For Arlington Lamar, it was a year that was more ‘What could have been’ rather than ‘What actually happened.’ Lamar started the year off the at 4-1 and looked like a playoff bound team after big wins over Keller Central and South Grand Prairie that both made the playoffs.
In the first 5 games, Lamar was averaging 37.4 points a game and only allowing 15.8 points per game to their opposition. However, the archives will tell you the end result of the Lamar Vikings as they struggled down the stretch going 1-4 and missing the opportunity to participate in the playoffs.
Any team that starts off 4-1 only to end at a .500 record and miss out on a chance at the playoffs will tell you its frustrating. Especially when Lamar was hoping to further the success experienced in their 2015 season where they finished with an 11-2 overall record and went three rounds deep into the playoffs before being ousted by Mansfield.
So just what exactly can be expected in 2017 for Arlington Lamar? Will the Vikings be ready to rebound and revert back to their previous winning ways or will Lamar be a team that falls victim to the no holds barred District 4-6A race?
Key Losses
QB Chance Fuller, RB Rashod Polk, RB Kendall Burt, WR/DB Devon Wright, LB Kyron Johnson
Lamar are losing several key aspects in their offense to graduation. Lamar is losing their quarterback, their top two leading rushers and one of their leading receivers. To put it in perspective, Lamar will be losing a core in Fuller, Polk, Burt and Wright that accounted for 3,983 total yards of offense.
Fuller accounted for 23 passing touchdowns and three rushing touchdowns while between Polk and Burt they combined for 10 touchdowns on the ground and four touchdown receptions. Wright had 427 yards and six touchdowns.
Kyron Johnson will surely be missed as the 6-foot-1, 188-pound frame of the outside linebacker and his presence off the edge will have to be made up for.
Key Returners
WR Dayton Dubs, WR Matthew Shaw, DL Bobby Brown
Dayton Dubs, Lamar’s leading receiver, will be looking to up his game even more after posting 461 receiving yards on 29 receptions and eight touchdown receptions. Matthew Shaw will be another target to go to as he had a season that resulted in 335 receiving yards and four touchdown receptions on his 21 receptions of the season.
All-District defensive lineman Bobby Brown will be back to assert the will of the front line and cause some matchup problems in the trenches.
Verdict
As of right now, the Vikings are an on the fringe team. As the offseason workouts progress and the season draws closer Lamar should get stronger and be able to kick one of the other Arlington ISD schools out of contention. They will be one of the more interesting teams to watch when it comes down to the race between Martin, Bowie and Arlington High.
Lamar has the capability to return back to the top of the district but the other Arlington ISD schools are aiming to keep them out. The Vikings will need to win the games it’s supposed to and prove that last year was just a down year. They’re still still one of the stronger teams in the district, but they’ll have have to play better late in the season. Given how close the district losses were last year, it’s not beyond them to come away with those district wins.
It comes down to Lamar’s ability to perform when all the chips are on the table and it surely will provide quite the spectacle. Lamar controls their fate next season but will have quite the task awaiting them.
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Go, Arlington!!!