Londonderry football stifles Bedford to end Bulldogs winning streak

BEDFORD - A matchup of undefeated teams typically offers the makings for quite the gutter war. It’s what most fans, coaches and players expected with Friday’s Division I football showdown between the Londonderry and Bedford high school teams.

The contest did not meet expectations, though, thanks to the Lancers, who preferred dominance over theatrics. Londonderry scored on four of its first five possessions to set the rout in motion and eventually march to a 35-0 triumph over the Bulldogs, snapping Bedford's 17-game win streak.

“They’re a good team. I’m sure if we played again it would not end up like this,” Londonderry coach Jimmy Lauzon said. “Things just clicked for us at the right times. I think we were still a little sloppy and didn’t execute everything the way we wanted it to be done, but did enough to keep them where they were.”

Any NHIAA football coach would take Lauzon’s version of imperfection, which amounted to Londonderry (6-0) capping its scoring and forcing a running clock with 8:14 left in the third quarter.

Cole Keegan scored two of Londonderry’s first three touchdowns to get the Lancers out to a 21-0 lead at halftime. Keegan opened the scoring with a 6-yard jet sweep after he had a receiving touchdown called back three players earlier. The senior came through again on Londonderry’s next drive with a circus-style touchdown catch off a defender’s back on a jump ball in the corner of the end zone.

“I tried to go over and catch it, but I bumped into him,” Keegan said of the wild score. “It bounced of this hand and then he kicked it up, so I grabbed it with this hand and I was like ‘OK then!’”

Keegan made it a trio of scores when he and Londonderry quarterback Jake McEachern connected on a 40-yard touchdown strike. Keegan also added one of two Londonderry interceptions while Bedford was driving inside the red zone in the final minute of the opening half.

“A game like this and on a stage like this, it’s a great opportunity for Cole to show everybody,” Lauzon said. “It wasn’t a surprise to any of us that he gave us this type of night. I expect this from him. He works hard and deserves this.”

Alex Tsetsilas produced Londonderry’s other interception, which he returned 35 yards to cap the Lancers’ scoring. Jeff Wiedenfeld, who rushed for a game-high 105 yards, had Londonderry’s other touchdown on a 36-yard scamper.

The Lancers had three scores called back due to penalties, however, they managed to redeem themselves and find the end zone two or three plays after each penalty.

“We can play a little bit cleaner, but the resiliency is there,” Lauzon said. “Our guys came right back. I’m sure that guys were disappointed having things called back. We see them scoring everyday in practice, so we know they can do it.”

Bedford (5-1) mustered only 131 yards of total offense while coughing up three turnovers and turning the ball over on downs twice. 

The turnover that burnt the Bulldogs the most was an opening-drive fumble inside Londonderry’s 10-yard line, which quickly turned into Londonderry’s 91-yard drive to open the scoring. Bedford coach Zach Matthews admitted the turnover left his team reeling and that it ultimately set the tone for his team’s shortcomings.

“To me it wasn’t an offense, defense or special teams. It was how their kids played,” Matthews said. “Their kids are playing extremely hard and flying around on the football field. Confident, fast, aggressive and dictating tempo. It felt like we were on our heels a lot (Friday) while they were dictating the tempo.”

Matthews added that Bedford’s lack of offensive execution stemmed from a lack of breathing room in the backfield thanks to the likes of Londonderry linebackers Tyler Kayo and Will Reyes. Both defenders made it impossible for Bedford’s running attack to get going as they clogged running lanes and had great vision on the ball despite Bedford’s attempts to deceive with shielded handoffs.

“Will Reyes is growing into a leader on our defense,” Lauzon said. “He is getting better and better every week and I trust him controlling this defense. He’s just doing such an awesome job.”