Complete Box Score and Play by Play
If there was ever a silver lining of the pandemic, it’s that it blessed us with Lawrence visiting St. Thomas Aquinas – a game that probably never would have happened had the schedules not become a jumbled mess.
For the second time this year, No. 1 in 6A faced off against No. 1 in 5A and it lived up to the billing. Not only that, but arguably the two best running backs showcased what each other could do in front of each other, but it was Devin Neal’s Lawrence team getting past Tank Young’s St. Thomas Aquinas 39-27.
Neal scored three times on the night, including two touchdowns in the first seven minutes to lead the Chesty Lions. He ran the ball for 149 yards on 30 attempts and sealed the game with a one-yard run with 1:56 to play.
Lawrence jumped out to an early 20-0 lead in the first quarter as it capitalized on St. Thomas Aquinas miscues. Running back Xavier Horn and quarterback Maxwell Ford put the ball on the ground and Lawrence recovered it inside the red zone each time.
Aquinas locked in, shut down Lawrence and battled back in the second quarter thanks to Young, who helped set up two one-yard sneaks by Ford.
The Chesty Lions refocused in the second half after quarterback Jackson Dooley and his receivers couldn’t get into a rhythm in the first half – he connected with John Green for 47 yards on the opening drive of the second half to extend the Lawrence lead, but the two-point conversion failed.
After trading punts, Ford hit Evan Kammerer for a 39-yard touchdown, but Dooley answered right back, finding Tre’ Jackson for 38 yards at the end of the third quarter, however, Lawrence botched the point after.
The two traded punts again, and Aquinas started a drive at its own 9-yard line but were backed due to a delay of game. On second and long, Ford hit Kammerer, who stopped on a dime, streaked up the sideline and weaved his way down to the Lawrence 7-yard line for 89 yards. Two plays later, Young punched it in. He carried the ball 35 times for 157 yards and the score.
The Saints called timeout to set up their two-point conversion play to try and make it a three-point game, but Young was stopped short of the goal line.
The Lions then ran nearly six minutes of clock before Neal’s game sealing score.
