Football playoffs: Turning the tables

Hewlett 10, Sewanhaka 6

By TONY BELLISSIMO

It was a special day for Hewlett’s special teams.

The fourth-seeded Bulldogs got a 35-yard field goal from Ross Kleinrock, a game-changing 75-yard punt from Dylan Pastor and two long returns by Sam Martorella on the way to knocking off No. 5 Sewanhaka, 10-6, in a Nassau Conference III first-round playoff battle on Saturday.

The Bulldogs, who avenged a 20-7 loss at Sewanhaka on Sept. 17, advanced to face top-seeded Lynbrook in a semifinal game at Hofstra next Saturday. “Our kicking game came up big, as did our defense,” Hewlett coach Jay Iaquinta said.

Baldwin 28, East Meadow 21 

By STEVE SINISKI

As Baldwin seniors Alonzo Holcombe and Troy Dennis stood at their own 10-yard line and awaited East Meadow’s kickoff, an uncle shouted some last-second instructions from outside the fence line off the back of the Bruins end zone. “You run this one back,” he screamed several times, hoping to spur one of the return men on the heels of the Jets’ game-tying touchdown with 3:31 remaining in the fourth quarter of their Nassau Conference I first-round playoff game.

Dennis didn’t disappoint, racing 81 yards for the touchdown and delivering the knockout blow for No. 7 Baldwin in its 28-21 upset win at No. 2 East Meadow on Saturday. “Most of the time I wait to set up [for the return],” Dennis said. “But somebody blocked down and I just took it outside.”

The Bruins lost 28-0 at home to the Jets on Oct. 24. The win catapults Baldwin into the semifinals against defending champion Freeport, the No. 1 seed, at Hofstra next Saturday.

Other Local Scores

Conference I

Freeport 63, Oceanside 24

Conference II

Carey 35, MacArthur 21

Elmont 28, Division 14

Conference III

Lawrence 33, Manhasset 3

Lynbrook 41, Bethpage 20

Conference IV

Clarke 15, Roosevelt 14