Lamar falls in Class 2 state championship game on last-second touchdown

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Lamar’s bid for a ninth state championship came up short in a 33-27 loss to Lutheran St. Charles in the Class 2 state championship game. The Cougars scored on a two-yard touchdown run with six seconds left in the game to take the title.

Lamar started out in vintage form with a 13-play, 73-yard touchdown drive covering seven minutes to open the game. Quarterback Joel Beshore capped off the opening drive with a one-yard touchdown run to put Lamar ahead 7-0. Logan Crockett had a 25-yard carry on the first play of the drive.

Lutheran St. Charles punted on its first possession giving the ball back to Lamar with 2:03 left in the quarter. On the first play of the second quarter, Beshore hit Trace Willhite for a 62-yard touchdown and a 13-0 lead.

Then Lutheran St. Charles seized momentum on a couple of Lamar miscues.

After forcing another Cougar punt, Lamar gave the ball back to Lutheran St. Charles on a fumble. Aaron Coffey hit Kaleb Mays for a 62-yard touchdown on the next play to cut Lamar’s lead to six at 13-7 with 7:14 left in the half.

Lutheran St. Charles got its second touchdown via another Lamar fumble on the ensuing drive. CJ Holloway scooped and scored from 50 yards out to give Lutheran St. Charles a 14-13 lead, which would stand until halftime.

Lamar dominated the first half statistically with 243 yards of total offense to Lutheran St. Charles’ 101.

Lutheran St. Charles kept the pressure on to open the second half. The Cougars had the ball 4th and 2 from their own 46 and were able to convert. They continued to march down the field scoring on a six-yard run by Arlen Harris Jr. to take a 21-13 lead.

The Tigers snapped the 21-0 run by Lutheran St. Charles with another vintage Lamar drive. The Tigers marched 69 yards in 12 plays covering 6:20 on the ensuing drive to get within two at 21-19. Logan Crockett ran the ball in from 13 yards out for the touchdown.

The two-point conversion failed keeping Lamar down by two.

Lamar’s defense came up big on the next Cougar drive. Lutheran St. Charles had the ball 4th and 3 from the Lamar 35, but the Tigers forced and incompletion to take the ball back.

The Lamar offense took advantage going 65 yards in just six plays capped off by another Crockett touchdown with this one coming from one yard out. The two-point conversion was successful.

That gave Lamar a 27-21 lead with 8:47 left in the game.

The momentum wouldn’t last.

Charles Young took the kickoff 88 yards for a touchdown to tie the game. Lamar blocked the extra point to keep the game tied.

Lamar took over on its own 20 with 8:26 left in the game. The Tigers went for it on 4th and 1 from their own 29 and got a huge run from Austin Wilkerson to keep the drive alive.

Penalties plagued the rest drive with three combined false start penalties with the final one forcing a punt.

Lutheran St. Charles took over on its own 36 with 2:45 to play. The big play was a 39-yard pass on 3rd and 7 down to the Lamar 34.

Harris Jr. finished off the nine-play, 64-yard drive with a two-yard touchdown run to give Lutheran St. Charles the 33-27 lead, which would hold up as the winning margin.

Lamar out-gained Lutheran St. Charles 401-267 on offense, but the Cougars won the turnover battle 3-1.

Beshore threw for 130 yards while leading the team in rushing with 83 yards on 20 carries. Crockett had nine carries for 59 yards and two touchdowns. Trace Willhite contributed 58 yards on seven carries while Wilkerson was just behind him with 56 yards on nine carries.

Lutheran St. Charles was paced by Coffey with 197 yards passing. Mays had four catches for 118 yards and a touchdown for the Cougars.

Lamar finishes the season with a 13-1 record.

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