Anthony Seymour, Miller Place prepare for their big moment

Anthony Seymour was right where he wanted to be on Thanksgiving morning. The Miller Place quarterback was on the practice field at 8 a.m. stretching, running, laughing and enjoying his company.

Seymour and his teammates took the chill out of the brisk morning air for a spirited practice while getting ready to play in the school’s first Long Island championship game.

Miller Place will meet Seaford (9-2) for the Class IV title at noon Friday at Hofstra University. The Panthers, riding a seven-game winning streak, are coming off a heart-pounding 33-25 win over Babylon in the Suffolk IV championship game.

“This is where you want to be Thanksgiving week with all your brothers,” said Seymour, who threw for 22 touchdowns this season. “The goal is to win the Long Island title. We’re out here practicing on Thanksgiving morning for the biggest game of our lives.”

Miller Place coach Greg Murphy, who was greeted by a multitude of well-wishers after the practice ended, said Thanksgiving week holds special meaning to him.

“I grew up in Connecticut where we played against our rival, Ansonia High School, on Thanksgiving morning,” said Murphy, who played for Naugatuck High School and graduated in 1991. “It’s the third-longest rivalry game on Thanksgiving morning and we played one of those games on ESPN Scholastic Sports America. The game held such significant meaning to me and my teammates, a very similar meaning to what the Long Island Championships means to the players of Long Island.

“All those great memories came rushing back to me as we walked out here this morning.”

Miller Place (10-1), which won the Suffolk title for the first time since 1988, persevered through early-season adversity and dethroned three-time Class IV champion Shoreham-Wading River to get here.

Senior halfback Tyler Ammirato, who was injured in a four-way scrimmage in August and thought to be lost for the season, made his way back to the Panthers in time for Week 7.

“It was devastating, but it was next guy up and let’s go,” Murphy said. “They rallied around each other and held the torch until Tyler came back. We have no egos here. It’s about resolve and believing in each other and family. Football is that brotherhood and this is a talented team that plays for each other. They’ll look back in 10, 20 years and always have that special bond.”

Sebastian Cannon, Christian Kelleher and Luke Marchello shared the running back duties as the Panthers averaged 31 points per game.

“I missed six games and those guys held it together,” said Ammirato, a three-year starter who scored 29 touchdowns as a junior. “They did a great job and we played physical defense.”

The strong-armed Seymour, who will play lacrosse at West Point, balanced the offense with a potent running game and an efficient attack. His favorite target, junior Tom Nealis, led Suffolk with 859 yards receiving and 12 touchdown receptions.

“He’s our big-play receiver, and I know when I put it out there, he’s getting it,” Seymour said. “This was our last practice and it was a pretty cool feeling walking out to the field this morning. We’re one step away from our goal. We have to play our game.”

By Gregg Sarra

gregg.sarra@newsday.com@Gregg_Sarra

Gregg Sarra is Newsday's high school sports editor and has been on the beat since the mid-1980s.