The last time Lazarus Chambers started for Godby, he was an All-Big Bend performer and arguably the best QB in Tallahassee.
On Friday night, Oct. 24, he reminded everyone at Gene Cox Stadium that he was still the same player.
The senior QB, in his first start since transferring back from Gadsden County following the various FHSAA violation rules against the program, led the Cougars to a come-from-behind victory over Lincoln, 30- 28. They ended their two-game losing streak, improving to 4-5 with one more game left on their schedule before playoff season starts.
“It felt amazing,” Chambers said. “Everybody tried to count me out, but I’m back, and I am never going anywhere for a minute.”
For the Trojans, this will be their second straight loss as they dropped to 5-4 on the season heading into their season finale against Rickards next Friday, Oct. 31
Here are the three takeaways from Friday’s game.
Godby teammates had all faith in Lazarus Chambers
Chambers is used to playing in tight ballgames and leading to game-winning drives. After a shaky first quarter, Lincoln was in full control after leading 12-3 in the second quarter.
The Cougars got rolling halfway through the quarter by putting up 17 unanswered points to lead 17-12 at the half.
Then, with under a minute left and the game on the line, Chambers made a clutch throw to Jamarin Simmons to put the Cougars inside the five, and he would set up Jerrell Hall’s touchdown with three seconds left in the game.
“I had a feeling that we were going to win it,” Chambers said.
“Everybody was prepared at that level and was mentally locked in this week. Everybody was going to stick through it and fight through it. They counted us out, but we’re still here.”
Two of the three touchdown passes were to Hall. Hall, who played with Chambers last season, was thrilled to have the senior QB back in Godby and in the starting lineup.
“It feels great,” Hall said. “Last year, he was the best quarterback in the city, in my opinion. When he first came back today, he showed it.”
Defense, turnovers keep Godby in the game
Godby’s defense bent but didn’t break.
The defense kept Godby in the game by bringing pressure on senior quarterback Taylor Jacobs, who had one passing touchdown for the Trojans. Turnovers played a part for both teams.
Simmons, a four-star junior recruited to play receiver, picked off one that set up a passing TD by Chambers to Hall with 45 seconds left in the second quarter.
The Trojan had three rushing touchdowns. Two of which came from its tailback, Tadarius Huggins. A wildcat play to tight end Will Tawney gave Lincoln the lead at 25-24 with seven minutes left in the fourth quarter.
Chambers fumbled on the next drive and put the Trojans in field goal range, where Thomas Arnold kicked a 40-yard field goal to make it 28-24.
Win over Lincoln boosts Godby’s confidence
It has been an up-and-down season for the Cougars.
They started 0-3, then won their next three. Then, they lost two more heading into the Lincoln game. The combination of mental errors, injuries, and the QB change all factored into this season for Godby.
Yet, there is still confidence inside the Cougars’ locker room. With one more game left on their schedule, they look to keep their momentum going before the postseason.
“It was a big win because we beat the odds,” Simmons said. “Everybody think we’re not that good, but we just showed tonight that we are really that.”
Godby’s last game will be at Dothan at 7 p.m. A win would put the Cougars at .500 heading into the playoffs.
Godby football’s 2025 schedule
Lincoln football’s 2025 schedule
Peter Holland Jr. covers Florida State athletics for the Tallahassee Democrat. Contact him via email at PHolland@Gannett.com or on X @_Da_pistol.
This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Godby’s senior QB Lazarus Chambers drops 4 TDs in his 1st start to stun Lincoln | Takeaways
Reporting by Peter Holland Jr., Tallahassee Democrat / Tallahassee Democrat
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
