Sports

Hewlett Bulldogs Top South Side Cyclones, 35-14

Quarterback Mark Rizzo passes for two touchdowns, rushes for two as well.

The Hewlett Bulldogs high-octane offense was too much for the South Side Cyclones to handle on Saturday, scoring 35 points with a precise passing and option run game en route to a 35-14 win at South Side High School.

Hewlett quarterback Mark Rizzo was excellent in the win, passing for 101 yards and two touchdowns, and rushing for 54 yards and two scores. Rizzo ran Hewlett's option run game to perfection, dicing up South Side's defense for three quarters until he was taken out midway through the third quarter. 

"He's an outstanding athlete," said Hewlett head coach Jay Iaquinta. "He runs our offense and executes it well."

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On Hewlett's second offensive play of the game, Rizzo connected with Michael Gray for a 17-yard touchdown strike, the first of Gray's two touchdowns on the day. He added a 42-yard touchdown catch midway through the second to give Hewlett a 14-0 lead.

Add in touchdown runs of six and two yards for Rizzo before the end of the first half, and Hewlett led 28-0 going into the third quarter. South Side scored its first two touchdowns of the season in the second half, and Cyclones running back Eric Willie carried the ball 32 times for 190 yards and a touchdown.

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"We had a good run up to the third quarter," Iaquinta said. "We need to get back to the drawing board and correct some of the things we were doing."

South Side's junior quarterback Cole Considine threw his first touchdown pass of the season, connecting on a 37-yard strike to Zach Scaduto in the fourth quarter to cut Hewlett's lead to 35-14.

"They definitely got the monkey off their back," Cyclones head coach Phil Onesto said. "He made a great read and made a great throw."

Hewlett plays next at home on Sept. 24 against Lawrence.


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