GROTON — In Saturday’s game at Independent School League rival Lawrence Academy, BB&N showed from the very outset that the Knights had a little something extra.

Bo MacCormack returned the opening kick for a touchdown, and BB&N dominated every facet in a 52-21 win over the host Spartans.

BB&N improved to 6-2 and looks like a lock to make a NEPSAC bowl. Lawrence fell to 6-2, but a NEPSAC bowl is not out of the question for the Spartans, either.

That kick return set the tone. MacCormack bobbled it a little, then picked it up, broke a few tackles, and rumbled for a 100-yard touchdown. BB&N led 42-14 at halftime, and had a complete performance.

“To be honest with you, I just dropped the ball at first,” MacCormack said. “I was kind of like, whatever. I picked it up. I’ve got to make something happen. I made a cut on one kid, then I made a stiff arm on another kid. There was some room out on the LA sideline. Just booked it out there, and there was kind of no one there.”

“Obviously, the start was good,” BB&N coach Mike Willey said. “Special teams is a big part of what we try to do at BB&N. That kickoff was a great way to start a football game.”

MacCormack, a junior running back, rushed for 150 yards and two more touchdowns on 25 carries. Quarterback Henry Machnik completed 8 of 10 passes for 220 yards and four touchdowns. Sam Kelley caught three passes for 103 yards and a touchdown. Tight end Brett Elliott caught four passes for 84 yards and two scores. Henry Rome caught a 33-yard touchdown. Kicker Vince Snoonian kicked a field goal, and was 7-for-7 on PATs.

“I think it’s a real credit to the seniors, and how they prepared for this game,” Willey said. “Nothing is guaranteed. We approached this game as the last time that those seniors are going to play. And that’s exactly what they look like. They looked like a team that wanted to play every play like it was their last absolute last play of their career. And they did it.”

After MacCormack’s touchdown, BB&N struck again after forcing an LA turnover on downs. MacCormack had a 51-yard run that set up his 1-yard touchdown, as BB&N led, 14-0.

Lawrence got on the board on its next drive when quarterback Michael Landolfi hit Cole Nelson for a 17-yard touchdown.

But that momentum was short-lived, as Machnik hit Kelley wide open over the middle of the field for a 66-yard touchdown. MacCormack then added a 5-yard touchdown, and BB&N was up 28–7 early in the second quarter.

Lawrence back Jordan Johnson (120 yards rushing) caught a 9-yard touchdown pass from Landolfi to slice the deficit to 28-14, but BB&N finished the half strong.

Machnik hit Elliott for a 44-yard touchdown, then Machnik struck again with a 33-yard score to Henry Rome at the end of the half, and it was 42-14 Knights at the break.

“Henry is outstanding,” Willey said. “He does a great job with his feet. He does a great job throwing the ball. Just a really, really good football player who had a really good performance today. Not surprised because of what I see every day in practice, that he had a great day today.”

Snoonian booted his 35-yard field goal in the third quarter, and Elliott caught a 7-yard scoring pass in the third, as well. Nelson added a 50-yard touchdown run to help finish the scoring.