The Oceanside football team arrived at Hofstra’s Shaurt Stadium with a mission, and the Sailors brought receipts with them, too.
The last time Oceanside played Farmingdale, the Dalers rushed for 701 yards, and Josh Kama set a new Long Island record with 495 yards on the ground in Week 2.
“The defense took it personally after the game,” Sailors head coach Rob Blount said of the 64-57 defeat on Sept. 19. “We were on every social media outlet, newspaper, and meme after that first game. We took it as a priority in the program to focus on tackling and focusing on run defense.”
It was mission accomplished for the third-seeded Sailors, who held on to defeat No. 2 Farmingdale, 28-27, in the Nassau Conference I semifinals Friday afternoon.
Oceanside (8-2) advances to take on top-seeded and two-time defending champion Massapequa (10-0) in the Conference I final next Friday at Hofstra, seeking its first county championship since 2017.
To get to their first Conference I championship game since 2021, the Sailors' defense rose to the occasion, limiting the Dalers to 100 yards on the ground.
“We’re far from perfect, but we came to play the second time and met their ball carriers on their side of the ball,” Blount said. “We rallied and got to the ball carrier.”
Chace Morris was instrumental in Oceanside’s success on both sides of the ball, rushing for 84 yards and two touchdowns, while also being the co-leader defensively with nine tackles, joining Hudson Triscari. Jacob DiDio added eight tackles with two tackles for a loss.
Morris’ two rushing touchdowns came early, when the Sailors responded to touchdown receptions by Mateo Morales and Patrick Videau. He was also the recipient of a hook-and-lateral toss on fourth down by Jacob Stern to help set up Shane Harmon’s 8-yard touchdown pass to Jayden Belone to give the Sailors their first lead at 21-14 with 6:59 left in the third quarter.
“I believe it was very important, but nothing happens without putting trust in the guys in front of me,” said Harmon, who had 17 carries for 84 yards.
Oceanside extended its lead to 28-14 on a 6-yard touchdown run by Dylan Parker with 9:18 left in the fourth quarter, but the Dalers roared back. Nicholas Toto (11-of-15, 222 yards, four touchdowns) connected with Jack Watrous on a 72-yard touchdown and then found Jovens Theodate for an 11-yard touchdown with 37 seconds remaining to pull the Dalers within one.
Dalers head coach Buddy Krumenacker went for win, but Watrous dropped Toto’s pass on the ensuing 2-point conversion. It came a year after Farmingdale was stopped on a 2-point conversion in an overtime defeat to Massapequa in the Conference I final.
“We had great momentum late. We scored two touchdowns to get back into the game. I told them we’d score a touchdown and then we’d go for two,” Krumenacker said. “That’s the way we live. We play for every down, and we don’t look back. We’ve preached that all year.”
Meanwhile, it was euphoria for the Sailors, who get a chance to avenge their other regular season defeat when they meet Massapequa in the Conference I final.
“I think it will be an exciting game,” Morris said. “We have been waiting for the rematch, and we’re ready.”
