Massapequa head football coach Kevin Shippos expressed his desire to continue challenging his team with competitive nonconference games following their victory over Garden City. The Chiefs defeated the Trojans 21-14 on Monday night, ending Garden City's nation-leading 68-game win streak in front of nearly 6,000 fans at Hofstra University. Shippos stated, "To me, high school sports is about putting your kids at the highest level."
The matchup between the Chiefs and Trojans marked a significant event, as it was the first high-profile crossover game between conferences I and II. A recent rule change in Section VIII allowed top Nassau County teams from different levels to compete in early season matchups, which have been well-received.
Shippos, whose team is currently on a 26-game win streak, emphasized the importance of reducing the frequency of lopsided victories. He hopes that these crossover games will lead to changes in the Long Island public school football playoff system, which currently limits the best Nassau and Suffolk teams to competing against each other in the final game of the year.
"I’d like to see it lead to us participating in the state championship one day," Shippos said. "That’s a dream come true for these kids. Who wouldn’t want to play for a state championship?"