The Lamar Tigers will be playing for their sixth consecutive state title after rolling by Brentwood 62-19 in the state semifinals.
Lamar started fast and never looked back scoring four touchdowns on their first six offensive plays. The Tigers had no trouble finding holes to run through with long touchdown runs on all four of those touchdowns.
Luke Hardman scored the first touchdown from 39 yards out, Matt Whyman scored the second and fourth touchdowns from 45 yards and 58 yards out. Stuart McKarus carried it 44 yards for the third touchdown to start the game.
“Not many linemen get recognition, but without them we wouldn’t be able to run. Every game we praise them, but not many people notice what they do for our team. They just make a hole and we find it,” Hardman said.
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For the game, Lamar had 34 carries for 455 yards. All of this was with a first-time starting center in Cameron Augusta.
“His first time snapping a ball was this week. He came in and played really well for us. All of our guys rallied around him,” head coach Scott Bailey said.
Lamar’s quick-strike offense was a bit of a double-edged sword as the defense didn’t get much of a break.
“With our offense getting such a fast start today it did two things. One, it energized our team, but it also put our defense on the field a lot,” Bailey said. “We are over on the sideline, and Brentwood is making some plays. I am kind of harping on some guys that look like they are dogging maybe a little bit and Kendall Morrow turns around and says ‘Coach, we have been on the field all day. You are scoring so fast we are on the field all day.’ It kind of dawned on you that yeah they are out there a lot.”
Brentwood was able to muster almost 300 yards of total offense in the game, but the Tigers bested them with 500 yards of total offense.
Whyman led the Tigers on offense with 11 carries for 205 yards and four touchdowns. Hardman had seven carries for 115 yards and two touchdowns.
McKarus had 10 carries for 90 yards and one touchdown. He also completed one pass to Anthony Wilkerson for a 45-yard touchdown. It was Lamar’s lone completion in the game.
The Tigers will now face Trinity Catholic for the Class 2 State Title. Catholic, who is also unbeaten, took down Lawson 45-29 in the semifinals.
Lamar will get the chance for its sixth consecutive state title a little closer to home in Springfield at Plaster Stadium.
“I just think it is going to be better because we are closer to home with more fans coming,” Hardman said. “I think it is going to be a great atmosphere.”
Whyman echoed Hardman’s sentiment.
“It will definitely be easier for everyone to travel. I think the atmosphere will be a lot better because more fans will be there. I am looking forward to it,” Whyman said.
For Bailey, there is even another perk to the game closer to home.
“It means way less time on a bus with high school kids and that is a real good thing,” Bailey said.
Lamar faces Trinity Catholic for the Class 2 State Title at 3 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 25 in Springfield at Plaster Stadium.
