By Robby Atkinson / special to the star
The Lamar School Raiders continued their winning ways in a big fashion Friday by taking an impressive 42-14 win over Wayne Academy in front of a big crowd at Grey Cobb Field on the Lamar School campus.
The Raiders scored 28 unanswered points in the second quarter and never looked back in taking the win.
“This was a great win for us heading into a big game next week,” Lamar head coach Mac Barnes said. “We beat a great team tonight.”
Lamar (7-1) will look to clinch a divisional championship next week on the road against Hillcrest Christian. The Raiders can also clinch a first-round home playoff game with a win next week in south Jackson.
The fifth-ranked Raiders cracked the scoreboard first Friday with 7:15 left in the second quarter thanks to a 3-yard touchdown run by Tyler Walker. Logan Rush added the extra point to give Lamar a 7-0 lead.
The score was set up by a blocked punt by senior Jon McCormick earlier and the Raiders scored five plays later.
Lamar continued to pour on the offense as junior quarterback Andrew Watkins connected with John L. McRae on a 41-yard touchdown pass to make the score 14-0.
Lamar used the air attack on its next possession as Watkins found McRae on a 59-yard pass for another touchdown to make the score 21-0 after a successful extra point by Rush with 2:00 left in the second.
The Raiders ended their scoring run in the second quarter as Watkins found Pate Powell in the end zone for a 29-yard touchdown to make the score 28-0 at halftime.
Wayne Academy (6-2) opened the second half by scoring a touchdown to cut the Lamar lead to 28-8 with 6:49 left in the third quarter. Dexter Tate connected with Justin Garner on a 33-yard pass to give the Jaguars a score and Tate added the two-point conversion moments later for the Jags.
Lamar answered the Wayne touchdown with 45 seconds left in the third quarter as Watkins collected his fourth touchdown pass of the game — as Zirk Ray was on the receiving end of a 20-yard scoring toss to extend the Raider lead to 35-8.
The final touchdown for the Raiders came with 6:00 left in the fourth as Chris Williams scored on a 4-yard run.
Wayne added its final score moments later on a 40-yard pass from Tate to Dustin Davis.
McRae led the offense for the Raiders with seven catches for 203 yards and two touchdowns and Watkins finished with 288 yards passing and four TDs. Williams finished with 17 carries for 134 yards to lead the rushing attack.
McCormick led the defense for Lamar with nine tackles and a blocked punt. Taylor Allen, Derek Denney, and Steven Stewart all added eight tackles.
