Lynbrook attempts to even record

Lynbrook will try to complete the first half of the football season with a .500 record when it travels to South Side for a 3 p.m. kickoff in Conference III action this Saturday. The Owls (1-2) were driving with their eyes on the lead when senior quarterback Zach LoCicero went down with an injury early in the second half of last Saturday’s 48-14 defeat at Lawrence.

“Lawrence is a very talented football team and really good up front,” Lynbrook head coach Steve LoCicero said. “You need to have everything going against a team like that. When Zach went out, it took a little steam out of us. We rely on him to do a lot.”

Zach LoCicero, the coach’s son, was 5-for-5 passing with nearly 100 yards rushing when he left the game after hitting his head against the turf. He had a 2-yard touchdown run and a 26-yard touchdown pass in the opening quarter as the Owls took a 14-7 lead. “It was more precautionary than anything else,” coach LoCicero said. “The trainer did his job and felt Zach should sit out the rest of the game. The health of the kids always comes first.”

After LoCicero hooked up with senior Chris Kurkemelis on a beautiful timing pattern in the corner of the end zone to put Lynbrook in front of the four-time defending county champions, the Golden Tornadoes ripped off 41 straight points. Quarterback Noah Serrette and tailback Marquan Williams combined for 310 yards rushing and six touchdowns for the hosts.

“Their quarterback can really run it,” LoCicero said. “They wore us down it the second half, but I like the fact that we made them drive the field. We didn’t allow many big plays.”

The Owls were coming off a 35-14 victory over Valley Stream North in their home opener on Sept. 19. The game served as a fundraiser for the Fly a Kite Foundation (www.flyakitefoundation.org/), founded by locals David and Deena Bernstein. “It was a great community day,” LoCicero said. “The kids were excited to do something for a tremendous cause.”