Farmingdale football paced by Josh Kama's 376 rushing yards, seven touchdowns in win over Oceanside
Farmingdale's Josh Kama (21) runs in a touchdown in the third quarter during the Nassau High School Conference I football game between Farmingdale and Oceanside on Friday Oct 25, 2024 at Farmingdale High School Credit: Bob Sorensen
Buddy Krumenacker is in his 32nd season as Farmingdale’s head football coach, but he said he had never seen a performance like the one junior running back Josh Kama had Friday night.
Senior quarterback Dennis Finkel had not witnessed a showing like Kama’s either.
Even Kama himself, just minutes after host Farmingdale’s 63-42 win over Oceanside in Nassau Conference I, was still soaking it in.
“I’ll remember this for life,” Kama said.
And for good reason. Kama rushed for 376 yards and seven touchdowns on 21 carries, matching Jordan McLune for the school record for rushing touchdowns in a single game, according to Krumenacker. He had touchdown runs of 13, 35, 59, 5, 54, 84 and 70 yards.
“My line just blocked really good,” Kama said. “From there on, I just took it myself. But it was really my line.”
Farmingdale (6-1) handed Oceanside (6-1) its first loss of the season.
What made Kama’s performance even more impressive was his ability to dial it up a notch – or two or three – in the second half. Kama had nine carries for just 29 yards and a touchdown in the first half, which ended in a 21-all tie. He had 191 third-quarter rushing yards and four touchdowns.
“When No. 21 [Kama] scores seven touchdowns, it opens up the pass game,” said Finkel, who completed 9 of 11 passes for 135 yards and two touchdowns. “I did my job. No. 21, my O-line does the rest.”
Kama ran behind an offensive line combination of, from left to right, Jack McCarthy, Jordan Petzold, Jake Kunz, Aiden Thomas and Tom Meyer.
“They make my job so easy,” Kama said.
On the second play from scrimmage in the second half, Kama ran for a 35-yard touchdown to give Farmingdale a 28-21 lead with 11:05 left in the third quarter. The Dalers then forced an Oceanside three-and-out, and three plays later Kama’s 59-yard score made it 35-21 with 8:46 left in the third.
Oceanside answered 24 seconds later as Shane Harmon threw a 49-yard touchdown pass to Dylan Bender to make it 35-28. Harmon threw for 252 yards and two touchdowns.
Kama scored on a 5-yard touchdown run to give Farmingdale a 42-28 lead with 6:20 left. Oceanside’s Chace Morris, who had 22 rushes for 152 yards and four touchdowns, cut it to 42-35 on a 43-yard touchdown run 1:08 later.
Kama’s 54-yard score extended Farmingdale’s lead to 49-35 with 3:35 left in the third. Oceanside’s ensuing 14-play drive stalled at the Farmingdale 19, but the Sailors then forced a Farmingdale punt.
Morris’ 1-yard touchdown run cut it to 49-42 with 6:16 left, but Oceanside would never get closer.
On Farmingdale’s first play of its next drive, Kama tip-toed down the right sideline for an 84-yard touchdown to put the Dalers ahead 56-42 with 5:51 left.
For good measure, after Farmingdale forced a turnover on downs, Kama scooted for a 70-yard touchdown to make it 63-42 with 3:13 remaining.
Farmingdale’s victory came on a night where it honored legendary former coach Don Snyder, who coached the Dalers for 40 years and died at 98 on Aug. 4. Snyder’s family was recognized on the field before the game.
“I’ve known the man since I was 14 years old,” Krumenacker said. “I played for him here. I’ve known him, realistically, my whole life. It’s a special moment because he did all this for 40 years.”
Ben Dickson joined Newsday’s high school sports staff in 2023 after graduating from Maryland, where he covered several of the Terrapins' teams.
