Barnes Leads Lawrence over Hopewell

A highly touted 5-1 Hopewell Valley Bulldogs youth football 135lb team came to Lawrence's Bethea Field on Saturday night and were dealt a humbling defeat as the Lawrence Junior Cardinals (4-3) were hitting on all cylinders offensively and defensively in the 26-8 rout.

Lawrence Middle School 8th grader Diesel Barnes was seemingly unstoppable scoring all four of the Jr. Cardinals touchdowns. Midway through the 1st quarter Barnes went right on a pitch, found daylight, and outran the entire Bulldogs defense 80 yards to pay dirt. The Jr. Cardinals' defense then went to work. Jalen Burks delivered a punishing blow stopping the Hopewell running back on a 4th down try in their first series. It was a tone-setter for the physical style of defense that Lawrence would play all night.

In the 2nd quarter the Jr. Cardinals defense caused a fumble on an intense tackle by Devin Hairston. "They couldn't match our intensity," said Lawrence coach Duane Davis. "Play after play our defense was in their faces, gang tackling and really operating as a team. That very satisfying for a coach to see." Lawrence Offensive Coordinator, Brian Mills added, "Obviously Diesel was playing on a different level tonight, but Devin Hairston was playing scary defense tonight. He must have had a dozen tackles."

One of those tackles came in the 2nd quarter when Hairston and Safety, Syifullah Thomas, converged on a hit that caused the Hopewell running back to fumble. Barnes scooped up the fumble and returned it 40 yards to give the Jr. Cardinals a 13-0 lead. Thomas also ran in the PAT.

Late in the 2nd quarter the Bulldog's Tyler Jameson, a classmate of Barnes' at Lawrence Middle School, had a beautiful run off tackle that he took to the house for what would be Hopewell's only visit to the end zone in the game. At halftime the score was 13-8. The 2nd half was all Lawrence.

Lawrence QB, Matteo Rodriguez, who spent the last few seasons in Hopewell, came over to the Jr. Cardinals this year. He controlled the game nicely hitting TE Sean Mills on a 3rd and 10 conversion. Rodriguez handed off to Barnes in the 3rd quarter on an off tackle left play. The speedy tailback hit the hole and cut it back breaking tackles to scamper another 80 yards for the touch down giving Lawrence a 19-8 lead going into the 4th quarter.

The Jr. Cardinal defense played a wildly intense 4th quarter. The defensive line was anchored by the Bynes brothers, Jaylen and Jacob, who pestered the Hopewell QB all night. The Bulldogs never got close to scoring in the 4th. Lawrence had a drive in the 4th started with a screen pass from Rodriguez to Barnes that went for 15 yards. Barnes capped the drive with his 4th touch down of the evening. Running back Miayer Clay scored the PAT to put the game out of reach of the Bulldogs who suffered only their 2nd loss on the season to the Jr. Cardinals.

Lawrence coach Vernon Davis said after the game, "We were not losing this game. The way our boys played was truly inspiring. Hopewell is a very good team but we were better tonight. Some of their better players are Lawrence residents. I'm excited to see them all playing together in high school."

The Jr. Cardinals play the undefeated Maple Shade Tigers this weekend. If they can upset them they will earn a spot in the West Jersey Youth Football League playoffs.