FARMINGTON — When it’s the third week of the football season and you’re still looking for your first win, you put no stock in style. A win doesn’t have to look like the Mona Lisa. Dogs Playing Poker is just as beautiful.
That’s how Lawrence looked at Friday’s 7-0 win at Mt. Blue. It was sloppy, it was frustrating, but it was a win.
“We realize the win feels good, but we’re very fortunate to walk out of here with a ‘W’,” said Lawrence coach John Hersom, who saw his team improve to 1-2.
Lawrence had 95 yards in penalties, many which stalled promising drives. While the penalties stung, the Bulldogs overcame them with a defense that gave up just 107 yards to Mt. Blue, just 19 in the second half.
“Our defense was absolutely incredible tonight,” defensive back Gunner McAllister said. “We really stepped up. I’m proud of everybody.”
McAllister’s interception around his own 20-yard line midway through the second quarter killed one Mt. Blue (0-3) drive. Four times, the Cougars got inside the Lawrence 20, only to be turned away each time.
Mt. Blue’s best chance to score came midway through the third quarter, when it had first and 10 and the Bulldog 11. The drive stalled on downs at the Lawrence 2.
“They had to step up many times, which they did,” Hersom said of his defense. “It wasn’t one or two guys. It was a team effort.”
Lawrence scored the only points of the game on the night’s first drive. Quarterback Braden Ballard capped a six-play, 59-yard drive with a 2-yard touchdown run. The key play of the drive was Devon Webb’s 42-yard run to the 2.
Lawrence took over with 1:17 left in the game and attempted to run out the clock by taking a knee. The Cougars called their final timeout with 1:13 left, and when Ballard kneed on fourth down, the Cougars got the ball back at their own 35 with 1.7 seconds left. Cal Dorman’s last ditch pass was knocked down to end the game.
McAllister led Lawrence with 76 yards rushing, 16 coming on a fake punt run in the third quarter. While the play extended the drive, the Bulldogs turned it over two plays later when Sean Testa intercepted a pass.
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