By STEVE SINISKI
"Right now we're hitting on all cylinders," Jets coach Vin Mascia said.
The win gave the Jets the No. 1 seed in the upcoming Conference I playoffs, and they'll face No. 8 Oceanside (4-3) this Friday at 2 p.m. The winner advances to the semifinals at Hofstra University, scheduled for Nov. 9.
Alex Rivas, a battering ram of a runner, was the perfect option on a rain-soaked field last Saturday, because both passing attacks had been rendered nearly inoperable by the weather conditions. With Chris Bright helping to open holes, Rivas scored four touchdowns, running his team-leading total to 12. He had 138 yards rushing, while Andrew Rubenau added 101 yards.
For the hardcore football fan, it was perfect weather and for a big, hard-to-tackle back like Rivas, who can dish out punishment with or without the ball, it may have been a dream come true. "We wanted a straight-ahead guy, someone that could secure the ball and break tackles," Mascia said of Rivas’ heavy workload. "There wasn't much room for anything fancy."
But as much as the offense surpassed the Red Devils in the points department, fighting back from an early 8-0 deficit to take a 22-8 lead at one point in the second quarter, it was the defense that ultimately kept East Meadow as the only unbeaten team in Conference I. Freeport put together one last gasp drive late in the fourth quarter, driving 55 yards in the final two minutes of play, but a sack by a blitzing Mike Hinchy on the final play at the East Meadow 12 ended the threat.
The Sailors hit town this Friday riding a two-game losing streak in which they were outscored 77-27 by Farmingdale and Hempstead. Quarterback Chris Logan keys an Oceanside offense that can also score on the ground behind tailback Shane Wynn, but it's the Sailors defense that will be the focus, specifically the linebackers. That unit will need to figure out some way to try and slow down an East Meadow offense that's outscored opponents 169-42 in the first half
alone.
"They have an outstanding quarterback a good running back and a big line," Mascia said of the Sailors. "They're an interesting team."
The Jets offense can generate points behind its own strong-armed quarterback, Mike Tracy, or any number of running backs. Tracy's even a threat to run, setting up the game-winning score against the Red Devils with a 44-yard scamper in the fourth quarter. Rivas has been the goal line back for the Jets, but as he proved on his 8-yard scoring run, he can bounce like a pinball and spin like a top when the end zone is in sight, treating defenders like a horse does an annoying fly.
"Mike's [Tracy] is really an outstanding quarterback but that's not the focal point," Mascia said. "We want to get the running backs going behind our outstanding line."
