Malverne ups record to 4-3

Odd-numbered weeks have been fun for Malverne on the gridiron.

The Mules continued their pattern of alternating wins and losses last Saturday when they rolled to a 40-0 road victory over struggling Great Neck District in a Nassau Conference IV football matchup to get back over .500 with one game remaining.

Junior Louis Ridley capped the day with 71- and 24-yard touchdown runs in the third quarter after catching a 22-yard touchdown pass — only the second time Malverne went to the air — to cap a 22-point opening quarter. Senior Donovan Ishmael scored on his only carry, a 58-yard run, giving him three touchdowns in two weeks.

“We’re looking to close with a good effort against Seaford,” said Mules head coach Kito Lockwood, referring to this Friday’s regular-season finale under the lights (7 p.m.) at home. “We’ve been hot and cold. We have to play a full four quarters and play tougher up front. Our offensive and defensive lines need to come up big. We need to block and tackle.”

Malverne’s defense had five sacks and three takeaways against winless Great Neck. Seniors Jovani Duran and Malachi Thomas recorded two sacks apiece, while classmates Khevon Pinnock and Jaheim Flood had interceptions.

The previous week, Lockwood said the Mules (4-3) came out flat at Cold Spring Harbor and couldn’t overcome a 21-point halftime hole, losing 27-14. Thomas Milana returned the opening kickoff 80 yards for a touchdown and the Seahawks never looked back.

“It was 21-0 before we knew it,” Lockwood said. “It’s a long ride, but that’s no excuse to come out flat. We refocused at halftime and scored 14 straight to get back into it, but we couldn’t get another defensive stop in the fourth quarter.”

Cold Spring Harbor quarterback Ray Costa sealed the outcome with a 22-yard touchdown run late in the fourth. The Mules were mounting a comeback thanks in large part to Ishmael, who had 5-yard touchdown runs in each of the last two quarters. Milana had seven receptions for 157 yards and also hit 3 of 4 extra point tries for the Seahawks, who were coming off a big victory over defending Nassau and Long Island champion Seaford.

“Cold Spring and Seaford are mirror images of each other,” said Lockwood, who scouted the Week 6 meeting between the conference leaders. “Cold Spring made two big plays that were the difference.”

Malverne’s Week 4 and 5 contests were decided by a combined six points, with the Mules rebounding from an overtime heartbreaker Sept. 29 at Locust Valley to beat Carle Place with a late touchdown on the first Saturday of October.

Junior quarterback Jalen Brown had quite a day against Carle Place, completing 13 of 19 attempts for 175 yards, including the game-winning 15-yard toss to sophomore Michael Warren with 3:45 remaining, to secure an 18-13 win. Duran and junior Rashad Teachey also had touchdown receptions.

“When your number is called, you’ve got to be ready to go and Jalen’s been ready to go,” Lockwood said of Brown.