Heartbreaking loss for East Rockaway

The East Rockaway Rocks came out like gangbusters, taking an early two-touchdown lead, only to see perennial power Roosevelt (2-0) rally for a 15-14 victory last Saturday afternoon in a Conference IV football game.

Senior tailback Erin Parker carried the ball 17 times for 167 yards and a touchdown, and kicked the extra point that put the visiting Rough Riders ahead with 39 seconds to play in the opening half. Senior Nick Ulip led the Rocks with 138 yards rushing and a touchdown.

Head coach Russ Pajer was pleased with his team’s effort, but knows it let one get away. “I thought we played real well, but you can’t make mistakes against a good team like Roosevelt and expect to win,” Pajer said. “We turned it over too many times, and they took advantage of it. We did some good things, but came up short.”

East Rockaway, the No. 4 seed in Conference IV, came out and did what it does best. The Rocks (1-1) went 83 yards in 6:43 on their opening drive, with Ulip running it in from four yards out. A 29-yard pass from Sean Bohan to Danny McClure set up the game’s first score. Senior John Neckles spilt the uprights to give East Rockaway a 7-0 lead.

After the Rough Riders lost a fumble deep in East Rockaway territory, the Rocks went to work again. With Ulip and senior fullback Anthony Tesoriero getting the bulk of the workload, the Rocks went 80 yards in 13 plays, taking 7:50 off the clock, with Tesoriero finding the end zone from six yards out. The extra point by Neckles was good.

The rest of the half was all Roosevelt. Parker took the ball around right end for a 27-yard touchdown scamper to get the Rough Riders on the board. Teddy Santana (four receptions for 134 yards and a touchdown) ran in the two-point conversion.

A turnover gave the ball back to Roosevelt at midfield with just 49 seconds to go in the half. A sack by Michael Lores (eight tackles) and Ulip seemed to give the Rocks a little momentum back, but it was short-lived. 

On the next play, quarterback Robert Sweeney hooked up with Santana down the right sideline on a 56-yard touchdown strike. Parker’s kick put the second-seeded Rough Riders up 15-14. Both teams had several opportunities in the second half, but neither found the end zone. Senior Tom Dolan had seven tackles for the Rocks.

Roosevelt head coach Joe Vito, a 1979 graduate of East Rockaway High School, knew the Rocks would give his team all it could handle. “Their offense is very difficult to prepare for,” Vito said. “It usually takes a quarter to get used to. I was impressed with how they were able to sustain their running game. I thought we were in big trouble early on. We were fortunate to win.”

The Rocks will travel to North Shore to take on the Vikings this Saturday at 1:30 p.m.