This might be the Hillies' week.
The team enters Friday's game against Tewksbury with all players eligible and home-field advantage over the only other winless team in their conference.
Nine players have served out their two-game suspensions for an alcohol-related incident and all have practiced this week, said Haverhill Athletic Director Garin Veris on Tuesday.
"We're ready to put this behind us, and we're moving forward," said Veris.
The last two weeks have been brutal for Haverhill. On Friday, Oct. 30, they were shut out for the second week in a row, falling to Lawrence, 28-0, at home.
Hillie blockers were unable to contain the Lancers, who exerted constant pressure on quarterback Austen Campbell. As a result, Campbell was forced to throw on the run on three of his five passing attempts, two of which turned into Lawrence interceptions
The Hillies, down 21-0, came out of the locker room with some short-lived swagger, recovering an onside kick to start the second half, but then went three and out on the ensuing possession and turning the ball over on downs on their next two possessions without ever recording a first down.
"We're banged up, we have suspensions, we have the flu, we're just down in a hole and trying to climb out," said coach Tim Briggs. "We started three offensive linemen tonight that, quite honestly, had been splitting time on JV, and that's a little tough to do when you're facing the caliber of athletes that Lawrence has."
