By JOSEPH KELLARD
With a blue-and-white ³OHS² emblazoned at midfield, the Sailors faithful cheering loudly and chilly winds knifing through town, Oceanside¹s junior quarterback, Chris Logan, spearheaded a 10-play, 69-yard opening touchdown drive, scoring on a 1-yard keeper minutes after the 5 p.m. kickoff on Saturday. Two plays earlier, junior running back Danny Lazrus had picked up 16 of his 123 yards rushing, fighting his way to Hicksville¹s 8-yard line.
The Comets (3-2) answered with an 11-play drive to Oceanside¹s 14, but senior running back Mazi Ogbonna mishandled a pitchout and Sailors junior linebacker Shane Wynn recovered the loose ball at the 22.
The second half started at dusk in similar fashion, as Lazrus and Wynn shined under both the sunny sky and field lights. Oceanside¹s first third-quarter possession was a 50-yard drive that ended when Wynn, who amassed 96 yards rushing, dashed 28 yards to the end zone, giving the Sailors a 24-6 lead. On Hicksville¹s next possession, Lazrus got his second interception, the first having come on the Comets¹ second drive of the game.
³Overall, it was a windy night and our passing game really wasn¹t clicking,² said Oceanside Coach Mike Janosko, whose 4-1 team is eyeing the post-season. ³But I thought my offensive line really stepped up, and we really did a great job running the ball.²
Two minutes before the half, Lazrus scored Oceanside¹s second touchdown, bursting outside past a gang of Hicksville defenders on a 20-yard run, and just seconds before the half, senior kicker Dave Tucciarone put Oceanside up 17-6 with a 38-yard field goal.
Ogbonna carried Hicksville¹s offensive load, rushing for touchdowns on two explosive plays. Just under seven minutes into the second quarter, the senior broke a 68-yard run, and midway through the fourth, he dashed 61 yards downfield. Otherwise, Oceanside¹s defense largely contained Ogbonna¹s fleet, Michael Vick-like feet, even dropping him for a few losses throughout the game.
³Except for a couple of big runs by [Ogbonna], defensively I think we got to the football well and did a great job,² said Janosko, highlighting Lazrus¹s two picks and Wynn¹s wide-ranging presence on the new gridiron. ³Defensively, Shane was all over the field for us. He had a great game.²
After Oceanside¹s Anthony Puma rushed 16 yards to Hicksville¹s 5-yard line, another junior running back, Steve Polidoro, scored the Sailors¹ final touchdown on a 3-yard run with 6:34 left on the clock.
Puma and Polidoro¹s fellow juniors also emerged victorious off the field, their ³Jeepers Creepers² float earning first place in the Homecoming parade. The seniors, marching with Minnie Mouse ears adorned with red polka-dotted ribbons, took second with a Disney-themed ³The Wonderful World of Seniors² float, while the ³Stranded Sophomores² and their desert island theme came in third. The ninth-graders¹ ³reFRESHMENts² float featured an oversized Hershey bar, a bag of popcorn and a cup of Coca-Cola.
This year¹s prom queen and king were Lauren Trotta and Anthony Abiuso, and the princess and prince were Jill Katz and Paul Pettas.
The Sailors travel to Hempstead to play the 2-3 Tigers on Saturday.
