas (36-19) 2-1 in 10 innings on Wednesday.
-
Fundamentals leading Newton County to Jackson
In 2006, Newton County baseball won the 3A state title. Since then, they've moved up a class but haven't had much luck – until now.
-
Roy takes over as football head coach at Clarkdale
After nine years serving as an assistant on the Clarkdale football coaching staff, Wes Roy proudly considers himself a Bulldog. The coach has not only grown to love the team and its players, but also the Clarkdale community itself.
- More Sports Headlines
-
Sheriff: No Sign Killing of 2 Kids Was Planned
Obama Defends Drone Strikes, With Limits
Raw: Jurors Deadlock on Jodi Arias Penalty
Boy Scouts Decision "First Step" Say Activists
Raw: Utah Teen Arrested in Death of His Brothers
Closer Look at Okla. School Where Children Died
Two Suspects in Murder Known to London Police
Boy Scouts Mom Supports Gay Inclusiveness
"Be Ready": NOAA Warns of Busy Hurricane Season
SeaWorld: Penguins Are Coolest Thing in Florida
Obama Renews Call to Close Gitmo
Obama Offers Drone Strike Defense
Raw: Heckler Interrupts Obama on Guantanamo
A Slice of Apple History Up for Grabs
