Fredericks family leads Lawrence to Nassau III final
Tyler Fredericks avoids tackles for extra yards. (Nov. 12, 2011) Credit: Joe Rogate
This is backyard football at its finest: Big brother runs in the opening touchdown, younger brother dives over the goal line to hold the lead, and little brother catches a seam pass in the corner of the end zone to put it away in the Big Game. The crowd, as it often does in backyards across America, goes wild.
If you're the Fredericks brothers of Lawrence, backyard imaginings translate rather seamlessly into postseason results. Saturday at Hofstra, it even meant a spot in the county final. No. 2 Lawrence defeated No. 3 Lynbrook, 29-6, in a Nassau III football semifinal behind scores from Ryan, Tyler and Jordan Fredericks, who spearheaded a Golden Tornadoes offense that netted 293 yards of total offense.
Lawrence (9-1) will take on No. 4 Plainedge (7-3) at Hofstra on Saturday at 12:30 p.m.
"We've been playing backyard football since we've had a football in our hands," said Ryan, the senior running back. "I can't even remember [that far back].
Lawrence got on the board on Ryan Fredericks' 7-yard touchdown run with 5:51 left in the first quarter, but Lynbrook (6-4) answered on the next possession -- a 12-play, 65-yard drive capped by Rocco Scibelli's 4-yard TD run around right end. The kick was blocked and Lawrence kept the lead at 7-6, though the Golden Tornadoes sputtered to open the second quarter. Lawrence drove to Lynbrook's 5-yard line, but was bounced back to the 45 after a play for a loss, a sack, and two penalties.
But where there is a Fredericks, there is a way. Tyler Fredericks, the second of four brothers, ripped through a hole on the right side for 1-yard score and a 14-6 lead. With 8:13 left in the third, Joe Capobianco (8-for-13 passing, 130 yards) found freshman Jordan Fredericks on a fade to the short side for an 18-yard score. Jordan also added a two-point conversion catch after Ryan Fredericks' 1-yard TD run in the fourth.
While the offense cruised, the Lawrence defense contained a Lynbrook attack it scoreless in the teams' previous meeting. Linebacker Kenny Perez had eight tackles, one assisted, and said that his team simply could "not let this one go."
A lot of pressure, not that Tyler was all too concerned.
"I still get nervous on a big stage, but having family there always calms my nerves down," he said. It goes beyond just Ryan and Jordan, though. "I feel like we're all family out here, even besides my brothers."
