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Lawrence stuns North Andover

Friday, October, 10 By By Bill Burt
Sports editor

 LAWRENCE — Lawrence High had many opportunities ... to give in.

Two big penalties and fumble inside the North Andover 5-yard line killed any chance of the Lancers putting points on the board in the first half.

 But something else was brewing in that first half. The not-so-dependable Lawrence defense kept North Andover's offense, in particular their speedster, Bubba Shkliew, in check and trailed only by a touchdown.

"That was the key," said senior Lawrence quarterback Nelson Valerio, who was 14-for-26 for 129 yards. "They kept us in the game. We honestly knew we could move the ball on North Andover and score. We just had to prove it in the second half."

They sure did. After another big play from the defense, when Rafael Medina ripped the ball from a North Andover running back after he had converted a fourth-and-2, and then scampered 72 yards untouched for the tying score. It rejuvenated everybody on the Lawrence sidelines, particularly the fans.

"We needed that play," said Lawrence senior back Jacob Toledo, the second half MVP.

Toledo scored on touchdown runs of 4, 11 and 18 yards, with the last being the biggest of his career, officially putting the game away with just under two minutes remaining. Toledo looked like a locomotive when he got around the left edge on that last run, before running over a cornerback at the 5-yard line, and two other defenders guarding the goal line.

"I got around the corner and didn't see anybody until that cornerback was waiting for me," said Toledo. "And I just ran as hard as I could. The next thing I knew I was in the end zone. It was the best feeling in the world."

Lawrence, which improves to 3-3, is off next week before playing Billerica in the regular season finale. A win in that game and Lawrence, incredibly, will probably be playoff bound.

"That's what drives us," said Valerio, who topped 5,000 yards passing last night for his career. "We knew we had to win this game. I think we saw how good we can be when we put everything together. Really, we are not afraid of anybody."

North Andover, 3-2, will lick its wounds before hosting MVC rivals Methuen and Haverhill.

"It's been a while since we beat them, back when we were in the Cape Ann League," said Lawrence coach Mike Yameen. "They are a top-flight program. Their back, Bubba, is a good as it gets. I can't tell you how nervous I was all week about him. He's one of the fastest kids I've seen. Luckily, he didn't kill us, because he's good."