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Kelvyn Rangel scored Lawrence's lone goal in a 2-1 loss to Greater Lowell. Edwin Gutierrez and Eric Abarca split time in net, making nine saves each.

LAWRENCE | Six Lawrence High penalties, a pair of turnovers and one badly missed pass coverage, and all Amesbury High had to show for it was a 7-0 halftime lead.

The improving Lancers cleaned up their act in the second half, and made Amesbury pay, souring the Indians' season opener by a 16-7 tally.

LAWRENCE — Both the Central Catholic and Lawrence High football teams showed their inexperience, mixed with some opening night jitters.Central adjusted and eliminated its miscues, at least the giant ones. Lawrence simply had theirs multiply exponentially.

The Lawrence High football schedule, as it now stands, offers salvation, and Luis Nova gives thanks.

The Lancers, so low after Thanksgiving's crushing two-point loss against Greater Lawrence Tech, have a shot at instant redemption, tomorrow night (7 p.m.) in the season-opener with Central Catholic at Veterans Memorial Stadium. At least for now, life again is good.

2006 record: 0-15-1, didn't qualify for state tournament

Returning starters (4): Phacy Sem, Sr., link; Elora Acosta, Sr., forward; Ramona Moore, Sr., defense; Mayra Hernandez, Sr., forward

2006 record: 2-8

Returning starters (6): Alex Mendoza, Sr., DB, 5-6, 150; Luis Nova, Sr., WR/DB, 5-7, 160; Alex Andrews, Jr., WR, 6-3, 190; Demitri Brown, Jr., WR, 6-1, 190; Pedro Cruz, Jr., OL/DL, 5-10, 235; Ramon Heredia, Jr., RB/QB, 5-7, 160

2006 record: 5-11-2, did not make state tourney

Returning starters (5): Kelvyn Rangel, Sr., midfield; Lucy Franciso, Jr., midfield; Ricot Mombayard, Sr., forward; Eric Abarca, Sr., goalkeeper; Francesco Cuesta, Soph., midfield

LAWRENCE | His quarterback was sprawled on the bench. His secondary looked like a bad marching band, running into each other with each changing North Reading formation.

And his team was in an all-too-familiar position, letting another winnable football game slip right through its grasp. But somehow Mike Yameen's Lawrence Lancers turned that ugly page and opened what the coach feels could be a new chapter in the program.

BYFIELD -- Lawrence went to the well three times too many last night.

Well, more precisely, the Lancers threw at Triton defensive back Jared Wells three times too many and paid the price as the Vikings rolled to a commanding 29-13 win in chilly Byfield.

WEST NEWBURY | Staring at the Cape Ann League large school gauntlet over the second half of the season and still stinging from last week's nauseating loss to rival Newburyport, the Pentucket Regional football team needed a positive afternoon entertaining Lawrence.