RallyNorth.net

Thu, Nov 29, 2018 06:00 PM @ Greater Lawrence

Team	Q1	Q2	Q3	Q4	OT	Final
Northeast	8	0	0	6	0	14
Greater Lawrence	0	8	6	0	6	20

Schmidt, Reggies win state voke large title in OT

Thursday, February, 28 By Jeff Hamrick
Correspondent

WAKEFIELD – A Greater Lawrence season that had its share of ups and downs on and off the field ended in euphoria on a cold November night.

After battling Commonwealth Athletic Conference rival Northeast to a draw in regulation for the State Vocational Bowl Large Division, Vinny Schmidt needed just one overtime play to give the Reggies a lead the defense wouldn’t surrender in a 20-14 victory. It was Greater Lawrence’s first vocational title in three appearances.

“This means everything,” said Schmidt, a sophomore who’s second touchdown of the night proved the game winner. “It’s what we’ve been working for … I’ve been working since I was five for this moment. I’ve been working every day after school … to win this for the city. That’s what it’s for. I had a feeling (on the game winner), and I wanted to do it for the team.”

Schmidt put the Reggies (10-3) in the game with a second-quarter touchdown on a possession that was set up by a Romurys Paulino fumble recovery. Ader Mezidor, who had rushes of 22 and 30 yards on the drive, scored the conversion run to tie the game 8-8 with 6:08 left in the first half.

The Reggies, who were held to 164 yards total offense, took their first lead on their biggest play of the night. Facing a third-and-8 from the Golden Knight 45, Jose Caceres hooked up with Donnie Croteau, who broke free deep on a corner route, for a 14-8 lead with 3:01 left in the third.

“One of our guys saw that was wide open,” Greater Lawrence coach Tony Sarkis said of the call. “They were playing on the short route, and Jose made a great throw and Donnie Croteau just made another big play for us. The kids wanted it. We trusted him, and the team gave Jose enough time to throw the ball.”

Northeast, which dropped a 29-28 decision to the Reggies in Week 5, tied the score midway through the fourth with its second impressive drive of the night. Zach Sanderson’s 8-yard run capped a 14-play possession with 6:34 left in the game. Northeast’s two touchdown drives lasted a combined 30 plays and consumed 15:39 as the Golden Knights (9-4) gained 114 more yards than Greater Lawrence.

“(Northeast) brings the best out of us because of the way they come to play,” Sarkis said. “We’re both physical teams. It came down to the end and us making one more play than they did. I’m very proud of our kids. “I’m proud of them hanging in there in a roller-coaster game the whole way.”

Croteau’s punting also played a big role in the game. All three of his punts traveled at least 45 yards, including his last one which went 57 yards and was downed inside the Knights 1 with 4:15 left in the game. Croteau also had a fumble recovery on Northeast’s final play of regulation at the Reggie 35 with 37 seconds left.

“He’s such a solid kid,” Sarkis said. “He never leaves the field. He’s a great punter, and at the end it kind of saved us.”

It all set up an overtime that Greater Lawrence took first draw on a possession that needed only one play as Schmidt barreled in from the 10.

“We knew that hard work paid off,” said Schmidt, who was in on two of the four tackles on Northeast’s overtime possession. “That’s what they say, and it’s true. We were able to prove it. We’ve been working for this since last March.”

Greater Lawrence 20, Northeast 14

Northeast (9-4): 8 0 0 6 0 — 14

Greater Lawrence (10-3): 0 8 6 0 6 — 20

STATE VOCATIONAL LARGE CHAMPIONSHIP

First Quarter

N — Connor Joseph 4 run (Connor Joseph run), :54

Second Quarter

GL — Vinny Schmidt 1 run (Ader Mezidor run), 6:08

Third Quarter

GL — Donnie Croteau 45 pass from Jose Caceres (pass failed), 3:01

Fourth Quarter

N — Zach Sanderson 8 run (run failed), 6:34

Overtime

GL — Vinny Schmidt 10 run (run failed)

INDIVIDUAL LEADERS

RUSHING: GL (24-112): Ader Mezidor 12-64, Vinny Schmidt 7-21, Jose Caceres 2-14, Donnie Croteau 2-14, Shamil Diaz 1-12; N (52-254): Zach Sanderson 27-130, Connor Joseph 15-66, Osen Halley 5-4, Patrick Michel 1-0

PASSING: GL — Jose Caceres 3-14-1, 52, Donnie Croteau 0-1-1; N — Zach Sanderson 1-1-0, 24

RECEIVING: GL — Vinny Schmidt 2-7, Donnie Croteau 1-45; N — Tyrese Jones 1-24