Clarke Edges Malverne with Late Rally

By Rikki N. Massand, Nassau County Chief Writer / Editor

 

 

Clarke 6, Malverne 3

 

 

Malverne, NY -- Picture this: You're a Clarke Ram, fresh off your team's first win of the season, and you're getting set to play the Malverne Mules, a team known for its athletic and talented players on defense. It's their homecoming game and their home fans and state-champion marching band will deafen the play calls on the field. Speaking of the field, it's probably the coldest day of your high school football career. The north wind freezes your cheeks and you can see your breath in front of you. And it's only mid-October.

 

Both teams play the first half to a scoreless tie. Penalties abound, flags fly, and Malverne's defensive unit looked too tough. Their linebacking core of Brandon Hightower, Willis Cheatham and Micheal Byrd, who gave the Seaford juggernaut a test three weeks ago, were pressing the line of scrimmage and getting to your quarterback. The offensive line was holding strong but no big runs, would be allowed (yet).

 

You could hear fans saying the game is reminiscent of typical cold-weather football: a strict battle of field position. Others called it "a chess match." Your uniform that started the day as a bright white is covered in dirt and grass, meaning that there's been a lot of work put in on both sides of the ball, despite a scoreboard that reads 0-0.

 

It's the first minute of the fourth quarter; the fans are rallying the home team to get on the board. After two defenders drop Mules QB Brandon Michaels for a loss of 6, the fans just get louder urging them on. Everyone can sense the chance to score.

 

Your defense halts the Mules' drive, setting them up with a 4th & 15 at the 20. But with one mighty 37-yard kick, Malverne's Corey Alexander splits the uprights with a field goal as the wind blows across the field. The fans scream. Your sideline is shocked that he hit it. And then, Alexander puts another punishing blow to your chances by firing the kickoff into the red zone, downed by Malverne at your 5-yard line.

 

Nothing is going your way. Your running attack that had some success in the first half keeps getting tackled for losses. They drop you back to 3rd &15 and with their pass protection, you're forced to punt. Time is running out in the 4th, and you give the home team the ball back knowing they're a few first downs from running out the clock -- and a hard-fought win.

 

But now and only now, your luck will change. After Mr. Alexander carries the ball for a gain of 8 yards with 3:39 remaining, your coaches spend a valuable timeout before you head back onfield as the Mules have a critical 3rd & 1 at their own 32-yard line. The play starts, Malverne hands the ball to their runner and he appears to get the first down...but in the corner of your eye you saw something yellow fly in the wind on the left side of the field.

 

It's holding called on Malverne, and you see the ball moved back. 3rd & 1 becomes 3rd & 11 from their 22. Alexander tries another run, but he gets only 5 yards. You're going to get the ball back! The coaching staff pumps up the sideline with a yell "How you feeling!"

 

Corey Alexander's boot put a 40-yard punt high while Quintel Chambers' tackle set the Rams back at their 44. Clarke is facing the opportunity ahead with just 1 timeout. What happens next?

 

One drive. Two plays, each going for an unbelievable 35 yards. 70 yards of offense and a sneaking, shocking touchdown to send your entire team, coaching staff and loyal suporters into mayhem.

 

Rams' RB John Chodkowski took a sweep play and was met head-on by Corey Alexander playing DB. After a hard initial hit, the runner breaks free down the left sideline, evading Malverne's defense that has held Clarke in check all game. Chodkowski ends up with a giant 35-yard gain up to the Mules' 35. The momentum had shifted but with 0 points on the board, it was no time to get complacent.

 

A wild play would follow and the game would all but be decided. After Clarke QB Mike Martiello scrambled on a shotgun play, he looked so far downfield that he probably couldn't see Malverne's big linbacking core rushing into the backfield. Willis Cheatham had been in on tackles all game and he was poised to take the QB down with a hit, but not before the ball flew out of Martiello's right hand.

 

A high spiral slant pass, similar to what Peyton Manning kills defenses with, took flight over the Mules' defense and into a perfect place for senior RB John Radice to haul it in 15 yards up the field. What Radice saw then was a clear path to paydirt, as in making a quick move to the middle of the field he broke free from all the Mules' defenders at about the 20. Clarke's whole team recognized the big score was a sure thing. Six points and an upset on the road was looming. Radice made sure it happened, speeding to the endzone and jumping high as the sky with his teammates.

 

Shouts and cheers flowed. Clarke fans were excited, screaming "They won! They won!" It wasn't over quite yet, as the extra point try was no good and Malverne kept hope to tie with another FG. But Clarke, playing a quiet spoiler, had won the chessmatch. 

 

After the play Clarke's coaching staff gave the offensive line their due, as they went over to junior lineman Billy Rudland and told him "way to block up front". Rudland's uniform was the dirtiest of everyone on the field as he and his teammates did a great job against Malverne's formidable D-line with 6'3", 250-lb Uwagbae Eweka and 6'4", 272-lb Terry Banks. Rudland would also (surprisingly) seal the win as he sacked Malverne QB Brandon Michaels on 4th & 15 with 1:38 left in the game.

 

"This is what we talked about with the boys all year -- How are you going to respond in the face of adversity? "They really showed us great spirit and resolve today." said Rams' Head Coach John Boyle. 

 

Congratulations Clarke, you certainly passed a big test.

 

On a day when Malverne celebrated their homecoming and honored their Class of 1969 with a 40-year reunion, your team just shocked the Mules the way Joe Namath's Jets shocked the Baltimore Colts in Super Bowl 3 in '69. Coach Boyle elaborated on how Clarke pulled off the TD.

 

"We were running the ball well all day but we couldn't get a score. We felt the linebackers kept coming up and we wanted to try and get behind them (with a pass play)" he said. 

 

Clarke QB Mike Martiello went 6 of 11 for 131 yards and the game's only touchdown, the 35-yard strike to Radice.

 

Their running attack was well-balanced as senior GaryTamney led the way with 57 yards on 13 carries. Chodkowski carried the ball 10 times for 55 yards and Gio Ocampo, who was featured on several slant routes, carried 9 times for 38 yards.

 

"This was real big for this season. We've now won 2 in a row, consider it 2 for 2, and we hope we can carry this momentum into next week," Coach Boyle said, before he walked into the parking lot where he was greeted by big hugs and congrats from his friends and family.

 

Those of us who stayed up late to watch the Yankees and Angels Saturday night saw how the harsh cold affected MLB's American League Championship Series. Much the same came into play on Malverne's field in the early afternoon, a hands-in-your-pockets affair with minimal scoring and maximum determination from both teams. With two more weeks left in a season that's seen more losses than wins for these teams, they should get credit for putting on a bone-chilling nail-biter.

 

Next week the Rams will host East Rockaway while the Mules will pay a visit to Island Trees. Both games are at 1:30 on Saturday.

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