By MIKE CAPUTO
Down 14-7 at halftime, the Rams (2-2) scored three touchdowns in the third quarter, which put them ahead for good. For Clarke coach John Boyle, the second-half improvement resulted from more than adjustments to the playbook.
"We started to get on them a little bit for finger-pointing and to get out the level of frustration and how we've got to win this together rather than starting to look and see who isn't doing what," Boyle said. "That was the mental adjustment and the physical adjustment.
Boyle and his coaching staff stuck with the running game, and were extremely successful. For the first time in Clarke football history, three running backs ran for 100 yards or more in a single game.
One of those running backs, John Chodkowski, began the second-half scoring burst with a 10-yard touchdown run to knot the game at 14-14. After East Rockaway answered with a scoring drive of its own, Chodkowski broke away with a 65-yard touchdown run to tie the game at 21-21. Clarke took the lead for good when running back Kris Guy had a long touchdown run of his own - 59 yards - to put the Rams up 28-21. Clarke added a touchdown in the fourth quarter, as Gio Ocampo scampered into the end zone with a 19-yard run.
Chodkowski finished with 103 yards rushing, along with his two touchdowns. Guy also had two touchdowns, with 104 yards on the ground and Ocampo added 109 yards and a touchdown.
"It was a much-needed win," Boyle said.
The victory keeps Clarke within contention for a spot in the Conference IV playoffs, which is awarded to the top eight teams. Clarke's two losses were to Roosevelt and Seaford, who remain on top of the conference with perfect 4-0 records.
Clarke travels to Manhasset (3-1) for a night game on Friday at 7 p.m.
Jets rally in final minutes for first win of season
East Meadow closed out a disappointing first half of the season with a dramatic come-from-behind 35-31 victory over Farmingdale last Saturday.
The Jets were winless heading into their home game against Farmingdale, a traditional powerhouse in Conference I.
East Meadow trailed 31-21 entering the fourth quarter. A 48-yard touchdown run by Steve Katz put the Jets within a field goal of the Dalers, who entered the game with a 1-2 record. With under four minutes remaining in the game, Bobby Ward plowed into the end zone with a 1-yard run to put the Jets ahead for good.
Farmingdale threatened with its own drive to East Meadow's 38-yard line, but three sacks by the Jet defense stopped the Dalers on downs.
The win puts East Meadow (1-3) back into striking distance of a playoff spot in Conference I. Like Conference IV, the top eight teams make the playoffs.
East Meadow plays at Baldwin (3-1) on Saturday at 1:30 p.m.
Comments about this story? MCaputo@liherald.com or (516) 569-4000 ext. 287.
