By Brennan Stebbins (For OzarksSportsZone.com)
The Silver Tiger trophy sat on a small table behind the Lamar sideline during Friday’s football game against Nevada.
It’ll have a short trip back to the trophy case.
The host Tigers stifled Nevada’s offense and, with a backup quarterback leading the offense, built a three-touchdown lead in the first half en route to a 47-26 win in a rivalry game dating back to the 1930’s.
“It’s always satisfying to get a win in the rivalry week,” Lamar coach Jared Beshore said. “This game’s been played for almost 100 years, since the 1930’s and we have records all the way back to then. It’s a great rivalry with the communities we have that support football and have pride, obviously. You saw it tonight with people showing up to the game, it’s exciting. It’s the first time in the season when kids get to hold a trophy and actually win something tangible. That gets them excited, gets them rolling for postseason. It’s a good test, a good challenge in the middle of the year.”
Lamar, 6-1 and ranked fourth in Class 2, first had to deal with a Nevada team that entered the night averaging 48 points per game.
But by halftime, the visitors hadn’t even earned a first down. In fact, Nevada’s first score came when Ken Johnson intercepted a screen pass and returned it about 70 yards. Jordan Johnson added the two-point run, which made it a 21-8 game with 5:35 left in the first half.
“We had nine plays in the first half,” Nevada coach Wes Beachler said. “We only ran nine offensive plays. Our 10th offensive play was the two-point conversion down here after the interception return. We’ve got to do a better job of moving the ball, coming out of the gate a little quicker. Their defense, give them credit for that but they also had a lot of long drives. When you only get nine plays in the first half you’re probably not going to be very productive. We’ve got to get in a flow and move the ball and we weren’t able to do that tonight.”
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Lamar’s Austin Wilkerson capped an 8-play, 68-yard drive to open the game with the first of his four touchdowns on the night. Quarterback Alex Wilkerson, a sophomore filling in for the injured Joel Beshore, scored the first of his two on Lamar’s next drive. When he found the end zone again just two minutes into the second quarter, the hosts led 21-0.
A 1-yard plunge by Austin Wilkerson made it 27-8 in the final minute of the half.
Nevada’s offense finally got going to open the third, with Cade Beshore connecting with Avious Steadman on a 69-yard touchdown to make it a two-touchdown game.
But Austin Wilkerson and Lamar answered with another 1-yard score to make it 33-14.
Nevada (5-2, ranked eighth in Class 4) finally moved the chains with about five minutes left in the third, but that possession ended with a fumble at the 43-yard line and Lamar capitalized with a 26-yard catch-and-run score from Wilkerson to Ty Willhite, who employed a nifty spin move at the 5 on his way in.
The visitors scored again with 8:01 remaining on a 39-yard run by Steadman, then recovered an onside kick but eventually turned it over on downs. Austin Wilkerson made it 47-20 with 3:35 remaining on another 1-yard run.
Nevada’s final score came as time expired when Case Sanderson hauled in a desperation heave from the 28.
Nevada finished the game with 241 yards of offense – 132 on the ground and 109 through the air. The Tigers had just 18 rushing yards in the first half.
“Kudos to our kids and our defensive coaching staff and their game plan,” Beshore said.
“They’re a big-play offense and if you miss by a little bit with your fits or missed tackling, it’s six, so you have to be extremely disciplined when you play Nevada and coach Beachler’s offense. Our kids stepped up to the challenge and did an outstanding job.”
Lamar racked up 334 yards on the ground and another 191 through the air. Austin Wilkerson led the rushing attack with 109 yards and four scores, while Alex Wilkerson rushed for 86 and was 8-for-13 passing.
“He did a magnificent job,” Beshore said. “He’s kind of got his chance with Joel getting banged up last week. We always knew Alex was capable, we knew he was going to be our quarterback of the future and stepping into the backup role this year. I knew that if something were to happen we’d be just fine. He can run the ball strong, he’s very accurate throwing the football and he has a strong arm. He’s a natural leader. Him stepping in, I don’t think our guys missed a beat.”
School record for Steadman
Nevada senior Avious Steadman entered the night needing just five yards to become the school’s career rushing leader. By halftime, the record was his. He surpassed Larry Householder’s career mark of 2,478 yards, according to KNEM/KNMO Radio.
Steadman finished with 13 carries for 70 yards, including a 39-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter. He rushed for 1,831 yards as a junior.
Beachler said it was an “incredible” accomplishment, especially since this is only his second season at Nevada.
“He had 12 games last year and seven this year so in 19 games, that’s pretty special,” he said.
“It’s a dream come true,” Steadman said. “I never really thought this would happen. A lot of people don’t know but I used to go to Fort Scott (Kan.) for my first two years of school, didn’t play any offense at all. Coach Beachler finally wanted to give me a chance last year and I just want to thank him, it means a lot.”
“I’m proud of all my teammates for helping me come this far and my coaches and family,” he said. “Everybody who’s helped me along the way.”
