In the first three weeks of their season, the Lynbrook Owls varsity football team was dominant, outscoring their opponents 138-47. Following a tough loss to Plainedge in Week 4, the Owls were looking to improve to 4-1 against Island Trees in their annual Homecoming game, and they did just that.

In the first quarter, Island Trees came out strong, putting up a quick seven points. But this was not before the Owls could respond with a touchdown after starting quarterback and senior Chase Samelson had a 72-yard running touchdown to put the Owls on the board. With the score being 6-7 and Island Trees up by one going into the second quarter, it was anyone’s game. Island Trees started out the scoring, putting up 7 after a 2-yard run by their running back. However, the Owls quickly responded after senior and running back Paolo Palleschi had a 12-yard rushing touchdown and a successful PAT by kicker and junior Philip Dzieciolowski. Thus, closing the scoring gap by 7 to make it 13-14 Island Trees. However, later that quarter, Samelson would throw an 8-yard touchdown to senior and wide receiver Timothy Odiah. The PAT by Dzieciolowski went right through the uprights and made the score 20-14 Owls at the end of the half. Palleschi discussed the Owls’ start: “This is a great team. Obviously, we have high goals for this team. We want to go to the Long Island Championship (LIC) game, and just because of that first half, we’re not giving up.”

After taking the lead at halftime, the Owls would not look back from there. The Owls would go on to begin the scoring in the 2nd half with a 7-yard rushing touchdown by senior Brandon Scala, and another successful PAT by Dzieciolowski to make the score 27-14 Owls. Later on in the 3rd quarter, senior and wide receiver Miles Storm would join in on the fun and add another 6 after a 6-yard rushing touchdown, and Dzieciolowski would come up in the clutch again for the additional point, making the score 34-14 Owls. On the defensive side of the game, senior Michael Abatantuno added clutch tackles and junior Marco Palleschi made a huge sack that led to a forced turnover. It was on this possession that Samelson would throw a 41-yard touchdown to junior Orji Agwu to make the score 41-14 after Dzieciolowski’s PAT. Due to the Owls’ impressive lead on Island Trees, Head Coach David Yaker decided to take out the starters and give the backups a shot. Senior and starting left tackle Kaden Rodgers added, “It was a great thing to see. They work hard every day, just as hard as [the starters] work…and it’s great to get guys like that in.”

And after a strong 4th quarter performance, the Owls held the lead down and ended up victorious with a final score of 41-14. After the game, sophomore cornerback and running back Thomas Potash reflected, “After the first half, we knew we were gonna be electric. And we showed that in the second half… Once we put in our adjustments and knew we were a better team, and that we had more physicality than them, I think that was where we shined and that’s how we won.” Additionally, junior cornerback William O’Riordan shared about the locker room atmosphere after the big win: “It was great in there. Everyone was excited, and everyone was happy, electric. We love to win out here.”