If you like touchdowns, don’t blink.
Friday night’s showdown between Oceanside and host Massapequa is sure to light up the scoreboard.
Through the first three weeks of the season, the Sailors (2-1) are putting up 53 points per game. The undefeated Chiefs of Massapequa are averaging more than 49 points per game.
“It’s our first real good test of the season,” said Massapequa’s head coach, Kevin Shippos. “Now it’s time to see what our kids can really do.”
“It’s a great game early in the season to see where we are as a team, [and] what we need to get better at,” said Oceanside coach Rob Blount. “Our kids are resilient. Regardless of the outcome, we will be a different team come playoff time.”
It’s the latest chapter of a longstanding rivalry that has become one-sided of late. Oceanside won the regular season matchup last year, but Massapequa has eliminated The Sailors from the playoffs five seasons in a row.
Oceanside returns 34 players from last year’s team. Blount says his players aren’t looking to far ahead, but —
“Anytime you play [Massapequa], you want to beat them,” says Blount. “But we will probably see them again come November, and that’s the one we really want.”
“We are playing to win,” Shippos told GLI. “Yea, I’m sure we will see them again in the postseason but we are not holding anything back Friday Night.”
If you go
Kickoff is 6:30 p.m. at Berner Middle School, located at 50 Carman Mill Rd. in Massapequa.
Greater Long Island will be there for all the highlights and post game reaction. Best bet: Check in with GLI on Instagram.
Top: Massapequa varsity football file photo courtesy of Massapequa Football Booster Club.
