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Londonderry still looking for first win

Friday, October, 07 By Jeff Hamrick

LONDONDERRY — Last night, the Lancers had the services of a 2010 Eagle-Tribune All Star for the first time this season. But despite Sean O’Gorman’s contributions, Londonderry remained winless.

The Lancers took a second-half lead for the first time in six games, but Manchester Central scored the last points as the Little Green eked out a 14-10 victory over the Lancers.

O’Gorman, who served a five-game suspension after violating team rules, scored all 10 of Londonderry’s points, including three on a 33-yard field goal 13 seconds into the final quarter that provided a 10-7 lead. It was just the fourth time the Lancers had held a lead this season. He also scored on a 2-yard run midway through the third to tie the score.

“He’s a great player,” Londonderry coach Jon Rich said of his senior running back, who gained almost 1,400 yards and scored 24 touchdowns last year. “He’s a good athlete, and like the rest of the kids worked hard all summer. He was there and he was around in practice. It helped having him back ... but we still fell four points short.”

Playing a Manchester Central squad that had scored at least 28 points while winning four of its first five games, Londonderry’s defense more than held its own. In fact, the Little Green scored the game’s first touchdown on a 20-yard interception return by Junior Brown, and until Riley Cote capped a 65-yard drive on a 1-yard run with 7:19 left, they had managed only 133 yards of total offense.

The Lancers, who held a 17-3 advantage in third-quarter plays, had two possessions that lasted at least 7 minutes, but the first one ended with an O’Gorman fumble at the Manchester 4 midway through the second. It was one of three Londonderry turnovers.

“Those hurt, and we work a lot on ball security in practice,” Rich said. “But apparently we’re not doing it well enough.”

Demetrious Hoggard, who had two interceptions, almost scored on a rush that netted 56 yards and ended at the Manchester 15 on a game-saving tackle by a defensive back that had the angle. Four plays later Londonderry’s final threat ended with an end zone interception with 3:38 left.

“I don’t know what happened, man,” Hoggard said. “I just got caught.”