McLean’s 2 TDs help Lawrence run past Ewing

EWING >> Offensive production was hard to find for the Lawrence High football team through the first two weeks of the season. The past two weeks though, Lawrence has found enough offense to help them even up its record at 2-2 on the season.

Behind a two-touchdown performance by quarterback Deon McLean and stellar defense, the Cardinals struck past Ewing to a 14-6 victory on Saturday afternoon.

“We are getting better each week,” said Lawrence head coach Rob Radice. “We’re working hard on offense, defense and special teams right now. We’re heading down the right direction.”

Lawrence faced a little adversity to start the contest on the opening kickoff of the contest as the Cardinals couldn’t handle a little pooch kick by the Ewing kickoff team that Gabe Able was able to recover for the Blue Devils.

Two plays later, Able shot the Blue Devils out in front with a 45-yard touchdown run to give Ewing a 6-0 lead.

Able rushed for 73 of his team-high 108 yards rushing in the first half.

Lawrence responded with a long 17-play drive down to the Ewing five-yard line, but McLean couldn’t connect with his tight end Matt Kildea in the end zone that resulted in a turnover on downs for the Cardinals.

McLean made sure the Cardinals got into the end zone on their next possession, scoring his first touchdown of the contest that was set up by the running ability of teammate Lance Lopez.

Picking up two crucial first downs on the previous Lawrence possession, Lopez picked up another huge first down on third and three with a 31-yard run to the Ewing five-yard line.

That setup McLean to help put the Cardinals in the lead, faking the toss as he rolled to his left and then bursting up the middle for a five-yard touchdown run to put Lawrence up 7-6 with 7:53 to go in the first half.

Lopez rushed for a total of 42 yards on Lawrence’s first touchdown drive. The junior had 61 yards rushing in the win for Lawrence.

“I saw an open hole and started running and thought I had the touchdown, but unfortunately I got caught,” Lopez said. “It didn’t matter though cause we got the touchdown. When I got the ball in my hands, I felt like I had to do something to help the team.”

McLean extended the Lawrence lead to eight on the team’s second possession of the second half.

Totaling 43 yards rushing on the possession, McLean finished off the seven-play scoring drive with a 10-yard dash to the end zone on the sweep for his second touchdown of the game to give Lawrence a 14-6 lead.

“I had one man to beat on the edge and was able to break a tackle and my wide receiver did a good job blocking his man on the outside for me to go in for the touchdown,” McLean said. “All my teammates played hard to help us win and I’m thankful for that.”

Lawrence (2-2) Ewing (0-5) 0 7 7 0 — 14 6000—6

E — Able 45-yard run (FG No Good) L — McLean 5-yard run (Cohen Kick) L — McLean 10-yard run (Cohen Kick)

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