By ANDREW McCLURE
Seven days after suffering its worst loss of the season at the hands of Clarke, Malverne returned the favor with a convincing 21-0 win over the Rams in a Nassau Conference IV quarterfinal playoff game at Clarke.
Sophomore Cory Alexander’s 39-yard interception return for a touchdown in the fourth quarter, his second pickoff of the game, put the game away for the Mules. Garlinsky Jean rushed for 80 yards on 16 carries to pace Malverne’s strong rushing attack.
The game, which was played in a frog-strangling rainstorm, was a rematch of a regular-season finale that saw Clarke get the best of Malverne 28-6. The difference in this one was Malverne’s stifling defense. Defensive coordinator Kito Lockwood saw it as a total team effort. “We made a few minor adjustments, but it was really about the boys stepping up,” Lockwood said. “The linemen adjusted to the formation they saw, the linebackers read the offense’s shifts, and the secondary was outstanding. The defense took its intensity to another level.”
With raindrops the size of dimes pelting on their helmets, the Mules took the opening kickoff and marched down the field on a mission. With running backs Garlinsky Jean, Jonathan Rogers and Tennard Campbell taking turns carrying the ball, quarterback Brandon Michaels led the Malverne offense on an 11-play, 80-yard drive. The drive was capped off when Rogers took it in from three yards out. Alexander’s kick split the uprights to give the Mules a 7-0 lead. The drive took over six minutes off the clock.
Clarke’s best chance to score came in the second quarter when it drove all the way to Malverne’s 17-yard line. However, on fourth down and less than a yard to go, the Mules’ defense, led by Uwagbae Eweke, Matthew Bates, Terry Banks, Jr., Justin Williams, Cole Hayes and Reggie Quarshie, came up big. The ball carrier was pushed back for a loss of a yard. Neither team would threaten again in the first half.
With the ground game having little success, the Clarke coaching staff turned to senior quarterback John Schilt to start the second half. Schilt was seeing his first action since suffering an injury to his shoulder in mid-October. Schilt hit on his first three pass attempts and had the Rams crowd on its feet. But, the Malverne secondary thwarted his attempt to get the Rams in the end zone. With Kadeem Bell and Brandon Hightower providing excellent coverage, Schilt overthrew his receiver. The ball ended up in the arms of Alexander who made a tremendous diving catch deep in Malverne territory.
The Mules took a 15-0 lead midway through the final quarter when Frank Shanahan bulled his way in from two yards out. Just moments later, Alexander’s interception return set off a huge celebration on the Malverne side of the field.
Malverne, which improved to 6-3, will take on top-seeded Seaford on Sunday at noon at Hofstra. The undefeated Vikings, who blew out Mineola on Saturday, defeated the Mules 24-8 during the regular season.
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