Malverne drops playoff thriller

Last Saturday’s Malverne-North Sore first round Conference IV football playoff game featured three fourth-quarter lead changes, and the Mules were dealt the final blow in a 38-34 defeat.

With fifth-seeded Malverne leading 34-31 and a defensive stop from advancing to the semifinal at Hofstra, North Shore quarterback Ryan Aughavin delivered a clutch 11-yard touchdown pass to John Magliocco on a fourth-and-7 with 1:17 left. Magliocco then iced the back-and-forth classic with an interception at midfield on a desperation fourth-and-32 pass from quarterback Dante Lacroix with 15 seconds remaining.

Malverne eighth-year head coach Kito Lockwood expressed frustration moments after the season-ending defeat at North Shore High School that his team missed opportunities in crunch time that could have made a difference. The costly mistakes included a dropped interception a play before Aughavin connected for another clutch touchdown to James Ledden with 4:10 left for a 31-28 lead. Lockwood also referenced a crucial false start penalty on a fourth-and-3 when the Mules were lined up to try and get a key first down when leading 28-21 and the ensuing punt snap was high leading to a safety in the end zone.

“We beat ourselves,” said Lockwood, whose team had dropped a 21-20 regular season to North Shore two weeks before meeting the Vikings in the playoffs. “We made mental errors and were undisciplined.”

Malverne was in position to win thanks to a big day from Lacroix and senior wide receiver Maurice Teachey. The two connected on a 64-yard touchdown pass with 3:44 left for a 34-31 lead. A 61-yard bomb from Lacroix to Teachey gave Malverne a 28-21 lead on the first play of the fourth quarter.

“Based on the defenses they were running they were gearing to stop our run,” Lockwood said of the second half success with the passing game. “At halftime we knew we were going to have to complete some passes to allow us to have some running lanes.”

Lacroix did damage with his legs as well sprinting for a 62-yard touchdown run with Malverne trailing 21-13 midway through the third quarter and then Teachey running in the ensuing two-point conversion for a 21-21 tie. Teachey’s big-play afternoon included a one-handed juggling 27-yard touchdown catch with 3:19 left in the second quarter that cut North Shore’s lead to 14-13.

Malverne’s defense also stepped up with some big plays against an explosive North Shore passing attack. Junior defensive back O’Neill Smith intercepted Aughavin at the Malverne 16-yard line early in the fourth quarter to preserve a 28-21 lead. Senior linebacker Tyler Curra forced a fumble on North Shore’s opening drive after Aughavin connected with Daniel Floccari at the 5-yard line that Malverne recovered in the end zone.

“I take my hat off to North Shore and their coaching staff,” said Lockwood. “They did a great job and won fair and square.”

Malverne reached the playoffs for a second straight year after making the postseason for the first time since 2009 last year. While progress was made in a 6-3 campaign, when asked if the season was a success Lockwood said: “We underachieved.”