By Jamie Wachter / executive sports editor
With Lamar leading by just six points heading into the second quarter of the first round of the MAIS Class AA playoffs, a pair of sophomores provided just the spark the Raiders needed.
Dusty Weisner forced a fumble on the first play of the second period on fourth down and John Clinton McElroy raced 55 yards for a touchdown as Lamar rolled past Oak Hill Academy 35-0 at Grey Cobb Field. The Raiders (10-1) will travel to Marshall Academy next Friday as the Patriots rallied for a 28-21 win against Leake Academy. Oak Hill finishes the season 3-9.
McElroy would also strike on offense, catching a two-point conversion from senior quarterback Witt Haggard following the fumble return and then hauled in a 62-yard touchdown pass.
"The big play, obviously, was Dusty Weisner causing a fumble and J.C. McElroy picking it up and that made it 14-0," Lamar coach Mac Barnes said. "I think that was big. Those two long plays kind of broke the game open right there.
"I'm pleased to be 10-1 and still playing."
Before McElroy's fumble return, the Raiders got off to a quick start, taking just two minutes to score on their initial drive. Haggard completed passes to Jamie Thompson (11 yards) and Bo Bidgood (31 yards) before finishing off the drive with a 1-yard keeper. However, after Oak Hill failed to convert on a fourth down attempt in its own territory, Lamar's offense couldn't continue rolling. Following a 22-yard pass from Haggard to Thompson, Lamar also turned the ball over on downs.
Oak Hill then put together an 11-play drive that melted nearly six minutes off the clock before Weisner forced a turnover, the first of four from the Oak Hill offense.
Following McElroy's touchdown catch, Lamar forced its second turnover when Cameron Melancon intercepted a pass at midfield — his team-leading fifth of the season — and returned it to the Oak Hill 21. Three plays later, Haggard again scored on a 1-yard run to give Lamar a 28-0 lead with 3:00 left in the half.
After Oak Hill's first punt of the night — the visiting Raiders had turned it over twice on downs — Lamar took four plays to cover 46 yards for its final touchdown. On second-and-goal from the Oak Hill 13, Haggard rifled a pass to Thompson, who held on despite a pass interference call against Oak Hill.
Thompson hauled in five passes for 86 yards in the game.
"Jamie's had two great games in a row, catching the football," Barnes said. "It's the same play. We run the same play about eight times and him and Witt are just have just hooked up on it."
Haggard, who entered having completed more than 66 percent of his passes, finished 14-of-22 passing for 284 yards and two touchdowns, upping his season totals to 2,932 yards and 39 touchdowns.
