By Jordan Burton (For OzarksSportsZone.com)
Over the last decade plus, Lamar has gone from a struggling program to one of the state’s elite, churning out titles and high-level players regularly. The Tigers have played for the state championship in nine of the last 11 seasons.
In Jared Beshore’s third season the Tigers will look to continue that ring-chasing trend and will have no shortage of motivation to do so, returning 36 lettermen and 16 full or part-time starters that still remember the feel of last year’s 33-27 Class 2 state championship loss to Lutheran.
“The loss to Lutheran was a very emotional moment for our team,” Beshore said. “When you put in the amount of time and work that our coaches/players/program put in, you expect to win ball games. It was a great game against a great opponent, but our team knows that we made too many mistakes to win that football game. So naturally, we must go back to work to fix the mistakes that cost us in the biggest game of the year. Our players responded with a great offseason, and our coaches are hungry to get back to work.”
And while the Tigers must replace 11 starters, it’ll be a reload for a program that averaged nearly 42 points per game last year.
“Our expectation for each team has not changed from year-to-year. 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,” Beshore said. “I believe our team is looking forward to this season. However, our mindset is not ‘let’s get back to the title game,’ it is ‘how can we win today, and get better?’ If we can have that mindset on a daily basis, then we will be where we want to be at the end of the season.”
Seniors Anthony Wilkerson, Joel Beshore and Ryan Davis were Class 2 All-State selections last year.
Wilkerson is a four-year starter that has been an absolute terror to the Big 8. As a junior, he racked up 1,018 yards from scrimmage with 15 touchdowns on just 70 touches. Defensively, he added 111 tackles and five interceptions (two pick-6) as a defensive back. He was the Class 2 Defensive Player of the Year.
“There’s a lot of things that makes Austin special, but I can point out two things that really stand out: his physicality and his Football IQ,” Beshore said. “In my opinion, he is one of the most physical football players we have had here at Lamar, and also one of the most intelligent players as well. He can diagnose an offense before the snap and sniff out the play before it happens. That’s an ability that separates good players from the great ones.”
Beshore has emerged as one of the area’s top dual-threat quarterbacks, rushing for a very Lamar-like 1,264 yards and 14 touchdowns. However, as a junior he also threw for 1,537 yards and 18 touchdowns. He added 41 tackles and four interceptions defensively.
Davis (5-11, 235) was the catalyst as an interior lineman for a rushing attack that amassed 4,796 yards and 61 touchdowns. He’ll now be tasked with helping to galvanize an offensive line unit that has three new starters. He’ll be joined by junior Jose Juarez (5-11, 275) who is also a standout kicker.
Seniors Logan Crockett (6-0, 195) and Terrill Davis (5-10, 175) will be fixtures in the backfield after rushing for 729 yards and 235 yards respectively. Crockett added 11 touchdowns on the ground.
“We do have a good group of skill kids that are able to keep each other fresh on both sides of the football,” Beshore said. “What makes them a good bunch in my opinion is their Football IQ. They understand the game well enough to be in the right spot at the right time and give themselves the opportunity to make plays. You combine that with the athleticism and experience they bring to the table, and that usually makes for a good group of football players.”
Classmates Tyson Williams (6-4, 240) and Cameron Sturgell (6-3, 200) were All-Big 8 and All-Area selections last year. Williams earned honors as both a tight end and defensive end (57 tackles, 15 tackles for loss) and Sturgell as a linebacker (60 tackles, 8 tackles for loss).
Senior Ty Willhite took snaps at quarterback and also earned All-Area honors in the secondary. Juniors Khiler Nance (91 tackles in 2021) and Ian Ngugi will see time at linebacker and the secondary respectively. Both will see roles offensively as well.
“We return many experienced players at the skill positions,” said Beshore. “Those returning starters will be counted on to provide positive influence and our 36 returning lettermen will be counted on to fill the open starting positions, and more importantly to build depth for our program.”
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Beshore is also excited about the development of eight seniors that’ll step into larger roles this fall.
Nick Moore (6-1, 225) and Rein Stephen (5-10, 205) will help along the offensive and defensive lines. Tate and Tyler Ansley will be combo receivers/defensive backs. Alex Livingston, Joshawa Herbinger, Hunter Lundine and Keaton Pagacz will see time at linebacker with the potential of getting touches out of the backfield as well.
That group embodies the spirit that has helped right the direction of Lamar Football over the years.
“These eight seniors will have an opportunity to compete for playing time and help lead our football team,” said Beshore. “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 be key factors to our team in many ways this season.”
The Tigers are looking for their 13th consecutive district championship and 10-win season. Their success has been unmatched in that time. Each group now tries to carry on the standard established by the groups preceding them.
That standard has been sky-high under Beshore, with a 25-2 record and one state championship and just one controversial possession separating them from being back-to-back state champs.
However, Lamar’s mindset continues to be focused on growth, not just wins.
“Our football team openly promotes themselves as ‘THE BROTHERHOOD’,” said Beshore. “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.”
Marshfield will host Lamar on Aug. 26. The Tigers will play their home-opener on Sep. 2 vs. Rogersville.
