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LYNNFIELD | Twice, the Lawrence High football team held the ball and a two-score lead in positive territory, in position to put previously winless Lynnfield away and climb to the .500 mark.

Twice, the Lancers self-destructed. The second series of blows | a pair of clock-conserving incomplete passes, two blown defensive coverages and a blocked punt | proved fatal for the now 1-3 Lancers, who coughed up a 24-15 lead with only 7:30 left and fell, 30-24.

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: 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