It was an amazing night in more than one way for Alan Lamar. The superstar running back for DeSoto Central High accounted for 11 touchdowns in a single game, having a hand in each of his team’s scoring plays. Yet DeSoto still lost, by a score of 87-86, to Olive Branch in triple overtime.
For the record, Lamar had 9 touchdowns on the ground, returned a punt for a score and also passed for another. In other words, everything he touched turned to gold. Everything, that is, except a final 2-point conversion that would have won the game in the third OT. After Lamar’s final touchdown, from three yards out, had cut the deficit to one, Desoto Central football coach Matthew Wallace went for the gusto and called for a two-point conversion and the win.
It didn’t work out, which made it one of the only things that didn’t work out for Lamar all night.
In review, Lamar’s nine touchdown runs tied a state record, with two more thrown in for good measure. His team lost because Lamar was nearly matched by Olive Branch quarterback Brady Burse, who passed for 8 touchdowns and ran for another.
As for Lamar, the 5-foot-8 back has been receiving steadily increased attention from colleges, including recent scholarship offers from Air Force and Miami of Ohio. With a game like that, something tells us he’ll have plenty more coaches knocking at his door in the days ahead.
