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Heredia, Lancers revive season in stunner

Friday, October, 17 By Hector Longo
Staff writer

LAWRENCE - Benched last Friday night, buried with the second-teamers in practice Monday, Ramon Heredia hit the Veterans Memorial Stadium turf with a point to prove last night.

Lawrence High's senior quarterback delivered the finest game of an already-dazzling career, throwing for three scores and adding another TD on the ground, powering the Lancers to a dramatic, 34-33, victory over previously perfect (5-0) Wilmington.

Arguably the biggest win in program history since the 1985 "Wing and a Prayer" Thanksgiving Day shocker over Lowell, it didn't come without its anxious moments.

Junior nose man Jose Vargas stuffed Wilmington QB Steve Stewart on a draw up the middle, denying the potential game-winning two-point try with just 34 seconds to play.

Ironically, a gassed Vargas put in the call to the bench after Stewart's six-yard TD put the Cats, who trailed 34-21 with just over five minutes left, in position to steal a win.

Line coach Chris Boardman simply would have none of it.

"He asked me for one more play, so I gave it to him," said Vargas, a 5-foot-10, 210-pounder.

Stewart (17 carries, 161 yards) had gashed the Lancers all night long on the QB draw. When it mattered most, Vargas just said no.

"I knew I had to make that tackle," added Vargas. "We lost our last two, this one can save the season."

Throwing five picks in those two defeats before being yanked against Masco, the three-year starter Heredia suddenly found himself in QB limbo.

"I was kind of nervous about it. I knew I messed up ... Big!" said Heredia, the area passing leader now with 892 yards after his 15 of 23, 242-yard performance last night. "I knew what I had to do. I was upset.

"My father was on me. He didn't feel bad for me at all. He just told me I had to start playing football. I wasn't playing football, and he let me know about it."

Heredia came firing out of the block, hitting Anthony DeJesus for a 34-yard TD on the opening drive of the game.

He was even better when Lawrence was on the ropes, down 21-7 in the second.

Prime target Mike Calzetta (5 catches, 98 yards) hauled in scoring tosses of 35 and five yards in the final two minutes before the half, making it 21-21 into the break.

Francis Nova (7 carries, 91 yards) swept 50 yards, with Calzetta springing him at the corner by blocking two Wildcats at once, giving Lawrence the lead for good. Heredia followed with a punishing scoring run of his own, setting up the wild finish.

Lawrence, now 3-3, had the chance to go for the jugular, with the ball at the Wilmington 20 midway through the fourth, but a fumble allowed the Cats back in it.

Still, with some grit and a little luck the Lancers held on.

"We came back from down 21-7, and we came out flying in the second half. That's a very good program," said Lancer coach Mike Yameen.  "Mentally we were kind of hurt. Ramon responded. All our kids responded well."