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[Print]Home » Football NewsAfter 16 years, Lawrence return to MVC a winning oneSeptember 28, 2009 Lawrence High School
Published: September 19, 2009 02:40 am ShareThisPrintThis After 16 years, Lawrence return to MVC a winning one Lawrence sacks Redmen in return to league By Hector Longo hlongo@eagletribune.com LAWRENCE - Last week his team gave up 40 points, so Lawrence coach Mike Yameen turned the dogs loose and kicked down the door back into the Merrimack Valley Conference. Yameen's blitz-happy Lancers roughed up Tewksbury quarterback Sean Connolly to the tune of eight sacks - four by junior Jean Zorrilla alone - and stifled the Redmen 12-8 before a small but loud Veterans Memorial Stadium crowd of 300. Victory represents history for the Lancers, who return to the MVC after 16 years away. Lawrence exited the MVC after losing 41 straight league games to end the 1993 season. Over the years, Lawrence has enjoyed selective success. Including a 1999 forfeit win over Methuen, the Lancers went 6-25 against MVC foes since its departure. Last night was all about the arrival, much of the night right in the Tewksbury backfield. "Pressuring the quarterback and getting sacks," said Zorrilla, a 5-foot-10, 160-pound outside linebacker. "We were sacking him all night." Considering Lawrence gave up 40 points to Lynn English last week and trailed 8-0 after the initial Redmen possession, doubt had to creep in, just a little bit. "No panic, last week was just a wake-up call for us," said quarterback Nick Elwell. "We learned from last game. We're going to do some damage this year. That's just how it is." Elwell and the offense found a spark on Harvey Blanco's 47-yard burst off right tackle. Six plays later, the senior Elwell spotted Christian Reyes on a 16-yard score, slicing the margin to 8-6. From there, the Lancers terrorized Tewksbury, which possessed the ball for 15 of 22 minutes in the half, but took only the two-point advantage to the break. Five post-intermission sacks put the Lancers in position for victory, and the offense capitalized. Elwell, who bided his time behind Ramon Heredia the last couple years, played the role of the seasoned vet in the fourth quarter. A dish to Blanco gained 10 yards and Kevin Valerio snatched another Elwell strike for 18 more. Eagle-Tribune All-Star sprinter Francis Nova then tore up the turf for 20 yards, putting the Lancers in position at the Redmen 6. Nothing comes easily, though, for Lawrence, which was extended to fourth-and-goal at the 5. "We're still not sold on our kicking game, we're waiting," said Yameen, who eschewed the thought of a field-goal try. Yameen went with his go-to man, Mike Calzetta, for what the game-winner, a 5-yard lob from Elwell with 8:51 left. "I knew he was going to up there and get it for me," said Elwell of the 6-foot-4 Calzetta. "I'll put it up there for him every day. We've been doing it like that since Pop Warner." Tewksbury, which drilled preseason Dual County League choice Lincoln-Sudbury last week, didn't threaten again. Lawrence 12, Tewksbury 8 Tewksbury (1-1, 0-1 MVC):8âÇ0âÇ0âÇ0 - âÇ8 Lawrence (1-1, 1-0 MVC):0âÇ6âÇ0âÇ6 - 12 First Quarter T - Anthony Alcari 11 run (Alcari rush) 3:32 Second Quarter L - Cristian Reyes 16 pass from Nick Elwell (rush failed) 10:56 Fourth Quarter L - Mike Calzetta 5 pass from Elwell (rush failed) 8:51 INDIVIDUAL LEADERS RUSHING: T (45-125) - Nick LaCascia 7-47, Anthony Arcari 14-55, Chris Legerstrom 7-24, Chris Bettano 4-20, Sean Connolly 12-(-22), Ryan Vibber 1-1; L (20-113) - Francis Nova 9-40, Elwell 6-9, Harvey Blanco 5-64 PASSING: T - Connolly 8-18-1, 88 yards; L - Elwell 7-14-1, 71; Kevin Valerio 0-1-0 RECEIVING: T - Legerstrom 2-46, Vibber 3-17, Arcari 2-19, LaCascia 1-6; L - Calzetta 3-15, Reyes 2-28, Blanco 1-10, Valerio 1-18
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