Long Island high school football championship weekend preview

There is a little something for everyone in this year’s Long Island Championships. For one reason or another, every game should be competitive.

No team is taking the turf this weekend as a heavy favorite. The factors that contribute to that begin with injuries to key players and momentum derived from county championship wins.

Garden City (11-0) can puff out its chest as it rides the longest winning streak in America into Saturday’s Long Island Class II title game against East Islip at noon at Stony Brook University. The Trojans have earned respect, winning 65 games in a row, including four Long Island championships. They’ve also won 10 consecutive Nassau crowns.

The Trojans are quite the daunting opponent. They played without Thorp Award candidate Anthony Asaro, one of Long Island’s top two-way players, in a 27-12 win over Long Beach to claim the Nassau II title, but the Trojans are much deeper than just one star. If Asaro can’t play, expect them to turn to Merit Ruckh, Brayden Robertiello and Chris Desiderio to fill that void.

The Trojans’ defense has allowed the fewest number of points on Long Island — six per game — and the unit certainly will play a major role in this week’s outcome.

East Islip (10-1) comes off an emotional 24-17 upset win over Half Hollow Hills East for the Suffolk Division II crown. The RedHawks had beaten East Islip soundly in the last two meetings, including a 28-7 win in the regular season.

East Islip rode a physical defense to the victory. The unit contained one of Long Island’s top backfield duos in Hills East’s Daniel White and Jayden Bryan. East Islip running back Jake Simmons stole the show, rushing for 244 yards and two scores.

But standing before East Islip is a Long Island dynasty.

Do we dare say this game could be a thriller that comes down to the kicking game? Both schools have outstanding kickers in East Islip’s Chris Coreas and Garden City’s Desiderio.

CLASS I

Ward Melville (10-1) vs. Massapequa (11-0), Friday, noon, Hofstra University

Massapequa is the two-time defending Class I champion, winning 34 of 35 games during the past three years. It has a 5-1 record in the Long Island Championships, and despite heavy graduation, it has reloaded for a shot at a three-peat. Quarterback Luke Garguilo has passed for 1,117 yards and 17 touchdowns and rushed for 737 yards and eight scores, and Andrew Pedalino has rushed for 19 TDs. To get here, Massapequa beat Farmingdale and Oceanside, teams that have balanced offensive units like Ward Melville. But this Patriots team is different. Ward Melville took out Floyd and one of Long Island’s top running backs in Ja’Quan Thomas, 31-28, in the Suffolk final. Quarterback Hudson Philbrick has thrown for 1,917 yards and 24 touchdowns and halfback Joe Benedetto has rushed for 1,133 yards and 18 TDs. If it comes down to a kick, Massapequa’s Chris Bascetta has nailed all 60 of his point-after attempts.

CLASS III

Sayville (11-0) vs. Wantagh (8-3), Friday, 4:30 p.m., Hofstra University

Sayville is making its third trip to the LIC in the last five years, losing the last two, including last year’s 31-28 heartbreaker to Garden City. The Golden Flashes feature a dynamic offense led by quarterback Patrick Coan, who has accounted for 2,714 all-purpose yards and 37 touchdowns.

The running game features Tim Holahan and Tristan Vitale, but the playoff game-changer has been wide receiver Luke Neugebauer, who had three TDs in the Division III title game win over Smithtown West. Wantagh counters with Long Island’s top backfield tandem in senior Joe Nicholson and sophomore Luke Martini, who have totaled 2,750 yards on the ground.

Expect a wide-open, competitive game.

CLASS IV

Bayport-Blue Point (9-2) vs. Seaford (10-1), Saturday, 4:30 p.m., Stony Brook University

These finalists have something in common. Both eliminated undefeated teams to advance. Seaford took out Plainedge in surprising fashion last week, 21-7. Bayport-Blue Point erased a 14-point deficit, scoring 23 consecutive points to upend Babylon, 23-14. Both teams have excellent running games. Seaford won with Brian Falk, who has 1,395 yards rushing and 20 TDs. The Vikings are in search of the school’s first title since 2017. Bayport’s Colin Clark rushed for 1,238 yards and 19 TDs and Collin Reyer added 1,080 yards and 14 scores.

Win up front and win the game.

Newsday’s Andy Slawson contributed to this story.

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.