Long Island high school football preview and game picks for Week 7

Two of Long Island’s most intense rivalries are set to resume this weekend. And they both will happen in Class I, the largest classification in the state.

Farmingdale plays Massapequa in a backyard rivalry that has been very entertaining over the years. It will be the last regular-season matchup against his team’s nemesis for Farmingdale’s 79-year-old coach Buddy Krumenacker, as he is set to retire after 58 years as a football coach.

He’s been the head coach at Farmingdale since 1993 (34 seasons).

Farmingdale (5-1) travels to Massapequa (6-0) Saturday at 1:30 p.m. Massapequa, the three-time defending Long Island Class I champion, owns the longest current win streak in the state at 29 games.

Massapequa has beaten the Dalers in four straight games. The Dalers’ last win in the series came in the 2022 Conference I final, 35-7.

“It’s been a great run,” Krumenacker said. “Show up every day and put in the work. The last time around [for me] — and it’s a little weird. Not coaching will be very different — it will be life changing but we’ll see.”

In Suffolk, it’s the Parkway Bowl, sending Longwood (4-2) on the road 8.8 miles south down the William Floyd Parkway to engage with Floyd (4-2) in a Suffolk Division I game Saturday at noon.

Former Floyd coach Paul Longo, who is in his first year at Shoreham-Wading River, will not be a part of this battle of top playoff contenders for the first time in 32 years.

Floyd holds the series edge, 43-19-2. The Colonials have beaten Longwood in 14 straight games. The last time the Lions beat Floyd? 34-0 in the Suffolk Division I quarterfinal in 2015.

NASSAU III

Bethpage (4-2) at Division (4-2), Friday, 6:30 p.m.

Bethpage is coming off a 28-7 loss to undefeated Wantagh last week. The Golden Eagles want to run the ball and control the clock. They’ll earn a home playoff game with a win. The Blue Dragons can also guarantee a home playoff game with a win. Quarterback Chris Ruggia has had a hot hand with 1,260 passing yards and 15 TDs. His go-to guy is Aiden Mirelis, the Nassau receiving leader with 41 receptions for 799 yards and eight TDs.

SUFFOLK II

Copiague (3-3) at Deer Park (1-5), Friday, 6 p.m.

A significant game in which Copiague can get its fourth win in a season for the first time since 2007. Coach Phil Fortuno has done a great job molding the young Eagles. Copiague halfback Asante Daniels ran for over 200 yards last week in a win over Smithtown East. A win here would help move Copiague toward its first playoff berth since 1994.

SUFFOLK IV

Glenn (4-2) at Bayport-Blue Point (5-1), 6:30 p.m.

Bayport halfback Josh Franchak has been a game changer this season. The Phantoms are coming off their first loss of the season. But which version of the Glenn football team will show up? The one that lost 47-45 to Center Moriches, or the one that beat Babylon 19-6 last week. Bayport has won nine in a row in this series. The last Glenn win came in 2018.

CHSFL

St. Anthony’s (4-3) at​​​​​​  Monsignor Farrell (7-1), Friday, 7 p.m.

The Friars will need a big game from halfback Xavier Bala to beat the Lions. Bala has 936 yards rushing and 14 TDs on 108 carries. Farrell edged St. Anthony’s, 21-20, last year. If quarterback Anthony Diieso can be successful against the Farrell secondary, the offensive balance would go a long way to a victory.

NASSAU II

Long Beach (4-2) at Calhoun (3-3), Saturday, 1:30 p.m.

Brody Juan and Brody Riedel have packed a 1-2 punch for the Long Beach offense. Juan has passed for 876 yards and 10 TDs. And Riedel has rushed for 605 yards and 10 TDs. Calhoun’s stout defense needs to step up, as the offense has struggled to score points.

NASSAU IV

Seaford (4-2) at Floral Park (5-1), Saturday, 2 p.m.

Seaford quarterback Finn Curry has passed for 1,302 yards, 15 TDS and has only thrown three picks. Every possession will count in this one, which determines playoff seeding. Floral Park rolls with quarterback Danny Ring, who has 845 yards passing, 10 TDs and two interceptions.

SUFFOLK II

Commack (6-0) at Newfield (2-4), Saturday, 2 p.m.

The Cougars are 6-0 for the first time since 2013. Quarterback Lincoln Riggs has had a monster year with more than 1,550 all-purpose yards and 11 TDs. Newfield allowed a 28-7 lead slip away in a devastating 35-34 loss to Huntington.

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.