Hewlett holds off Clarke, 22-18

Hewlett’s All-County senior quarterback Matthew DeCicco is just too valuable to risk injury playing defense, but he was as close as you could get to stepping on the field as Saturday’s counterpart, Clarke junior Matthew Kurz, marched the visitors inside the red zone in the waning seconds trailing by four.

On the game’s final snap, from the 16-yard line, Kurz dropped back and fired a pass that fell incomplete in the back of the end zone as time expired and the Bulldogs held on for a thrilling 22-18 Nassau Conference III football victory before a large Homecoming crowd.

“That was intense,” said DeCicco, who had all three Hewlett touchdowns and racked up 196 yards on the ground. “We had a chance on offense to seal the game with a first down and I was upset we didn’t, but I trust our defense," he added. "I was practically on the field for the last play. Their quarterback had a great day and I’m glad we found a way to get the win.”

DeCicco had touchdown runs in the first, third and fourth quarters, his last of which from a yard out gave the Bulldogs (1-2) a 22-12 lead with 8:44 remaining. Kurz, who completed 23 of 32 passes for 240 yards and two touchdowns, connected with junior James Millman on a 14-yard scoring strike to make it a one-possession game with 5:53 to go and had the Rams (2-1) within one play of a third straight victory.

“He was our JV starting quarterback last year and played great, and so far he’s been our best player,” Clarke head coach Kevin O’Hagan said of Kurz, who had three total touchdowns in the season-opening win over Mineola and two rushing scores, including the game-winner with a minute left, in Week 2 against Kennedy. “He can throw the ball, he can scramble and he’s only going to get better,” he added. “Today was just his third varsity game so it’s pretty exciting.”

Hewlett, which opened the season with losses to Manhasset and Elmont and closes the first half against juggernaut Garden City, scored on its first Homecoming day possession and led 7-6 at halftime.

Senior running back Daniel Karadi, behind a front line consisting of Jordan Sita, Cristopher Maiorano, Gianni Griffith, Jude Zack and Joardin Bojorge, racked up 70 of his 134 rushing yards on the afternoon on five opening-drive carries to set up DeCicco’s 10-yard touchdown run. Clarke responded on the ensuing drive, capping it with a fourth-and-4 gadget play resulting in junior Michael Iadeviai throwing an 11-yard touchdown pass to senior Christian Destine.

Destine was back in the end zone a few minutes into the third quarter, catching a screen pass from Kurz and racing 32 yards to give the Rams a 12-7 lead. Hewlett jumped back in front with another DeCicco 10-yard touchdown and 2-point conversion and led 15-12 entering the fourth.

“We had an excellent week of practice and got a win we needed,” Hewlett head coach John Palladino said. “Clarke is a tough team and we knew they wouldn’t go away. We have tough kids too and our seniors were on a mission today.”