Playoff Preview: Lawrence vs Lynbrook

The Lawrence Golden Tornadoes have a chance to repeat as county champions tonight, and they'll have a familiar opponent — Lynbrook, the same team they beat in the title game last year.

At 7 p.m. at Hofstra's Shuart Stadium, second-seeded Lawrence (8-2) will try to stop top-seeded Lynbrook's (9-1) high-powered offense, which, for the most part, has had a field day against most of its opponents this year.

Lawrence is led by quarterback Samson Bialostok, who has had success both passing and running the ball this year. Brothers Tyler and Ryan Fredericks have also contributed to the Golden Tornadoes' running game.

"I think it's going to be a great game," said Lawrence athletic director Pat Pizzarelli. "They're a great team, they're coached well and they've got good kids. Most of their games, they plowed over their opponents. We have to play our best to stay in the game with them and hopefully we will."

Lynbrook is coming off a 54-20 win over Plainedge in the semifinal round, a game in which Owls running back Travis Lock ran for 253 yards and five touchdowns. Lawrence also won big, 49-14, against Hewlett last Friday in its semifinal match-up.

When the two teams met back on Oct. 23, Lynbrook ran the ball well against the Golden Tornadoes, but Lawrence's offense was still able to break through the otherwise lights-out Lynbrook defense just enough to hand the Owls their only loss of the season (23-22). 

Lynbrook coach Steve Locicero certainly knows his team is in for a tough fight against Lawrence this evening.

"Lawrence is an excellent ball club — they're playing their best football, but so are we," said Locicero said. "So I think it's gonna be another great match-up. It's gonna be exciting, and we'll see where it goes."

Lawrence defeated Lynbrook, 41-7, in last year's county final. But Lynbrook is hoping to avenge that loss this time around.

"We have never been more focused and ready to play any game of the season," Locicero said.