Lawrence upset by Lynbrook

Lawrence enjoyed a 21-point lead four minutes into the second quarter of its Conference III game against visiting Lynbrook on Sept. 17 before Owls senior quarterback Tom DeNapoli had a career day.

DeNapoli led a stunning comeback, rushing for 214 yards and five touchdowns on 21 carries as No. 5 Lynbrook beat the top-ranked Golden Tornadoes, 49-35. The Owls scored 42 consecutive points, including 29 in the second quarter to take the lead for good.

"I was disappointed in our physical effort," Lawrence coach Lou Andre said. “We were physical for 16 minutes...up 21-0. We proceeded to let them score 42 straight
points.

“We just didn’t make any plays on defense,” he added. “We didn’t wrap up or hit anybody.” 

Lynbrook’s offense moved the ball well all day but squandered two early red-zone opportunities in the first quarter. It turned it over on downs at the Lawrence six-yard line, then senior quarterback T.J. Virgona threw an interception at the Lawrence 13. Virgona threw another pick with 48 seconds left in the quarter and Lawrence junior defensive back Seidrik Ervin returned it 42 yards for a touchdown and a 14-0 lead. Lawrence senior quarterback John Kinder ran for a score with 8:14 left in the half, and the Owls found themselves down 21-0.

Lynbrook responded with a 51-yard drive, scoring on a four-yard run by DeNapoli with 6:37 left in the second quarter to get on the board. On the Owls’ next possession, DeNapoli and senior running back Matt Wohlmacher led another scoring drive capped by a 30-yard touchdown run by DeNapoli. Lawrence fumbled the ensuing kickoff, and Wohlmacher and DeNapoli once again led the rushing attack, with DeNapoli rushing for a game-tying five-yard touchdown with 1:47 left in the half. The next kickoff resulted in another Lawrence turnover, and the Owls cashed in after the on-side kick. Wohlmacher bulldozed his way in for a go-ahead, five-yard touchdown run with 38 seconds left in the half. Lynbrook scored on the two-point conversion and went up 29-21, a lead it would never surrender.

Andre thought the game turned on the on-side kick. “That’s where it got away from us,” he said. “We knew they were going to squib it. We just didn’t make the play.”

In the second half, DeNapoli added two touchdowns and junior Travis Lock had a 60-yard score for the Owls. For the game, Kinder rushed for 135 yards and three touchdowns. Lawrence backup quarterback Samson Bialostok hooked up with fellow junior Shawn Tarrant on a late touchdown pass.

“We knew DeNapoli was a great athlete,” Andre said. “But today he looked like Donovan McNabb.”

The Golden Tornadoes (1-1) will try to get back on track this Saturday when they renew their rivalry with Hewlett at 1:30 p.m. It’s Homecoming for the Bulldogs, who come off a loss at Sewanhaka.

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