Quick Facts

Head coach: Mac Barnes (18th year, 135-77) 

2017 record: 12-3, 3-0

2017 finish: Beat Simpson Academy 33-32 in overtime in the MAIS AAAA Division II championship 

League: MAIS AAAA, Divison II

Overview

With back-to-back state championships in tow, Lamar School enters the 2018 season as the class of MAIS AAAA, Division II. Although a number of key players from last year’s 12-win team have since graduated, a bevy of returning talent means Lamar School isn’t thinking about relinquishing the league crown this year.

Senior quarterback Joseph Hutchinson returns and will headline the Raiders’ offense. Lamar School suffered a blow in early August when defensive leader Miles Axtell was lost for the season with a knee injury.

“We lost a lot of good players up front, and we lost their leader on defense in Miles Axtel for the season to a knee injury,” Barnes said. “We return three of our four guys in the secondary. We only had two starters return really on our front seven, and (Miles) went down, so stopping the run, that’s going to be our main priority — those inside seven guys.”

Barnes said another priority will be developing the Raiders’ wide receiving corps and running back unit. 2017 Premier Preps of East Mississippi selections Parker Neal (wide receiver) and running back JT McClelland will be missed, but Barnes and the Raiders’ coaching staff expect suitable replacements to emerge.

“We lost four All-State players,” Barnes said. “I think we only have four touchdowns from last year (that) were scored by guys who are seniors. Our skill people, they’re going to have to step up. I like where we are on that, but we’ll see what happens on Friday night.”

Last year, Lamar School dealt with a spate of injuries in August and September but was able to withstand them and recover in time for district play. With the early loss of Axtell, Barnes said staying away from the injury bug is an objective he hopes his team can manage.

“If we stay healthy, we’re pretty solid,” Barnes said. “We’re going to start 22 different people Friday night, and we have some young guys who haven’t played very much — some sophomores and juniors, and we need them to grow up and play the way that we think they can.”

Key Players

•Joseph Hutchinson, senior, QB — “He’s been here for two years, and I think he has a really good understand of what he needs to do,” Barnes said of Hutchinson. “Obviously, he’s a key guy on our team.”

•Tim Seymour, junior, OL/DL; Evan Reed, senior, OL/DL — “They’re offensive linemen for us, but they’re the guys who really go in on defense,” Barnes said. “If we get in trouble, they’re going both ways. That’s the tough part about it right now, is how hot it is, but as the season goes on… Tim started both ways last year in the championship game. Those two guys we’re really counting on on both sides of the ball on the line of scrimmage.