Shoreham-Wading River shooting for fifth straight Suffolk IV title
Shoreham-Wading River QB Dylan Zahn looks downfield for an open receiver against North Shore in the Class IV Long Island Championship on Nov. 27, 2021 at LaValle Stadium. Credit: George A Faella
Shoreham-Wading River grabbed its fourth straight Suffolk IV title in spectacular fashion in 2021. The Wildcats nailed a long touchdown pass on fourth down with just over a minute remaining for a comeback win over Bayport-Blue Point in the final. The Wildcats put that four-year streak on the line in 2022 as they reload an already experienced lineup. Senior quarterback Dylan Zahn will lead the Wildcats against top-seeded Bayport-Blue Point and newcomer Kings Park.
Bayport-Blue Point still feels the sting of that fourth-down TD pass in the Suffolk final, but the Phantoms have high hopes for another title shot with the return of Newsday's All-Long Island quarterback Brady Clark, who threw for 1,964 yards and 19 touchdowns and ran for 575 yards and 12 more scores. The Phantoms haven’t claimed a Suffolk championship since 1991.
Kings Park will join Division IV after a strong 7-3 campaign in Suffolk's Division III last year. The Kingsmen find themselves slotted into the No. 2 seed for the upcoming season, placing high expectations on their group. The Kingsmen have appeared in only one Suffolk championship game, back in 2001, and are still in search of that first title. They bring a heavy ground game and punishing defense to the smallest division in Suffolk.
Miller Place was the last team to win the Suffolk IV crown before the Wildcats’ recent run. Miller Place scored 35 or more points on six occasions last season but struggled defensively.
Mount Sinai is always in the playoff hunt. It came back to edge Bayport during the regular season, but the Mustangs will need first-year quarterback Jaden Rotella to blossom quickly to repeat that kind of magic.
Shoreham-Wading River may be the No. 3 seed, but it still is the team to beat in the division.
“Expectations remain the same," coach Aden Smith said, "compete with enthusiasm and make the community proud.”
Christopher Matias covers high school sports for Newsday after spending time in Athletic Facilities and Operation at St. John’s and in Sports Information at CUNY York college.
