Freeport outlasts Oceanside in opener

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The smallest player on the field had the biggest impact in Freeport’s 36-26 victory over visiting Oceanside in last Friday night’s much-anticipated Nassau Conference I football opener.

Sophomore quarterback Rashad Tucker, who’s listed at 5-foot-9, 150 pounds, passed for 246 yards and a touchdown and rushed for 90 yards and two touchdowns, including a dazzling 20-yard score on fourth-and-18 in the second quarter, to lead the fourth-ranked Red Devils before a packed crowd of more than 1,500. Senior Myles Eason’s 12-yard touchdown catch with 9:51 remaining put the hosts ahead for good.

“Last year he became the first freshman I’ve started at quarterback in 32 years, and he nearly won the playoff game for us,” Freeport head coach Russ Cellan said of Tucker, who had four completions of at least 20 yards. “He’s dynamic. He can create and turn a broken play into a big play with his legs.”

On the winning drive, Tucker did just that with a 20-yard scramble on third-and-11 to move the chains inside the Oceanside 30. “He’s a good athlete,” Oceanside head coach Rob Blount said. “They’ve got a fast team. We didn’t tackle well and gave up some big plays, but it’s just one game and we have seven more to go.”

Junior Brandy Diaz rushed for 133 yards and three touchdowns for the No. 2-ranked Sailors, who never led but answered each of Freeport’s first four scores with one of their own. “We beat a very good football team,” Cellan said. “This gives us confidence moving forward. I’ve got to believe we’re capable of good things if we play our cards right.”