FOOTBALL
By: Tim Falls
Brian Mills likes to keep the opposition guessing.
The Lawrence High School junior was even harder to predict as he took over as quarterback against Nottingham last Saturday.
The Cardinals dominated again in impressive fashion with a 58-7 victory over the Northstars to remain undefeated with a record of 6-0.
It may have been coach Rob Radice showing off for the Cardinal alum’s 20th reunion that night, but more likely it was Lawrence’s proven system punching holes through Nottingham’s defense again and again.
The week before, Mills stepped in as quarterback after sophomore Anthony Russ suffered an injury in the third quarter in a 40-0 victory over Trenton.
Mills, a former Cardinal quarterback who had made big strides as running back in the first five wins, easily adapted to the transition and spearheaded the Cardianl’s attack against Nottingham.
The Cardinal junior may have been nervous about taking over in the middle of a successful season, but proved it was the Lawrence system and not any one player made the team so effective.
"I was more nervous coming in against Trenton," said Mills. "But I’ve been behind the offense all week and once I got out on the field it went great."
Mills thrived in his new role and particularly relished the options he has as quarterback.
"When I’m a running back, everybody knows I’m running the ball," said Mills. "As a quarterback I can hand it off, throw it or take the ball myself. It’s more disguised."
Mills did account for 58 yards of five carries helping the Cardinals rack up 548 yards of total offense off of 38 plays. With Lawrence averaging over 14 yards a play it is no wonder the Cardinals scored nine times before Nottingham found the endzone.
Lawrence senior Alex Pearson crashed through the Northstars’ defensive line for 133 yards on 12 carries and led the Cardinals’ offense with three touchdowns. Pearson sent Lawrence ahead with a 24-yard touchdown run on its first possession.
That opening drive showed Mills just what the Cardinals could accomplish.
"Right from the first play we were able to run, run, run right down the center," said Mills. "It was perfect. We knew we could do anything we wanted."
That seemed pretty evident as senior Bayshawn Wells scored on a 64-yard touchdown run on the Cardinal’s second possession. Wells had 131 yards on nine carries and had a second touchdown in the third quarter.
In the second quarter, Pearson scored his second touchdown of the game on a 32-yard run and then had his third on a 2-yard run after senior Jimmy Gorski recorded a 31-yard field goal.
Gorski showed how aggressive the Cardinals can be by recovering his own kickoff after smashing the ball off the chest of one Nottingham defender.
While Mills generated offense through the running game, the junior did exercise his other option once with a significant degree of success. Mills connected with senior Matt Russo on a 64-yard touchdown pass for Lawrence’s only throw of the game.
Russo’s reception at the end of the second quarter put Lawrence ahead, 36-0, four points shy of its final score against Trenton the previous week.
"Our intent was to win the football game," said coach Radice. "Whether it was by one point or whatever, it didn’t matter. We have our system we run and we were able to play our game."
The Cardinals’ offense returned after halftime and added three more touchdowns in the third quarter. Junior Ken Sherman scored on a 42-yard run and Mills ran in the two-point conversion after Wells had his 5-yard touchdown run. Sophomore Sean Pearson capped the Cardinals’ scoring with a 59-yard run.
Junior Nick Cannon also generated offense for Lawrence with 31 rushing yards on four carries, while sophomore Jerry McClure had a 26-yard run and sophomore Case Jemison had two carries for 15 yards.
While Nottingham managed to avoid the shutout with a touchdown pass late in the fourth quarter, the Lawrence defense remained as stifling as ever.
The Northstars only had 141 rushing yards, compared to 484 by Lawrence, and barely had more passing yardage than the Cardinals who threw once for 64 yards, with seven completions for 65 yards.
"We just have a system and we played our system," said senior Rob Wilborn, who pulled down one of the Cardinals two interceptions. "We just do what our coaches ask us to do. We have a great defensive mind in coach (Anthony) Ammirata (the defensive coordinator) and we know if we can do what he says, we’ll make the stops."
Lawrence senior Matt Watson had the other interception and gained 37 yards on the return. The Cardinals defense also recovered a Nottingham fumble to deny the Northstar offense many chances.
Lawrence faces Colonial Division rival Hamilton (4-1) at 2 p.m. on Saturday and will look to clinch the division title with a win.

