Cole lifts ‘Dogs past Rams 13-12

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Ninety-three yards. That was the distance of Lawrence High School’s longest drive of the night.

One inch. That was all Bangor High split end Craig Bowden needed to grasp a last-gasp bomb down the right sideline, which, if caught, could have been the game-winning touchdown.

One point. That’s all that separated the Lawrence Bulldogs and Bangor Rams in Friday night’s Pine Tree Conference football matchup at a mist-covered Cameron Stadium in Bangor: Lawrence 13, Bangor 12.

“That’s why I say if you’re good and lucky, then you’ve got it going,” said Lawrence Coach Pete Cooper. “We were good when we controlled the ball on the 93-yard drive and we got lucky at the end when the ball was in his hands. We seem to be just good enough and just lucky enough so far.”

The win moved the Bulldogs to 3-0 – all one-point victories – while the Rams slipped to 2-1. Lawrence now holds a 7-0 series edge over Bangor.

Lawrence’s impressive ball-control offense, which dominated the second half to the tune of 42 plays to Bangor’s 21, was vital in what turned out to be the game-winning drive in the third quarter.

Bangor punter Mike Pelkey pinned the ‘Dogs back to the L-7 with a 41-yard punt with 6:15 left in the third. Thirteen plays later, with three seconds left on the clock, Lawrence tight end Billy Cole – who doubles as a running back in short-run situations – scored on a 1-yard dive.

After Bangor blocked Cole’s PAT kick, the score stood 13-6.

In the fourth quarter, Lawrence controlled the ball for 9:36, leaving Bangor’s offense only 2:24 with the ball.

The Rams did what they had to in short time, however, cutting the lead to 13-12 when Josh Jamieson caught a short pass from sophomore quarterback Richie Day, turned upfield on the outside, and, after tightroping the left sidelines, found the end zone to complete the 69-yard scoring pass with 2:14 left on the clock.

After a Bangor timeout, in which Coach Gabby Price opted to go for two points instead of possibly tying the game with a PAT kick, Lawrence defensive tackle Chad Nelson burst through Bangor’s offensive line to sack Day.

“I was in the gap and I just shot through and got the quarterback,” Nelson said. “Nobody touched me.”

“No coach should ever lose a game for his players and that’s what I did,” Price said. “This game meant a lot to the Bangor Rams. It meant an awful lot to us. We’ve got to regroup and just get better. Our kids played hard and I love ’em.”

Bangor still had an opportunity to win it.

Bangor’s defense – with no timeouts – stopped Lawrence on four plays and took over on downs from their own 48-yard line with 16 seconds left.

On the first play, Day looked to Bowden streaking down the right sideline. Bowden reached out for the ball, which brushed his finger tips and fell to the field.

Day’s next pass was intercepted as time ran out.

Lawrence took a 7-0 lead in the first quarter after Cole intercepted a Day pass and returned it 48 yards to the Bangor-2. Cole then scored on the next play and kicked the PAT.

Bangor answered back on its next drive.

After two running plays, Day, who is starting in place of injured junior QB Mark McEwen, sent a long pass to Bowden in the middle of the field. The pass was off its mark, but Bowden adjusted his route slightly to make a nice one-handed catch to complete the 57-yard scoring play.

The PAT kick was wide left, giving Lawrence the 1-point cushion it needed.

From there, the Bulldogs were both lucky and good.

Bulldogs 13, Rams 12

Lawrence 7 0 6 0 -13

Bangor 6 0 0 6 -12

L – Cole 2 run (Cole kick)

B – Bowden 57 pass from Day (kick failed)

L – Cole 1 run (kick blocked)

B – Jamieson 69 pass from Day (rush failed)

Lawrence Bangor First downs 17 4 Rushing: att. – yards 58-171 24-54 Passing: att. – comp. 11-6 19-4 Yards passing 105 138 Total yards 276 192 Intercepted by 4 0 Punts – average 3-22.7 5-34.6 Fumbles – lost 3-2 1-0 Penalties – yards 2-10 1-5

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING – Lawrence: Knights 38-109, Cole 11-43, Nadeau 6-17, Spaulding 3-2; Bangor: Murray 12-35, Jamieson 9-16, Pelkey 1-8, Bazinet 1-2, Day 1-(minus 7).

PASSING – Lawrence: Spaudling 6-11-0-105; Day 4-19-4-138

RECEIVING – Lawrence: Cole 4-55, Richards 1-41, Long 1-9; Bangor: Jamieson 2-74, Bowden 2-64.