MERRY HILL – Lawrence Academy gave rookie Head Coach Robert Kravitz his first varsity football win here last night (Friday).

The Warriors took to the gridiron against first-year program Community Christian School and rolled to an easy 54-20 win. In the process, Kravitz – who has more than 100 baseball wins already racked up to his credit – garnered his first win at the helm of the Lawrence football program.

While Kravitz was looking for that first win in just his second outing, his team made sure he knew quickly the game was in hand. Lawrence scored on its first two possessions and recorded a safety to bolt out to an 18-0 lead.

On the first drive, Scott Dunlow and quarterback Cade Larabee picked up back-to-back 11-yard gains. After Larabee was sacked on the next play, Kravitz went to sophomore Perry Wynns for three straight carries, resulting in a first down.

On the next play, Luke Leary rolled nine yards for a score, but the touchdown was nullified on a holding penalty. After a second straight flag moved the ball back to the 22-yardline, Lawrence took all four plays to score, eventually reaching the endzone on a one-yard plunge by Larabee.

The Warrior junior quarterback then found Willie Bass for the two-point conversion to make it 8-0.

Community struggled with the next kickoff and started on the nine-yardline. A penalty before the first snap moved the ball back to the four and from there, Bass tackled Community quarterback Yank Jones in the endzone for a safety to make it 10-0.

On the free kick, Colby Davenport returned the ball 33 yards to the Community Christian 18. Larabee picked up 10 yards on the first play from scrimmage and then connected with sophomore Cody Elliot on an eight-yard touchdown pass. Dunlow ran in the two-point conversion and Lawrence led 18-0 with 4:09 left in the first quarter.

The teams exchanged turnovers before the Warrior defense eventually forced Community to attempt a punt. Chance Askew, however, burst through the line and blocked the bunt, giving Lawrence possession at the 28-yardline.

Leary picked up a first down for Lawrence, but a pair of fumbles saw the Warriors moved back to the Community Christian 42-yardline. It didn’t matter, however, as Larabee connected with Bass who broke several tackles on his way to paydirt. The conversion failed, but Lawrence led 24-0 with 9:06 to play in the second quarter.

After forcing another punt, the Warrior special teams got into the action with Leary breaking a 25-yard run down to the Community 25-yardline. It took Lawrence just two plays to find the endzone.

Larabee, lined up at tailback, broke off an 11-yard gainer before Jesse White used his time at quarterback to connect with Clint Thompson on a 14-yard scoring pass. The run failed, but the Warriors took a comfortable 30-0 lead into the break.

On the first series of the second half, Community was again forced to punt and this time the snap sailed over punter Jordan Liles’ head. He was able to pick it up and return it 10 yards, but Lawrence still took over at the Community 30-yardline.

The Warriors found paydirt in just three plays with Travis Whitehead scampering 28 yards to the endzone. Larabee went in untouched on the conversion and the Warriors were ahead 38-0.

On the ensuing series, Community finally found paydirt thanks to a break that gave them the football back after it was fumbled. The ball sailed over Jones’ head on second down and he raced towards the loose pigskin. He attempted to fall on it and the whistle blew, but the ball skirted into the hands of a Lawrence defender.

Community however, retained possession because of the whistle. They made it count on the next play when Jones found Ryan Mitchell on a dump-off pass on the right side. Mitchell shook off a few defenders, reversed field and went 75 yards for the score. The conversion run failed and Lawrence held on to a 38-6 lead.

Lawrence added to the lead on the next series when Whitehead returned the kickoff 54 yards to the Community 21. Six plays later, Colby Davenport found paydirt from three yards out. Wynns scored on the conversion run and Lawrence led 46-6 as the third quarter expired.

Community Christian responded on the next drive, going 54 yards on four plays capped by a Mitchell three-yard run that cut it to 46-12 with 8:15 to play.

Lawrence added another touchdown on a Leary five-yard run. Whitehead added the conversion to make it 54-12.

Community scored on the next to the last play of the game on an 81-yard pass play from Jones to Arnold Liles. Jones added the conversion to finish the scoring with Lawrence up 54-20.

Overall, the Lawrence rolled up 186 yards on the ground and 64 through the air. They held the Cyclones to 25 yards on the ground while Community racked up 177 yards through the air.

Next week, Lawrence will host Parrott Academy.