Clarke scores Homecoming win

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Clarke pounded out five rushing touchdowns, with senior quarterback John Zaino and junior running back Aaron Dawson each scoring a pair, en route to a 36-6 Homecoming victory over Valley Stream South last Saturday.

The Rams as a team piled up 306 yards on the ground, with Dawson (122 yards), Zaino (83) and senior Danny Cornell (71) each averaging at least nine yards per carry.

“We needed that one,” head coach John Boyle said after Clarke improved to 4-2. “It was one of those games with the power points where we played a good team that just didn’t have a good record.”

Zaino capped Clarke’s offensive day with touchdown runs of 1 and 24 yards in the third quarter. Cornell’s 1-yard scoring run in the second quarter was sandwiched in between Dawson’s touchdowns from 3 and 11 yards.

“The players kind of get up for Homecoming and it does give them more of an energy boost,” Boyle said.

Dawson, who’s run for 730 yards and 11 touchdowns averaging 8.2 yards per carry through six games, continues to pick up yardage in chunks in a Wing-T offense that is only as successful as the line opening holes. To that end, senior Bobby Siri and junior Phil Kandel have been the perfect fits for Boyle. “The line is jelling at this point,” he said. “We have the two pulling guards that have to get out in front and give [the runners] enough room to break some [big gains]. The guards have to be athletic with speed. It could be difficult if they weren’t athletic.”

While Dawson was a known commodity as a feature back heading into the season, Zaino’s turned quite a few heads with his running ability. A strong-armed passer who’s thrown for 543 yards and six scores through six games, Zaino has also found some holes as a ballcarrier, piling up 212 yards rushing. “With Dawson we had a feeling this was going to be one of those years [of big production], that this would be his time,” Boyle said. “But Zaino, we knew he was talented throwing, but he’s really done a good job [on the ground]. It’s just an experience thing. He’s one of those kids that just wants to get better.”

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