Lamar falls in Class 2 state championship game

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By Amanda Perkins (For OzarksSportsZone.com)

Big plays by Blair Oaks and penalties derailed Lamar’s efforts to avenge last year’s last-second loss in the state title game as they came up short against the Falcons, 32-27, in the Class 2 state championship on Friday.

Lamar marched into the Blair Oaks redzone with a chance to take a lead late. At one point the Tigers appeared to have the ball inside the Blair Oaks five-yard line, but an ineligible man downfield penalty erased the game-changing play.

On the night, Lamar was called for 12 penalties for a loss of 174 yards compared to Blair Oaks’ three for 20.

“It was by far the most we’ve been penalized,” said head coach Jared Beshore. “It was stacked against us. We made a couple mistakes, but the kids overcame it, though. We still had a chance to win the ballgame at the end.”

Blair Oaks’ first possession of the game ended with an incomplete pass to the end zone, and Lamar took over on downs. Tiger senior running back Terrill Davis rushed for 31 yards, followed by Austin Wilkerson’s 9-yard carry before Beshore scored on a 21-yard touchdown run to give Lamar a 7-0 lead.

Blair Oaks got on the board midway through the second quarter with Dylan Hair hitting Alec Wieberg for a 78-yard touchdown. Lamar’s Cameron Sturgell (senior tight end) blocked the Falcons’ punt to preserve the Lamar lead at 7-6. The drive took just 43 seconds.

Lamar scored late in the second quarter with a 9-play, 63-yard drive for another touchdown, highlighted by a 30-yard pass from Beshore to senior Ty Willhite before Beshore found the end zone on a nine-yard run. Jose Juarez’s kick attempt was good, and the Tigers were up 14-6 with 1:26 left in the half.

The explosive Blair Oaks offense had a response.

The Falcons were able to go 49 yards on three plays in just 1:15 to cut the lead to 14-12. The drive was capped off by a 36-yard touchdown from Hair to Nichol Closser. The two-point conversion failed sending the game into the half.

Out of the half, Lamar’s offense stalled out at midfield giving the ball back to Blair Oaks. The Falcon offense worked quickly once again with Hair running 49 yards for a touchdown to take a 20-14 lead midway through the third quarter.

Lamar had an answer.

The Tigers marched down the field and capped the drive with a pass from Beshore to Ngugi for 44 yards and a touchdown. Lamar had the lead entering the fourth quarter, 21-20.

Blair Oaks scored less than a minute into the fourth and quickly added another touchdown to lead 32-21. The first touchdown came on a two-yard run from Hair.

The second was a 72-yard pass from Hair to Wieberg.

Lamar needed a big play to get back in the game and go it. On the fourth play of the ensuing drive, Beshore handed the ball off to Ty Willhite who hit Ngugi for a 50-yard touchdown to give the Tigers life down 32-27 with 7:06 left in the game.

Lamar’s defense forced the Falcons to three and out before the Tigers started their final drive. Lamar marched down to the Blair Oaks 17-yardline where the Tigers faced a 4th and 13 with 1:06 left in the game. Beshore was sacked for an eight-yard loss but a five-yard facemask penalty gave Lamar life with a 4th and 16.

The Tigers looked like they would take advantage with Beshore hitting Wilkerson on a pass inside the Blair Oaks five-yard line. The play was erased by an ineligible man downfield setting up a 4th and 21 from the Blair Oaks 25 with 47 seconds to play.

The final pass fell incomplete to end the game.

“Our guys absolutely battled to the end,” said Coach Beshore. “I mean, to the absolute end. Even when things looked dim. Even when things looked dark. And I couldn’t be more proud of a group of kids, I really couldn’t. Especially to where we started in June to where we are now.”

Senior quarterback Joel Beshore led the team in rushing for 115 yards on 21 carries and completed 86 yards through the air. Terrill Davis picked up 111 rushing yards on 14 carries, and Ian Ngugi received for 94 yards and two touchdowns on two passes.

“I just love these guys and wouldn’t want to be here with any other guys,” said Joel Beshore of his senior season. “I’ve loved every moment of this.”

Lamar ends the season with a 12-2 record.

CLICK HERE FOR FULL STATS OF THE GAME

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