Lawrence runs wild in playoff win

Though it is technically true the big scoreboard at the Lawrence High School football field went haywire early in the second half last Saturday, it was probably not caused by the Golden Tornadoes’ touchdown barrage in their 62-32 Nassau Conference III quarterfinal playoff win over Hewlett.

More than likely the malfunction was caused by a loose wire or something. Lawrence did, however, give the board a workout. 

Brothers Tyler and Ryan Fredericks combined for 428 rushing yards and eight touchdowns, and sophomore quarterback Joey Capobianco completed nine of 15 passes for 184 yards and two touchdowns, as Lawrence repeatedly cut through the Hewlett defense.

With the win, Lawrence (8-1) advances to face defending county and Long Island champion Lynbrook this Saturday at Hofstra Stadium at 10 a.m. Hewlett, which finished 4-5, got two touchdowns from freshman Jeremy Leguillow and one apiece from seniors Sam Grill and Sam Martorella.

“We were very good offensively,” Lawrence head coach Joe Martillotti said.

They were better than that. The Bulldogs got on the board first, kicking an early field goal, and continued to challenge Lawrence with a determined offensive effort, but the Golden Tornadoes proved too much to handle.

Hewlett took its first possession inside the Lawrence 15-yard line before settling for a field goal. The initial drive ate up nearly five minutes of the game clock, but Capobianco and the Golden Tornadoes made up for lost time by driving for their own score, a touchdown. Copabianco hit Ryan Fredericks, a senior, down the right sideline for a big gain, then later hit Eddie Robinson (two catches for 50 yards) for a first down conversion on fourth-and-six. One play later Ryan Fredericks battered his way in from five yards out, and Lawrence was off and running.

Ryan Fredericks would score again in the half on a one-yard dive, and Tyler Fredericks, a junior, would score on runs of six and 56 yards as Lawrence built up a 35-10 lead. Hewlett closed to within 35-25 before intermission, then Martorella scored to make it 35-32 early in the third. But then Tyler Fredericks broke free for a 72-yard run and the threat was over. From there, Ryan Fredericks scored on a six-yard run, Tyler Fredericks hauled in a 50-yard pass, and Ryan Fredericks finished the scoring with a seven-yard rush. Ryan Fredericks finished with 201 yards on 23 attempts and Tyler Fredericks gained 227 on just 12 carries.

Hewlett did everything it could to keep the ball out of the Golden Tornadoes hands, playing ball control offense and attempting several onside kicks, but in the end there was not much it could do. All of Lawrence’s scores happened lightning fast.

“They made a couple of big plays, “Martillotti said of Hewlett. “I knew eventually we’d get the ball, and when we did, we’d score.”

“We don’t look for the big play, but we’re explosive,” Ryan Fredericks added. “Sometimes the big play just happens.”

He said that their ability to pass early on opened up the running game. Of Capobianco he said, “I’m extremely proud of my quarterback. He played like a senior.”

He’ll get another chance next week at Hofstra.