Lynbrook tops Hewlett in shootout

After finishing Nassau Conference III runner-up a year ago, Lynbrook established itself as the team to beat last Saturday night when it rushed for three touchdowns, passed for two, and scored on special teams in a 45-30 victory over Hewlett before a standing-room crowd of more than 1,000 at Marion Street Elementary School.

The seniors led the way for the Owls, who improved to 5-0 and stand as the lone unbeaten team in the conference. Running back Mike Kozlakowski bulldozed his way through the Bulldogs for touchdowns of 73, 40 and 5 yards, Kendall Bruton caught two touchdowns and a two-point conversion toss from Paul Magliore, and Travis Locke had a 90-yard kickoff return for a score.

“I thought there would be some points tonight, but not 75,” Lynbrook coach Steve LoCicero said. “Both teams are explosive.

“We didn’t expect anything but a back-and-forth game,” he added. “Early on it looked like the team that had the ball last was going to win, but our defense settled down and came up with some big stops and turnovers.”

The Bulldogs, who allowed 21 points in their first four games combined, got within 30-24 early in the third quarter on senior Lenny Canales’ 93-yard kick-return touchdown. But the Owls marched 91 yards on 10 plays to regain a two-touchdown advantage on the ensuing possession, chewing up more than seven minutes of clock in the process.

“They didn’t do anything we weren’t prepared for,” Hewlett coach Jay Iaquinta said. “They just did it better than we thought they were going to do.”

The foundation for a shootout was in place early as each team scored on its opening possession. On the second snap, Kozlakowski (133 yards on 10 carries) busted up the middle for a 73-yard touchdown, marking the fifth time in as many weeks the Owls got on the board first. The extra-point attempt failed, and Hewlett trimmed the margin to 6-3 when senior kicker Ross Kleinrock split the uprights from 26 yards out.

The Bulldogs, who gained 39 yards on their first snap when senior quarterback Alex Kahn (222 yards, two touchdowns, one interception) dumped a pass to junior Adam Betesh, took their only lead of the night midway through the opening quarter when Canales caught a perfect throw from Kahn for a 40-yard score.

Lynbrook trailed for fewer than 10 seconds.

Locke returned the ensuing kickoff 90 yards for a touchdown, and Kozlakowski tacked on the first of four successful two-point conversions to make it 14-10.

It was 22-10 with just five seconds into the second quarter. After Kozlakowski recovered a fumble at the Hewlett’s 38-yard line, Magliore hit Bruton for 34 yards to set up first-and-goal and zipped a 4-yard pass to Bruton on fourth down for the score. Magliore ran in the two-point conversion.  

Hewlett cut the deficit to 22-17 by halftime on a 30-yard touchdown pass from Kahn to junior Michael Gray, who slipped behind defensive backs Danny Grossi (interception) and Luke Spitzer (fumble recovery). 

“Kids on both sides played awesome,” LoCicero said. “I wouldn’t be shocked if we see them again.”

Hewlett will try to bounce back this Saturday against Sewanhaka at home, while Lynbrook looks to up its winning streak to six games when Division visits. Both games kick off at 2 p.m.