Lamar is set to resume playoff action Friday night as it travels to Mendenhall to take on Simpson Academy in the MAIS Class AA state semifinals. While the Raiders (11-1) are looking to avenge their only loss this year, it will be a stiff task. The Cougars beat Lamar 48-21 just four weeks ago.
According to Lamar coach Mac Barnes, this week's practice has gone well despite being low-contact due to a Raider team recovering from last week's physical contest, a 54-41 win at Marshall Academy.
"We're OK and still have people sore and banged up from Friday night," said Barnes. "I think we will be OK by Friday night."
Barnes believes that having already played the Cougars this season works to Lamar's advantage and it has made it easier to prepare for them this week.
"In the first game they showed us the things we weren't that good at," noted Barnes. "We started the next day of practice working on those things. We've seen how they are going to attack us and defend us."
That method of attack comes in the form of the ground game. In the previous meeting, Simpson accrued more than 500 yards rushing. According to Barnes, the Raiders have to step up and play the rush better.
"Their two running backs are just taking turns killing teams," said Barnes. "They get behind that big offensive line and run well. Those are the guys we gotta stop."
Offensively, Barnes is relying on his skill players to do their part.
"In the last game Simpson did a good job at stuffing our wide receivers off the line with their pressure defense," added Barnes. "Hopefully everyone will step up and give a great combined effort. I think we will play much better this time."
Kickoff is set for 7p.m.
Sports
Looking for payback
Raiders hope to avenge earlier loss to Cougars
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Neel leaving champion War Eagles for Panthers
Eric Neel spent three seasons coach at East Central. The Hornets played in three state championship games.
Neel then coached the past three years at Wayne County, leading the War Eagles to three straight Class 5A fast-pitch state crowns.
And now, he doesn’t see why the same can’t occur at Quitman. After guiding Wayne County to its third straight championship Saturday, Neel resigned his position in Waynesboro on Thursday to replace Kacie Roberson at Quitman. -
Unexpected Honor
Winning a state championship, that Blake McMullen expected.
To be named the Player of the Year in Class 3A by the Mississippi Association of Coaches, that caught the Southeast Lauderdale senior off guard. -
RCA’s Lee and pair of Generals chosen for All-Star tilt
Russell Christian Academy senior Camryn Lee and Newton County Academy duo Clay Upton and Dillon Williams will wrap up their senior seasons today.
The local trio will play in the MAIS All-Star Class A game at Smith-Wills Stadium in Jackson at 2 p.m. The Class AA-AAA game will follow. -
McFarland named first-team All-American for Jones County
The honors continue to come in for the Jones County Junior College softball program.
Pitcher Ginger Lonergan and centerfielder Relanda McFarland were both named to the NJCAA Division II All-American first-team on Thursday. -
A Family Affair
Five days. Two state titles. One family.
It’d be hard to find a family that had a better week than the one Robbi and Shay Cooper just experienced. -
Roundup — Stephens receives Sekul Award
Adding to his impressive collection of coaching hardware, East Mississippi Community College head football coach Buddy Stephens was presented with the 2011 George Sekul Award during the All-American Football Foundation’s Banquet of Champions held earlier this month at the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame.
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The Drought Is Over
All Mason Irby was hoping for was to find a way on base.
The Southeast Lauderdale sophomore did that and so much more. Irby's single with two outs in the seventh inning broke a tie, lifting the Tigers to a 6-3 MHSAA Class 3A state championship win at Smith-Wills Stadium on Wednesday, and handing Southeast (32-7) its first title since 1966. -
Ramey shines again, hurls Tigers to MHSAA Class 3A crown
The bar was set pretty high.
After all, Southeast Lauderdale senior right-hander Colby Ramey needed just 65 pitches to beat Kossuth in Game 1 of the MHSAA Class 3A state championship game Thursday.
However, according to fellow senior Blake McMullen, Ramey cleared the hurdle Wednesday when he scattered eight hits on 104 pitches to finish off the Aggies in a 6-3 state championship-clinching win at Smith-Wills Stadium on Wednesday. -
Southeast wins MHSAA Class 3A Championsip
Slideshow from the MHSAA Class 3A state championship game between Southeast Lauderdale and Kossuth.
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Briarwood to host Emerald Coast Golf Tour in June
Professional golf is coming to Meridian.
The Emerald Coast Golf Tour will be holding the Meridian Pro-Am Classic at Briarwood Country Club June 26-29. - More Sports Headlines
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