Lawrence outscores Hewlett, 55-42

Six days after scoring 26 fourth-quarter points to earn a Homecoming victory, Hewlett’s offense picked up where it left off with touchdown drives on each of its first two possessions against visiting Lawrence in a Conference III showdown of local rivals last Friday night.

The Bulldogs reached the end zone four more times, however, still didn’t do enough to overcome the explosive Golden Tornadoes. Senior quarterback Christian Fredericks, who briefly left the game with a toe injury early in the second quarter, threw for two touchdowns and ran for a pair to lead Lawrence to a wild 55-42 win.

Senior Keaton Goldsby had both scoring receptions and sophomore Andres Duran added a pair of touchdown runs as the defending county champion Golden Tornadoes upped their record to 4-0. Senior Vincent Morello starred for Hewlett (1-3) with a school record-tying four rushing touchdowns as part of a monster 308-yard effort. Senior quarterback Matt Weiss threw for 110 yards and two touchdowns and ran for 101 yards.

“We hung 42 points on the No. 1 seed and gained over 500 yards, but we just couldn’t force a punt,” Hewlett head coach John Palladino said. “Their offense is so talented, you have to be able to get a stop or two somewhere.

“We’ve shown signs, but we’ve yet to play a full four-quarter game on offense or defense,” he added.

Lawrence had allowed 41 points combined in wins over Wantagh, Lynbrook and Bethpage. “We scored on every possession except at the end of each half, but we didn’t play well defensively at all,” Golden Tornadoes head coach Joe Martillotti said. “Our defense was solid the first three weeks. Hewlett did a nice job outnumbering us on the perimeter and we had trouble with the main two plays they called.”

Morello scored on a 10-yard run 2:07 into the game, set up by a 40-yard hookup between Weiss and senior wideout Mac Rochler on the opening snap. Morello’s 1-yard touchdown run on the Bulldogs’ next possession was set up by junior Oren Schmuel’s 26-yard reception. Sandwiched around the two touchdowns — and failed conversion tries — was an 86-yard kickoff return for a score by Lawrence senior speedster Chanon Simmons and a dazzling catch-and-run by Goldsby that went for a 53-yard touchdown. Junior kicker Danny Reyes, who was 7-for-8 on PATs, hit both and the visitors led 14-12 after one quarter.

The Golden Tornadoes added three touchdowns in the second and held a 35-20 halftime lead. Duran, a grinding back, had 3- and 4-yard scores, and Fredericks (17 of 25 passing, 278 yards, 157 rushing yards) managed a 2-yard touchdown. The Bulldogs took some momentum back right before the half with senior Jayden Francis’ 19-yard touchdown grab.

The teams alternated touchdowns in the second half, scoring three times apiece. Senior Jordan Alexander got into the act for Lawrence with a 4-yard touchdown run, giving him 101 yards on the night. Rochler had a 21-yard touchdown catch before Morello scored on runs of six and two yards.

Hewlett hits the road to face Plainedge on Saturday at 4:45 p.m., while Roosevelt visits Lawrence for a 3 p.m. kickoff.