Cardinals cause turnovers and take control to start their season with a win.
By: Tim Falls
The Lawrence High School football team made a defensive stand in its season opener last Friday night at Notre Dame’s Monsignor Walter E. Nolan field.
A second-half shutout helped the Cardinals win, 21-13, and become the first Colonial Valley Conference team this decade to hand the Irish a loss on their own field.
Notre Dame turnovers helped too.
Last year, Lawrence, along with Nottingham and Princeton, brought and end to Notre Dame’s winning tradition in the CVC. Last Friday’s victory further solidified Lawrence’s standing as one of the leaders in the CVC. The Cardinals went 8-2 last year with its only league loss in a game against West Windsor-Plainsboro South to end the season.
"Our defense was outstanding," said Lawrence coach Rob Radice. "We pitched a shutout in the second half. Any time you can pitch a shutout, that’s pretty good in my book."
Not only did the Cardinal’s defensive line stop the Irish in the second half to protect their lead, but by recovering three Notre Dame turnovers Lawrence was able to take the lead and extend it even further.
"We showed an unbelievable amount of character," said Radice. "That’s a testament to how much work we did in the off season."
Lawrence senior Maurice Lassister pounced on a Notre Dame fumble late in the first quarter with the Cardinals trailing, 7-6. Lassiter’s recovery put Lawrence in position to score once more.
Three plays later, at the start of the second quarter, Lawrence’s sophomore quarterback Anthony Russ threw a 29-yard touchdown pass to junior Brian Mills to take the lead it would hold through the remainder of the game.
Bayshawn Wells, who scored the Cardinal’s first touchdown on a 13-yard run, ran in the two-point conversion to send Lawrence ahead, 14-7.
"It meant a lot to us," said Wells. "We worked hard all off season for this game."
Notre Dame, which scored on its first drive to open the game as quarterback Nick Lezynski connected with Pat Duffner on a 23-yard touchdown pass, cut Lawrence’s lead to 14-13 as the Irish’s Travis Larmore scored on a one-yard run.
Lawrence senior Matt Watson stopped Notre Dame from tying the game as he blocked the extra point attempt. Notre Dame went into halftime down by that one point.
"That block was huge," said Wells. "It set the tone for the whole second half."
The Cardinal defense certainly seemed inspired to protect that lead in the second half.
Lawrence senior Rob Wilborn picked off a pass attempt which lead to the Cardinal’s final touchdown.
"Our defense picked up a lot," said Wells. "Everybody picked up but our defense was great. Any time you can get a stop is huge, because it brings the offense back out."
The Cardinals pushed the ball forward from midfield with its running game and junior Nick Cannon completed the series with a seven-yard touchdown run.
Even though a penalty made the extra point a 35-yard attempt, and Notre Dame actually got a piece of the ball, senior Jim Gorski managed to put it just over for a 21-13 advantage with 6:54 left to play.
Notre Dame did not give up, but with time ticking down the Irish would have needed a touchdown and the two-point conversion just to tie the game thanks to the Watson’s block and Gorski’s extra point.
"You never know," said Radice. "Everything counts in this game."
Given Notre Dame’s history, Lawrence knew it would need strong play all around to open the season with a win.
"We had to avoid making mental mistakes," said Wells. "We had to block well, run well and tackle well. Basically, we had to make sure we did the fundamentals right."
In fitting form, the Cardinal’s defense had the final say of the game as an interception by Lawrence senior Ben Quaye in the final seconds, sealed Lawrence’s victory.
"There was no doubt in my mind we wouldn’t win this game," said Radice.