Peter Liotta shakes off injury, scores three TDs for undefeated North Shore against Clarke

Peter Liotta was trying to defend against a run from his secondary spot for host North Shore when he felt the sting of a big blindside block. A yellow flag flew, and Liotta didn’t pop right back up.

Liotta is an invaluable puzzle piece for the defending Long Island Class IV champion, especially on the other side of the ball as a fast-traveling, elusive quarterback. He provides leadership, too.

But now he was laying face down on the turf, in what teammate Nick La Rosa called, “a scary sight.”

“You’re worried when any player is down, but especially when it’s your quarterback,” coach Dan Agovino said.

As it turned out, Liotta had the wind knocked out of him on the play late in the first quarter of a 41-20 win against Clarke on Saturday, according to Agovino. Liotta soon shook it off, got back into the mix and took over the game.

After North Shore fell behind by six, Liotta rushed for three TDs in the final six minutes of the second quarter.

The senior finished with 189 yards on just 10 carries, and the Vikings ran away with the Nassau Conference IV win, making for a happy Homecoming.

This football team was happy about being 5-0, too.

“I think we’re looking good, but there’s always room for improvement,” Liotta said. “We have to keep our foot on the gas.”

They’re driven when it comes to repeating.

“That feeling of being champions is the greatest feeling of all time,” said La Rosa, who rushed for 103 yards and a touchdown on 15 carries. “I know everyone wants that back. We’re super hungry.”

Clarke led 12-6 after the second of two short TD passes from Giancarlo Rengifo to Nick Iannucci, this one from 7 yards out.

On the next possession, Liotta ran through the middle, bounced out to the left side and raced 34 yards to the end zone. Michael Fleming booted the PAT for the lead.

Clarke (3-2) fumbled the ball away on the next drive at the Vikings’ 1. North Shore proceeded to move 99 yards, the last 31 on a Liotta run.

Then came another Rams fumble. Three plays later, Liotta turned the left corner for a 14-yard score for a 27-12 lead.

“He’s a tremendous runner,” Agovino said. “But more importantly than that, he’s just a leader. He just puts the team on his back and says, ‘Let’s go, guys. Follow me, and let’s get this done.’”

La Rosa ran for a 4-yard score and Nick Livoti ran 48 yards for another after halftime.

John Haff provided North Shore’s most spectacular play of the day by returning a kickoff 93 yards for a touchdown to make it 6-6 in the first quarter.

“I saw a hole, and I ran through it,” Haff said, “It was just my team, though. The blockers were insane.”

Clarke’s cause wasn’t helped when Rengifo left with an injury in the second quarter after throwing for 162 yards.

“We’ll be all right going forward,” Clarke coach Kevin O’Hagan said. “We’ve just got to get healthy.”