ATLANTA — The Lamar County Trojans football team’s special season continues due to the Trojans 35-28 win over the Lovett Lions last Friday night in the Class AA state quarterfinals at The Lovett School. With the win, the No. 4 state-ranked Trojans (12-0-1) advance to the Class AA state semifinals where they will face the defending AA state champion Calhoun Yellow Jackets (13-0) Friday at 7:30 p.m. at Calhoun High.

Lamar took the early lead over Lovett on a 34-yard touchdown run by Antwan Wallace. The point-after by Tyler Scandrett failed and Lamar led 6-0 in the first quarter. Jeremy Fletcher’s 2-yard TD run and a successful Scandrett PAT gave the Trojans a 13-0 lead heading into the second quarter.

Lovett made it a game with 8:36 remaining before halftime, scoring on a 42-yard pass play to trail 13-7. Lamar answered two minutes later thanks to a Lance Austin 32-yard TD run for the 20-7 lead, but Lovett scored on the ensuing kickoff 97 yards to get within 6 again at 20-14. Lamar was unfazed, getting a 30-yard TD pass from Lance Austin to Sid Gotell to take a 27-14 lead into the half.

Lovett scored another TD at the 6:43 mark of the third quarter to trail 27-21, but that was as close as the Lions would get. Lovett missed a field goal in the fourth quarter and Lamar sealed the victory with a Lance Austin 34-yard TD pass to his twin brother Lawrence Austin for the 33-21 lead with 1:40 left in regulation. Lawrence then threw a pass to Quay Searcy for the 2-point conversion to give the Trojans the 35-21 lead.

Lovett scored its final points of the season with 12 seconds left for the 35-28 final margin.

Should Lamar defeat Calhoun this Friday, the Trojans will face the Greater Atlanta Christian/Jefferson winner in the Class AA state championship game Saturday, Dec. 15 at 2:30 p.m. in the Georgia Dome.