Football fever hits in Suffolk as county holds second media day
Long Island has football fever. With the high school football season right around the corner, the Suffolk Chapter of the National Football Foundation held its second annual media day Tuesday at the Radisson Hotel in Hauppauge.
The event brought players and coaches from 51 teams together to talk about the upcoming season, which begins on Thursday, Sept. 11 for Suffolk teams.
“It makes me realize that we start school next week and we’re going back to practice every day after school,” Floyd running back Ja’Quan Thomas said.
While Floyd graduated many players from last year’s team, which won its second straight Suffolk Division I title, the Colonials are happy to have Thomas back. The Newsday All-Long Island first team selection rushed for 2,594 yards and 37 touchdowns and was a finalist for the Hansen Award.
The Floyd football team, from left, Evan Commadore, Jeru Hall, Matt Benjamin, Joe Melecio, Jayden Johnson and Ja’Quan Thomas during the Suffolk high school football media day on Tuesday at the Radisson Hotel in Hauppauge. Credit: Michael A. Rupolo Sr.
He rushed for 261 yards and five touchdowns in Floyd’s 34-6 win over Ward Melville in the county final. Ward Melville, which handed Floyd its only regular season loss last year, will be looking to win its first county title since 2022. Led by Joe Benedetto and Hudson Philbrick, the Patriots bring back loads of talent and experience.
“We expect to do well, we’re the No. 2 seed,” Benedetto said. “We have a chip on our shoulder after that county championship game. We feel like we’ve been disrespected a lot in the last few years and this is our chance to prove it.”
Benedetto rushed for 1,315 yards and had 13 total TDs as a junior. What is he most excited about this season?
“Week 1 against Longwood,” Benedetto said. “I marked my calendar. Obviously, we got them in the playoffs last year, but I didn’t forget about that regular season game. I’m excited for that game.”
Ward Melville beat Longwood in the semifinals, 14-7, but lost a 35-7 tilt to the Lions in October.
“It’s gonna be the biggest game on the Island in Week 1,” Longwood’s Kaden Reid said. “That’s the game I’m most excited for. It’s gonna be a fun one.”
In Division II, Half Hollow Hills East returns 16 starters from last year’s team that won the program’s first county title. Among the RedHawks’ key returnees is senior running back Daniel White, who ran for 2,304 yards and 27 TDs.
“We’ve got two other running backs in Jayden Bryan and Antonio Keahey and they’re just as good as me,” White said. “I think it’s gonna take some pressure off me and open up the box for our quarterback, Nick Sevilla, and open it up for all of our running backs to produce.”
Though Bryan and Keahey are both sophomores, they’re ready to have an impact. Bryan was a standout linebacker, totaling 91 tackles, seven sacks and four forced fumbles as a freshman.
With runner-up East Islip bringing back first team All-Long Island lineman Dylan Bayer and the likes of Huntington, Bellport and Connetquot all expected to have strong seasons, the division will be as competitive as ever.
Division III welcomed several new faces, including Sayville coach Rob Hoss, who coached the Golden Flashes from 2002-16. The media day was a new experience for him, but he loves what it represents.
“I don’t know what I’m doing, but I think it’s great,” Hoss said. “I think it’s awesome to promote Sayville football and all football. Long Island being a lacrosse hotbed, it’s great to promote these kids and programs. Any time you bring hype like this before the season, it generates interest.”
The Sayville football team, from left, coach Rob Hoss, Richard Fontanetta, Alex Labella, Patrick Coan, Luke Neugebaurn and Tristan Vitale during the Suffolk high school football media day on Tuesday at the Radisson Hotel in Hauppauge. Credit: Michael A. Rupolo Sr.
Sayville lost several key players after winning the county title last year but will be buoyed by the experience of senior quarterback and Lehigh commit Patrick Coan.
Along with the usual contenders like Westhampton and Hills West, Smithtown West and West Islip each make the transition from Division II.
After a disappointing season, West Islip is looking to make a strong impression. The Lions will have running back Jovan Brewster, who had a strong sophomore year but missed last season with a herniated disc.
“I’m very excited to be back with these guys,” Brewster said. “I was a leader last year, but I couldn’t put on the uniform. Being able to come back on the field and bring my presence is definitely something to look forward to.
“We’re going for the highest ranks, like Sayville. We were excited when we saw them on our schedule. We want to play the best teams.”
With Bayport-Blue Point looking for its fourth straight Division IV title, teams like Babylon, Kings Park, Mount Sinai and Miller Place all aim to dethrone the Phantoms.
The Bayport-Blue Point football team, from left, Patrick Ahern, Ryan Space, Colin Most, Aiden Richman, Charles Cruiser, Colin Clark and coach Mike Zafonte during the Suffolk high school football media day on Tuesday at the Radisson Hotel in Hauppauge. Credit: Michael A. Rupolo Sr.
But as BBP brings back several key players, including 6-4 receiver Colin Most, beating the Phantoms will be much easier said than done.
“I’m just excited to play every weekend with my guys,” said Most, a senior. “We’ve been playing together for a while and this is our last time.”
Matt Lindsay is a high school sports reporter who joined Newsday in 2022 after graduating from Stony Brook University.
