Raiders Triumph Over Cougars to Claim MAIS State Championship

The Lamar School Raiders ended a six-year championship drought by defeating the Brookhaven Academy Cougars 34-17 in the MAIS Class 4A, Division III state championship held at Mississippi College’s Robinson-Hale Stadium on March 16, 2024. This victory marks Lamar’s tenth state title and their first since 2018.

Head coach Jacob Land credited his team’s resilience for their performance, stating, “We were pretty nervous at halftime trying to figure some things out… Our kids are just resilient, and anything we throw at them they responded the right way.”

The Raiders struck first with a 1-yard touchdown run by Tyler Brown with just over four minutes remaining in the first quarter, establishing an early 7-0 lead. Following a defensive stand that forced the Cougars to punt, quarterback Sullivan Reed connected with Jalin Trotter for a 34-yard touchdown pass, extending the lead to 14-0 shortly thereafter.

Brookhaven Academy responded with a touchdown of their own, as Will Newell threw a 49-yard touchdown pass to Carson Mowdy, narrowing the gap to 14-7. However, the Raiders quickly regained momentum when Trotter intercepted a pass and returned it 90 yards for another touchdown, putting Lamar ahead 20-7 at halftime.

The Cougars opened the second half with a field goal, courtesy of Jacob Jones, bringing the score to 20-10. The Raiders countered with a 14-yard touchdown run by Khari Towner, boosting their lead to 27-10. Late in the third quarter, Mikeal Willis, a Navy commit, sealed the game for Lamar with a 54-yard interception return for a touchdown, making it 34-10.

Brookhaven Academy added a final touchdown with an 8-yard run by Tanner Smith, but it was not enough to close the gap, leaving the Cougars with a season record of 8-5.

Towner led the Raiders offensively, rushing for 106 yards on 22 carries. Trotter’s contributions were also significant, with a touchdown reception and an interception return for a touchdown. Reflecting on the win, Trotter said, “Feels great to win a state championship my senior year. All the hard work we put in paid off to get this trophy.”

Coach Ryan Ross of Brookhaven Academy acknowledged the challenges faced during the match, noting, “We just didn’t execute offensively… we hurt ourselves with turnovers.” Despite the loss, he expressed pride in his team’s journey to the championship, emphasizing that they exceeded expectations throughout the season.

The Raiders celebrated their victory, marking a significant achievement for the program and a hopeful future as they build on this success.