One of The Most Insane High School Football Performances You May Have Never Heard Of

October 8, 2015, is a date that DeSoto Central football fans will never forget.

DeSoto faced rival Olive Branch in a game that defied expectations. It went into triple overtime. The final score was 87-86. That’s 173 total points in a single high school game. Coaches and players alike could barely keep up. In the middle of the chaos, one player emerged as a legend…

Alan Lamar

He ran, passed, and returned kicks like a man possessed. On that night, Lamar rushed 55 times for 412 yards. He scored nine rushing touchdowns, tying the state record. But there is some confusion on his total touchdowns on that historic night.

The confusion in the numbers comes from the frenzy of reporting after the game. Early news outlets miscounted or misreported. Some focused only on the nine rushing touchdowns. Others mentioned 10 total scores. The truth seems to be 11, after he was credited with a touchdown pass and kick returned for another score.

This game wasn’t just a fluke. Lamar’s performance was part of a larger story.

His senior year totals were nearly 2,400 rushing yards and 43 touchdowns. Across his high school career, he amassed 6,534 all-purpose yards and 77 touchdowns. These numbers earned him First-Team All-State, Parade High School All-American honors, and both Shelby/Metro and DeSoto County Player of the Year.

Lamar’s dominance was consistent, not just a single-game explosion.

The 87-86 game itself was extraordinary even beyond Lamar’s feats. The DeSoto Central-Olive Branch rivalry had historically been close but low-scoring. Scores like 20-14 or 21-20 were common. The 2015 game shattered those norms. It became a legendary shootout that remains a topic of discussion among fans and analysts years later.

Lamar’s story continued at the collegiate level. He joined Yale, where he made an immediate impact as a freshman. He led the team in rushing yards and touchdowns and earned Second-Team All-Ivy honors. But his sophomore season hit a roadblock. A torn ACL in preseason forced him to miss the entire year.

He returned in his junior season and led Yale in rushing yards again, totaling 685 yards with 9 touchdowns. This earned him First-Team All-Ivy League recognition. His resilience was as impressive as his athletic skill. He didn’t stop at Yale. Lamar transferred to Arkansas State as a graduate student. There, he showed his versatility as a kick return specialist. In 2021, he led the nation in kick return yards and attempts. He proved he could adapt, excel, and dominate at every level.

It’s important to clarify Lamar’s records. While some claim he set the “total touchdown record” in Mississippi, the reality is more nuanced. His nine rushing touchdowns tied the state record for rushing scores in a single game. The single-game touchdown pass record, 10, is held by Clifton Davis III of Sardis North Panola from 1990. Lamar’s performance was different but no less historic. His 11 total touchdowns in one game were a display of versatility and endurance rarely seen at any level.

Lamar’s legacy is bigger than a single performance. The 87-86 game was a showcase, but his high school career proves sustained excellence. His collegiate success shows determination and adaptability. His story is a testament to hard work, resilience, and the relentless pursuit of greatness.