Richmond’s dreams of reaching a state championship came up one point short as the Spartans fell 21-20 at Lamar in a Missouri Class 2 semifinal.
The Spartans, who finished the season 11-2, had the ball on the Lamar side of midfield as time expired but couldn’t reach the end zone.
Lamar, the defending Class 2 state champions, got out to a quick start leading 13-0 before the Spartans stormed back to take a 14-13 lead.
Richmond first got on the board when quarterback Keyshaun Elliot scrambled to find Jordan Alexander in the back of the end zone.
After forcing a Lamar punt, Elliot would give the Spartans the lead with a 35-yard touchdown run with 5:25 left in the first half.
Lamar would answer with a score of their own to end the first half to take a 21-14 lead into halftime.
Richmond scored the only points of the second half when Elliot found Alexander on a 72-yard touchdown pass. The point after attempt was partially blocked making the score 21-20.
From there the Spartans defense would stiffen.
Lamar would take the ball early in the fourth quarter and drove to the Richmond 14 taking nearly seven minutes off the clock. WIth the Tigers on the verge of putting the game away with a score, Richmond forced a turnover on downs at the 14.
That stop gave the Spartans a chance to go on a game-winning drive that ultimately did not come to fruition.
The semifinal loss marked the deepest playoff run for RIchmond since it reached the Class 3 semifinals in the 2011 season.
The Spartans 11-2 record also marks a stark contrast from the seniors’ freshman season when they finished 0-10.
