Gridiron Greats from the Long Island high school football semifinals
Quarterback Gavin O'Brien of Northport runs past Kayden Richardson of North Babylon for a first down in the fourth quarter during a Suffolk Division IV football semifinal on Saturday, Nov. 14, 2026 in Northport. Credit: Dawn McCormick
CONNOR BATTERBERRY, SAYVILLE: He had 27 carries for 245 yards and three touchdowns in a 42-31 win over Glenn.
ROCCO BERKEY, FLORAL PARK: He had 10 tackles, including two for loss and a sack, ran for a TD and a had pancake block that sprung a TD in a 41-18 win over Malverne.
JAYCE BOYLE-SUMMERS, GLENN: He had 208 all-purpose yards and three TDs, including an 80-yard kickoff return for a score in a 42-31 loss to undefeated Sayville. He also had seven tackles.
JAKE CALLOWAY, WESTHAMPTON: He completed 11 of 17 passes for 244 yards and three TDs and ran six times for 174 yards and two TDs in a 56-28 win over Islip.
JUSTIN DePIETRO, CAREY: He totaled four TDs in a 49-14 win over Mepham. He caught TD passes of 46 and 35 yards and ran for scores of 1 and 65 yards.
RYAN DiPIPPA, FLORAL PARK: He had seven catches for 116 yards and two TDs in a 41-18 win over Malverne.
ANTHONY FOGLIA, SEAFORD: He had four tackles, a sack and a fumble recovery in a 37-0 win over Lynbrook.
MIKEY KOFOD, SEAFORD: He had 19 carries for 132 yards and two TDs and added three receptions for 54 yards in a 37-0 win over Lynbrook.
TYLER JERRICK, HALF HOLLOW HILLS EAST: He had 12 tackles and a sack in a 28-7 win over Commack.
JAKE KUHLMAN, SACHEM NORTH: He had two interceptions, including one in overtime to key the 15-14 win over Longwood. He also had seven tackles.
QUINN KURTZ, WARD MEVLILLE: He added five tackles, including two for a loss, a sack, fumble Recover, and an INT in a 34-7 win over Floyd. He also had four pancake blocks on offense.
LUKE LaROCCA, SACHEM NORTH: He ran for the decisive two-point conversion for the 15-14 double overtime victory over Longwood. He completed 11 of 16 passes for 145 yards and two scores, including a 21-yard TD in the second overtime to set up his winning run.
GAVIN O’BRIEN, NORTHPORT: He rushed 21 times for 121 yards and two scores in a 21-14 come from behind win over North Babylon.
JOE VULIN, SACHEM NORTH: He caught three passes for 69 yards including a nine-yard TD in a 15-14 double overtime win over Longwood. His one-handed grab for 34 yards will go down as one of the greatest catches in Sachem history.
NORTHPORT OFFENSIVE LINE: Liam Cassidy, Andres Rivera, Jack Cromeyn, Tyler Naughton and Ray Giehl cleared the way for the Tigers to rush for 245 yards in a 21-14 win over North Babylon. The key to the playoff win could be found in clock management with long sustained drives that kept the Bulldogs offense off the field.
COACH OF THE WEEK — DAVE CAPUTO, SACHEM NORTH: He had the confidence to go for the two-point conversion in double overtime to give his team the win. Quarterback Luke LaRocca scored on the run over the right side for the 15-14 semifinal win over Longwood.
Gregg Sarra is Newsday's high school sports editor and has been on the beat since the mid-1980s.
