FOOTBALL
By Tim Falls, Sports Editor
The Lawrence High School football team established itself early against Hamilton.
The Cardinals gained a 21-6 lead in the first half and maintained control to defeat the Hornets, 42-27, on Saturday.
”I didn’t expect for us to put 42 on the board,” said Lawrence coach Rob Radice. “Our defense bent but didn’t break.”
Lawrence set the pace of play in the first half as the visitors after matching Nottingham touchdown for touchdown in the first half at home last week and trailing West Windsor-Plainsboro South by a touchdown in the first half in the Cardinals’ Colonial Valley Conference home opener.
”We came out and challenged our kids to be fired up,” said Radice. “We told our kids we’re going into a hostile environment at Hamilton West. We told our players the Hornets don’t like losing on this field and we’re going to take it to them.”
Sean Pearson scored Lawrence’s initial touchdown on a four-yard run and Corey Bannister kicked the extra point.
Nottingham answered back with a touchdown run but the Cardinals blocked the kick to protect their lead.
Keish Sherman scored on a 59-yard pass from Anthony Russ and Jamal Taylor returned a Hamilton punt 65-yard for a touchdown to increase the Cardinals’ lead to 21-6, before the end of the first quarter.
”It’s a big win, we didn’t want to start the season 1-2,” said Sherman. “We had a good game. Everyone executed. We worked together. We played as a family.”
Pearson scored on a 66-yard run to put Lawrence ahead, 28-6, in the second quarter. Hamilton managed another touchdown, but the Cardinals kept applying pressure.
”We wanted to come out early and score some points,” said Sherman. “We wanted to have them on their heels and keep piling on.”
In the third quarter, Russ ran in a one-yard touchdown and Pearson scored on a three-yard run to give Lawrence a 42-13 lead.
”Our offense was spectacular,” said Sherman. “The line was great, at quarterback Anthony Russ was awesome. And the running backs, Sean Pearson and myself did very well.”
Pearson led Lawrence with 156 rushing yards on 17 carries, while Sherman had 10 carries for 69 yards.
Russ completed 10 of 18 passes with one interception for 228 passing yards. Sherman led the Cardinal receivers with three catches for 103 yards, including his 59-yard touchdown reception. Dion Ross had five catches for 50 yards, Colin Anderson had a 38-yard reception and Steve Parson had a 37-yard catch.
Hamilton managed two touchdowns in the fourth quarter, but Lawrence’s defense kept its composure.
”Hamilton did well putting up some big plays,” said Lawrence’s Kalen McCallum, “but we didn’t let that get to us. We had a great approach. We just worked hard, that’s how we had to play. Coach Radice drilled that into us, to the whistle, first whistle to last whistle.”
McCallum and Jensen Pierre each sacked the Hornet quarterback.
”Our offense did great, passing, running, just good all around,” said McCallum. “The d-line was strong as well. We executed.”
As happy as the Cardinals were to defeat Hamilton and improve to 2-1, they were already thinking about playing Notre Dame tomorrow.
”We have to get into it,” said McCallum. “We’ve got a day off to celebrate the win, but then we’ve got to think ‘Irish.’ As soon as we get off the bus, ‘Irish, Irish’ that’s all I’ll be thinking.”
Notre Dame defeated Nottingham, 28-19, on Saturday to improve to 3-0. Lawrence defeated Nottingham the previous week after starting the season with a loss to WW-P South.
”It’s a big rivalry,” said Sherman. “It’s a big game and we’re going to put all we can into it.”

