LAMAR, Mo. — Lamar is back in a familiar setting—playing for a state title.
The Tigers jumped out to a big lead and never let up in a 47-16 win over Bowling Green in the Class 2 semifinals on Saturday.
Lamar scored the first four touchdowns of the game before Bowling Green reached the scoreboard early in the second half. With a sizable lead, the Tigers continued to add on in the second half and built a 39-point advantage at one point en route to the win.
Lamar (12-1) will take on Valle Catholic (12-1) in the Class 2 state title game at 3 p.m. on Saturday. It is the fourth straight year that the Tigers will play for a state title.
Lamar took the initial lead when WR Chase Querry took a third-down handoff to the far edge and sprinted his way past everyone on the way to a 32-yard touchdown for a 7-0 lead over Bowling Green with 10:02 to play in the opening quarter.
The Tigers struck again when QB Alex Wilkerson found WR Ian Ngugi for a 34-yard touchdown pass with 5:47 to play in the first quarter. The long passing score put the Tigers up 14-0.
Wilkerson came up with an interception on defense, his first of two in the first half, with six minutes left in the first half to take possession deep in Bowling Green territory.
Wilkerson made the most of his turnover when he kept the ball to the left before diving across the goal line for a short-yardage touchdown with 4:04 left in the first half for a 21-0 lead.
After Lamar’s defense forced a turnover-on-downs with two and a half minutes left in the first half, the Tigers used a 38-yard reception from Wikerson to Ngugi to get in goal-to-go territory before Wikerson found Ngugi for a 3-yard touchdown and a 27-0 lead with 20 seconds to play in the first half.
Bowling Green got on the scoreboard for the first time early in the second half when RB Bleyne Bryant ripped off a 56-yard touchdown run before a pass completion converted the 2-point try for a 27-8 score.
The Tigers ballooned their lead when WR Cooper Haun hauled in an 18-yard reception from Wilkerson to make the score 33-8 with 8:15 left in the third quarter.
Wilkerson came up with a hat trick of interceptions when he came up with a 47-yard pick-6 to push the lead to 40-8 in favor of Lamar with 7:26 left in the third quarter.
The Tigers added another score just minutes later after coming up with another turnover—a fumble recovery by Trace Wooldridge—that set up a 10-yard touchdown run from Wilkerson to make the score 47-8 with six minutes to play.
Bryant broke free for a 49-yard touchdown run with two minutes left to wrap the scoring for the Bobcats as well as the game.
Lamar gained 295 yards on the ground (390 total offense) with Wilkerson carrying 15 times for 82 yards and two touchdowns, while Haun added 11 carries for 70 yards and Logan Kish gained 82 yards on 14 attempts. In the air, Wilkerson completed 5-of-10 passes for 95 yards and three touchdowns, while Ngugi caught three passes for 74 yards and touchdowns.
