Lawrence defensive back Parker Higgins (32) tackles Windham running back Haddon Boyle at the line of scrimmage during a Sept. 17 game in Fairfield. Michael G. Seamans/Morning Sentinel
The Cony and Lawrence football teams have had plenty of noteworthy showdowns in their time as Pine Tree Conference rivals. Their next matchup could be another addition to the list.
The Rams and Bulldogs will meet for the first time since 2018 when Cony hosts Lawrence on Saturday night. It comes as the teams, both 3-2, are jockeying for second place behind Windham in Class B North with the playoffs fast approaching, and it comes as Cony debuts its new artificial turf surface at formerly Alumni, now Fuller Field.
It may be the first time these teams have played each other in three years, but Cony coach B.L. Lippert said there won’t be too much unfamiliarity when the game begins.
“We have an idea of what they’re going to do offensively and defensively, and they certainly are well versed in what we do,” he said. “That chess match is always fun, and it’s two good teams that have played some tough teams. … It’s a good measuring stick for where we are in this 2021 campaign.”
There are longer-reaching ramifications at stake, since a win could help ensure not having to play a team like Messalonskee or Falmouth/Greely in the first round, but Lawrence coach John Hersom said his team is not trying to look at this game any differently than the ones that came before it.
“It’s getting near the end of our season, so some thoughts go to playoffs,” he said. “But we try to not have that be the distraction right now. We’ll probably feel it a little more on game night, that this is very meaningful that we come out and play well and try to get the ‘W’ together.”
Here’s a closer look at the Lawrence-Cony matchup:
When: 7 p.m., Saturday
Where: Fuller Field, Augusta
Lawrence coach John Hersom on Cony: “They’re a team that works well together. They’ve had some injuries, like we all have, and it looks like they’ve been able to overcome some of their losses. … Their coaches do an outstanding job of preparing the team for that particular week, and they’re highly competitive. … They really have tested all the teams on their schedule.”
Cony coach B.L. Lippert on Lawrence: “They have a good offensive line, a couple of skill guys that can run and catch. It’s a formidable challenge for us to slow them down. And we haven’t played very well offensively for a couple of weeks in a row now, so you know Coach Hersom’s defensive teams are always really disciplined and in the right spots, playing assignment football, so we have to be really good to match their intensity.”
Cony’s Rocco Napolyano (19) breaks up a pass intended for Windham’s Max Arbour (12) in Oakland last week. Michael G. Seamans/Morning Sentinel
Three keys for Lawrence:
Next man up. Lawrence will be without some key players in fullback and linebacker Matt Trombley, guard Storer Boyden and defensive end Tobey Sullivan, so the Bulldogs will need to make sure they stay resilient in those areas. The offensive line in particular will need to pick up the slack, as Cony’s defensive front is physical and aggressive and limited Windham’s running game last week.
Andrew Trombley, dual threat. The Lawrence quarterback is a former running back and a dangerous ballcarrier who can hit the edge and be gone on any play. But with his twin brother Matt out, Lawrence’s running game is shorthanded, and getting the passing game going could take pressure off the offense. Add in that Cony struggled badly in pass coverage last week, and there could be chunk plays to make through the air.
Handle the environment. Cony will make its long-awaited debut on Fuller Field, and Lippert said he’s expecting a “monster” crowd at the game. The fans will be charged up, the Rams will be fired up, and the Bulldogs will have to make sure they are matching the intensity from the very beginning or they could be staring at an early deficit.
Three keys for Cony:
Have an answer for Parker Higgins. The Lawrence junior is an excellent two-way player — “For my money … the best player in the league,” Lippert said — and with Trombley out, the Bulldogs will be leaning on him to provide the offense. The Rams will have to know where he is at all times and be prepared for every way Lawrence could try to get him the ball.
Get the passing game going. Cony struggled throwing the ball against Windham, which turned its offense one-dimensional and made moving the ball and sustaining rhythm and momentum difficult. Whether it’s going to quicker developing pass plays, throwing more to established targets or simply executing better than last week — missed blocks and dropped passes were an issue all afternoon last week — the Rams will need to fare better in that regard for their offense to have a good night.
Be the more physical team. Lawrence is great on the offensive and defensive line at full strength, but these injuries give the Rams an opening to win the battle at the line of scrimmage and set up second and third and long for Lawrence and short for Cony. It’s hard to see a way the Rams can limit the Bulldogs if they’re not holding up in the trenches, so winning battles and getting push up front will be crucial in order for Cony to have a shot.
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