Lawrence handles Mt. Blue in football clash

FAIRFIELD — After struggling offensively last week in a shutout loss at Marshwood, the Lawrence High School football team found its offense in a big way Friday night at Keyes Field.

The senior running back duo of Isaiah Schooler and Tyler Larouche combined for 411 yards for the Bulldogs, who took a 54-22 win over Mt. Blue.

Schooler and Larouche each scored four touchdowns. Schooler gained 222 yards (187 rushing, 24 receiving), and Larouche gained 200 (152 rushing, 48 receiving).

Ahead 33-14 at the half, Lawrence put the game away with two touchdowns in the first 3:02 of the second half. Just 48 seconds into the half, Larouche scores on a 24-yard run. After Michenzie Stevens recovered a Mt. Blue fumble, Schooler ran 38 yards to the Cougar 1, then punched it in on the next play for a 47-14 lead.

Lawrence (3-2) made it 54-14 when Larouche scored on a 48-yard pass from Braden Ballard on the first play of the fourth quarter.

The Schooler-Larouche duo ran for 231 yards on 16 carries in the first half, scoring all five touchdowns as the Bulldogs built a 33-14 lead. Larouche got Lawrence on the board first, capping a quick three-play, 39-yard drive with a 3-yard touchdown run two and a half minutes into the game.

After the Cougars (1-4) answered with an eight-play, 64-yard touchdown drive punctuated by Randy Barker’s 18-yard scoring run, Lawrence quickly retook the lead for good.

Jared Dodge returned the kickoff 41 yards to the Mt. Blue 41, where Schooler went up the middle for a touchdown on the first play of the drive. Schooler added a 53-yard TD run on Lawrence’s next drive, pushing the Bulldogs lead to 19-7.

A 2-yard TD run by Larouche made it 26-7 Lawrence, but the Cougars cut the deficit to 26-14 when Abram Meader returned the ensuing kick 85 yards for a touchdown.

Schooler’s third touchdown of the first half, an 8-yard run, closed the first half scoring.

Barker ran for 40 yards for Mt. Blue.

Mt. Blue High School quarterback Noah Bell (4) jumps to catch the high snap against Lawrence High School in Fairfield on Friday.
Michael G. Seamans

Mt. Blue High School quarterback Noah Bell (4) jumps to catch the high snap against Lawrence High School in Fairfield on Friday.

Lawrence High School’s Isaiah Schooler (2) out runs Mt. Blue High School defender C.J. Mullen (20) for the touchdown in Fairfield on Friday.
Michael G. Seamans

Lawrence High School’s Isaiah Schooler (2) out runs Mt. Blue High School defender C.J. Mullen (20) for the touchdown in Fairfield on Friday.

Mt. Blue High School’s Randy Barker (12) carries the ball as Lawrence High School defender Isaiah Schooler (2) looks for the tackle in Fairfield on Friday.
Michael G. Seamans

Mt. Blue High School’s Randy Barker (12) carries the ball as Lawrence High School defender Isaiah Schooler (2) looks for the tackle in Fairfield on Friday.

Mt. Blue High School’s Ethan Andrews (1) makes a catch for a third down conversion over Lawrence High School defender Logan Fortin (44)in Fairfield on Friday.
Michael G. Seamans

Mt. Blue High School’s Ethan Andrews (1) makes a catch for a third down conversion over Lawrence High School defender Logan Fortin (44)in Fairfield on Friday.