This one has familiar look
Different season, a nearly identical result.
The only difference— Lamar was supposed to beat rivalWestside this year.
Quarterback Darrell Colbert again played well against theWolves, Lamar’s defensive line continued to rule the line of scrimmage, and the Redskins rolled to a 42- 7 victory Saturday at Delmar Stadium.
They won 38- 7 last year and have three straight wins overWestside.
“Last year they were picked to beat us,” said Colbert, who threw for 111 yards and three touchdowns and ran for another score. “We came and won the game. And this year, we just didn’t want no doubt.”
The Redskins had two non- district losses entering this game last year, and the area- ranked Wolves had 2,000- yard rusher B. J. Catalon. But the Redskins won, then reeled off seven more wins to claim their second straight undefeated district championship and reach the third round of the playoffs.
Experience counts
This season, Lamar is 6- 0 ( 2- 0 in District 20- 5A) afterWestside, riding a 19- game district winning streak— and looking to take the next step.
“They’re probably a little bit ahead,” Lamar coach TomNolen said. “We had a lot of kids playing for the first time last year, especially the quarterback, and now he’s played, so he’s a little more experienced, and we’re a little bit ahead in the things we can try to do.”
It didn’t look that way early.
Lamar marched to Westside’s 5 on its opening drive, then went backward on its next three plays, all the way to fourth- and- goal from the 31, where a delay of game turned a 48- yard fieldgoal try into a punt.
“We hadn’t played in two weeks, so it took us a while to knock the rust off,” Nolen said.
Rust- free, they were fine.
Colbert threw two 24yard TD passes to tight end Justin Hollie and receiver ShelbyWalker ( two receiving TDs), and Lamar led 14- 7 at halftime.
Defense helps out
RonnieWesley ( 126 rushing yards) broke a 50yard TD run, and defensive back Cedric Lancaster intercepted Westside QB Michael Haywood twice in the third, helping Lamar push its lead to 28- 7 early in the fourth.
Lancaster almost had a third pick in the second half, but it was wiped out by a pass- interference call.
“Cedric’s a really good player,” Nolen said. “He missed a couple weeks in there with a badly sprained ankle, and so he’s just getting back into form.”
Nicholas Richardson put Lamar’s win on ice, scooping up a fumble by backup QB Sherman Coleman— who came in for one play when Hay- wood left with cramps— and returning it 86 yards for a score.
The Redskins sacked Haywood four times, with defensive linemen Zelt Minor and Charles Onyekwelu leading the charge — just like last season.
Westside ( 4- 3, 2- 1) finished with 208 yards ( 122 on 37 rushes) and 16 first downs, with five punts, three turnovers and two turnovers on downs on 12 possessions. Lamar had 285 yards and 14 first downs.
“You’ve got ( an inexperienced) quarterback out there with us,” Westside coach Mark Byrd said. “Our kid’s been playing well; he just threw some balls up for grabs instead of living another down.
“The better team won — no doubt about it.”