MALDEN — Senior running back Quinn McDonough racked up 241 yards on the ground by halftime and finished with 368 yards rushing as Malden Catholic downed the Lancers 42-32 at a soggy Brother Gilbert Stadium.
Malden Catholic (4-7) got on the board just 2:55 into the game with McDonough's first of four rushing touchdowns, but Lawrence struck back quickly, when Kevin Valerio hauled in a touchdown pass from quarterback Nick Elwell to cap a 13-play drive which ate up 6:12.
After MC scored to make it 16-6, Jiovanny Vasquez returned the kickoff 72 yards to the MC 5 before Harvey Blanco drove through the line for a score.
"I knew that they wanted to keep us off the field," said Lawrence head coach Mike Yameen, whose team finished 3-8. "We had the ball three times in the first half and scored twice."
But Lawrence's real struggles in the opening 22 minutes came on defense, where the Lancers had no answers for McDonough.
Elwell led the charge going 17 of 24 for 224 yards and three touchdowns. He finished the season with an unofficial area record 23 TD passes (complete records go through the 1984 season).
The old mark of 22 was held by Whittier senior Dillon Ryan (he could regain that today or in the playoffs) and Phillips' Marc Hordon in 1999.
Michael Calzetta was his favorite target, catching six balls for 79 yards, catching every ball through at least double and sometimes triple coverage.
The opening possession of the second half - Lawrence's most efficient drive of the game - Elwell went 5 for 5, spreading the ball to four different receivers.
Lance Thigpen scored the touchdown to cap the drive. After Harvey Blanco was drilled at the line and the ball popped up into the air; Thigpen, who was blocking on the play, came down with the ball in the end zone.
"Not hitting our two-point conversions hurt, but we played a good Division 1 team and we didn't quit," Yameen said.
"We just didn't have the ball enough in the first half. In the second half we moved it. We did some things well tonight, but obviously not enough."
Malden Catholic 42, Lawrence 32
Lawrence (3-8): 6 6 8 12
Malden Catholic (4-7): 8 20 0 14
First Quarter
MC — Quinn McDonough 11 run (John Martin rush), 8:05
LAW — Kevin Valerio 6 pass from Nick Elwell (pass failed), 1:53
Second Quarter
MC — John Martin 6 run (McDonough rush), 9:55
LAW — Harvey Blanco 5 run (kick failed), 9:29
MC — McDonough 74 run (rush failed), 8:02
MC — McDonough 30 run (pass failed), 1:57
Third Quarter
LAW — Lance Thigpen 1 run (Miguel Rodriguez pass from Elwell), 5:58
Fourth Quarter
MC — McDonough 37 run (Matt Heriveaux run), 10:52
LAW — Kevin Valerio 40 pass from Nick Elwell (pass failed), 8:45
MC — McDonough 79 run (pass failed), 6:40
LAW — Michael Calzetta 9 pass from Elwell (pass failed), 3:51
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