North Shore rolls on Homecoming

North Shore celebrated its Homecoming game before a big crowd in its pound-the-rock style last Saturday.

Head coach Dan Agovino’s squad is notorious for its vaunted rush-oriented attack but the Vikings took it to a new level in throwing the ball just once all afternoon in wiping out rebuilding Valley Steam South, 53-12. 

Everything that could’ve gone right went right on the home grassy field of the Sea Cliff/Glen Head program. North Shore moved to 2-1. Even its lone pass of the day was executed with precision – a 3-yard touchdown strike from quarterback James Camardella to Charles Godfrey. 

All told, 10 Vikings carried the ball - which had Agovino beaming afterward. “I’m real excited,’’ he said. “We held ourselves very well up front. The big guys got the job done. Ten different ball-carriers. That’s a total team contribution.’’ 

Agovino, whose Vikings won the Long Island championship in 2021, has what he feels is the perfect backfield with a troika of Gianluca Sferrazza. Ryan Lau and Jack Damphouse. Plus, the quarterback Camardella, a transfer from Chaminade, can run the ball a bit, too.

In last Saturday’s win, Sferrazza rushed five times for 110 yards and a touchdown. Camardella kept the ball four times for two touchdowns scampers. Add in Christian Gisonda’s 53-yard touchdown run and it was a perfect afternoon along the shores of Hempstead Harbor. 

“Our reputation is we run the ball the majority of the time - over 85 percent,’’ Agovino said. “We pass a bit to soften defenses here and there but our goal is to run the rock. We have a three-headed monster and can keep rotating to keep legs fresh.’’

And so the Vikings ran the ball through Valley Stream South’s young defense in building a 40-6 halftime lead. It erased the disappointment of its Sept. 14 14-7 loss to Locust Valley when the run-blocking was not up to par. 

Defensively, the Vikings were led again by defensive end Mareo Abouelhassan, who blocked a punt that Sferrazza recovered in the end zone for a touchdown. Abouelhassan also excels on the offensive line. 

“Marco has been outstanding for us this year,’’ Agovino said. “He had a decent, solid junior year. He really worked hard in the offseason – our best weight-room guy. He’s really been our most consistent player.’’

The Maroon are also  relying heavily on the other defensive end, George Mansavasion. The tandem is expected to secure the edges and let the linebackers do the work inside, Agovino said.

North Shore started the season with a 35-0 romp over Oyster Bay and started Saturday’s Homecoming by making a big defensive play. Ian Frame intercepted a pass on a third down.

The Vikings never let go of the momentum. The running clock was in place the entire second-half because of the 35-point-plus lead. 

North Shore, coming off a 4-5 season and first-round playoff loss to Locust Valley, is seeded just sixth in Conference IV after an infusion of solid programs such as Plainedge and Wantagh. Ironically, Agovino’s son, Dominic, plays for Plainedge and they face off Oct. 5. Next up for North Shore is Friday night at Malverne at 7 p.m.

 “The conference is real deep and we’re right in the mix,’’ Agovino said. “We have the ability if we take care of ourselves and limit mistakes, we can play with anyone in the conference.”