RallyNorth.net

Lancers new-look attack too much for Winnacunnet

HAMPTON, N.H. ‑ Though they came into the game as the clear-cut favorites, the 2008 Londonderry Lancers were far from a proven commodity.

Their first-year head coach, Jon Rich, was taking over for the legendary coach Tom Sawyer, who spent 27 years as the program’s only-ever head coach. Sawyer amassed a brilliant 182-90 record and led the Lancers to titles in 1985, 1986, 1988, 1996 and 1998 (with the latter two being at the Division 1 level and the former three at the Division 2 level).

If the expectations facing Rich weren’t enough, the team also had to find a replacement for Alex Theodosi, who rushed for a whopping 2,041 yards last fall.

Four quarters and nearly two-and-a-half hours later, fears have been allayed and the Lancers are 1-0 thanks to last night’s 26-13 victory over Winnacunnet.

To fill the hole left by the departure of Theodosi, Rich turned to the three-headed monster of Anthony Terenzi (senior), Alex Lambert, (junior) and Adam Bardwell (senior), who combined to have 30 of the team’s 38 carries and ended the game with 222 yards.

Leading the way was Lambert, who had seven carries, 114 yards and a touchdown. Lambert supplied viewers with highlight reel material on a 76-yard run that put the Lancers on top 6-0 just 50 seconds into the game.

“Alex was one of the young men that stepped up tonight and did a great job,” Rich explained. “He’s been stepping up all preseason, and tonight it showed. He’s put a lot of hard work in and tonight it showed.”

A lot of that hard work by Lambert was made possible by a stellar performance from the offensive line. When the passing game couldn’t quite get going for either team, the Lancers’ front five stepped up and created opportunities for their team’s backs.

Winnacunnet was led by Jason Busfield, who rushed for 145 yards on 14 carries, including two jaw-dropping runs of 42 and 50 yards.

While the Lancers were prone to giving up the big play on the ground (Sean McCarthy smoked the Lancers on a 73-yard touchdown run in the third quarter), their pass defense was nearly flawless.

Junior Jason Silva had two interceptions with his second effectively sealing Winnacunnet’s fate as he snatched a Stephen Cronan heave inside the Lancers’ 20 with under three minutes to play in the fourth quarter and the Warriors trailing by 13.

With all the positives, just how did Rich feel about his first game as head coach of his alma mater?

“Pleased with the result, not necessarily the way we got the results.”

Can’t win ‘em all 70-0, Coach. Although, with a group of backers headed by Terenzi, Lambert and Bardwell, the Lancers will surely try.