FAIRFIELD — A 30-13 loss to Cony last week refocused and reinvigorated the Lawrence Bulldogs. Hampden Academy had the misfortune of catching them on the rebound.
Lawrence scored three times on its first 11 offensive plays and picked off five passes to dominate Hampden 56-0 at Keyes Field
Cody Martin completed five of seven passes for 166 yards and three touchdowns and also intercepted two passes to lead the Bulldogs (4-1). Dustin Simpson-Bragg caught four of those passes for 115 yards and two touchdowns. Mitch Cushing rushed for 108 yards and three scores on 12 carries.
“(Scoring early and often) got us way ahead in the game and got the momentum going,” Martin said.
“It was the confidence booster we needed,” said Seth Powers, who caught the other touchdown pass and returned an interception for another score.
The Bulldogs needed just three plays to find the end zone on each of their first two possessions and five to score on their third.
Martin’s 34-yard run preceded Cushing’s 3-yard TD run on the first series.
Martin intercepted Hampden QB Tommy Farrar on third down on the Broncos’ next possession, returning it to Hampden’s 23. Three plays later, Cushing ran through a couple of arm tackles for a 12-yard score and a 14-0 lead just 3:42 into the game.
Hampden (1-4) punted on its next series and Lawrence marched 65 yards on five plays, capped by Martin’s 41-yard TD toss to a wide open Simpson-Bragg down the left sideline.
“I just stepped up in the pocket, bombed it to Dustin and dropped it in the basket,” Martin said. “It was beautiful.”
“I think we started off our week challenging everyone to get better coming off the tough game against Cony,” Lawrence coach John Hersom said of his team’s quick start. “It all started with maybe a change in attitude and maybe a change with the way we approach and get ready for our opponent.”
Another Martin interception and another TD pass to Simpson-Bragg, this from 18 yards, made IT 27-0 with 4:54 left in the first half.
Martin’s third TD pass came with 1:04 left, a throw to Powers in the left flat. Powers broke a tackle at the Hampden 45, ran toward the far sideline and got a crushing block from his quarterback as he turned it upfield for a 51-yard touchdown.
“I saw (Martin) come flying out of nowhere, make a hit on the corner and I took it for six,” Powers said. “That was a great hit.”
Cushing added a seven-yard TD run on the Bulldogs’ opening drive of the second half before Lawrence pulled its starters.
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