Malverne battled to the end

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The 2014 Malverne football season fell short of the playoffs, but sixth-year head coach Kito Lockwood was proud of how his team competed until the end even as the roster got thinner throughout the year.

By the close of the season, Malverne was only dressing between 22 and 24 players forcing much of Lockwood’s senior-laden roster to never leave the field. Despite a lack of depth, the Mules finished 3-5 and were within striking distance of the program’s first playoff berth since 2009.

“We are a small school and not a lot of kids come out so when we have success it is very rewarding,” Lockwood said. “We definitely made some progress this season.”

Malverne’s three wins included a dramatic 38-36 four overtime season-opening victory against Island Trees where senior quarterback Bryce Todd’s two-point conversion run broke a 36-36 tie. The winning score came following a 36-yard touchdown run by James Choisi, his third of the day and capping an 89-yard rushing performance. Malverne’s defense also stepped up with defensive end Kyle Pinder recording two sacks and defensive lineman Kazeem Martelly returning an interception for a touchdown.

“They were the better conditioned team and that helped their will to win,” said Lockwood of the Island Trees victory. “At no point did they show any sign of doubt.”

Malverne, which finished 4-4 last year and just missed the playoffs, stayed in postseason contention with a 34-0 against Oyster Bay on Oct. 2 that evened the Mules record at 2-2. However, Malverne then dropped a 40-36 heartbreaker to Valley Stream South the following week. Lockwood said the loss to VSS, which was 0-4 entering the key week five game, coupled with a closely-contested 20-6 setback to Clarke in the second game ended up being the difference in trying to make that next step as a program.

“Those two losses on our schedule were the break of our season,” Lockwood said.

Malverne picked up its third win against Friends Academy, 42-18 on Oct. 24, before the Mules attempt at a second straight .500 season ended with a 35-8 setback to Locust Valley in the regular-season finale. Lockwood said throughout the season he was impressed by the leadership displayed by five senior captains, Kyle Richard, Maxon Jean, Todd, Christopher Hackett and Charles Jenkins Jr.

“They were great role models for the younger kids on the team in terms of work ethic and conducting themselves off the field,” Lockwood said of the captains. “They gave it their all.”

With Malverne graduating a large senior class, Lockwood is anticipating a rebuilding season next year. However, he is encouraged by the attitudes of his underclassmen and learning to take care of their academics in addition to working hard in practice.

“The seniors gave such a good example for the underclassmen,” he said. “We’re building strong character guys.”