Long Island high school football playoffs: County championships preview and picks

The Nassau and Suffolk football finals are scheduled for this week with newcomers and repeat winners taking the big stage. Perhaps the coolest moment will come in the opener of the county football championships when top-seeded Sayville meets Smithtown West for the Suffolk Division III title Thursday at 4 p.m. at Stony Brook University.

The path to the Suffolk Division III football final is one taken by Sayville many times. The Golden Flashes have won more playoff games (72) and more Suffolk titles (16) than any school in Suffolk history. Sayville (10-0), the defending champion, is playing in its seventh consecutive Suffolk final and its 29th overall.

Conversely, No. 2 Smithtown West (8-2) is making its first appearance in a title game in school history.

Sayville beat Smithtown West, 30-21, in Week 5.

“We will be ready to go under the lights,” Smithtown West coach Craig Perrino. “We have the team personality to embrace the big game. We’ve waited a long time for this shot.”

Smithtown West features halfback Michael Cascione, who has rushed for 1,587 yards and 20 scores and quarterback Nick DeVito, who has passed for 1,525 yards and 13 TDs.

Sayville has a balanced offense behind quarterback Patrick Coan (2,550 all-purpose yards and 34 TDs) and halfback Timmy Holahan (855 yards, 11 scores).

All Suffolk finals are scheduled at Stony Brook University. All Nassau finals are scheduled at Hofstra University.

NASSAU I

(1) Massapequa vs. (3) Oceanside, Friday, 4 p.m.

Massapequa (10-0) has won four of the last five Nassau I titles, including the last two. The two-time defending Long Island champion in Class I has reloaded for another run at a third title. They can score with anyone as quarterback Luke Garguilo and halfback Rob Pedalino have led the way for an offense that averages 43 points per game. Oceanside (8-2) will counter with an offense led by quarterback Shane Harmon and halfback Chace Morris that averages 45 points per game. Massapequa beat Oceanside mid-season, 36-33, with a last-minute TD. Massapequa is 33-1 over the last four seasons. Massapequa has eliminated Oceanside from the playoffs for four straight years and the difference in this game comes on defense, where Massapequa allows only 10 points per game.

NASSAU IV

(1) Plainedge vs. (2) Seaford, Friday, 7:30 p.m.

Plainedge (10-0) shut out Seaford in the season finale, 35-0. This is third time in five years these teams have played for the Nassau IV crown. Two legendary small school programs that continue to win until one ends the other’s season. Seaford (9-1) has a backfield tandem of Brian Falk and Michael Calvacca that needs to get on track to have any chance at winning this game. Plainedge has a balanced attack with quarterback Jaxson Torres and a healthy halfback in Dylan Fella, one of Long Island’s top runners.

SUFFOLK I

(1) Floyd vs. (2) Ward Melville, Friday, 7:30 p.m.

They split two games last year, with Floyd winning the important one by a 34-6 score in the Suffolk title game as junior Ja’Quan Thomas scored all five TDs. This year, Floyd forced five turnovers and beat the Patriots, 28-21, in Week 6. Floyd (10-0), playing in its third consecutive Suffolk final, will need another brilliant defensive effort against quarterback Hudson Philbrick and halfback Joe Benedetto. Likewise, Ward Melville (9-1) needs to slow down Thomas, who has 1,898 yards rushing and 28 TDs.

SUFFOLK IV

(1) Babylon vs. (3) Bayport-Blue Point, Friday, 4 p.m.

Bayport-Blue Point (8-2) has won three straight titles. The Phantoms ran into some mid-season trouble, dropping two straight games, including a 27-6 loss to Babylon in Week 6. They had won 37 straight games against Suffolk opponents before losing to Babylon. The Phantoms have righted the ship, winning three in a row, and may be hot enough at the right time to take out undefeated Babylon (10-0). Stopping Babylon’s Hansen Award candidate Aidan Winter is the key to winning. Winter, who has 1,932 yards rushing and 30 TDs, has been unstoppable. Babylon will play in its first Suffolk final since 2017 and can continue its march to the LIC with a defensive effort that slows down quarterback Colin Clark and the Phantoms' offense.

NASSAU II

(1) Garden City vs. (3) Long Beach, Saturday, noon

Long Beach (8-2) is making its first appearance in a Nassau final in 39 years. Garden City (10-0) has residency in the final, playing in its 10th consecutive title game and 39th overall. Garden City is the four-time defending Long Island champion and on a state-record 64-game win streak. Long Beach is the only team to compete with Garden City this season, losing in the season opener, 31-16. The Trojans defense, behind Zach Olson, allows 5 points per game. The offense, with backs Anthony Asaro and Merit Ruckh and quarterback Brayden Robertiello, has run roughshod over opponents to the tune of 43 points in just over a half of play each game. A daunting task indeed for the Marines.

NASSAU III

(4) Wantagh vs. (3) Bethpage, Saturday, 4:30 p.m.

Bethpage (9-1) can play ball control and run you over behind an outstanding line that includes guards Ben Ciervo and Jack Poppe, tackles Sam Fornelius and Matt Brady and center Joe DiNuzzo. Chase Solliday rushed for three TDs in a win over South Side last week, giving Bethpage its first berth in a Nassau final since 2021. The Golden Eagles are looking for the school’s first title since 2008. Wantagh beat Bethpage, 35-12, earlier this season and is the defending Long Island Class IV champion. Wantagh (7-3) has Nassau rushing leader Luke Martini, who has 1,718 yards rushing and 17 TDs.

SUFFOLK II

(1) East Islip vs. (2) Half Hollow Hills East, Saturday, 6 p.m.

East Islip (9-1) is playing in its third consecutive Suffolk final and 27th overall. Quarterback AJ Ierardi came off the scout team as a junior, learning behind the Boomer Esiason Award finalist Thomas Costarelli and blossomed this season into a big-game player, throwing three TDs in last week’s win over Northport. Halfback Jake Simmons, another seldom used player as a junior, rushed for 1,632 yards and 22 TDs. Hills East (8-2) earned the school’s first Suffolk crown with a 41-14 win over East Islip last year. It also beat East Islip, 28-7, this season. The rematch can be even better as Hills East brings Suffolk’s best backfield tandem in Daniel White and Jayden Bryan to the title game.

Newsday's Andy Slawson contributed to this story.