Londonderry football making title-game appearance for 4th year in a row

Sam Ogden had a key role during the Londonderry High School football team's win in the Division I championship game in 2021, even though, as a freshman, he never got into the game.

Ogden was the ball boy for the Lancers and the now-senior remembers clearly what that day was like, both the experience of being on the field and what it felt like to be on the winning side.

"Just being on the sideline, I was the ball boy, and just being there, seeing the atmosphere, it was awesome," he said. "After the big win, the seniors were picking me up, spinning me around after they won. Now to experience (being there again), as a senior, it’s awesome."

No. 3 Londonderry (8-3) will take on No. 4 Pinkerton (10-2) at 1 p.m. Saturday at Bill Ball Stadium in Exeter in the Division I championship game.

It's the fourth title-game appearance in a row for the Lancers, and fifth in six years, but after winning titles in 2019 and 2021, they've dropped the last two against Bedford. But this year's opponent isn't the only thing that is different for Londonderry.

"We’ve gone through a lot of stuff this year, especially with injuries and taking losses during the regular season," Londonderry senior Alex Villa said. "It’s always been a strong belief that you can’t make it to the championship without being undefeated, or close to it. I think the boys stepping up this year, the leaders stepping up, and making sure we’re carrying the energy throughout practice and games is what it’s all about."

Over the last two seasons, Londonderry lost just once before the playoffs, but between dropping three games - including the regular-season meeting with Pinkerton 38-15 - this season and dealing with injuries that have stretched the Lancers thin in some spots, coach Jimmy Lauzon thinks they might be more prepared.

"Whenever you go through some adversity like that, it brings you closer together," the coach said. "You’re going to lean on more guys, guys have an opportunity to step up throughout the year. We’re not one of those programs that plays the same 11 on both sides. So now we had to really dig deep this year.

"We put some guys in spots that it’s like putting their feet to the fire and they had to learn quickly. It’s the most adversity of any team that has made it to the championship so far in my career. We’ll find out if we’re better for it."

For Lauzon, the run of championship appearances is what he's envisioned for Londonderry ever since he took over as the head coach before the 2014 season. That year, the Lancers went 8-2, with their only losses against Pinkerton, but there was a drop off before Londonderry returned to the playoffs in 2018.

During that time, Lauzon felt he and his staff learned and grew into the coaches they are now.

"I’ve grown and our staff has grown since then," he said. "We were not state-championship caliber at the time. In 2014, we had an incredibly talented group, and if I was a better coach then, it would have had a better ending. We are in a better position now. We have good players and we can help them play well. It certainly helps to have talent."

The Lancers have certainly had that during this run, including a handful that have or will move on to play Division I college football. Senior linemen Colin Couture (University of New Hampshire) and Paul Binder (Dartmouth College) recently signed letters of intent to do just that.

But despite whatever talent Londonderry has this season, Villa thinks there's been another element at play, too, and it showed in last week's 31-28 semifinal win over Exeter.

"One of the key factors to our success this year is just grit," he said. "That’s what that whole game summed up. We started off really hot, we got kind of flat after halftime, they were starting to get some momentum. It was straight grit and passion and everybody wanted it. We were confident the whole time."

Londonderry is going to need more of that Saturday against the bitterest of rivals.

"The familiarity is always tough," Lauzon said. "We know what we’re getting on the other side as far as good coaching and good players. It should make for a great matchup. They’re a great team, very fast. It must be really cool as a fan. I’m sure both coaching staffs would agree there are probably some teams that we’d rather see. It’s pretty cool to be a part of, for sure."