East Meadow hands Hempstead first loss

Two of Nassau Conference I’s premier ground attacks were on display throughout another rainy Saturday that wiped out many homecoming plans countywide, including those at East Meadow.

The Jets postponed festivities until next week but their offensive line enjoyed quite a block party as it paved the way for senior Matt Rodriguez’s 140 yards and three touchdowns in a 37-21 victory over Hempstead. Senior quarterback Kevin Canto had a touchdown pass and 62 yards rushing as East Meadow won for the fourth time in five games and snapped the Tigers’ four-game win streak in the process.

“We’re doing a lot of good things,” East Meadow head coach Vin Mascia said. “The first half was as strong as a half as we’ve played all season. We got a tremendous push up front and we’re starting three juniors and a sophomore on the line. That’s a quality team we just beat.”

Hempstead star senior running back Dwayne Meadors did his usual damage — 150 yards and two touchdowns — but the Jets led 34-7 before he got into the end zone. Senior quarterback Brandon Davis had a nifty 45-yard touchdown run for the visitors. Meadors produced the longest play of the day, a 72-yard scoring run with 4:31 remaining.

“He’s a tough kid to stop,” Mascia said of Meadors, who has nine touchdowns on the year. “He broke a long one late, but I thought we did a really nice job otherwise.”

The Tigers, who were down a trio of impact two-way starters including top lineman Ryan Greene, done for the season with a broken wrist suffered in last week’s big 21-20 win at Freeport, were unable to contain East Meadow’s running game spearheaded by Rodriguez.

“They’re big up front and moved the line of scrimmage today,” Hempstead head coach Matthew Ali said. “There’s a lot to be proud of after five games. We’re 4-1 and the only thing we can do after this one is move forward. We know every team in Conference I is going to bring it every week.”

Junior Isaiah Perkins, who had two defensive takeaways, recovered a fumble on Hempstead’s opening drive and the Jets’ opening possession began in the red zone. Three plays later, sophomore Tyreke Cornett scored on a 9-yard run and the hosts never looked back.

Junior Eric Garcia caught a perfectly thrown 22-yard touchdown pass from Canto late in the first quarter and it was 14-0 after senior kicker Robert Derwin booted his second of four successful extra points. Derwin capped East Meadow’s scoring with a 27-yard field goal midway through the fourth.

Rodriguez scored twice in the second quarter to help build a 27-7 halftime lead. He added another touchdown in the third.

“I owe it all to the quarterback reads and the blocking,” said Rodriguez, who lauded the efforts of Canto, linemen Joseph Arbitello, Anthony Bilz, Josh Vargas, Manny Martinez, Yiannis Kakavas and Shaun Reilly, and tight end Nick Longardino.

The Jets will try to keep flying when Baldwin visits for the rescheduled homecoming. “We’re feeling great right now,” Rodriguez said. “Baldwin beat us on homecoming last year and we were pretty bummed so we don’t want to let that happen again.”