By:Jason Scheer
Unfortunately for the homecoming-hyped Rams, however, no matter how good their defense played, the offense simply couldn't put the ball in the end zone.
The game began with the team's exchanging three-and outs, with both teams unable to gain any positive yardage in their first three possessions.
Thus, with the offenses sputtering, the game hinged on field position. Following the Owls second three and out, they punted with the wind to their backs. The Rams kick returners allowed the punt sail over their heads, and the ball was downed at the 11-yard line.
With 89 yards between them and six points, the Rams were unable to move the ball, and were forced to punt, setting the Owls up with great field position on the West Hempstead 39-yard line.
The Ram defense held firm, making a solid defensive stand, and forcing the Owls to punt yet again. However, the Owls punt once again took a fortuitous bounce and landed at the West Hempstead 10-yard line. And once again, with their backs to their own end zone, the Rams offense couldn't get it done.
A sack pushed the ball back even further, forcing the Rams to punt from inside their own three. The ensuing punt was taken back to the West Hempstead 35. Rams coaches, players and faithful fans hoped that their defense would come up big again and preserve the scoreless tie.
But the Owls had other ideas. At the start of the second quarter, Owl running back Matthew Giordano converted a fourth-and-2 by breaking a couple of tackles en route to a 10-yard gain. Two plays later, Giordano broke free down the right sideline and went into the end zone for six. After kicking the extra point, the Owls led 7-0.
The Owls then added to their lead. Late in the first half, following the TD, the Rams finally seemed to be getting their offense together. Running back Ariel Ramirez rumbled forward for an 11-yard gain, West Hempstead's first-first down of the game. On the next play, though, Ramirez was brought down behind the line for a loss of four yards. Lynbrook defensive back Matthew Richards picked off an errant pass by West Hempstead's quarterback Brandon Tait with a little more than four minutes left in the half.
The Owls made the most of the dwindling time, moving the ball in chunks using a three-headed running attack from Giordano, Gregory Campisi and Christopher Kutcha. After nine consecutive running plays, Kutcha ran the ball in from the five-yard line for a TD that gave the team some breathing room.
The teams went into the locker room at halftime with the score 14-0 in favor of Lynbrook and, after an uninspiring second half, the Owls held on for victory.
