By Staff

2019 Fall Preview: Lamar Football

By Jordan Burton (For OzarksSportsZone.com)

There will be a different feeling around Lamar Football entering the 2019 season. For the first time in nearly a decade, the Tigers won’t enter the season as defending Class 2 state champions.

In Scott Bailey’s 14th season at the helm of his alma mater, Lamar returns 26 letter-winners but must replace 14 starters from last year’s 12-2 Final Four team.

With so many new faces and inexperience on the field, Bailey knows it’ll take some time to get first-year starters acclimated to Friday Night Lights.

“This season will provide more opportunities for playing time for our younger players than any time in recent memory,” said Bailey. “It is important that everyone understands there will be a learning curve for those younger less experienced players as they grow into their new roles as varsity level players and close that gap between their current performance and their potential.

“Those returning starters will be counted on to provide positive influence and our 26 returning lettermen will be counted on to fill the open starting positions, and more importantly to build depth for our program.”

Among the returning starters are seniors J.D. Bishop and Donte Stahl. Bishop is entering his third season as a defensive starter. He could also see a bigger role offensively this fall. Stahl started every game, rushing for 391 yards and six touchdowns.

Bailey is also extremely excited about the return of his entire defensive line unit, with Morgan Davis (6-2, 230lbs), Juan Juarez (6-0, 270lbs), Carlos Paiz (5-10, 285lbs), Carter Young(6-0, 210lbs) and junior Rylan Wooldridge (6-3, 295lbs) all earning All-Conference or All-Area honors in 2018.

Senior Justin Walker was a part-time starter at defensive end and will see increased reps this fall. Sophomores Trace Willhite and Robert Lawrence were part-time starters last season and will be counted on to shoulder larger roles defensively at defensive back and linebacker respectively.

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“On defense we return our entire defensive line from a year ago, but need to replace our entire secondary and half our linebackers,” said Bailey. “Identifying and developing our linebackers and secondary players is a priority for this offseason.”

Stahl and junior Case Tucker will guide an offense that averaged 45 PPG last season. Tucker rushed for 493 yards and nine touchdowns on just 55 carries as a sophomore. He’s also the younger brother of former Lamar great Tripp Tucker.

Up front, senior offensive lineman Connor O’Neal (6-6, 320lbs) is the next big-time tackle prospect in what has been a long line of succession at Lamar. Classmate Wyatt Hull returns after earning All-Conference and All-Area honors at receiver.

“On offense, we return some experienced players in the backfield and on the line, but there are many opportunities in both areas for some of our younger players to make an impact on our team,” said Bailey.

For Lamar to continue its dominance in Class 2, it’ll have to receive major contributions from some players that didn’t start regularly in 2018. Bailey believes he has five seniors that are ready to step in and fill voids immediately in TE Stephen Davis (6-2, 205lbs), DB Sam Mather (5-11, 165lbs) and WR/DB Tyler DeMoss (5-11, 155lbs), as well as offensive line duo Connor Brown (5-10, 250lbs) and George Weber (5-10, 260lbs).

“These five seniors have been in our program from the beginning,” said Bailey. “They have learned to ‘work while they wait’ which is a lost character trait among many young people that want immediate playing time or they quit. I look for them to help our team in multiple ways this season.”

Lamar’s streak of seven straight Class 2 titles and three consecutive Big 8 championships may have ended, but this fall presents a chance for the Tigers to start new streaks.

While the names and faces that the football community has become familiar with over the years at Lamar has changed, the expectations have not. Bailey and the Tigers fully expect to compete at a high level and build each week.

The pillars that have helped Bailey build a dynasty at Lamar won’t change.

“Our expectation for each team does not change from year-to-year,” said Bailey. “We want everyone involved in our football program to put in the time and effort necessary to earn the right to be called a champion.

“Our football team opening promotes themselves as “THE BROTHERHOOD”. Our expectation for our team is very high in trying to live up to that word academically, athletically, socially and spiritually, and to do it every day in every way.”

Lamar will open the 2019 season at home against Rogersville on Aug. 30.