Bethpage shocks highly ranked Lawrence

Justin Rohr and Danny Chillianis had heard the worried question all week: How bad is it going to be?

But that just juiced up the Bethpage Golden Eagles, who followed their motto and beat Lawrence, 37-19, Friday night in a Nassau III game.

Now there's a new question after the dominating victory over a Lawrence team that had been ranked No. 1 in the conference: How much better can it get?

"All that other talk is just motivation," Chillianis said. "Our motto is 'Shock the World.' That's what we wanted to do from the start and that's what we accomplished."

Bethpage (2-0) scored on each of its first three possessions, using a strong running game that led to long possessions. Lawrence coach Joe Martilloti called the strategy "three yards and a pile of dust every time" before the game.

Chillianis gave much of the credit to the offensive line. "Anybody can get the ball and they're going to get yards with these guys pushing up front," he said.

The Eagles opened the game with an 8-minute, 22-second drive, ending when Rohr broke free for a 14-yard touchdown. Paul Bitetti pounded his way into the end zone on a 4-yard run early in the second quarter and, with 1:15 to go in the half, Chillianis burst straight ahead for an 8-yard score.

SEE PHOTOSBethpage 37, Lawrence 19

"After the first drive where we smacked them in the mouth, everyone was playing their hardest," Rohr said.

The Bethpage offense resembled an avalanche, the entire team hurtling forward at once, a mass of jerseys exploding into the Lawrence defense on every down. Meanwhile, the Lawrence offense couldn't get started. It gained just a single first down during its first two possessions while Bethpage built a 23-0 lead.

Lawrence (1-1) finally got on the board at the end of the second quarter when Ed Robinson caught a 15-yard pass from Joe Capobianco in the end zone, the clock ticking down to zero behind him.

But even that jolt of momentum couldn't fuel a comeback.

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"Our whole team played with heart the whole game," Rohr said, answering his last question of the night.

He'd already answered the question of the week.