H.S. football: Oceanside-Farmingdale quite the showdown
Oceanside Sailors quarterback Tyler Heuer (4) drops back to pass during the second quarter in the game against the East Meadow Jets at Oceanside High School. (Oct. 2, 2010) Credit: Christopher Pasatieri
Oceanside is riding the crest of four straight wins and an offense that seems unstoppable behind the powerful right arm of quarterback Tyler Heuer.
Farmingdale (3-1) is the preseason top seed in Nassau Conference I and was upended in a controversial loss to East Meadow two weeks ago. This sets the stage for one of the earliest showdowns of the 2010 season in the 516.
Heuer has thrown for 15 touchdowns and run for six more as the Sailors found their offensive rhythm early. He threw for a school-record six scores last week in a 48-7 win over East Meadow. Farmingdale, believed the last-second loss to East Meadow was a fluke, and came back to beat a very good Freeport team, 42-39.
Dalers quarterback Sal Tuttle has also been explosive this season and could turn this one into an offensive slugfest. They get it on in Farmingdale at 6:30 p.m. Friday night. Here's a look at some other interesting games.
TOMORROW
Floyd (4-0) at Longwood (3-1), 2 p.m.: Four miles of the William Floyd Parkway separates two of the top teams in Suffolk Division I. The rivalry always produces spirited, hard-hitting games. The Colonials are looking to get their passing game untracked behind sophomore quarterback A.J. Otranto. The Lions play solid defense and have been a little under the radar after losing the season opener in Lindenhurst.
North Babylon (3-1) at Bellport (2-2), 2 p.m.: Coaching giants Terry Manning and Joe Cipp square off in Division II. Cipp, with 204 career wins, needs five more to catch Tom Cassese as the all-time leader in Suffolk, meaning he'll need to get his team into the playoffs to make it happen this season.
Huntington (3-1) at Deer Park (3-1), 2 p.m.: This game will go a long way toward determining playoff scenarios in Division III. The only loss for both teams was to top-seeded Sayville.
Carey (4-0) at Wantagh (4-0), 3 p.m.: Carey has a big win over Garden City under its belt and Wantagh has allowed just three touchdowns through four games. Can the Warriors keep Carey's halfback tandem of John Daddino and Juliano Bove under wraps? Expect a tight Nassau Conference II showdown.
West Islip (2-2) at Smithtown West (3-1), 6 p.m.: The Bulls, a preseason No. 9 seed, are one of the feel-good stories in the county with Zach Naja leading the defense and James Pannell and Kyle Keenan leading the offense. West Islip is banged up in a Division II that seems turned upside down.
Hewlett (4-0) at Lynbrook (4-0), 6:30 p.m.: Could there be a more even matchup in Week 5? Hewlett is averaging 37 points per game and allowing only five in Conference III. Lynbrook averages 35 per game and lets up seven. This one promises to be a shootout.
