Lawrence snaps Wantagh's win streak

Warriors had won 17 straight

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Lawrence’s offense entered last Saturday’s Conference III football showdown against defending champion Wantagh averaging 37.4 points per game and kept on ticking, producing six touchdowns in a 43-15 victory.

Perhaps more importantly, head coach Joe Martillotti said, was the performance of a defense that allowed a combined 69 points in the previous two home games including 31 a week earlier in a 4-point win over Bethpage. The Golden Tornadoes (5-1) made a pivotal fourth-down stop early in the second quarter to set the tone as they handed the Warriors (5-1) their first defeat in 18 games dating back to 2015.

“No question about it, the defense stepped up today,” Martillotti said. “We went back to using three big guys up front and our linebackers can run and tackle. Everyone made plays.”

Senior linebackers Christian Rodas and Keijohn Graham had 10 tackles apiece, and senior cornerback Jordan Amezquita added 6 stops and an interception. Rodas also had a 45-yard touchdown reception in the second quarter to put Lawrence ahead for good.

“We’ve got to clean up a few things, but we’re definitely among the teams that can win it all,” Wantagh head coach Keith Sachs said. “We started with some nice drives, but they hurt us with a couple of big plays through the air and we couldn’t get much going in the second half.”

Lawrence senior Chris Collier (107 yards) had three rushing touchdowns in the second half, including a 20-yard scamper with 7:33 left that answered Wantagh’s lone score after halftime (junior Ryan Graham’s 28-yard touchdown catch) and extended the lead to 36-15. Junior quarterback Christian Fredericks (10-for-13, 173 yards, two touchdowns, one interception) put the exclamation point on the win with a 44-yard touchdown run less than two minutes later. 

“Offensively, we’re fun,” Martillotti said. “We’ve got fast kids on the perimeter, Collier in the backfield, a talented quarterback, and a line that’s getting it together.”

Wantagh scored on the game’s opening drive to take a 7-0 lead. Senior Anthony D’Onofrio ripped off a 30-yard run on the first play from scrimmage and converted a fourth-and-2 inside the 10 to set up senior Tom Rohan’s 3-yard touchdown run.

A 27-yard touchdown pass from Fredericks to junior Keaton Goldsby capped Lawrence’s first possession and it was quickly 7-7. The Warriors then drove from their own 20 to the Golden Tornadoes’ 24 but were denied by senior linebacker Suquan Stayes on fourth-and-1.

Four plays later, Fredericks found Rodas wide open down the middle and hit him in stride for Lawrence’s second touchdown in as many possessions. The bag of tricks came out after Wantagh went offside during the extra-point try, and sophomore kicker Danny Reyes (5-for-5) was called back as the Golden Tornadoes opted to go for two. On the conversion, Fredericks pitched to Collier, who stopped on a dime and tossed a pass to Stayes for a 15-7 lead.

Collier was the story of the second half. He had touchdown runs of 1 and 3 yards in the third quarter to push Lawrence’s advantage to 29-7.