By Pat Dailey (For OzarkSportsZone.com)
COLUMBIA — Lamar senior quarterback Alex Wilkerson went out as a state champion with his father, retiring Tigers defensive coordinator Chris Wilkerson.
Both Wilkersons’ careers culminated in Lamar’s 28-25 triumph over Fair Grove in the Class 2 state championship game Friday.
“This means the world to me,” Alex said. “Going into this game, I knew it was our last one, we all did. There are a couple coaches on staff who are leaving this year. We knew we had to go out on top for them because they pushed us hard the last four years. They have done so much for us. The one thing we can do for them is to let them go out on top.”
“I’ve been with these guys since (they were in) the third grade. To go out like we did, I’m good,” Chris said. “I’m at peace. I can walk away from this, close this book and go do something else.”
Lamar added to its seemingly ever-growing number of players who have a state championship ring.
“Championship season, it’s in these guys’ DNA,” Chris Wilkerson said. “There are 17 years of graduating seniors (at Lamar) and they all have got a ring. Now, everyone from (the classes of) 2011-2027 has a ring.”
Lamar’s storybook season fittingly included a dramatic finish. With 3:10 remaining and trailing 25-20, the Tigers put together a winning 72-yard drive.
Keys plays on the drive included a third-down,a 16-yard pass from Wilkerson to receiver Trent Torbeck, a 16-yard run by Wilkerson, a nine-yard pass from Wilkerson to wideout Teren Williams and finally, a five-yard touchdown run by Wilkerson with :42 remaining.
“We had all the trust in the world with him and the rest of our guys to make plays,” Lamar head coach Jared Beshore said. “We got it done. We kept truckin’ and made the plays when we needed to and punched that sucker in.”
For the second straight season, Wilkerson was among the slew of Tigers who missed games with injuries. Wilkerson was an all-state defensive back a year ago, but injuries limited him to a mere nine snaps on that side of the ball this season.
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“I pulled both hamstrings. I pulled one twice,” Wilkerson said. “I give all glory to God. We prayed all season long He would heal me. He has. I’m so blessed He healed me for this moment and this game with these guys and these coaches.”
Lamar (11-4) won six straight, after closing regular-season play with a 57-7 loss to Seneca. There were also losses to Cassville, Mt. Vernon and Nevada.
Lamar was dropped from the state rankings for the first time since some of the Tigers’ players were born.
“I’m so dang proud of this team,” Beshore said. “This is probably the most proud of a team I’ve ever been. Our team has overcome adversity over and over. These guys never gave up. Our resilience showed in our kids.”
Wilkerson’s legacy will be that one of the most clutch quarterbacks in state championship history. He followed up his wide-ranging heroics in last year’s final by passing for 167 yards and running for 91.
Lamar wide receiver Aiden Sheat earned redemption over the course of the afternoon. He went from fumbling the opening kickoff to all but spot Fair Gove a 7-0 lead to finishing with four receptions for 122 yards and a touchdown.
“It was in my head for a little bit,” Sheat said of his fumble. “All these boys, they told me to just let it go, keep playing and bounce back.”
Sheat entered the game with only 10 receptions for 143 yards all season.
Outside of its fumble, Lamar put together a clean first half. The Tigers weren’t flagged for a single penalty and held a 20-13 lead at intermission.
A holding penalty in Fair Grove’s secondary kick-started Lamar’s final scoring drive. That was a theme. The Eagles drew 12 penalties for 79 yards.
Fair Grove was also hindered by two red-zone trips that resulted in no points.
Lamar stopped Fair Grove at the Eagles’ five-yard line on fourth-and-goal with :13 left in the first quarter.
Through it all, Fair Grove took a 25-20 lead with 3:09 to play.
“They’re used to sticking together,” Eagles coach Bill Voorhis said. “It would have been easy at some points, especially in the first half, to point fingers. But guys stuck together.”
On the Eagles’ final scoring drive, quarterback Spensar Seiger gained 12 yards on a fourth-and-10 from the Fair Grove 25 with 4:59 to play. That led to a seven-yard touchdown run by Seiger on third-and-four.
Earlier, Kellen Lair was his incredibly elusive self while escaping a handful of would-be tacklers on his way to a 63-yard touchdown run-and-catch from Seiger three minutes into the fourth quarter.
Seiger was 11-of-20 for 201 yards and two touchdowns.
Over the final three minutes, Seiger went from celebrating a go-ahead TD to watching a state championship slip away.
“Shock, to say the least,” Seiger said of Wilkerson’s winning touchdown. “A lot of people say high school football goes by fast. You never want to believe that. Today, I really do realize high school football flies by fast. I never thought it would end. Tonight it ended on that play. That was a knife in the heart.”
Seiger related his great respect for Wilkerson and his older brother, Austin, a former Lamar all-state safety.
“I’ve known that last name since I was at Ava,” Seiger said. “His older brother was a heck of an athlete and player. Alex is a special kid, we all see that. Honestly, if anyone was going to score that last touchdown for them, I’m glad it was him. He’s a respectful athlete. He’s always had respect my teammates and me. If I really had anything to say to him it would be, ‘Go celebrate, they deserve it.’”
Lamar 28, Fair Grove 25
Lamar 7 13 0 8 – 28
Fair Grove 7 6 0 12 – 25
Scoring
FG – Adrick Wilson fumble recovery (Gavin Brock kick)
L – Alex Wilkerson 4 run (Chris Jaurez-Romero kick)
L – Aiden Sheet 68 pass from Wilkerson (Juarez-Romero kick)
L – Wilkerson 8 run (kick no good)
FG – Wyatt Hallum 4 pass from Spensar Seiger (kick blocked)
FG – Kellen Lair 63 pass from Seiger (kick blocked)
FG – Seiger 7 run (pass failed)
L – Wilkerson 5 run (Eli Ngugi pass from Wilkerson)
STATS
Passing — Fair Grove: Seiger 11-20-201; Lamar: Wilkerson 9-13-167.
Rushing — Fair Grove: Seiger 14-74, Lair 12-62, Hallam 6-27, Baxter 1-5; Lamar: Wilkerson 19-91, Williams 9-44, Haun 6-19, Sheat 1-11.
Receiving — Fair Grove: Lair 3-108, Krider 3-10, Thomason 2-19, Hallam 2-8; Lamar: Sheat 4-122, Torbeck 2-31, Williams 2-10, Haun 1-4.
Tackles — Fair Grove: Baxter 11; Lamar: Ansley 10.
