Strong statement by Lynbrook

Lynbrook’s senior backfield tandem of Jonathan Cabral-Martin and James Gillespie combined for 380 yards on the ground and four touchdowns to lead the Owls to a 28-13 victory over North Shore last Friday afternoon in a Nassau Conference III regular-season finale.

Pushed back almost 24 hours due to weather concerns, it was the fifth annual benefit game (Military Appreciation) hosted by Lynbrook, which improved to 4-4 and secured the No. 7 playoff seed. It was its third win of October and third straight triumph at home on the turf at Marion Street Elementary since a season-opening defeat to Valley Stream North.

“Martin is our headliner, but Gillespie has been phenomenal,” Owls head coach Steve LoCicero said of his top two rushers.

North Shore, pressed to use top receiver Luca Marra at quarterback after injuries to senior starter Dan Livoti (broken hand) and junior backup James DeSimone (ankle) earlier in the month, finished 2-6 and out of the playoffs. Marra, a senior, had fourth-quarter touchdown runs of 4 and 20 yards.

The Vikings’ defense had no answer for Lynbrook’s running game. The 5-foot-10, 190-pound Cabral-Martin had 238 yards and three touchdowns on 17 carries, while the 5-5, 150-pound Gillespie scampered for 142 yards and a score. Senior quarterback John DiBenedetto added 55 yards rushing.

“Jonathan can be flashy or pound it,” LoCicero said of Cabral-Martin, who in Week 6 had 169 yards and two touchdowns in a 34-27 win over Floral Park.

Despite a turnover on its opening possession and an abundance of penalties in the first half, Lynbrook held a 14-0 lead at intermission when names of U.S. service members, past and present, were announced over the P.A. system.

Cabral-Martin accounted for all but six of the Owls’ 57 yards in their touchdown drive late in the first quarter that set the tone against North Shore. His 4-yard touchdown and the first of four consecutive successful extra-point tries by senior kicker Sal Cimato made it 7-0.

The hosts extended their lead less than two minutes into the second quarter behind Gillespie’s first touches. He had runs of 11, 13 and 16 yards into the red zone. Then, on a fourth-and-3 from the North Shore 18, Cabral-Martin busted up the middle for 11 yards. That set up his own 4-yard touchdown run behind junior center Ethan Marcus.

The Vikings tried to make something happen on the opening possession of the second half when on fourth-and-4 from midfield, head coach Dan Agovino called a fake punt. But Lynbrook junior Jordan Camilo broke through the line and forced a rushed pass that fell incomplete.

North Shore’s next possession was foiled by a third-down sack from Lynbrook junior Dan Dalrymple, who later blocked an extra-point try. The Owls took over following a punt and drove 57 yards, capped by Gillespie’s 3-yard touchdown, to lead 21-0. Cabral-Martin then answered Marra’s first score with a game-sealing 75-yard touchdown run with 6:16 remaining.

“We’ve been playing solid defense,” LoCicero said. “I think the biggest issue is we need to cut down on penalties and be disciplined for 48 minutes.”

Lynbrook will travel to face No. 2 Lawrence in a first-round playoff matchup this Saturday at 1:30 p.m.