Massapequa's Luke Garguilo wins Don Snyder award as Nassau's top quarterback
Luke Garguilo of Massapequa readies for the fourth quarter of the Long Island Class I football championship against Ward Melville on Nov. 28 at Hofstra. Credit: Michael A. Rupolo Sr.
There was a common question facing defending Long Island Class I champion Massapequa heading into the season: Who would be taking the snaps? After losing 2024 Snyder Award winner Joey Diesso, it was a fair question.
Junior quarterback Luke Garguilo answered it — and he did so in a big way.
In his first varsity season at the position, Garguilo took the reins and guided Massapequa to its third straight Long Island Class I championship. He was named the county’s top quarterback, receiving the Don Snyder Award on Wednesday night at Crest Hollow Country Club in Woodbury.
“He was more of a receiver for us last year,” Massapequa coach Kevin Shippos said. “This year he was ready to compete for the quarterback position. He set his sights on it and away he went to having a great year. He was a huge part of this team.”
It didn’t take long for Garguilo to set the tone . He totaled six touchdowns in a dominant 58-14 win over Freeport to open the year.
“We knew that he had the skill set, and it wasn’t a surprise, but you never know until you’re actually out there in game situations,” Shippos said. “We were real eager to see him play in that first game against Freeport, and he just lit it up. We found ourselves our quarterback, and he kept getting better.”
Garguilo continued his excellent string of performances. He helped Massapequa defeat rival Farmingdale, Oceanside twice and capped the year with a Long Island championship win over Ward Melville to complete a 12-0 season. Massapequa is now 35-1 in its last 36 games.
“The confidence in himself is big. He’s a lead-by-example type of kid,” Shippos said. “The bigger the stage, the better he played and that’s what true competitors do. And we’re grateful we have another year with him.”
