Arlington Lamar’s late FG helps Vikings beat Grand Prairie on Monday night football
Only in 2020 will you find a Monday night high school football game.
You couldn’t help to say those six words Hank Williams Jr. made famous for so many years ... are you ready for some football?
Blake Ford’s 20-yard field goal with 1:17 left helped Arlington Lamar prevail over Grand Prairie, 20-17, in a key District 8-6A contest Monday night at Cravens Field.
“Today was a little bit weird and we came out flat. We tried to juice them up saying it’s Monday night football and playing that music. But we came out with a win and I’m happy for that,” Lamar coach Laban DeLay said. “We talked last week about how every game is a playoff game. If we want to advance to the tournament, we have to win all these games right now.”
The Vikings picked up their first district win (1-2) and improved to 2-4 overall. The Gophers, who were playing their first game since Oct. 23 because of COVID-19, fell to 3-2 and 1-2.
Tied at 17 with 6 1/2 left, Lamar embarked on an 11-play drive that last over five minutes. The Vikings called 11 run plays, led by running back Anthony Williams, who had eight carries for 51 yards.
“It’s great to pick up a district win,” Williams said. “Coaches said we have to fight and believe in ourselves.”
Lamar lined up for a 31-yard field goal attempt and the snap was low, forcing an incomplete throw, but Grand Prairie was called for off-sides which resulted in a new set of downs. Four plays later, Ford booted his second field goal of the night — his first coming from 40 yards to put the Vikings up 17-14 midway through the third quarter.
With a chance to tie or take the lead, GP got as far as the Lamar 36, but with 11 seconds left, the Gophers’ last pass attempt was intercepted in the end zone by North Texas commit Harold West with four seconds left.
It was West’s only snap of the night as he’s been battling an ankle injury.
“Harold is the best. To go in for one play and get a pick, that’s amazing,” Williams said.
After Lamar took a 17-14 lead, Grand Prairie went 14 plays on the ensuing drive to tie the game on a Cuauhtecmoc Duenas’ 37-yard field goal with 1:26 left in the third quarter.
After a scoreless first quarter, both teams scored on each of their two series in the second.
Grand Prairie opened the point barrage when a 32-yard pass play from Michael Stallworth to SMU commit Savion Red and a 14-yard run by Stallworth gave the Gophers a first down at the Lamar 8. After a pass interference penalty, Red darted in from the 2 and Grand Prairie led 7-0 with 9:30 left in the half.
Red added an 11-yard TD catch from Stallworth at the 2:16 mark of the second quarter.
Lamar cashed in on two long scoring drives. The first went 11 plays and covered 75 yards and was capped by an 11-yard TD run by Williams, who also broke loose for a 46-yard run on the second march of 90 yards. Five plays later, the senior running back bulled in from 2 yards out to tie the game at 14 with 11 seconds left before intermission.
Williams had 179 yards on 26 carries. Caleb Phillips added 63 yards rushing for Lamar. Stallworth led GP with 219 yards on 16 of 26 passing. Red and Da’Matthew McGhee combined for nine catches for 155 yards.
“Give props to my o-line. They opened up holes for me. I’m going to give them donuts after this,” Williams said.
“Offensive line gets better every week,” DeLay added. “Got all that yardage because of how the unit is gelling together up front.”
Due to scheduling, both teams will play another game on Saturday. Grand Prairie will host Arlington Bowie while Lamar travels to Sam Houston.
“It is what it is. It doesn’t surprise me, it’s 2020,” DeLay said. “We’ll heal up, rest up and get ready for Sam Houston on Saturday.”
This story was originally published November 9, 2020 at 10:37 PM.