Football: North Rockland goes old school to overpower Mahopac

MAHOPAC - The players' jersey sleeves didn't hang to their elbows and their pads didn't look like something ripped off the body of a Mongol warrior. Still, North Rockland went old school all the same Friday night, lining up in the I-formation and slamming Mahopac's defense into submission.

Behind 41 carries from Jayden Cook, the converted wide receiver, the Red Raiders slugged their way past the Indians 27-10 in a Class AA playoff qualifying round game. They actually had four drives of 10 plays or more, including all three during a tone-setting first half.

"That sounds like the days of old," interim head coach Greg Grasso said. "This is what our guys used to do. Our tailbacks would carry the ball 35 or 45 times per game."

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The focal point of Friday's throwback game was Cook, one of this year's Super 11, who had his second straight 100-yard game. Running behind a bullish offensive line, Cook gained 168 yards and stiff-armed his way to a third-quarter touchdown.

Cook said he welcomed the extra opportunities provided at running back.

SUPER 11: North Rockland's Jayden Cook

"Listen, my coaches told me no matter how they can get the ball in my hands they are going to do it," said Cook, who had 15 carries for 179 yards and two touchdowns in last week's win over Suffern. "They see me as the playmaker. We have other playmakers like Dylan (Senatore). They just want to get the ball in our hands to make plays."

Senatore produced the key plays in the first half. He had six of his seven catches and 102 of his 111 receiving yards by halftime. The senior found open spaces between the numbers and helped set up a pair of 1-yard touchdowns from his quarterback, Jeff Abrams.

"It was great, honestly," Senatore said. "It was a great feeling. We knew we had them going into halftime and wanted to finish it out."

North Rockland, which went just 2-4 in the regular season, bullied its way to a 17-10 lead. Cook added to the lead on the opening drive of the third quarter and the defense held Mahopac scoreless in the second half.

Ryan Curtis made all four of his kicks, including a field goal in each half.

If New Rochelle wins Saturday as expected, the Red Raiders will be seeded No. 8 and travel to No. 1 Arlington in next week's Class AA quarterfinals.

North Rockland dropped the same game 20-13 at Arlington last year, but the program has faced a challenging road back. In addition to their regular season struggles, the Red Raiders have had to endure the loss of coach Tom Lynch, who was forced to leave the team in August to fight kidney cancer.

Lynch watched from a wheelchair Friday less than four weeks after undergoing his second surgery in a month. He's only missed one game all season, but has been away from the team most of the season.

"This makes you feel good," said Grasso, who had been an assistant for three decades. "It makes you feel like some of the things you're doing you're still doing right."

By the numbers

North Rockland (3-4) — Abrams went 10 of 14 for 158 yards. Alex Amaro had a 37-yard catch and recorded one of three sacks for North Rockland.

Mahopac (4-3) — Ryan Dugan went 8 for 12 for 172 yards, including a 56-yard touchdown to Sal Marchionni. Reahl Allen had two catches for 65 yards.

Twitter: @lohudinsider