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Lawrence falls short to Lowell

LAWRENCE — The Lawrence football team deserved better Friday night.

The Lancers outplayed Lowell for the first half, taking an 8-0, and scored with 20 seconds left in the game to close to within one, but fell short of winning their first game of the season, falling 15-14.

Truthfully, if Lawrence had a reliable place kicker, this was a game it would have won. But it doesn't.

"Our only kicker got a concussion and then moved and we've been unable to find another kicker," said Lawrence first-year coach Rhandy Audate. "It's a shame and we're sick about it."

Lawrence got on the board first in the second quarter when tackling machine Brandon Santell blitzed through the line to record a safety with 8:17 in the half. The Lancers made it 8-0 on a 31-yard pass play from Jacob Tamayo to Anthony Garcia (5 catches, 116 yards and 2 TDs) with 31 seconds left.

Without a place kicker, Lawrence tried a run conversion but was stuffed.

Lowell took control of the game in the second half, scoring on its first possession on a 42-yard pass from Aidan Foyle to standout junior Brendan Tighe (9 catches, 99 yards), tying the game on a Foyle conversion run.

The Red Raiders took the lead with only 55 seconds remaining when Foyle faked the ball to Tighe in the left flat and then found a wide open Rashawn Settles in the end zone for a 13-yard TD. Michael Menezes kicked the extra point to make it 15-8.

But it took Lawrence just three playes to find the end zone thanks to a 45-yard bomb fromTamayo to Garcia and then a 20-yard scoring strike with the same combination. In both instances, Garcia outleaper the defender to make great catches. It was his first game back after missing two games with a concussison.

Trailing 15-14 with 29 seconds remaining, Lawrence was forced to go for two and a run by Tamayo wound up just short, giving Lowell the onw-point victory.

"It's been a tale of two halves for us," said Audate. "We could have won this game. They made a nice play on their last touchdown and we just couldn't make the play when we need it."

The Lancers will host Methuen next Friday and, in preparation, may continue their search for a kicker as well as cleaning up their play. Offensively, they were stalled several times by penalties, finishing with 11 penalties for 97 yards.