Rustin, defense help Hempstead halt losing streak

Elijah Rustin completed 4 of 8 passes for 60 yards an two touchdowns and carried 13 times for 46 yards as Hempstead topped Port Washington, 14-6, and halted a 13-game Nassau Conference I losing streak Saturday.

Rustin got things started on Hempstead's opening drive, capping a 15-play, 67-yard march with a 7-yard scoring pass to Raekwon Stith. Malik Howard ran in the 2-point conversion to give the Tigers an 8-0 lead.

Rustin completed a 6-yard scoring pass to Stith midway through the second quarter to extend the Tigers' lead to 14-0.

Port Washington (0-5) came back as Shawn McKoy scored on a 33-yard TD run as time expired in the first half and cut Hempstead's lead to 8-6.

"Port had the momentum coming out of halftime," Hempstead coach Antoine Moore said. "We knew if we built on something positive, it would shift the momentum back into our favor."

That shift came when Port Washington fumbled the opening kickoff of the second half. "We got some confidence and the momentum back in our favor," Moore said.

The second half belonged to the Tigers' defense. Jason Yepez led the way with 12 tackles for Hempstead, which sealed the win on Markees Webb's interception with about three minutes left.