CLASS A STATE CHAMPIONSHIP
GORHAM (10-1) vs. LAWRENCE (10-0)
Saturday at 11 a.m. at Fitzpatrick Stadium
LAWRENCE 2006
FOOTBALL SEASON
at Skowhegan Win 8-0
Edward Little Win 22-0
at Oxford Hills Win 35-7
Lewiston Win 30-6
at Bangor Win 3-0
Mt. Ararat Win 36-6
Cony Win 46-0
Messalonskee Win 21-12
Messalonskee Win 29-7
at Bangor Win 19-5
The Bulldogs have outscored their opponents 244-43 in 10 games this season. They have four shutouts and no opponent has scored more than 12 points against them.
Lawrence is making its first trip to the Class A state championship game since 1996 when they lost to South Portland.
Aaron Champagne is their breakaway tailback. The senior scored on a
67-yard touchdown run last week against Bangor in the East A title game. Running backs Cory Church and fullback David Wallace will carry the ball as well.
The Bulldogs would rather pound the ball with their running game with sweeps, draws, off-tackle, counter, and option plays. Quarterback Jack Hersom can pass when he has to. He tossed a touchdown pass against Messalonskee two weeks ago in the regional semifinals.
Lawrence head coach John Hersom is in his second season as coach going 6-3 last year before losing in the Eastern A semifinals.
Linebackers Jon Doyon and David Wallace are a potent defensive cobination. And the defensive line includes Bryan Slaney, Isaiah Underwood, Shawn Champagne and Nick Lee.
Mark Ashland is a decent placekicker having beaten Bangor during the regular season for a 3-0 win.
The Bulldogs have 22 seniors on this year’s squad. They gang tackle and hit hard. They create turnovers and play a tough punishing style of defense.
GORHAM 2006
FOOTBALL SEASON
Scarborough Win 57-7
Portland Win 32-26
Cheverus Win 43-21
Windham Win 15-7
Deering Win 33-12
Westbrook Win 54-16
South Portland Win 35-7
Bonny Eagle Loss 35-16
Noble Win 50-20
Marshwood Win 6-0
Deering Win 9-7
Gorham has outscored their opponents 350-158 this season. The Rams have scored 30 or more points eight times this season while Lawrence has accomplished the same feat only four times.
Gorham last made an appearance in the state championship game back in 2003 when the were beaten for the Class B title by Belfast.
Prediction: Gorham’s size in the line should help the Rams dominate the trenches. The Rams’ double wing offense will likely cause fits for the Bulldogs early on until some adjustments are made. And Gorham’s defense has played extremely well in the playoffs.
Lawrence sounds like an athletic and pesky bunch and they’ll play hard until the final whistle sounds. The Bulldogs are rightfully proud of what they’ve accomplished this season, but they face a formidable foe on Saturday.
Gorham 28 Lawrence 13
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