DUXBURY – Londonderry head coach Jimmy Lauzon likes to challenge his squad when they leave New Hampshire for non-league play, and what’s a bigger test than Duxbury on the road?
Challenge accepted.
The Lancers dominated in the second half to stun the Dragons, 27-21, as Davis Magarian scored the game-winning touchdown on a two-yard plunge with 2:15 left in regulation.
Devin VanAvery, who was all over the field on both sides of the ball, sealed the win for Londonderry with an interception on a fourth-and-long Hail Mary to put the icing on the huge win.
Magarian, a 6-foot-4 junior tight end, lined up under center for only the second time this season, created enough space to score, and sent the Lancers home with the victory.
“I think it’s really big that coach (Lauzon) puts that trust in me, and he can depend on me getting the ball and scoring. I really like how he can trust me there,” said Magarian. “It wasn’t just me, though; it’s the linemen with the push to get me in there.”
Duxbury (2-2) mixed things up on the first possession and ran the ball seven of the eight plays from scrimmage and finished things off with a 13-yard jet sweep by Nate Read for the early 7-0 lead.
But Londonderry answered right back with an eight-play scoring drive. Mixed in between was a razzle-dazzle fake punt from their own 19-yard line, as quarterback Sullivan Daron finished things with a 31-yard touchdown pass over the top of the Dragons’ secondary to freshman Jackson Rao.
After the missed extra point, Duxbury still held the slim 7-6 lead to start the second quarter as the Lancers marched 60 yards only to fumble on the goal line as Cole Michelson scooped up the miscue for Duxbury in the end zone for the touchback.
The Dragons took advantage of the turnover as Brady Rhinesmith found Jack Carney wide open for an 88-yard gain down to the one-yard line on a third-and-18 completion. Jake Falls punctuated the drive with a one-yard reception on a play-action pop pass from Rhinesmith after Londonderry’s defense stopped the rushing attack of the Dragons twice right outside the goal line for the 14-6 lead with 6:54 left in the first half.
The Lancers always seemed to have an answer after a Dragons score and VanAvery, this time on offense, hauled in a 26-yard reception from Daron, fighting off two defenders to get Londonderry within two, 14-12, as the two-point conversion failed with 3:59 left in the half.
This time it was the Lancers’ turn to take advantage of a turnover as Brandon Dyer’s fumble recovery at midfield turned into another VanAvery touchdown on a modified screen pass for 30 yards. The two-point conversion failed, but the Lancers were out in front for the first time, 18-14, heading into halftime.
After that first drive for the Dragons, the Lancers’ defense held the vaunted Dragons’ offense to only 14 points.
Read’s second touchdown of the game, this time a five-yard reception from Rhinesmith, tied the game 21-21 with 4:53 left.
After Thomas Zyra ran the ball back to the Lancers’ 47 on the kick return, VanAvery was at it again with a 42-yard reception from the arm of Daron to the Dragons’ 8 to set up the punch out from Magarian. Daron was outstanding with 11-of-19 passing for 257 and the three touchdown strikes for the Lancers.
Duxbury had a chance late as the Londonderry had the extra point blocked and struggled with special teams all game. But with only one timeout remaining and 2:15 left on the clock, the Dragons ran out of time. Nathan Mbuyi sacked Rhinesmith for a 10-yard loss on third down and VanAvery’s interception gave Lauzon exactly what his team needed.
“We look forward to challenging ourselves when we pick a game out of state, and we are not looking for cupcakes. It’s really nice to come down here and get a ‘W’ and it means a lot to us and our state,” said Lauzon.
