Dan Reiskin's First Career Field Goal Gives Lawrence Third Straight County Title

After three years without playing football in high school, Dan Reiskin nailed his first career field goal as time expired Saturday to give Lawrence its third straight Nassau County Championship, 28-27 at Hofstra University’s Shuart Stadium.

“I asked him if he can do it, and he said he was ready,” Lawrence Coach Joe Martillotti said. “He didn’t even blink an eye.”

This came after a big defensive stand by Lawrence, which forced the Red Devils to punt.

“Usually, we score touchdowns, so I don’t have to kick field goals,” Reiskin said. “Coach had been saying it could come down to me.”

And it did.

“Making a kick in your first year like that is unbelievable,” Joe Capobianco, who completed a key 4th-and-10 pass on the game-winning drive to Sean Moran, said of Reiskin. “I’m so proud of him.”

After Plainedge got the ball to start the game, Nick Frenger fumbled on the opening drive, and Lawrence’s Mike Spinelli recovered.

Jordan Fredericks broke free for a 41-yard touchdown run to give the Golden Tornandoes a 6-0 lead. The 2-point conversion attempt failed. After Plainedge’s drive stalled, Lawrence got near the end zone, but a red zone interception thrown by Capobianco ended the drive.

The Red Devils took the lead 7-6 when David Kuinlan ran it in from 14-yards out. Early in the second quarter, he added an 8-yard run to increase the lead to 14-6.

After another interception by Plainedge, they got to the Lawrence goal line, but they were unable to capitalize before the first half ended.

The lead was cut to 14-12 when Fredericks escaped for a 61-yard scamper, but a shoestring tackle by John Heutz prevented a 2-point conversion attempt. Just 28 seconds later, Gianfranco Soriente ran one in from 46-yards out. The score was 21-12.

Fredericks responded for Lawrence, scoring his third touchdown of the game from 14-yards out to make the score 21-18.  

After a Plainedge turnover on downs, Capobianco ran it on from 1-yard out to give Lawrence a 25-21 lead. The Red Devils answered with a 26-yard pass from Frenger to Kevin Walker. They missed the extra point, and held on to a 27-25 lead.

On the ensuing drive, Lawrence elected to go for it on a fourth and three from the Plainedge 8-yard line, and they were unsuccessful, and then “the kick” happened, and Lawrence won, 28-27.

“It feels unbelievable,” Fredericks said. “We have so much fight, and we never gave up.”

STATS

LAWRENCE

Passing

• Joe Capobianco: 15-for-27, 223 yards

Rushing

• Jordan Fredericks: 26 carries, 249 yards, 3 TD
• Joe Capobianco: 10 carries, 36 yards
• Marquan Williams: 4 carries, 11 yards

Receiving

• Sean Moran: 6 catches, 76 yards
• Marquan Williams: 5 catches, 54 yards
• Sam Locasio: 2 catches, 54 yards
• Elijah Jones: 2 catches, 39 yards

Tackles

• Julian Clark: 8
• Tevine Johnson: 6.5
• Vinny Vota: 5.5
• Simon Jones: 5.5