MENDENHALL — For Lamar the plan was simple. Run the ball.
Behind a potent running attack of Khari Towner and Joe Morrow the Raiders got past Simpson Academy 29-14 in the season opener at “The Hole” on Friday night.
“We wanted to come out and establish the run all night and we held up well,” said Lamar School head coach Stacy Luker. “We found something at halftime we liked and just leaned on it. I can’t say enough about the offensive line, Joe Morrow, and Khari Towner on how they ran the ball and complimented each other.”
Lamar (1-0) rushed for a total of 247 yards.
The Raiders scored first on their opening drive of the game as Maddox Mims booted a 45-yard field goal to take a 3-0 lead with 6:34 left in the first quarter.
Lamar extended their lead to 9-0 with 8:38 left in the second quarter on a Towner 35-yard touchdown run.
Simpson got on the board on a 46-yard touchdown pass from Braxton Baldwin to Kolt Walker with eight minutes left in the first half to cut the Lamar lead to 9-7.
The Raiders immediately responded as Cade Vowell found Brody Mayatt on a 39-yard touchdown pass to extend the lead to 16-7 with 4:51 left.
Baldwin found Walker again from 27 yards out for Simpson to cut the deficit to 16-14 with 44 seconds left before halftime.
The second half was all Lamar. The Raiders scored on their only two possessions in the third quarter. Morrow scored on an 8-yard on the opening possession and Towner added the final score of the night from 10 yards out to give the Raiders the 29-14 lead.
Lamar got the ball at their own 7-yard line to begin the fourth quarter and held the ball the entire quarter and ran out the clock at the Simpson 6-yard line.
The Raider defense held Simpson to just 175 yards of total offense.
“We did want to lean on our run game and thought it would be effective. We like out backs and we like our offensive line. We just take what the defense gives,” Luker said. “Despite giving up a couple big plays in the passing game our defense played great. Proud of the coaches for having the guys prepared. Glad to be 1-0.”
Towner finished with 141 yards rushing on 21 carries with two touchdowns to lead Lamar, while Morrow added 114 yards on 15 carries and a touchdown for the Raiders.
“Got to give all credit to the offensive line. The first couple drives we had to adjust to what they was running on defense, but after that they couldn’t stop us,” Towner said. “The line was making holes left and right just had to find them and make a move. Me and Joe are going to be a great duo year. Good to be 1-0.”
Baldwin passed for 141 yards with two touchdowns to lead Simpson (0-1).
