Fans of the Londonderry High School Football team that chose to brave the cold temperatures and stiff winds at the Division I semifinals against the Blue Hawks were treated to an outstanding game, that finished with a final seconds field goal for a 31-28 Lancers victory.
The hard-fought win sends the number three-seeded Londonderry, into a State Championship game with the number four-seed, rival Pinkerton Academy, on Saturday, Nov. 30, at Exeter High School.
The semifinal victory over the Exeter High School team, in Exeter, on Saturday, Nov. 23, looked as though it would be a one-sided Lancer victory early on, but the Blue Hawks charged back in the second half, forcing Londonderry into a tie game at 28-28 late in the fourth. LHS went ahead with three-seconds left on the clock thanks to a game-winning field-goal by senior kicker Blake Thompson.
Londonderry had a 21-7 lead going into the second half, but Exeter scored two touchdowns in the third quarter and another in the fourth to force Londonderry the Kick from the 28-yard line.
Londonderry started the game on offense, but an early penalty resulted in a quick three-and-out and a punt to the EHS 45-yard line.
The LHS defense quickly got the ball back for the LHS offense, forcing a three-and-out of their own, allowing the Lancers to start the next drive at the 23-yard line.
The first play in the series resulted in a 60-yard gain by junior running back Adrian Cruz, who bolted the sideline to the Exeter 17-yard line.
It took just two-more plays before senior quarterback Sam Ogden ran the ball in from the five-yard line from the two for a touchdown.
From there, Thompson added the extra-point where he was able to tie the LHS record for P.A.T. points.
The current record was held by Charlie MacInnis. MacInnis had 82 career P.A.T. points in 1997.
The Lancers defense forced another put after three downs, where Londonderry was able to start their third drive at the 33-yard line.
It took nine plays for Londonderry to go up by 14 in the first play of the second quarter after a series of running plays by Cruz, Ogden and Jordan Ball.
The LHS touchdown came on a one-yard run by Ball. Thompson followed up with a record-breaking point-after and a 14-0 Lancers lead at 11:53 in the second.
The Lancers defense was able to keep the Blue Hawks offense frustrated, with Alex Villa sacking the EHS QB on their third play.
Starting the next series at the Exeter 49, Ogden completed a 43-yard pass to senior Ethan Wheeler, who ran it in for the three-score lead.
Thompson added the extra-point for a 21-0 Lancer lead at 9:38 in the second.
From there, Exeter started to find holes in the Lancers offense and the Blue Hawks were able level the score in the second half.
Before the half ended, and after the first TD by Exeter, senior Matt Luongo was able to make a touchdown saving interception at the Lancer goal-line to keep LHS ahead by 14 at halftime.
The Lancers were kept scoreless in the third quarter, while giving up two more touchdown to a surging Exeter squad.
Londonderry was able to regain the lead at 6:56 in the fourth quarter after the LHS defense forced a turnover on downs by Exeter.
Ogden was able to put the score at 28-21 with a three-yard run for a touchdown, followed by another Thompson extra-point.
Exeter’s next drive, tied the game at 28-28 with just over a minute left on the game clock.
Starting at their 35-yard line, Londonderry was able to get the ball down to the one-yard line with 18-seconds left, but a holding penalty brought it back to the 14-yard line.
From there, with three seconds left, Thompson kicked the game-winning 38-yard field goal from the 28-yard line as the clock expired, triggering the celebration of beating the undefeated Blue Hawks.
Thompson finished the game with 85 career P.A.T points, a new Londonderry record.
Londonderry finished with 339-yards of total offense, 227 on the ground and 112-yards in the air.
Ogden accounted for all of the passing yards and Arian Cruz led in running with 145-yards.
Wheeler and Ethan Paquette caught for 49- and 48-yards respectively.
On defense, Villa had three sacks and seven tackles. Sophomore Davis Magarian had eight tackles in the game.
The game against Pinkerton Academy is scheduled for this Saturday, at the Bill Ball Stadium, starting at 1 p.m.