Tough setback for South Side

Call it a teachable moment. Call it growing pains. Call it a learning experience. Whatever you call it, make sure you also call South Side’s 36-28 Homecoming loss to North Shore last Saturday a bitter pill to swallow.

The Cyclones, who came into the game with an impressive 3-2 record, jumped out to a 21-0 lead midway through the second quarter. Two Eric Willie touchdowns, one rushing and one receiving, were followed by a 4-yard run by Kevin Rafferty. After a morning of parades and festivities, it was just about party time in Rockville Centre.

North Shore responded with a safety and then a late touchdown to close the first half, but the Cyclones took a 13-point lead into the intermission. A quick score by North Shore in the third quarter made it 21-15, but then Matt Pandolfi returned the kickoff 60 yards for a touchdown, and South Side led by two touchdowns again. The Cyclones still led 28-22 going into the final quarter. They were one quarter away from upping their record in Conference III to 4-2, but it was not to be.

North Shore took its first lead, 29-28, with about 11 minutes to play. The Cyclones, with still had a chance to cap off their special day, drove deep into North Shore territory but then fumbled the football. Ken Daley’s second touchdown run of the fourth quarter iced the game for the Vikings.

Both teams are 3-3 with two games remaining.

“We should have come away with a victory,” South Side head coach Phil Onesto said. “It’s a learning experience. We have to learn what it takes to finish.”

Onesto credited many individual players, including Willie, Rafferty and quarterback Cole Considine. He was also complimentary of the team as a whole. But he made it clear that he thought the team let up after taking its early lead. “We should have played like we did in the first quarter for four quarters,” he said.

So the Cyclones today are .500 instead of 4-2. Not bad, still an improvement over a year ago. Even with the loss they’re in fifth place, record-wise, in Conference III, tied with four other teams and in playoff contention. 

Their fast start to the season included a 26-18 win over Sewanhaka on Sept. 8, when Considine threw three touchdown passes. They improved to 2-0 with a 19-6 win at Floral Park a week later. They lost back-to-back games against Manhasset and Glen Cove, but played well in both games against teams with a combined 9-3 record. On Oct. 5, Willie rushed for 232 yards and three touchdowns in a 27-13 win over Carle Place, setting the table for the homecoming game.

In the end, it didn’t go South Side’s way. There will be growing pains along the way.

“Our job is to get better each and every week,” Onesto said. 

Sometimes that means losing games that go down hard.