Lawrence rallies past Bethpage

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Last Saturday afternoon, the two-time defending Long Island champion Lawrence Golden Tornadoes were able to overcome sloppy weather and even sloppier offensive play, as they picked up a 21-15 victory at Bethpage in a Nassau Conference III football opener.

A strong defensive effort and some late fourth-quarter heroics by senior Jordan Fredericks helped head coach Joe Martillotti’s team avoid what would have been a tough early season loss.

With about four minutes remaining, Lawrence trailed 15-7 and seemed to be heading towards defeat, as its offense was struggling mightily to move the ball down the field in the pouring rain. So Martillotti decided to give his top running back Fredericks a chance to throw the ball in hopes that he could give his team a spark. It turned out to be a game-changing call as Fredericks was able to find the team’s starting quarterback, senior Sean Moran, for a 46-yard touchdown connection. 

“We knew that Jordan could throw the ball, so we moved him to quarterback there just to give us a different look,” Martillotti said. “And we knew that Moran’s got sure hands. Those guys made some big plays for us.”

The Golden Tornadoes’ work was still not done, however, as they still trailed 15-13 after a missed two-point conversion try. So Martillotti decided to employ another bold move, and attempt an onside kick. This time Tevine Johnson would come up large, as he was able to come up with a crucial recovery on the kick by Simon Jones.

On the ensuing Lawrence possession, Fredericks once again made a big play. The senior took another snap from center, and made his way towards the right sidelines where he found an opening. He then used his terrific speed to race 36 yards into the end zone. After a successful two-point conversion the Golden Tornadoes held a six-point lead — the first time they were ahead in the game.

Bethpage’s offense still had a chance to answer with a little over 2:30 remaining. But Lawrence defensive back Mike Lerebours would put an end to the Golden Eagles’ comeback hopes by picking off a pass attempt by quarterback Jake Einbinder with just 2:26 left in the game. 

The Golden Tornadoes outscored the hosts 14-0 in the final four minutes of the game, after scoring just seven points through the first three quarters. Fredericks had a hand in all three touchdowns, throwing for two and rushing for one. 

Despite the exciting finish, Martillotti was still very concerned about the large number of turnovers and penalties that were major reasons why Lawrence was put in such a difficult position late in the fourth quarter.

“We were very undisciplined and very sloppy,” Martillotti said. “We’ve got a lot of work to do, because we do not look like defending Long Island champions right now.”

The Golden Tornadoes will be back on the field this Saturday at 2 p.m. when they hit the road to take on Glen Cove.