Velasquez leads Lawrence defense in shutout
Lawrence High School #4 Ludwing Velasquez reacts after making an interception off a tipped pass in the second quarter of a Nassau County Conference III varsity football game vs. Lynbrook at Lawrence High School. He and the Lawrence defense posted a shutout en route to their 36-0 win. (Oct. 22, 2011) Credit: James Escher
Ludwing Velasquez is not used to the spotlight. The Lawrence middle linebacker is at the center of a Golden Tornadoes defense that lost its top two players to injury and has struggled to find cohesiveness while allowing 24.1 points per game entering Saturday's contest.
But Velasquez led a defense that stopped Lynbrook in the red zone on three drives, including a third-down stop inside the 1-yard line as time expired to end the first half, as Lawrence stunned visiting Lynbrook, 36-0, yesterday before a crowd of more than 2,000 on homecoming day in Cedarhurst.
"We've had to make big changes and work guys in and get them adjusted," Lawrence coach Joe Martillotti said. "We lost some great players, including Chris Hercules [who] had 36 tackles in the first two games."
Lawrence (6-1) has continued to win with its quick-strike offense, blending the passing of sophomore quarterback Joe Capobianco, and the running duo of brothers Ryan and Tyler Fredericks. That offense was on full display as was a stellar defense against Lynbrook (5-2).
"Our defense really put it together," said Velasquez, who had eight solo tackles. "They moved the ball and it was a physical game but we stopped them and made some big plays."
"We've had some problems scoring in the red zone," Lynbrook coach Steve LoCicero said. "A loss, any loss, is not devastating, it's disappointing. Lawrence is an explosive team and we'll learn from this experience. I'm very impressed with the way we battled in the second half and we'll build on that."
Tyler Fredericks carried 17 times for 160 yards and a touchdown, and he had a two-point conversion reception. Ryan Fredericks added 101 yards of total offense, three touchdowns and a two-point conversion. Capobianco completed 7 of 10 passes for 59 yards, including a 25-yard scoring strike. He engineered four straight touchdown drives in the first half for a 30-0 lead.
Lawrence opened the scoring with an eight-play, 68-yard drive capped by Ryan Fredericks' 7-yard scoring run with 6:50 left in the first quarter. Lynbrook responded with a 12-play, 74-yard drive to Lawrence's 5-yard line before the march stalled on an incomplete pass in the end zone on fourth down.
On the ensuing drive, Tyler Fredericks broke a 62-yard run to ignite an eight-play, 95-yard scoring drive that consumed 4:31. Capobianco fired the two-point conversion pass to Tyler Fredericks on an out pattern for a 14-0 lead.
"I don't think of [Capobianco] as a sophomore QB at all," Ryan Fredericks said. "I look at him as a senior, as a leader. He is highly motivated and very composed out there. He runs the show."
Lawrence scored on all four possessions in the first half as the Owls' defense had no answer for the Golden Tornadoes' balance. Capobianco completed 4 of 5 first-half passes for 56 yards and he converted a pair of two-point conversion passes to Tyler Fredericks and Mohamed Islam.
"We have so many playmakers," Capobianco said. "My job is so easy when the line is following their assignments and doing a great job. My reads become easy and it opens the passing game with the running game."
The Lynbrook defense did find some success shutting down the vaunted Lawrence offense on the first three possessions of the third quarter, allowing only 11 yards and forcing three punts. But the Owls couldn't convert on offense. They had three methodical drives of 10 or more plays and never found the end zone.
"We have athletes everywhere," Lawrence guard Derek Jacobs said. "And the line is playing very well together. It's tough to beat that."
Especially with a stingy defensive unit.
