By Marley Seaman
The Mules had a fine day on offense and defense as they shut out the Friends Academy Quakers, 30-0. The team evened its record at 2-2 with the win, providing optimism at the season's halfway point and ending a two-game losing streak. Hill was the star, rushing for a career best 301 yards and three touchdowns ‹ but he had a lot of help.
William James ran for a touchdown, intercepted a pass, sacked Friends quarterback David Weitz three times and shared the team lead with nine tackles. Frederick Orekoya and Frank Shanahan also picked off Weitz passes, and the defense was able to swarm the Friends ball carriers and disrupt their offense.
The offense was classic Malverne: run the ball and don¹t let up. Glen Odem attempted a few passes, including a bomb to Zack Shigg that would have been a touchdown if the receiver had been a step farther downfield. But Hill, Bobby Vitacco, Steven Alexander and the James twins, William and Wayne, worked over the Friends defense from the beginning of the game to the end.
"The team stepped up, they played good, consistent ball together and played as a team yesterday," said head coach Colbert Britt, who won his first homecoming game. "That's the concept we're trying to sell to the whole team, that it's not a one-man game."
The Mules ran the ball the first seven plays of their opening drive, which ended with a short missed field goal. Friends took the ball at its own ten yard line, and Aaron Williams-Simmons immediately ran 40 yards down the field. But that Quakers drive ended when John Boisi couldn't pull in a pass on fourth down. Malverne got the ball at its own 45, and Hill ran in a 24-yard score three plays later. He finished the first quarter with more than 100 yards, and had 208 at halftime.
Britt said that a number of factors contributed to his star's huge game.
"He broke quite a few tackles this time," the coach said. "I don't know if it was because of the team we were playing, or if it was just one of those days."
Friends threatened to tie the score in the second quarter, but fumbled at the Malverne 38. Malverne converted that error into another touchdown, with Hill again getting the score and gaining most of the yardage. The score was 14-0 at halftime.
"This guy is a bull!" remarked one fan in the bleachers.
William James scored in the third quarter, powering his way in from the two yard line. A 22-yard dash by Hill set up the play. Hill¹s most outstanding run, however, was yet to come.
At the end of the third quarter, Friends had another chance to score and make the game competitive again. But Orekoya, a senior, intercepted a pass at his team's seven yard line. Hill got the ball on the first play of Malverne's drive, and that one touch was all he needed. Hill ran to his right, pushed aside a few tacklers and got to the sideline, blowing by the remaining Quaker defenders on the way to a 93-yard touchdown run. No one got close to him for the last 50 yards of the electrifying play.
Alexander ran in a two-point conversion to push the lead to 30-0, sealing the win. Britt noted that the victory was important for the Mules with the highly ranked Manhasset Indians next on the schedule.
"We needed it," he said. "We needed it for a pickup for the spirit of the team, and to bring the team closer together."
Homecoming festivities
The annual homecoming parade began at Whalen Field, and included community members and students from many of Malverne's schools, particularly the sports teams. The school colors, orange and blue, abounded. The fence around the football field was also decorated with a number of student-painted murals.
The homecoming king was Mehmet Aygoren, and the queen was Victoria Ajifowobaje. The courtiers were Jessica Bierd, Erin Melega, Allen Stevens and Wayne James.
The Mule Mob Moms booster group, in addition to running the concessions stand, organized a 50-50 raffle. The winner was the mother of Mules defensive back Tennard Campbell. She promptly donated her winnings, worth close to $200, back to the organization.
The Malverne band's halftime show was themed around the famous musical "Miss Saigon." Members of the band's drum corps dressed as soldiers, while the color guard wore Asian-themed costumes including gold kimonos.
Comments about this story? MSeaman@liherald.com or (516) 569-4000 ext. 205.
