RallyNorth.net

Fri, Oct 20, 2017 07:00 PM @ Lawrence

Team	Q1	Q2	Q3	Q4	Final
Haverhill	0	7	7	0	14
Lawrence	0	6	0	0	6

Defense key for Haverhill

LAWRENCE — Haverhill captain Kyle Bellemore got a nice surprise and, partly because of it, a nice reward Friday night.

On the first play of the second quarter, from the tightest double-wing formation you’ll ever see, Bellemore got a nice block as he went through the line and then went virtually untouched 48 yards for a touchdown.

“I was surprised that I had that opening,” said Bellemore. “I don’t think I’ve had a touchdown of more than a yard before.”

After Sergio Martinez kicked the first of two extra points, that proved to be the winning score as the Hillies (1-6) pulled out their first win of the season, 14-6 over host Lawrence, which dropped to 0-7.

It wasn’t the prettiest win in the world but, for Bellemore as one of the team’s lone seniors, it was beautiful to see.

“It was a great win for us,” said Bellemore. “We’ve been working hard in practice and we wanted it.”

For his efforts, Bellemore was presented with the game ball after the contest, as much for his efforts at linebacker on a defense which constantly came up with big plays. The Hillies had four sacks, recovered three fumbles and intercepted two passes.

“All around, he (Bellemore) has been a great leader for our young kids and I think he showed that today,” said Haverhill coach Tim O’Connor. “He does a lot for us.”

Ahead 7-6 at halftime, Haverhill took advantage of one of the interceptions to score its second touchdown and add much-needed insurance points.

Midway through the third quarter, junior Samuel Powell intercepted a pass and returned it 16 yards to the Lawrence 15-yard line. Four plays later, aided by a Lawrence penalty,  Brady Skafas plowed through the line  on a quarterback sneak with some good push blocking for six yards and the final TD of the game.

Haverhill didn’t move the ball much the rest of the game, but it didn’t need to the way its defense was playing. In addition to the forced turnovers, it stopped three fourth-down attempts during the game and was particularly tough late when Lawrence had an opportunity to tie the game.

Taking over at their own 28 with three minutes remaining, the Lancers advanced all the way to the Haverhill 10-yard line with a first down courtesy of three Jacob Tamayo connections to Ronyell Pena for 74 yards. But then the Hillies’ defense dug in.

Following two incompletions, the second caused by a Bellemore QB pressure, senior Roberto Ceballo crashed through the line, forced a fumble and recovered it himself to wrap up the win.

Pena had a big day for the Lancers with five receptions and 122 yards, including a 26-yarder in the second quarter for Lawrence’s only touchdown, but otherwise Haverhill’s secondary played well.

Captain Owen Keegan had Haverhill’s other interception, Hunter Prescott and Dante Cadeus covered well and David Carreiro was particularly effective with a pair of breakups and several strong tackles.

“David Carreiro is a well-rounded player who likes to play the game,” said O’Connor. “At halftime, we said we wanted him covering their best guy.

“This was a good win for us. We took advantage of their mistakes, but we made some, too. We’re slowly getting better. The morale has been good and it’s nice to see some progress.”

Although, like Haverhill, it’s loaded with youngsters, there was little progress for Lawrence (0-7), which dropped its 19th straight MVC game and 23rd straight overall.

In addition to the fumbles and interceptions, the Lancers were hurt by bad snaps and seven penalties, several at the most inopportune times.

 

Haverhill 14, Lawrence 6

Haverhill (1-6):     0 7 7 0 — 14

Lawrence (0-7):     0 6 0 0 —  6

Second Quarter

H — Kyle Bellemore 48 run (Sergio Martinez kick), 10:51

L — Ronyell Pena 26 pass from Jacob Tamayo (run failed), 7:51

Third Quarter

H — Brady Skafas 6 run (Martinez kick), 3:53

INDIVIDUAL LEADERS

RUSHING: Haverhill (39-167) — Kyle Bellemore 9-78, Colum O’Brien 5-22, Brady Skafas 11-30, Ayden Alvarado 4-10, David Carreiro 10-27; Lawrence (23-70) — Brandon Santell 11-66, Jacob Tamayo 6-(-5), Ruben Morillo 1-(-2), Anthony Garcia 5-11

PASSING: H — Skafas 2-12-1, (-1); L — Tamayo 12-25-2, 179

RECEIVING: H — Nick Skafas 1-1; Bellemore 1-(-2); L — Manny Lara 2-13, Morillo 3-21, Pena 5-122, Isais Richards 2-23