LEWISTON – Perhaps, it was the absence of two key players that left the Lewiston Blue Devils wallowing like a team of lost souls on Friday night.
This was not a night to remember for the aimless Devils, as the Lawrence Bulldogs marched up and down the field to the tune of a 26-0 victory in a Class A football game at Don Roux Field.
“I don’t have an answer for you,” said Lewiston coach Bill County. “I am not going to make excuses for you.
“I don’t know if we lacked confidence because our leaders were out. We are just handcuffed for a while.”
With running back Jared Turcotte and quarterback Chris Ford still out of commission with injuries, the Blue Devils will just have to make do until their return.
Junior quarterback Mike Hersom and senior halfback Dylan Costigan did the honors for Lawrence, each scoring a pair of touchdowns.
Lawrence’s defense had Lewiston on the run all night, allowing the Blue Devils’ offense to collect just a paltry 20 yards in rushing and another 108 in passing.
But the Bulldogs prospered on the other side of the ball, amassing 214 in rushing on 45 carries and another 41 in passing.
“We were frustrated the last couple of weeks,” said Lawrence coach John Hersom. “Tonight, we were focused and didn’t let that happen. I knew they (Devils) are banged up. It’s very difficult to overcome.”
Costigan went to work on the disheveled Blue Devils on first down from the 50-yard line. He bolted up the middle was brought down at the Lewiston 8, and then advanced to the 1. Mike Hersom took it from there and spilled in, giving Lawrence a 6-0 lead with 6:35 left in the first quarter. Andrew Ashland split the uprights to make it 7-0.
Lawrence scored again in the second quarter when Costigan intercepted Lewiston quarterback Franklin Sawyer’s pass on the 27-yard line.
“He’s a very good football player on both sides of the field,” said Hersom. “I think we capitalized on some opportunities. We had a pretty good game plan coming into the game.”
The Bulldogs eventually ended up on Lewiston’s 26, where Mike Hersom again scored on a keeper, giving the Bulldogs a 13-0 lead going into the half.
Lawrence remained in control in the second half as well, while the Blue Devils struggled to turn things around.
But that wasn’t happening as the Bulldogs’ momentum continued to build.
Lewiston fumbled on the 46 and Lawrence immediately cashed in on the turnover. Costigan took it from the 32-yard line and scampered into the end zone for his first touchdown with 4:36 left in the third quarter.
Costigan finished off the Blue Devils early in the final stanza. He first intercepted another Lewiston pass at the 15-yard line and then scored from the 4 yards out with 7:30 left.
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