Syosset Football Bests Plainview JFK, 27-0 [VIDEO]

Joe Morris will not go down. Try as opposing defenses might, the junior running back is determined to get every last inch. Morris rushed for three touchdowns in football’s 27-0 win over Plainview JFK on Saturday at Plainview JFK High School.

Morris’s outstanding afternoon made Dylan Shangold’s first game as a varsity starting quarterback a breeze.

“It’s just such high security,” Shangold said of Morris. “You give him the ball and he works his magic. You don’t really have to worry about anything. It’s made ten times easier because of him.”

But the afternoon didn’t completely belong to Morris. Shangold put an exclamation point on the victory with a touchdown pass of his own, finding Matt Taurisani late in the third quarter.

Defensively, Syosset’s (1-0) effort couldn’t have looked much better to the legions of Syosset fans that made the five-mile journey for the rivalry game. Plainview JFK’s (0-1) only real threat came at the end of the first half. Running a hurry up offense, the Hawks drove all the way to the one-yard line before time ran out on the valiant attempt to get back in the game.

Hero: Morris -- The sophomore rusher scored his first touchdown of the day with a long scamper down the left sideline on the Braves’ second drive of the game. Morris finished with 149 yards on nine carries.

“I made a couple guys miss tackles and took advantage of it,” Morris said of his second touchdown run.

Turning Point: Morris’s third touchdown of the game came on the Braves' first drive of the second half. Any momentum Plainview JFK had acquired from their trip to the red zone at the end of the first half was washed away as Morris showed off his incredible tackle-breaking ability.

Quotable: “We got fortunate at times. It had some of that first-week ugliness,” Syosset Coach Paul Rorke said. “Usually that first week, there’s those highs and lows. We definitely saw that.”

“I think we’re a good football team,” Plainview JFK Coach Chris Rogler said. “We’re a young football team. I think Friday night against Macarthur is going to be another battle and we’re going to have battles all year long.”            

Bottom Line: Syosset got off to a necessary fast start. If Morris keeps running like he did against Plainview JFK, they will be a major factor in the Conference I race.

The Hawks will need to get things corrected before Friday night’s game. If they limit the big plays given up on the ground, they’ll be in tight matchups all year.

Key Stat: Evan Kappatos had one interception.

Who’s Next: Syosset @ Freeport, Saturday 1:30 p.m.

Nassau Conference I

Teams…..........…1.....2.....3.....4 -- F

Syosset…..........14….0…13.....0 -- 27

Plainview JFK..…0….0…..0…..0 -- 0

S: Morris 51 yard Run (Grossman kick)

S: Morris 44 yard Run (Grossman kick)

S: Morris 26 yard Run (Grossman kick)

S: Taurisani 40 yard pass from Shangold (kick failed)

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