Big plays lift Lawrence over Hewlett

After setting the tone in last Saturday’s showdown with rival Hewlett by catching Lawrence’s first passing touchdown of the season early in the opening quarter, senior Brandon Patterson sealed the visiting Golden Tornadoes’ 35-21 Conference III football victory with an 84-yard interception return for a score with 4:46 remaining.

With the Bulldogs (1-4) just outside the red zone and looking to get within a touchdown, Patterson jumped the route and was off to the races after picking off senior Josh Pincus’ pass. Four-time defending county champion Lawrence (3-2), which won for the eighth consecutive meeting, also got two rushing touchdowns from senior Marquan Williams.

“It was important to score first,” said Patterson, who on third-and-17 turned a short strike from junior quarterback Noah Serrette into a 72-yard touchdown just 3:52 into Hewlett’s Homecoming celebration. “Every game we’ve scored first, we’ve won,” he added. “When we haven’t scored first, we’ve lost.”

The Golden Tornadoes scored the next two touchdowns and also played lights-out defense in the red zone in the first half. They led 14-0 at intermission after sophomore Chris Collier took a screen pass and shook a few defenders on the way to a 24-yard touchdown with 5:57 left in the second quarter. 

“It was really good to see our defense come up with some big stops and to finally get some passing touchdowns,” Lawrence head coach Joe Martillotti said. “We needed this one. We’re riddled with injuries.”

Hewlett, which cashed in just one of four red-zone opportunities, drove deep into Lawrence territory late in the first half thanks to a clutch fourth-down catch by sophomore Mike Mannino. However, the Bulldogs ran out of time after senior Jake Grill’s grab six yards shy of the end zone.

“There were so many emotional turns in this game, but when things didn’t go our way the kids kept their heads up and continued to work,” Hewlett head coach Jay Iaquinta said. “In typical Lawrence style, they caught us with some big plays. We moved the ball well, but not finishing drives has been our story.”

Lawrence made it 21-0 on the opening possession of the third quarter. It faced a third-and-17 from the Hewlett 46 when senior Victor Mintz had a 16-yard catch and Serrette a 3-yard run to keep the chains moving. Williams completed the drive with three straight runs totaling 27 yards, including a 1-yard touchdown.

The Bulldogs responded with a 63-yard touchdown march, highlighted by long runs by Pincus and junior Jordan Carlo. A 2-yard scoring plunge by Carlo, who a week earlier had 173 yards and two touchdowns in a win over Division, got the hosts on the board.

The Golden Tornadoes came right back with a 3-yard touchdown run by Williams and took a 28-6 lead into the fourth. Senior Jared Magnone sparked Hewlett with a 45-yard punt return for a touchdown with 9:22 to go, but Patterson’s pick-6 squashed any comeback hopes.

Seniors Nick Ramirez (eight tackles) and Cyle Hearst (seven) led a Lawrence defense that’s sure to be tested this Saturday when the Golden Tornadoes visit top-seeded Plainedge. Hewlett travels to Valley Stream North.