Homecoming at North Shore started out in grand fashion with Delano Neal scampering 83 yards for a touchdown on the opening kickoff.
And the day kept getting better as North Shore took a 42-point halftime lead on the way to a 48-0 rout of Lawrence last Saturday in a Nassau Conference IV football matchup.
"There was energy and excitement the kids played with for Homecoming,'' North Shore head coach Bill Madigan said. "Offensively we made big plays. Defensively we played well.''
The resurgent Vikings kept up the playoff chase, moving to 5-1 after dropping their first game the prior week in a heartbreaker to East Rockaway/West Hempstead, 30-26.
"I liked how we had a good bounce-back game, from our loss last week,'' star offensive guard Canon Evans said. "It's good to get our confidence back, put up a lot of points and have a good time.''
Evans even scored a rushing touchdown from 1 yard out in the second half when the Vikings played mostly reserves. Evans also had a key block on senior running back Casey Gates' 66-yard touchdown jaunt.
"(Madigan) told me it was for all the hard work I've given the program,'' Evans said of the running play.
Gates collected 100 yards on 5 carries, also scoring on runs of 20 and 14 yards. Receiver Tommy Curran got into the rushing act as he scooted in from 6 yards.
Junior quarterback Joey Cristofari completed all four of his passes for 61 yards and threw a 24-yard touchdown pass to Neal.
"We have a junior quarterback who can make a lot of stuff happen as well as Casey at running back,'' Evans said. "They're both dynamic and our receivers seem to catch everything.''
On defense, senior defensive end Damon Datlo and linebacker John Peck each notched d5 tackles.
Despite the good vibes a year after not making the playoffs, North Shore still is not in playoff position – in ninth place. To vault into the Top 8, the Maroon may need a sweep of their final two games, starting this Saturday at Malverne at 1:30 p.m.
"We know how important our next game is against Malverne,'' Evans said. "If we have a good mentality, we shouldn't have anything to worry about.''
Added Madigan, "They have a good running back so we have to stop the run. Offensively, we have to know roles, run the ball and keep possession.''
Evans, a captain, is central to North Shore's punishing ground game and has learned from the best in Madigan, a former offensive guard for Georgia Tech.
"I've been able to teach him technique, fundamentals,'' Madigan said. "He's a natural lineman and a great puller for us on power plays.''
Evans also excels at picking up blitzing linebackers. "I'm really happy as I worked hard for all this all summer long,'' Evans said. "The line group, we try to make each other better every day. We all want to protect the guys in the backfield.''
In North Shore's lone loss, each team scored four touchdowns. But North Shore fell short in the conversion battle.
Otherwise, North Shore would still be unbeaten. "I'm very happy with how the season has gone with the senior leadership,'' Madigan said. "It's been a big turnaround for the program. The JV (6-0) have been successful too.''
