Plenty on line for North Shore

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After getting through the painful Plainedge-Wantagh gauntlet, North Shore football reestablished itself with a 42-14 drubbing over winless Lawrence last Saturday on Senior Day to move its record to 4-3 in Conference IV. 

While the easy win gave the Vikings momentum, their season still hangs in the balance this Saturday when “The Maroon” hosts Seaford along the shores of Hempstead Harbor at 2 p.m. 

A victory clinches a playoff berth and avoids a No. 7 or 8 seed – which could also mean avoiding powerhouse Wantagh and Plainedge in the first round. Cold Spring Harbor enters the final week as the top seed but hasn’t clinched.

 North Shore lost to Plainedge and Wantagh by a combined 75-0 in back-to-back weeks in early October but didn’t play CSH this season. A North Shore-Plainedge rematch would also pit Vikings head coach Dan Agovino against his son, Dominic, who plays for Plainedge, for the second time in five weeks.  

There still is a scenario of the Vikings, who won the 2021 Long Island championship, from being eliminated from postseason play altogether. That could happen if East Rockaway loses to West Hempstead Friday night and the Vikings are beaten by Seaford.  

“I think we’re peaking at the right time and getting healthy,” Dan Agovino said. “Lawrence was a good bounce-back game. Against Wantagh and Plainedge, we came out strong but got worn down. Moving forward, if we put it together and play fast, we can compete with these teams.’’

Star offensive tackle, Chase Goldenberg, an All-County offensive lineman, is eager for this stretch. The offensive line is key to North Shore’s run-oriented attack. In recent weeks, North Shore was banged up with injuries to right tackle Antonio Galati and George Manavazian.

“I’m really excited to go against Seaford,’’ said Goldenberg, a D3 commit to Franklin & Marshall. “It’s a great test going into the playoffs. To get a win in the last week would put us in a good seeding that will really help us. us. We have the momentum, we’ve come together as a unit. We’re starting to get fully healthy.’’ 

The Lawrence victory was never in doubt as running back Gianlucca Sferrazza scored on a 53-yard touchdown run on a zone-read inside handoff on the game’s first play.

Quarterback James Camardella rushed for two touchdowns. Matteo Pores had a 32-yard touchdown run and Tommy Depinto scored from the 20. 

“I’m really happy we played an explosive brand of football and played fast - which we hadn’t been doing,’’ Agovino said. ‘I’m hoping it’s the spark that ignites the flame and keeps us rolling through this playoff run.’’

There was also a spectacular defensive touchdown as Marco Abouellhassan ran in an interception for 36 yards after correctly reading a screen pass.

North Shore threw only one pass all game – and it was a doozy on third-and-long. On a hook-and-ladder trick play. Camardella hit Casey Gates, who tossed a lateral to the 6-2, 240-pound Goldenberg and he ran it for the first down - a 15-yard pickup.

Goldenberg enjoyed that play but his bread-and-butter is opening up holes for his backfield warriors. “We’re meshing together as unit at a perfect time,’’ he said. 

As for his own development, Goldenberg added: “I worked on a lot of technique in the offseason and lifting. I feel I know the pass sets are run (blocks) are good. When I’m able to get my hands inside I can overpower them. And I’ve gotten very good at getting inside, fighting with the hands.’’

 Seaford entered preseason as the No. 1 seed but finds itself under .500 at 3-4. “It’s still a dangerous team with a lot of talent and I respect them,’’ Agovino said.