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Lawrence wins barnburner with Dracut

Friday, October, 18 By By Bill Burt
Sports editor

DRACUT — Lawrence High, with only about two dozen fans making the trek to Dracut last night sitting behind them, played as if it was its last game on Thanksgiving morning in a thrilling 42-41 victory. 

Despite opening the game with an 87-yard kickoff return (Jacob Toledo) and having a quarterback (Nelson Valerio) throw for a career-high 330 yards while completing 18 of 24 passes, Lawrence found itself trailing for most of the game.

In fact, with Lawrence ahead, 35-33, and moving the ball in the fourth quarter, Dracut forced a fumble on its own 32 and drove the entire way to get the lead back, 41-35, setting up the heroics for Valerio & Company.

Lawrence marched 70 yards, completing only one pass — a 32-yard catch and run to Rainer Almonte (4 catches, 134 yards) — and relying on Valerio's legs and powerful sophomore Kenny Richards.

Richard scored on a 7-yard run, extending the ball over the goal line while going out of bounds. Kicker Eddie Cabrera, who connected on all seven extra points, put Lawrence ahead for good, 42-41.

"That was the biggest drive of the game and the year because we were finally able to run it," said Lawrence coach Mike Yameen. "Kenny is a big, strong kid. He's only a sophomore. He's getting better every week. We need that balance to be a better team."

Other than that drive, in which Lawrence rushed for 39 yards (Lancers rushed for only 60 yards for the game), Valerio was the star of stars.

If he wasn't hitting receivers on stride from the pocket, he was running around, creating time, and then hitting wide open receivers.

In fact, one of Lawrence's big touchdowns early in the third quarter, Valerio looked off his favorite target, sophomore Luis Crispin, before coming back to him in the back of the end zone about seven seconds later for a 7-yard score and 35-27 lead.

"I'm not going to force the ball if he's not open," said Valerio. "Luis went in on a slant, but he was covered. I looked around and moved a bit, before seeing him again in the back of the end zone."

Lawrence had its "Lawrence moments," when it appeared to giving the game away. After sacking Dracut's shifty quarterback, Tyler Bassett, forcing a third-and-10 at the Lawrence 15, a Lancer defender pushed a Dracut player well after the whistle. He was penalized and Bassett ran it in on the next play.

"Those plays have killed us a few times this year," said Yameen. "But tonight we found a way to overcome it. I love the way we fought tonight. We were down two touchdowns there in the second quarter, and it didn't look good. But we never gave up and this is what happens when you believe in yourselves."

Crispin continues his torrid season at the other end of Valerio's passes. He hauled in seven passes for 122 yards and two TDs. Senior Rainer Almonte also had a career game, hauling in four passes for 134 yards and a score.

"We've shown we can score with anybody," said Valerio. "If Kenny (Richards) can help get us a running game, watch out! We will be a much better team. Our defense made some big plays, too. We needed this for our confidence and now we can't wait for Billerica next week."

Kudos go out to Dracut quarterback Tyler Bassett, who rushed for a 201 yards, including two long TD runs of 66 and 58 yards. In fact, he had two other runs of 57 yards and 47 yards, that would have been touchdowns and  put him over 300 yards rushing but they were called back because of holding.

"He's a real good athlete," said Yameen. "We weren't sure if he was going to play because of an injury. We had two gameplans, one going against him. He still gave us fits."

Lawrence plays host to Billerica on Friday night at Veterans Memorial Stadium in Lawrence.