By steve siniski
³I don¹t know if it¹s an advantage or disadvantage,² Jets coach Vinny Mascia said of facing Baldwin for the second time this season. ³The coaches [on both sidelines] are going to try and fix what didn¹t work, and I think it¹s going to be a bit of a chess match.²
In setting up the rematch with the Bruins, the No. 4 Jets (6-2) put together a complete victory over the Hawks. They registered four touchdowns of at least 30 yards, including an 85-yard kickoff return by Mike Callaghan, who took on the special teams return role for the injured Pete Poznanski. Consider quarterback Mike Tracy a hero, too. He attempted just four passes but completed three for touchdowns covering distances of 33, 5 and 48 yards. Tracy also ran the first score of the game in from eight yards out.
³It's good to know our running game is working so well,² Mascia said, attributing the offensive fireworks to the upfield push the team is getting from its line. ³Teams are checking extra guys to [slow] the running game and it¹s opening up passing opportunities. We have guys wide open downfield.²
Chris Bright shouldered the load on the ground, running for a game-high 121 yards, taking one of his 16 carries into the end zone from 30 yards out to open up a 35-14 third- quarter bulge. East Meadow limited Plainview JFK to fewer than 100 yards on the ground, the seventh time the defense accomplished the feat. ³Our defense is playing great,² Mascia said. ³The run defense has been phenomenal.²
The first-round victory sets up a rematch with Baldwin, whom East Meadow dropped a 25-21 decision to on Oct. 22. There¹s plenty of reason for optimism out of Jets camp, especially after their offense generated 21 points against a Bruins stop unit that¹s allowed a total of just 67 in eight games. No other Baldwin opponent managed more than 10 points in a game, and five were held to a touchdown or less.
³We were hoping for this opportunity because we felt we let [the Baldwin game] get away,² Mascia said.
Indeed, the Jets held a 21-14 lead in the fourth quarter, only to see it disappear on a 78-yard punt return for a touchdown and a pair of safeties in the final 4:15. Big plays had a huge role in East Meadow²s success that afternoon, as Matt Bright ripped off a 95-yard scoring run and Poznanski scampered in from 40 yards out. ³I think both teams do a lot of things well and that¹s why they¹re 8-0," Mascia said. ³Why change anything? I think both teams are going to go at it.²
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