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HAVERHILL — Stalwart defense and precise offensive execution allowed Lawrence to keep its postseason dreams alive as the Lancers shut out winless Haverhill 28-0.

The Lancers (3-5) — who will have to upset Dracut and Methuen for a shot at playing in December — dominated play on both sides of the ball, shining especially bright on defense.

Led by defensive tackle Darius Timmons, who registered four sacks, the Lancers allowed only 166 yards of total offense ... most long after the game was settled.

"We've played good defense the past two weeks," said Lawrence head coach Mike Yameen. "We had been giving up 29 or 30 points a game, but we played a tough (Central Catholic) team last week and held them to 21 points, and then this, our first shutout of the season."

Though the Lancers might not have the biggest defensive line in the MVC, Yameen attributed the line's recent success to speed and athleticism.

That athleticism and quickness allowed them to easily shed Hillie blockers and keep constant pressure on Austen Campbell, forcing him to throw on the run on three of his five passing attempts, two of which ended as Lawrence interceptions.

Haverhill also had to deal with the absence of nine players who were serving their final game of a two-game alcohol-related suspension.

Nick Elwell was on the mark again, connecting on 9 of 12 passing attempts for 146 yards and three touchdowns as Lawrence snapped a three-game losing streak.

Elwell started the scoring early for Lawrence, connecting with wideout Michael Calzetta on a 34-yard bomb on his first pass of the evening with 7:03 left in the first quarter. Elwell then completed 6 of 7 attempts on the Lancers' subsequent possession, finally hooking up with wideout Cristian Reyes on an 11-yard pass for the score.

A fumbled Hillie snap after the ensuing kickoff gave Lawrence the ball back on the Haverhill 22-yard line, and it only took Elwell one play to find Calzetta in the end zone once more, giving the Lancers a 21-0 lead which they carried into the half.

The Hillies came out of the locker room with some short-lived swagger, recovering an onside kick to start the second half, but then went three and out on the ensuing possession and turned the ball over on downs on their next two possessions without ever recording a first down.

"We're banged up, we have suspensions, we have the flu, we're just down in a hole and trying to climb out," said Haverhill head coach Tim Briggs. "We started three offensive linemen tonight that, quite honestly, had been splitting time on JV, and that's a little tough to do when you're facing the caliber of athletes that Lawrence has."

Lawrence 28, Haverhill 0

Lawrence (3-5):6âÇ15âÇ7âÇ0 — 28

Haverhill (0-8):0âÇâÇ0âÇ0âÇ0 — âÇ0

First Quarter

Michael Calzetta 24 pass from Nick Elwell, 7:03

Second Quarter

Cristian Reyes 11 pass from Elwell, (Calzetta pass from Elwell) 9:52

Third Quarter

Calzetta 22 pass from Nicholas Elwell, (Kevin Valerio kick) 8:45

Fourth Quarter

Miguel Rodriguez 17 run, (Valerio kick) 2:32

INDIVIDUAL LEADERS

RUSHING: Lawrence (16-98) — Miguel Rodriguez, 7-44, Harvey Blanco 6-45, Nick Elwell 2-0, Kevin Valerio 1-9; Haverhill (40-157) - Tito Morel 20-108, Jeremy Martinez 10-23, Austen Campbell 6-3, Connor Tufts 4-23 PASSING: Lawrence - Elwell 9-12-0, 146 yards; Haverhill - Austen Campbell 1-5-2, 9 yards; Connor Tufts 0-2-0, 0 yards

RECEIVING: Lawrence - Michael Calzetta 4-71, Kevin Valerio 2-13, Blanco 1-31, Cristian Reyes 1-11, Miguel Rodriguez 1-20; Haverhill - Brett Pettis 1-9

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