FootballThe Lawrence High School football team ended the regular season with a 5-4 record once again in 2001. It’s the same record the Cardinals had at the end of the 2000 campaign, but with one major difference.
By: Steve Feitl
There will be no state consolation game this year. Instead, the Cardinals are off to the state playoffs.
That achievement overshadowed the Cardinals’ dominant season-ending 43-7 win over Allentown Saturday. Also lost in the shuffle was junior Orlando Kane breaking the all-time LHS rushing record of 1,233 yards, set by Corey Stephens in 1997.
Kane needed 23 yards prior to the first snap Saturday. On Lawrence’s very first drive, he had already picked up 47 and etched his name into Lawrence history books. He ran for just over 200 yards during the first half.
Kane didn’t put too much stock into his record-breaking performance.
"Records are made to be broken," Kane said. "I have the record now and that’s great, but it may be broken next year.
"My goal is to get this team to the playoffs. Everything else is secondary. I don’t play football for records. I play because I love the game and I want to win."
Kane got the scoring started soon after breaking the rushing record. He beat Allentown defenders to the left corner of the end zone on a 3-yard sweep to put Lawrence up, 7-0, after just three minutes of play.
Quarterback Charlie Park capped the next Lawrence scoring drive with a keeper and then recovered from a botched snap on the point-after attempt to find back Emir Davis in the end zone for the two-point conversion.
With Lawrence now up, 15-0, early in the second quarter, Allentown answered immediately with a kick-off return for six points. The Redbirds’ extra-point made the score, 15-7, but they would get no closer.
"We were very concerned at that point," Lawrence head coach Rob Radice admitted. "(Allentown) doesn’t give up. At that point, it was anyone’s game and we needed to answer the call."
Allentown recovered a Lawrence fumble at the Lawrence 34-yard line, but senior Darnell Williams continued his strong defensive play with an interception to give the Cardinals the ball back.
Lawrence drove down the field and at the 1-yard line, Park hit sophomore tight end John Nalbone in the end zone. Despite juggling the ball multiple times, Nalbone pulled it in and put Lawrence up 21-7. Kicker Ryan Dunn’s point-after made it 22-7 with 6:31 to play in the first half.
Two minutes later, the Park-to-Nalbone connection was back in business this time with a 16-yard touchdown.
Nalbone credited the other aspects of the offense with allowing for his big afternoon.
"We pound away on the run and it opens up the passing game," Nalbone said. "Park was making good reads today and he just found me open. He’s a really good quarterback."
After senior Jamar Tigget picked off his first of two Allentown passes, Kane picked up 22 yards on a total of three runs to give Lawrence another touchdown just less than two minutes after its previous score. The Cardinals took a 36-7 lead into the intermission.
After a scoreless third quarter, Lawrence pulled many of its starters. It served two purposes, according to Radice.
First and foremost, it gave the starters a well-deserved rest heading into the state playoffs this coming weekend. But secondly, it gave many of the Cardinals’ younger players an opportunity to get some playing time something most haven’t seen since Lawrence does not have enough players to field a junior varsity squad.
"Anytime we can get the younger guys in, I’m pleased," Radice said.
With sophomore Steve Marencik behind center, Lawrence drove for one final score in the fourth quarter. Sophomore back Dan Katona broke through the line from seven yards out to give the Cardinals their last touchdown. Dunn’s successful point-after attempt lifted the score to 43-7.
Overall, Radice was pleased with what he saw at LHS on Saturday.
"The kids all played well," he said. "We came into this game trying to hone things and get ready so we can take that next step next weekend."