Fredericks’ 123 yards, two TDs lead Lawrence win
Lawrence #8 Ryan Fredericks races down field to gain yardage during the game against South Side. (Sept. 8, 2010) Credit: Frank Koester
Ryan Fredericks is not shy about his expectations for the 2010 football season. The junior halfback talked about the winning tradition at Lawrence. And about the disappointment of coming up short in the Long Island Class III final a year ago.
“We’re capable of great things, of winning an LIC,” Fredericks said. “We have a winning tradition. We have players that work hard to achieve team goals. And I love it that we have a brand new football field.”
Fredericks tore up that new field turf against South Side in yesterday’s Nassau Conference III home opener. He rushed for 123 yards and two touchdowns as Lawrence pounded an undermanned South Side, 56-7. Fredericks christened the field when he broke away for a 35-yard scoring run with 8:35 left in the first quarter.
“It’s really special to get that first touchdown of the season on the new field,” he said.
Fredericks’ younger brother, Tyler, who is only a sophomore, added a 25-yard scoring run with 10:34 left in the half.
“This is a transition year for us,” Lawrence coach Joe Martillotti said. “We added Vaughn Sanders to our coaching staff and he brought instant energy to the team. But we didn’t change much. You know the old adage, ‘If it isn’t broke don’t fix it.’ ”
Martillotti is blessed with a triumvirate of outstanding halfbacks and a massive offensive line. The addition of senior Shawn Tarrant to the backfield provided immediate dividends.
South Side let the game get away completely in the final minute of the first half. Trailing 14-0, the Cyclones allowed Lawrence to drive 70 yards in five plays, including a 49-yard slant pass from quarterback Samson Bialostock to a wide-open Ryan Fredericks to the 8-yard line.
Bialostock scored on a 1-yard sneak and Eddie Robinson’s extra-point kick made it 21-0 with 54 seconds remaining. Tarrant, who had an interception and eight tackles, contributed offensively when he leaped over a defender to grab a 4-yard scoring pass as time expired in the half. Bialostock hit Ervin Seidrik with a two-point conversion pass to make it 29-0.
“It’s my first opportunity to play on the offense in three years,” Tarrant said. “I can contribute on both sides of the ball now.” Tarrant’s touchdown was set up by a spectacular catch by Seidrik at the 4-yard line with four seconds left in the half. South Side avoided the shutout on senior quarterback James Howard’s 5-yard scoring pass to Sean Kenny with 19 seconds left in the third quarter.
Junior Chris Hercules lived a lineman’s dream in the fourth quarter when he stepped in front of a middle screen pass and returned the interception 30 yards for a touchdown. “Tarrant played his tail off and guys made big plays,” Martillotti said. “It’s a good start.”
