Lawrence football runs over Gorham to begin Pete Curtis era

Lawrence Dominates Gorham With 48‑0 Shut‑out in Pete Curtis’s First Game

In a resounding showcase of power football, the Lawrence High School Bulldogs racked up a 48‑0 victory over the Gorham Rams on Friday night, giving first‑year head coach Pete Curtis a triumphant opener. The game was played in Gorham, the Bulldogs’ first time on the Rams’ home turf, and the win underscores the continuity of Lawrence’s run‑heavy, defense‑dominated identity that has defined the program for the past two decades.

A Game of Numbers

Lawrence’s offense exploded for 438 total yards, 404 of which came on the ground, while Gorham managed a modest 27 yards in the entire contest. The Bulldogs ran the ball to perfection: Jackson Dangler, Jaiden Hebert, and Hunter Curtis each logged two rushing touchdowns, while Keegan Littlefield added another. On the stat sheet, Hunter Curtis led the way with 10 carries for 125 yards and two touchdowns; Littlefield carried 13 times for 114 yards and a score; Hebert finished with 15 carries for 81 yards and two touchdowns, plus a fumble recovery. The offensive line’s dominance left Gorham with only one first‑down play, a single yard that came on a forced fumble recovery by the Bulldogs.

Defensively, Lawrence stifled Gorham’s attempts to move the ball. The Rams were held to a single first down, and the Bulldogs’ defensive line forced multiple turnovers. A strip‑sack by Myles Provost forced a fumble that was recovered by Cody Gagnon, and a later fumble recovery by Hebert set up another touchdown before the first half even ended. Brady Richards, though not posting any flashy statistics, was a key pressure player on the defensive front, clogging the gaps and stifling Gorham’s run game.

The Preparation Pays Off

“We just prepared all week— the kids studying film and the coaches studying film—and we came in here prepared and ready to go from the get‑go,” coach Curtis told reporters after the game. “We were feeling pretty good coming into the game, and the kids went out and executed.”

Hebert echoed that sentiment, stressing the importance of repetition: “It really just comes down to practice and getting reps over and over so that everybody gets the ball. You’ve got to have those reps with the line getting the blocks, and the coaching helps.”

Curtis highlighted the team’s focus on turnover and tackling drills: “All preseason, we’ve been doing turnover drills and tackling drills, and I think it helps. We do things like strip‑sacks, and we do things like tip drills. I think we were prepared to do that tonight, and the players made those plays.”

The defensive unit’s discipline was also praised: “They run the same offense we do, where they pull the guards, and we talked about that. We told them all week, ‘If you get into that pocket, you’re going to cause some disruptions,’ and he did.” The reference was to senior defensive lineman Brady Richards, who, according to Curtis, “did exactly what we wanted—he clogged the caps, applied pressure, and stifled Gorham’s run game.”

A Strong Start for a New Era

The win is more than a 48‑0 scoreline. It signals a seamless transition from the era of former coach John Hersom, who had steered Lawrence for 20 years, to the new direction under Curtis. The Bulldogs’ performance this season, the article noted, “does not suggest that they aren’t top contenders in the Pine Tree Conference.”

Myles Provost, who helped create a key turnover early in the game, reflected on the team’s effort: “We’ve been grinding all week and all summer, and it came down to this night, and we made it happen. We’re pumped (to get Coach Curtis his first win). I think he’s really proud of us, and we’re really proud of him.”

Looking Ahead

Lawrence will head to the home field against Fryeburg Academy at 7 p.m. next Friday, while the Rams will take on Biddeford at 6 p.m. next Friday. The Bulldogs will look to carry the momentum from the Gorham shut‑out into a competitive stretch in the Pine Tree Conference.

As the season unfolds, the new coaching staff and veteran players will continue to demonstrate the program’s storied tradition of ball‑carrying dominance and defensive toughness—an identity that, according to coach Curtis, remains unchanged under the new leadership.