This corner was ready to pounce on the City of Lawrence this week.
Once again, the Lancers, who go to high school now in the shadow of Veterans Stadium, will surrender the prime Friday night football to Central Catholic, which will host Billerica in a giant MVC showdown.
Lawrence High has been pushed back to Saturday night, in a move I mistakenly thought was yielding to Central’s political clout in the city. Mayor Sullivan is a Central grad. I graduated Central with one of his top people, Mike Sweeney. So when conflicts happen, why wouldn’t Central get the prime night.
Shouldn’t the public high school, the one the city paid $110 million for, get first choice at its own stadium?
Like I said, I was ready to pounce. Then Lawrence High AD Tim Finn spoke sensibly on the subject.
“We had three conflicting dates, and they gave up two of them. We figured we could give them one. Also, when you play on Saturday night, you’re the only game in town. Our kids like that, you always get a nice crowd.”
Hopefully, folks around the city will support both games, which should be good ones.
Central and Billerica is always a battle, and both are unbeaten in the league.
Lawrence looks to recover after a truly tough Saturday morning loss at Lynnfield. The Lancers, at their best, can play with Pentucket, and an upset would be a giant lift to the program.
I know some folks on Hampshire Street will take this the wrong way, but Lawrence High should always have final say on who plays when at its stadium.
Give Central second call and do all you can to accommodate those folks.
But the city kids come first. That’s what all those tax dollars were spent on.
