Lawrence drops Homecoming game

Mother Nature forced the cancellation of Lawrence’s Homecoming parade on Saturday, and Plainedge running back Anthony Tardalo proved an even bigger spoiler than the weather.

Tardalo rushed for 238 yards and three touchdowns, including the go-ahead score from four yards out with 3:17 remaining in the third quarter, to lead the visiting Red Devils to a 38-21 victory. Andrew Jones added a pair of touchdown runs and threw a touchdown pass on a halfback option for Plainedge, which improved to 6-1 in Conference III. The Golden Tornadoes, who scored at least 35 points in each of their first six games, dropped to 5-2.

“They beat us on simple plays and traps,” Lawrence coach Lou Andre said. “Every game it seems like after we come up with a big offensive play and score, we come back with poor kick coverage or a poor defensive series and give it right back. It happened more than once today.”

Tardalo was the source of a huge play in each half that set up touchdowns and regained momentum for Plainedge. After senior Kenny Barnett’s 27-yard touchdown dash and senior Marcus Pinto’s extra point gave the Golden Tornadoes a 14-12 lead with 3:41 left in the first half, Tardalo, on the next snap, ripped off a 73-yard gain down to the Lawrence 5. Two plays later, Jones took a pitch from quarterback Will Crapo and connected with Gerard Bert on a 2-yard touchdown pass. Bert followed with a two-point conversion reception.

“We’re having trouble understanding critical situations,” Andre said. “There was no reason we should’ve been behind going into the half.”  

Trailing by six, Lawrence’s defense held on the opening series of the second half when Brenden Swayne sent a 25-yard field-goal try wide-left. Plainedge’s defense responded by forcing a three-and-out, but Ron Franz mishandled Pinto’s punt and Barnett pounced on it to give the Golden Tornadoes the ball at the Red Devils 38. After senior quarterback John Kinder (30-yard touchdown run, 129 yards passing) hit junior Seiddrik Ervin (seven catches, 88 yards) for a first down, Barnett busted outside for 22 yards to set up first-and-goal. Sophomore Ryan Fredericks capped the drive with a 2-yard scoring run and Pinto’s extra point regained the lead for the hosts at 21-20.

Another big play, this time on special teams by Mike Vannucci, put Plainedge’s offense in business in Lawrence territory on its next drive, and it needed only four plays to cash in. Vannucci’s 50-yard kickoff return and a Bert 22-yard reception led to Tardalo’s third touchdown, a 5-yard run that put the Red Devils ahead for good at 26-21.

“We’re backfield-by-committee,” Plainedge coach Rob Shaver. “We roll with the hot guy and Anthony was hot today.

“This has always been a black-and-blue conference. Every game is a battle and it’s going to make for some excitement in the playoffs.”

Lawrence will try to go into the playoffs on a positive note after having its four-game winning streak stopped. The regular season concludes on Saturday with a trip to South Side (2-6) for a 1:30 p.m. start.