Freeport runs over Baldwin

Defending Long Island Class I champion Freeport looked all the part in last Saturday’s season opener at home against rival Baldwin.

The Red Devils pounded out nearly 400 yards on the ground, with seniors Jeff Williams (175 yards, one touchdown) and Daniel Olivier (150 yards, three touchdowns) doing most of the damage in a convincing 48-13 Conference I victory.

“I’m disappointed,” Baldwin coach Steve Carroll said. “There really isn’t much we can take from this game.

“We didn’t tackle on defense,” he added. “We had trouble tackling in our scrimmage against Hewlett, so it was a concern coming in. We focused on tackling all week at practice, but it didn’t seem to help. There were a lot of runs where if we wrap them up at the line, it’s no gain. Instead they busted right through the middle.”

After junior quarterback Patrick Dillon staked the Bruins to a 6-0 lead with a 10-yard touchdown run midway through the opening quarter, Freeport scored on four consecutive possessions in the first half to take control. Olivier had scoring runs of 12 and 20 yards, Williams busted a 13-yard touchdown run, and junior quarterback Isaiah Barnes connected with junior receiver Evan Lapice for a 15-yard scoring strike through the air. Junior Jere Brown set up the last score of the half with his first of two interceptions.

“They’re always a tough team, no matter where they’re seeded,” Red Devils coach Russ Cellan said of seventh-ranked Baldwin. “It’s a rivalry game, and the kids always get up for it. I know we’ve got some good players and we’re pretty big up front, but you never know how a team is going to react to falling behind early. I thought we responded as well as we could.”

Freeport, the No. 3 seed, took a 27-6 lead into the second half and never looked back. Junior Maurice Irby’s 7-yard touchdown run was the only score of the third quarter, while Olivier (2-yard reception) and senior Melech Streeter (4-yard run) found the end zone in the fourth. Baldwin capped the scoring in the final minute of play when senior Fred Harris picked off Barnes and raced 55 yards for a touchdown.