Lynbrook Owls return to championship game

Unlike a year ago when it squeaked out a one-point victory over Hewlett in a thrilling Nassau Conference III semifinal, Lynbrook made sure its road to the title game wasn’t so interesting.

The top-seeded Owls rolled up 410 yards on the ground, led by senior Travis Lock’s 250 and five touchdowns, and breezed past No. 6 Plainedge, 54-20, last Friday night in front of 1,500 spectators at Hofstra. They’ll return to Hofstra on Friday night in search of the program’s first county championship since 1992, with defending champ Lawrence standing in the way.

“We’re going to enjoy this one for a little while,” Lynbrook coach Steve LoCicero said. “Everyone’s excited for a number of reasons. It’s the third time in five years we’re in the finals.”

Running behind a stout front line, Lock scored from 37, 62, 10, 4 and 51 yards, giving him 17 touchdowns on the year. His third touchdown, with 4:57 remaining in the first half, was as important as any. It answered consecutive scores by the Red Devils and gave Lynbrook a 27-13 lead.

“Travis is nothing short of tremendous,” LoCicero said of Lock, who had 130 yards and a score in a 42-0 victory over No. 8 Manhasset in the playoff opener and has cracked the century mark in eight of 10 games.

The Owls (9-1) didn’t waste any time putting Plainedge (6-4) in a hole, scoring on each of their first three possessions and doing so on just 10 snaps. Lock found the end zone on the fourth play from scrimmage, senior quarterback Paul Magliore capped the second series with a 12-yard touchdown run, and Lock’s longest touchdown of the night came with 4:09 still left in the first quarter and made it 20-0.

“Plainedge is a quality program and we knew we had to score points,” said LoCicero, whose team has scored first in every game, including its only loss, 23-22 at Lawrence on Oct. 23. 

Plainedge didn’t go quietly at first. Anthony Tardalo got it on the board with a 36-yard touchdown run, and after a botched squib kick gave the Red Devils back the ball freshman quarterback Nick Frenger scored on a one-yard sneak 

Leading 20-13 and facing fourth-and-two from the Plainedge 46-yard line, the Owls faked a punt and Magliore ran for three yards to move the chains. Four plays later, Lock hit paydirt. Senior Mike Kozlakowski had a nine-yard touchdown run with 2:01 left in the half, and Lynbrook led comfortably by 20 at intermission.

Plainedge had the first score of the second half, a 61-yard run by Ralph Caccavale, but Lock added two more touchdowns and Kozlakowski one.

Looking ahead to the title game, LoCicero said: “Lawrence is playing its best football of the year, and so are we.”