FAIRFIELD — It’s the type of football on which the Lawrence football program prides itself. It’s also a deviation in what’s become a pass-happy Pine Tree Conference this year.
As the other top teams in Class B North have pursued aerial attacks this year, the Bulldogs have stuck with their ground game. With an offensive line and running back corps working in unison, Lawrence has churned out rushing yardage in big chunks en route to victory after victory.
“We enjoy playing hard-nosed football, being tough up front and just driving the ball,” said senior offensive lineman Cam Dostie. “We’re just all-around physical. It’s tough to beat our linemen, but it’s also tough to bring down our running backs even when you do beat our linemen.”
In this case, the old-school recipe has helped Lawrence dominate the PTC all fall. It’s also one that can clinch the Bulldogs their first regional title in 11 years Saturday, when they play No. 2 Cony in the regional final at 1 p.m. at Winthrop.
Make no mistake: Lawrence (7-2) has easily been the top team in Class B North this season. Sure, the Bulldogs have out-of-conference losses to Bangor and Leavitt, but they’re 7-0 with an average margin of victory of 40-6 in league play. Their closest PTC game was a 27-8 victory over Falmouth in Week 2.
Lawrence has done it almost entirely on the ground. The Bulldogs neared a program record in a 40-7 Week 4 victory against Cony, rushing for a stunning 483 yards. They also ran it at will against another top B North foe, Messalonskee, gashing the Eagles for 326 in a 41-6 Week 7 triumph.
“We didn’t think we’d be having this type of season running the football, actually,” said Hersom, whose team had to replace a Fitzpatrick Award semifinalist, Parker Higgins, at running back. “We only had a couple boys from last year returning there. However, they’re pretty athletic kids; they’re not real big, but they do a good job moving their feet and getting themselves into position.”
Although there are a number of players who can carry the ball for Lawrence, the team’s leader is the bruising Colton Carter. The junior ran for 163 yards and two touchdowns against Cony, 143 yards and two touchdowns against Messalonskee and 145 yards and three scores in the Week 5 loss to Leavitt.
Carter, of course, is just one piece of this rushing attack. There’s Gavin Wilson, a speedster in space who ran for 98 yards against Cony; Gaige Martin, who led the Bulldogs with 64 in Saturday’s win over Gardiner; and Maddox Santone, a fullback who’s excellent in short-yardage situations.
The Lawrence football team is in the Class B North final thanks in part to a strong line and balanced backfield. Ball carriers, from left, are Colton Carter, Gaige Martin, quarterback Michael Hamlin, and Gavin Wilson. Rich Abrahamson/Morning Sentinel
“They definitely make it easier for us (as linemen),” Dostie said of Lawrence’s running backs. “If we even give them the slightest bit of a hole, we know they’re going to hit that hole and get off to the races. They all have different skills, and it really balances out for our offense.”
There’s also junior quarterback Michael Hamlin, who’s frequently matching his running backs for big yardage on the ground. A successful runner on designed runs and options, Hamlin ran for 67 yards in a score in the win over Cony and added 67 more in the victory over Messalonskee.
Hamlin isn’t a pass-first quarterback, but Lawrence’s rushing attack opens up opportunities in the passing game. Between Hamlin’s ability to scramble and opponents sometimes stacking the box to stop the Bulldogs’ backs, he can excel through the air as he did in tossing two touchdowns against Gardiner.
“Michael is a big kid, and he’s a very good athlete, and I think most people around Lawrence High School know that,” Hersom said. “He’s really good at running the ball, but he also does have the arm strength to make all the throws we have in our scheme. He adds a lot to our offense in both of those ways.”
No running game, though, is worth much without a sturdy offensive line paving the way for it. Lawrence, fortunately, has one of the best around in tackles Cameron Stewart and Zeb Hannah, guards Dostie and Izcek Spaulding, center Davin Bolduc and tight ends Lucas Proctor and Brandon Watson.
Lawrence offensive linemen pose during football practice Tuesday in Fairfield. Players, from left, are Davin Bolduc, Connor Mayo, Cam Stewart, Cam Dostie, Zeb Hannah and Brandon Watson. The Lawrence offensive line has been dominant all fall, opening up space for the team’s numerous ball carriers. Rich Abrahamson/Morning Sentinel
That line certainly has some size to it, but it’s not as Lawrence is outlandishly large up front. Instead, what makes this unit such a great run-blocking one is its quickness off the ball, something that’s surprised the Bulldogs’ opponents throughout their rampage of Class B North.
“I love running behind them,” Martin said. “I know they’re always going to make a hole for me. We definitely have a special bond; we (as running backs) just have to trust that they’re going to make the block, and then we just follow and stick with it. All the credit goes to them.”
It’s much different than the formulas used by other teams this season. Messalonskee and Cony, the respective second- and third-seeded teams in Class B North, regularly passed the ball 20-30 times a game this season. Gardiner, the other B North semifinalist, did the same with Chase Burgess and Asher Nagy.
Lawrence, though, has shown no need to depart from the method that’s gotten it to the precipice of regional and state championships. The Bulldogs are favorites against 7-3 Cony in Saturday’s regional final, a victory in which would set the stage for them to compete for a fifth Gold Ball the community desperately covets.
“There’s a little bit of pressure, but we love the game, so we just go with it,” Martin said. “I think (the reasons for our success) is the bond that our team has; we come out running hard, we get momentum during the game, and we keep it to the end.”
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