By JOHN MILLER, Mount Vernon, MO – One week after ending the nation’s longest win streak in impressive fashion, the No. 1 team in Class 2 seemed like it might have a battle on its hands on Friday. Then, they turned on the jets.
Tied at 14-14 with just under five minutes remaining in the first half, state-power Lamar rallied for 21 points before halftime, blowing the game open, as the Tigers ran away from Mount Vernon 49-14 at Mountaineer Stadium on Friday night.
Cooper Lucas ran for four touchdowns and 159 yards on 10 carries, including a go-ahead 7-yard run late in the third that ended the 14-14 tie.
“God gave us everything,” said Lucas. “We came out a little slow, but we never gave up. We have a good strong bond between the players and a good strong bond with the Lord. We just kept pushing through and things just started coming our way.”
Last week, Lamar handed Valle Catholic its first loss in 52 games with a 50-13 smacking. On Friday, they struggled initially with the Mountaineers before a late second quarter surge.
Mount Vernon (5-3) took advantage of a Lamar mistake in the first quarter to grab the early lead. The Tigers fumbled a punt return inside their own yard-line, setting up an early Mountaineer score. Sammy Robinson’s 3-yard TD run gave Mount Vernon an early 7-0 edge.
Lamar (7-0) moved the football on its opening drive, but penalties forced the Tigers into a third and long that they couldn’t convert. They ended up punting.
“We were beating ourselves,” Lucas said. “That’s all that was.”
After getting the football back, Lamar started looking like Lamar. Luke Hardman returned a punt to the Mount Vernon 15 yard-line, and two plays later, Matt Whyman punched it in to tie it up. On their next drive, Lamar took the lead when Hardman used a key block from offensive lineman Sam Buzzard to spring for a 29-yard touchdown scamper. It was 14-7 Tigers.
“Our coach told our offense somebody needed to make a big play, so I was looking for the opportunity,” Hardman said. “I saw Buzz coming around the corner like he always does. He kicked them out and I cut it up.”
Mount Vernon answered, driving 68 yards and scoring on a 10-yard pass from Garrett Hadlock to Andrew Montemayor. Jayden Buttram’s extra-point knotted the score 14-14 with 7:43 remaining in the first half.
Hadlock completed 16 of 24 passes for 155 yards and a touchdown. Montemayor had six catches for 47 yards, and Jarrett Massie added seven catches for 107 yards.
Unfortunately for the Mountaineers, their momentum didn’t last long. Lamar grinded out its next drive—one that finished with Lucas in the end zone after a 7-yard sprint. Lamar scored 21 points in the final 4:52 of the first half, with Lucas scoring all three touchdowns.
“Our coach always tells us that the most important drives are right before half and right after half,” Hardman said. “Those scores were big.”
Lamar        7 – 28 – 14 – 0 – 49
Mt. Vernon 7 – 7 – 0 – 0 – 14
1Q
7:38 – MVHS – Robinson 3-yd run (Buttram PAT)
3:15 – LHS – Whyman 6-yd run (Montayo PAT)
2Q
10:48 – LHS – Hardman 29-yd run (Montayo PAT)
7:43 – MVHS – Hadlock 10-yd pass to Montemayor (Buttram PAT)
4:52 – LHS – Lucas 7-yd run (Montayo PAT)
2:02 – LHS – Lucas 25-yd run (Montayo PAT)
0:50 – LHS – Lucas 5-yd run (Montayo PAT)
3Q
5:46 – LHS – Lucas 6-yd run (Montayo PAT)
2:51 – LHS – Hardman 13-yd run (Montayo PAT)
