North Shore - Vikings

NORTH SHORE

Vikings set sail to repeat breakout 2021 repeat breakout 2021

By MARC FISHKIN

The road to a repeat took a detour before the North Shore High football team stepped onto the fi eld for its fi rst practice Aug. 22. During a June minicamp, just weeks after the club received championship rings at a ceremony at Glenwood Landing Firehouse, superstar lineman Reece Ramos tore his ACL. The injury will cost him the 2022 season that starts at home versus Locust Valley Sept. 10. A First-Team All-State, Reece was a dominator at left tackle and defensive end, igniting the maroon-and-white to its fi rstever Long Island championship, infusing a school spirit into Sea Cliff/Glen Head not seen in years. While the Vikings are considered a slight favorite to win their second straight Nassau Conference IV and L.I. Class IV crowns because of a monstrous running attack, they no longer are as sure a shot. Cold Spring Harbor, Seaford and others stand in the way in Nassau County. “A lot of people keep saying now the target is on our back,” said Vikings head coach Dan Agovino, in his 21st season. “We understand it and embrace it. But we spoke to our kids that it’s now 2022. We enjoyed 2021 and we’ll build off it. I keep saying to the coaching staff, we have to make sure we don’t get ahead of our skis and tumble over.’’ Filling the vacuum left by Reece’s injury is key, especially on defense. Reece blocked the punt that set up Dan Quigley’s lone touchdown in its 7-0 win over ShorehamWading River in the LI title game. “It’s going to hurt us but we feel we’re in a good position to play good football,” Agovino said.

fi rst practice Aug. 22. During a June minicamp, just weeks after the club received championship rings at a ceremony at Glenwood Landing Firehouse, superstar lineman Reece Ramos tore his ACL. The injury will cost him the 2022 season that starts at home versus Locust Valley Sept. 10. A First-Team All-State, Reece was a dominator at left tackle and defensive end, igniting the maroon-and-white to its fi rstever Long Island championship, infusing a school spirit into Sea Cliff/Glen Head not While the Vikings are considered a slight favorite to win their second straight Nassau Conference IV and L.I. Class IV crowns because of a monstrous running The coach said replacing Reece on attack, they no longer are as sure a shot. both sides will be an “open competition’’ Cold Spring Harbor, Seaford and between two juniors, Athanasios others stand in the way in Nassau County. Alafogiannis, dubbed “Double A’’ and Isaac “A lot of people keep saying now the Bratter. Alafogiannis started on special target is on our back,” said Vikings head teams last season. Bratter rose from JV for coach Dan Agovino, in his 21st season. the playoffs. “We understand it and embrace it. But we North Shore also will look for a spoke to our kids that it’s now 2022. We matured version of mammoth sophomore enjoyed 2021 and we’ll build off it. I keep offensive lineman Jack Molesky, a 6-3, saying to the coaching staff, we have to 250-pounder. However, the keystone to make sure we don’t get ahead of our skis both lines is senior right tackle Patrick and tumble over.’’ Godfrey. “The real anchor is Godfrey with Reece out,’’ Agovino said. “He’s got two years of experience. He’s had a real good offseason, worked real hard in the weight room. He’s laser focused.’’ The good news is North Shore is stacked with rushers. Though they lost Quigley, the backfi eld features ferocious tailback Nick La Rosa, fullback Ryan Freund

Peter Liotta Ryan Freund

The coach said replacing Reece on both sides will be an “open competition’’ between two juniors, Athanasios Alafogiannis, dubbed “Double A’’ and Isaac Bratter. Alafogiannis started on special teams last season. Bratter rose from JV for the playoffs. North Shore also will look for a matured version of mammoth sophomore offensive lineman Jack Molesky, a 6-3, 250-pounder. However, the keystone to both lines is senior right tackle Patrick Godfrey. “The real anchor is Godfrey with Reece out,’’ Agovino said. “He’s got two years of experience. He’s had a real good offseason, worked real hard in the weight room. He’s laser focused.’’ The good news is North Shore is stacked with rushers. Though they lost

and change-of-pace halfback Nick Livoti – all seniors. “I’m real excited about the backfi eld,” Agovino said. After an uneven start, the 2021 season turned toward history after Quigley, then the quarterback, suffered a concussion midseason. Young Peter Liotta fi lled in expertly. The senior is back to helm the offense. The loss of stud receiver David Berlin will be felt but Ricky Cook could be a serviceable replacement. He’ll also will man cornerback. Offensive coordinator Bill Madigan runs a spread offense but Agovino said, “People think it’s pass-oriented. But it’s really a run-fi rst offense.” Defense is the question mark. The loss of grinding middle-linebackers Will Feldman and Andrew Nowak have been understated. “They were the heartbeat of the defense,” Agovino said. However, North Shore may be in good hands because of the comeback of senior Mike Granelli, who tore his ACL in the season’s second game. Granelli enjoyed a monster offseason, looking to fi ll the void in the middle. “Could be a great story,’’ Agovino said. “He’s worked really hard.’’ In addition, Agovino expects even better production from St. Anthony’s transfer Danny Satiryadis, a starting defensive lineman who may expand into a two-way player on the O-line. After the Vikings won it all last November at Stony Brook, the local fi re department escorted the Vikings back to the Gold Coast. “It was a whole community type feel,’’ Agovino said. “We just want to keep that going.”

Schedule

September 10 Locust Valley 2:00 p.m. 17 Malverne 2:00 p.m. 23 @ Seaford 6:00 p.m. 30 @ Island Trees 7:00 p.m. October 8 Clarke 2:00 p.m. 15 @ West Hemp. 2:00 p.m. 22 C.S. Harbor 2:00 p.m. 28 @ East Rock. 6:00 p.m.

Nick Livoti

Pat Godfrey

community type feel,’’ Agovino said. “We just want to keep that going.”