After losing to Floral Park on September 7, the Lynbrook Owls’ varsity football team bounced back and defeated the South Side Cyclones by a score of 35-14 on September 14. This was no ordinary game for the Owls; the Cyclones are a familiar foe, considering they knocked the Owls out of playoffs in the first-round last year.
When asked how it feels to get revenge on a team that beat them in the playoffs, senior quarterback Joe McHale said, “It feels great. There is a lot of tension between the two teams, and I feel like we proved something to everyone that we are going to be good this year. I am glad we got revenge for last year’s seniors.” Wide receiver and senior Bennett Votano said, “My main thought leading up to this game was how this team ended our season last year. My teammates, coaches, and I all knew that there was no chance they were leaving Marion Street that day 1-0.”
Moreover, this was the Owls salute-to-service game. Lynbrook wore black and red jerseys and held a pre-game ceremony to recognize first responders and to never forget the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001. When asked how it feels to play in honor of those who lost their lives that day, senior linebacker AJ Berkowitz said, “My family has a ton of military and police background and has been affected greatly by the horrible acts done by the terrorists. I felt honored being able to play for all those lost in our community and all over the country. I have a patriotic bone in my body that really gets me motivated, so the game was a lot easier knowing I was playing for them.”
After he graduates high school, senior defensive tackle Kacper Piatek is going into the United States military. When asked about the importance of this day, he said, “It means a lot to me. Knowing that my brothers have my back and support my future in the military is an amazing feeling. Also, seeing the many first responders there that choose to risk their life’s every day to make sure we live in a safe place really inspired me to keep going, and to try and reach their status one day.”
Votano added, “Playing for the first responders and the people who lost their lives made this game bigger than anyone on our team. We were playing for something bigger, and it gave us this passion and desire to win it for those people.”
After a couple of first downs on the Cyclones’ first drive, the Owls forced a punt. They then marched 66 yards downfield, and junior running back Jake Brenneis scored a 2-yard rushing touchdown to put the Owls up 6-0. Plagued by holding penalties on their second drive, the Cyclones were forced to kick a 45-yard field goal and missed.
In the second quarter, both teams took multiple penalties and were forced to punt. With 2:20 left in the first half, Lynbrook quarterback Joe McHale took a deep shot and connected with Votano for a 60-yard touchdown. Brenneis then walked it in for the 2-point conversion, and the Owls were up 14-0. With just 38 seconds left in the first half, the Owls drove 62 yards down the field, and senior wide receiver Gio Ortiz caught a 12-yard touchdown pass to put the Owls up 21-0 heading into the second half.
When asked what his game plan was going into the second half, head coach David Yaker said, “We really wanted to get both running backs going in the second half. It was hot and so many of our guys play one way. We hoped we could wear them out with the run game. Paolo and Jake both bring a different element to the game and we really wanted to get them going a little. We felt if we could do that, then that would open up more passing opportunities for Joe.”
The Owls were set to receive the ball to start the third quarter and Yaker’s plan worked as junior running back Paolo Palleschi scored a 44-yard touchdown on the first drive of the second half. The Cyclones started off the second half hot, with a huge return on the kickoff after Palleschi’s touchdown. They started their drive in Owls’ territory, and running back Justin Singh of South Side scored a 7-yard rushing touchdown to put the Cyclones on the board.
The Cyclones’ defense forced the Owls to punt it away. On the first play of the drive, Singh scored an 84-yard rushing touchdown to cut the lead in half, 28-14. When asked how he felt after they cut the lead in half, Yaker said, “I knew that South Side wasn’t going to go away quietly. They have some really good players and all it took was a few let downs by us to let them score quickly. But I also knew how much our guys have put into this season and that it was only a matter of time before someone made a big play for us.”
On their next drive, the Owls fumbled the ball and the Cyclones recovered, starting with great field position at the Owls 40-yard line. On 4th and 17, senior defensive back Brian Gilmartin of Lynbrook made a huge tackle, giving Lynbrook the ball, and some momentum.
McHale capitalized on Gilmartin’s huge play by completing a 68-yard touchdown pass to Miles Storm to put the Owls up 35-14 with 27 seconds left in the 3rd quarter. With 1:52 left in the game, the Cyclones were on the Owl’s nine-yard line facing a 4th and 4. Berkowitz blitzed and sacked the quarterback to secure the win for the Owls. When asked how he felt after making that play, Berkowitz said, “It felt really good being able to end the game on that play. I was playing for my brothers last year who got their season ended by South Side. It also showed the confidence that Lynbrook came to play with this year and won’t lay down for anyone.”
Votano finished with 82 yards and one touchdown. McHale went 7/10 with 213 yards and 3 touchdowns through the air along with 26 rushing yards. Brenneis and Palleschi rushed for a combined 123 yards, and Palleschi added a 49-yard touchdown. Senior defensive lineman Frank Sirufo had 12 tackles, three sacks, and two forced fumbles. Senior defensive lineman Nick Abatantuno had 11 tackles and four sacks.
With this win, the Owls improved to 2-0 on the year and will go against the Mineola Mustangs on September 21.
