By Jamie Wachter / executive sports editor
It all begins with Witt Haggard.
Lamar enters today’s MAIS Class AA state championship game, which begins at 5 p.m. at Millsaps College, against undefeated Brookhaven Academy averaging an MAIS-best 41.5 points per game.
The Raiders’ offensive success starts with their senior signal-caller.
“Our offense is built around our quarterback being able to run and throw and get the ball in the right places, and he's had an outstanding year doing that,” Lamar coach Mac Barnes said.
Considering his importance and the prolific numbers posted by Lamar, it comes as no surprise that Haggard is also enjoying a gaudy season. In leading Lamar to its third championship game appearance in four seasons and fourth in seven years, Haggard has completed 205 of his 311 passes for 3,528 yards and 48 touchdowns. He has been intercepted only three times. The senior has also rushed for a team-high 877 yards and 14
touchdowns on 140 carries.
“It's awesome,” Haggard said. "It never gets boring. You're always doing something, running or throwing it. It doesn't get old."
Haggard, though, is not alone in powering the Raiders’ high-octane attack. At his disposal are senior weapons Bo Bidgood and Jamie Thompson and underclassmen Charlie Nosco (junior), Michael Marcello (sophomore) and John Clinton McElroy (sophomore).
“We've had a lot of new players step in on offense,” Barnes said. "Those guys have stepped in and made the offense a complete offense."
That many weapons has helped the Raiders’ offense continue rolling as the season has progressed. Lamar lost eight offensive starters off last year’s team and during the early portion of the season, the Raiders relied heavily on Bidgood, one of the few proven commodities. He didn’t disappoint, hauling in a team-high 91 passes for 1,697 yards and 20 touchdowns. Bidgood has also rushed for 190 yards and three scores.
“It's good, you're going fast and put a lot of points on the board,” Bidgood said.
Still, Bidgood hasn’t been alone in providing big plays for the Raiders. Thompson has hauled in 52 passes for 793 yards and 12 touchdowns. Marcello has rushed for 660 yards and five touchdowns, while adding 316 yards and eight TDs through the air. McElroy has 459 yards and four scores receiving and an additional 203 yards and three touchdowns rushing. Nosco, who didn't play as a sophomore, has hauled in 18 passes, including four TDs, for 250 yards from his tight end position.
“Well, there's three or four really good receivers here that catch the ball really well,” Haggard said. "We've also been running it pretty well. Last game we rushed for over 200 yards, which people don't expect out of us."
Added Barnes: “This was their first year playing high school football, and line-wise, all five of those guys are starting for the first time. So, that really says a lot for those guys to come in and play at the level they've played at.”
