UPDATE: The Lamar School Raiders have ended a six-year championship drought, defeating the Brookhaven Academy Cougars 34-17 to claim the MAIS Class 4A, Division III state championship at Mississippi College’s Robinson-Hale Stadium on December 2, 2023. This victory marks Lamar’s 10th state title and their first since 2018.
The Raiders showcased an impressive performance, highlighted by standout plays from Jalin Trotter, who delivered both a touchdown reception and a crucial interception return for a score. Head coach Jacob Land expressed pride in his team’s resilience, stating, “We were pretty nervous at halftime… Our kids are just resilient and anything we throw at them they responded the right way.”
Lamar struck first with a 1-yard touchdown run by Tyler Brown with 4:33 left in the first quarter, taking an early lead of 7-0. They quickly extended their advantage to 14-0 when Sullivan Reed connected with Trotter for a 34-yard touchdown pass just before the first quarter ended.
Brookhaven Academy fought back, narrowing the gap to 14-7 with a 49-yard touchdown pass from Will Newell to Carson Mowdy midway through the second quarter. However, Lamar surged ahead again with Trotter’s electrifying 90-yard interception return, bringing the score to 20-7 just before halftime.
The Cougars attempted to close the gap further, scoring a 36-yard field goal by Jacob Jones to make it 20-10 early in the third quarter. Yet, the Raiders responded decisively with a 14-yard touchdown run by Khari Towner, extending their lead to 27-10.
In a defining moment, Navy commit Mikeal Willis sealed the victory for Lamar with a stunning 54-yard interception return for a touchdown, pushing the score to 34-10 late in the third quarter. Brookhaven’s Tanner Smith added a final touch with an 8-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter, but it wasn’t enough to overcome Lamar’s commanding lead.
Towner finished the game with 106 rushing yards on 22 carries, demonstrating his critical role in the Raiders’ offense. Trotter, a North Alabama commit, emphasized the emotional weight of the victory, saying, “It feels great to win a state championship my senior year. All the hard work we put in paid off to get this trophy.”
Despite the loss, Brookhaven Academy coach Ryan Ross praised his team’s effort, noting, “Defensively we played really well… This means a lot to get to this point, no one expected us to be here.” The Cougars finished their season with an 8-5 record.
As celebrations commence at Lamar, the Raiders will look to build on this success and continue their winning momentum into the next season. The victory is a testament to their hard work and determination, promising an exciting future for the team and its supporters.
