Published: November 03, 2009 11:43 pm      

Lamar expecting test from Oak Hill

Five weeks ago Oak Hill Academy traveled to Lamar and left with a 63-7 loss.

When the Raiders make that same trip Friday, Lamar coach Mac Barnes is expecting a different kind of test for his batch of Raiders in the first round of the MAIS Class AA playoffs.

"In the first round of the playoffs, it doesn't matter what the score was earlier," Barnes said. "I can promise you that."

While Barnes isn't expecting a familiar finish, he also said Lamar hasn't enjoyed the expected familiarity in practice either. Rather, after the Raiders won that homecoming game they turned their focus to a difficult finishing stretch that included back-to-back region games against Simpson Academy and Leake Academy to close the regular season.

That has meant some groundwork had to be laid in practice this week.

"After we played them, we forgot about them," he added. "We didn't even know it was going to be Oak Hill until Saturday after they lost to Winston.

"They didn't remember a lot of stuff. We've had to go back and run through some things to refresh that."

What is familiar for Lamar, though, is battling through injuries. The Raiders have called up three freshman to up their roster to 25 following injuries to Michael Marcello (ankle) and John Countiss (shoulder) against the Rebels last week. Lamar started the year with 28 players before losing four players to season-ending injuries.

"I don't know what the deal is, if it's the condition of the fields or what, but there have just been a lot of injuries this year and not just to us," Barnes said. "Our situation is not unique, Oak Hill has lost some key players, too."

While the Raiders' roster has shrunk, they still possess a plethora of playmakers, led by senior quarterback Witt Haggard. Haggard has completed more than 66 percent of his passes for 2,648 yards and 37 touchdowns to just three interceptions. He also has a team-high 687 yards rushing and has eight TDs on the ground.

His top two weapons are seniors Bo Bidgood and Jamie Thompson. Bidgood has hauled in 74 passes for 1,400 yards and 18 TDs, while Thompson has 34 catches for 521 yards and six scores.

Michael Crowe and Justin Goldacker lead Lamar's defense with 74 stops apiece. William Fulton has added 53 tackles and Cameron Melancon has a team-high four interceptions.



Leake Academy at Marshall Academy

Despite falling 20-7 to Lamar last week and finishing third in the MAIS Region 3-AA, the Rebels still advanced to the state playoffs.

Leake (7-3) secured the top wild card spot in the North and will head to Region 1-AA champion Marshall Academy.

The Patriots (9-1) have won eight straight since a 34-7 loss to Magnolia Heights on Aug. 28. Leake had won two straight following a pair of losses before running into Lamar.

The Rebels defeated Oak Hill Academy 38-7 early in the season and blanked Kirk Academy 14-0 two weeks ago. Marshall, meanwhile, edged Kirk 14-11 on Oct. 9 and blasted Oak Hill 41-13 two weeks ago.



MHSAA Class 2A

Enterprise at Loyd Star

The Bulldogs are hitting the road for the start of the playoffs, but they are hitting it with a load of momentum.

Enterprise (6-4), the third seed from Region 7-2A, has won three straight following a four-game swoon during the middle of the season when senior fullback Roshawn Johnson was hurt.

In six games, Johnson has rushed for 917 yards on 87 carries, including 200 yards and three touchdowns Friday in the season finale against Stringer. Zach Bond has added 648 yards rushing for an Enterprise team that relies on the ground game — 2,778 yards rushing on the year.

Still, the road won't be easy. Loyd Star, the second seed from Region 6-2A, rebounded from its lone loss to close the regular season with a pair of wins. Overall, the Hornets have outscored their opponents 302-134

The Hornets also lean on the ground game, racking up 2,634 yards on the year. Marquis Hayes is Loyd Star's top rusher with 941 yards and 13 touchdowns. He is complimented by Tradareous Wilson's 918 yards and 11 scores.



Union at North Forrest

Two weeks ago the Yellowjackets were shooting for a region title. Two losses later and Union is on the road as the third seed from Region 5-2A.

The 'Jackets (7-4) had won five straight, including their first three region games, behind an explosive offense. However in the back-to-back losses against Scott Central and Pisgah, Union was held to just 8 points. Union averaged 34.6 points in the winning streak behind 1,000-yard rusher Forzetra Ealy and the versatile Shunadrick Landfair, who has played quarterback and wide receiver for the Yellowjackets.

Union will look to get back to those high-flying ways against the Eagles, the No. 2 seed from Region 8-2A. North Forrest (9-2) is on a three-game winning streak since a 29-28 setback against Bassfield. The Eagles' only other loss — 29-16 against Purvis — came in Week 4.

Gary Hayes leads the Eagles with more than 900 yards rushing, while Jalen Haskins has thrown for more than 850 yards.