High school football: Markus Bazelais, back on the field, propels Island Trees

Island Trees' Markus Bazelais back in a big way in LI's first public HS football game of 2026

Welcome back, Markus Bazelais, and welcome back public high school football.

The running back in the middle of a monster year for Island Trees in 2025 — rushing for 284 yards and five touchdowns through the season’s first three games. However, while trying to burst through a hole, Bazelais stumbled and landed on his right thumb, tearing his UCL ligament. He missed the final five games, and without him, the Bulldogs lost all of them.

In the first public school football game on Long Island this year, Bazelais made his return to the field against the newly-merged Oyster Bay/Friends Academy team and carried visiting Island Trees to a 25-22 win on Thursday night. He rushed for 165 yards and two touchdowns on 10 carries and added two catches for 66 yards and a score. He also forced and recovered a fumble.

“I feel pretty great,” Bazelais said. “I missed the feeling of being with my teammates and cheering them on. I’m pretty proud of this, and I couldn’t have done this without my linemen.”

Now that Bazelais is back, Island Trees, which was seeded 12th in the preseason coaches’ poll, has a weapon at its disposal.

Bazelais said, “[Thursday] was definitely an indicator that I’m coming back stronger."

Malverne loaded on offense with additions of Isaiah Smith, Jamir Houston

After a year away from Malverne, Isaiah Smith geared up in the blue and orange during a rainy practice, and it just felt right.

“I feel like this is where I’m supposed to be,” Smith said. “It’s home. I wanted to come back for my senior year, be around my coaches and spend my last season with the guys I grew up with.”

Smith returns to Malverne after rushing for 1,727 yards and 24 touchdowns for Christ the King last season in the CHSFL. He spent his first two high-school seasons at Malverne. The 6-3, 220-pound senior holds several Division I offers.

But Smith isn’t the only impact transfer for the Mules.

Linebacker Jamir Houston transferred from West Hempstead and will also play running back, bringing another physical presence on both sides of the ball.

They join junior Jayden Johnson, who rushed for 798 yards and 11 touchdowns last season.

That gives coach Kito Lockwood three playmakers to lead the Mules’ offense.

“We’re just going to do our best to get the ball in their hands,” Lockwood said. “It’s only one football. For me, I want to see who’s going to do their best blocking when they don’t have the ball.”

“They are good football players but even better people,” he added. “They’re unselfish. They don’t care about individual stats. They are team players.”

Houston already has familiarity with Johnson from their youth football days and believes the trio can make Malverne difficult to contain.

“We can all bring a home run every play,” Houston said. “So I think it’s going to be a very exciting offense.”

Now Malverne is no longer a typical preseason No. 7 seed. They are in the conversation to make a run.

Star running back Bala wants to capture title in senior year at St. Anthony's

For his last ride at St. Anthony's Xavier Bala wants to leave his mark on the football field.

Bala rushed for 1,318 yards and 26 touchdowns on 254 carries last season and plans on putting up even bigger numbers this season. Bala won the 2025 Rich Reichert Award, which recognizes Long Island's top CHSFL player. He is the fifth consecutive Friar to win the award and the only junior to do so.

"I was proud of myself," Bala said. "Everyone else was proud of me, too. I've been in the weight room all summer. I knew this coming season I needed to get bigger, stronger, and faster."

Coach Joe Minucci believes his star running back can bring home the award again, which would make him the only player to win it in back-to-back seasons.

"He's certainly going to be in the conversation with one of the all-time great running backs that we graduated here," Minnucci said. "If he goes out there and performs like he's done in the past, he'll definitely be in the conversation to win the award again."

Although winning the award is a great achievement, the Boston College commit wants to add more to his resume, including winning a championship, earning Gatorade Player of the Year, and breaking St. Anthony's records for rushing yards and touchdowns.

"I'm the only one who hasn't gotten one [a championship] yet," Bala said. "This is my last year to do it, so I'm going to make it count."

With key players returning on the offensive line as well as quarterback Anthony Diieso and wide receiver Rory McDermott, the Friars have no doubts that their offense is going to be explosive this season.

"What makes us so dangerous is Xavier's and Anthony's running ability," Minucci said. "There are also threats on the outside that teams are going to have to defend us well.

"I'm sure the goal for most defenses is going to be to do their best to slow down Xavier Bala, and we're fortunate enough that we have guys on the outside that can also be productive."

St. Anthony's first game will be on Sept. 4 against Red Bank Catholic in New Jersey.

Center Moriches fills Week 1 void in schedule

With Port Jefferson failing to field a football team in 2026, a void was created in the schedule every week.

Center Moriches was scheduled to open with Port Jefferson and stood to have a forfeit win and a bye. The Red Devils were able to schedule a home game against Dobbs Ferry (Section I) on Sept. 4 at a time to be determined.

Center Moriches will still be awarded a forfeit win and get the automatic power points.

These two QBs can make some noise this season

The football teams at Brentwood and Newfield got together for a controlled scrimmage in Selden. Two quarterbacks emerged as contenders for this season's Esiason Award, presented to Suffolk’s top quarterback.

A lot can happen in an eight-game season, but Newfield junior Connor Stebbins is a big, strong, athletic quarterback. If the Wolverines line anchored by senior Carlos Silvestre-Gomez can afford him some time, Newfield can be a playoff sleeper in Suffolk Division II.

Stebbins threw a few TD passes in the scrimmage, working mainly to senior tight end Stephen Carney. At 6-4, 220 pounds, Carney should be unstoppable. Stebbins has touch but can also zip his passes through tight windows.

Brentwood’s senior quarterback Julius Herrera might be the best kept secret in Suffolk Division I. Head coach Rich DeJesus said Herrera has valuable varsity experience under his belt and is playing with more confidence. His throws were spot on this day. He found a wide receiver in blanket coverage in the corner of the end zone for a 30-yard TD toss – the most impressive of the day.

The line returns seniors Steven Cuello and Jonathan Martinez as Brentwood works its way back toward the playoffs again this year.

“He’s going to make things happen this year and give us the chance to reach the playoffs in back-to-back years,” DeJesus said. “And we’re young so we’ll grow together as a team on both sides of the ball.”

Football on LI begins Saturday with a rivalry game

The Long Island high school football season will open with a rivalry.

Chaminade hosts Kellenberg in the only official high school football game on Long Island Saturday. The Flyers have won the last four meetings.

“I haven’t beaten Chaminade for all three years that I’ve been at Kellenberg,” senior lineman Christopher Biondi said. “When I saw them in Week 0, I was like, ‘This is the chance to get that win.’”

Tight end/wide receiver Brendan McCabe transferred to Kellenberg last year. He said the matchup has added even more energy to the start of the season.

"The rivalry this year means a lot more because now I’ve had a whole year at Kellenberg,” McCabe said. “So now I’m really pumped up for this game. I just want to win.”

The Firebirds return a bevy of varsity experience but will have a new quarterback in Brayden Farrelly, who moves up from JV and will make his varsity debut at Gold Star Stadium.

“I feel like I’m very prepared,” Farrelly said. “All my work has been coming up to this, so I’m excited.”

Chaminade expects a loud crowd for Week 0, adding to the excitement around the opener.

“To get them Week 0, that opening-day game is great,” senior wide receiver Michael Genovese said. “The fans are gonna be bumping. It’s gonna be a good one.”

The Flyers return quarterback Sean Carnevale, running back/linebacker Anthony Trapani and Genovese, who caught a touchdown pass from Carnevale in last year’s 24-17 victory over Kellenberg.

"Crosstown rival, they’re right there,” Trapani said. “It was pretty cool just seeing them on the schedule for our first game. It juiced us up.”

For both teams, it’s an early test with plenty of familiarity.

And for Long Island, it officially means high school football is back.

It's next man up for North Babylon after transfers

The elephant in the room has been addressed at North Babylon.

Two of the Bulldogs’ most productive players from last year left in the offseason, but the focus inside the program has already shifted to who remains.

Dominic Prestano and Jovan Greenhill, who accounted for more than 2,000 rushing yards combined, transferred out of the school. Prestano transferred to Eagle Academy II (Brooklyn) and Greenhill to Long Island Lutheran.

Coach John Rowland was adamant that there are no hard feelings toward either player.

“They’re good kids,” he said. “We want nothing but the best for them. We want to see them do really well on the football field and in life.”

Seniors Jack Miller and TJ Shaw will take on larger roles in the backfield after combining for 956 rushing yards last season. Miller said the departures have only increased the urgency for the players who remain.

“Those guys made the decision to leave. We wish them the best,” Miller said. “It just makes everybody else work that much harder. If we do the right things and work hard, we could make it to Stony Brook and win the county championship.”

North Babylon is the preseason No. 2 seed in Suffolk Division II and will face one of the division’s tougher schedules. The Bulldogs aren’t running from that challenge, with three key linemen returning to help control the trenches in Nathaniel Green, Michael Henry and Shane Bacchus.

“Everyone is writing us off, so we just need to put our heads down and try not to focus on what everyone’s got to say,” Bacchus said. “We just have to play our game.”

Shaw said North Babylon has embraced a next-man-up mentality and the culture hasn’t changed.

“We have a lot of guys stepping up,” Shaw said. “We’re just ready to go.”

Loaded Hills East seeks to avenge last two playoff losses

The last two years, Hills East looked talented enough to win a Long Island championship. Both times, it fell short.

Now the program brings back another loaded group, led by juniors Jayden Bryan and Michai Crump, who both hold Division I offers.

“This team is disciplined and they’re sound and they have a good brotherhood,” coach Alex Marcelin said. “They work hard together. If they do those things, then we’ll be in good shape.”

Bryan returns as one of Long Island’s top running backs and will work behind an offensive line that brings back three starters and its tight end. Crump will be one of the leaders up front.

“Hopefully we can get to the Suffolk County championship, win it, and get back to the Long Island championship and win it this time,” Bryan said. “With the team and core we have, I think we can do it.”

Crump and Bryan enter their third varsity season together, and Crump believes that familiarity makes them a difficult tandem to stop.

“We’ve been playing together for a very long time,” Crump said. “We have the same goals and aspirations. He uses my energy and I feed off his energy when we’re on the field.”

Hills East also expects to be dangerous through the air. Senior quarterback Vincent Banculli takes over as the starter and will lead the passing attack.

His top target, RJ Peters, said the previous playoff losses remain fresh.

“Especially from my sophomore season when we lost the LIC to Carey, and then last season when we lost to East Islip, I think that chip on our shoulder is pretty big,” Peters said. “We just got to show that we could put it together and win the LIC.”

Hills East believes it has the pieces again. Now it has another chance to finish the job.

Commack using last-place seed as motivation

For the first time since 2009, Commack enters the season as the last preseason seed in its division.

Senior quarterback Lincoln Riggs, an All-County selection who threw for 1,668 yards and 16 touchdowns last season, wasn’t happy when he saw where Commack was placed.

“We were mad,” Riggs said. “But being mad is gonna get us nowhere. We just have to put in the work and make the playoffs.”

Coach Joe Reggio delivered a similar message to his team.

“I told them, ‘They’re not expecting much out of you,’” Reggio said. “All you can do is show them. You can’t talk about it. The only thing you can do is show them and win. So every time, try to prove them wrong. We can only go up.”

Riggs’ 1,668 passing yards are the second-most among returning quarterbacks in Suffolk. He threw for 496 yards and five touchdowns in a 53-43 loss to North Babylon last season.

One of his top targets is back in Mason Ruocco. The returning All-Conference receiver caught 34 passes for 550 yards and four touchdowns, including 14 receptions for 196 yards and three scores in a 36-29 win over Copiague.

“Mason has excellent hands,” Reggio said. “If you throw it deep, he’s coming down with it. He’ll take what you’re giving him. He’s very unselfish. If he sees something for somebody else, he’ll call it.”

One question mark will be up front. Reggio said Commack will rely on a young offensive line with several sophomores expected to contribute.

The Cougars may be starting at the bottom of the preseason rankings, but with their star quarterback returning, they believe they’re still in the playoff hunt.

“I brought Lincoln up when he was a sophomore because I saw something in him,” Reggio said. “He’s grown tremendously. We’re always able to throw the ball, so we have a shot.”

Can lacrosse stars help CSH win a title?

Cold Spring Harbor is always in contention for state championships in lacrosse. This fall, some of those same athletes are trying to help the football program get over the hump.

Roy Testa, Alex Vitale and Denis Kiely were all key members of the Seahawks’ state title team in the spring. Now they’ll play major roles for a football team that has reached the semifinals or further in six of the last seven seasons but hasn’t won a county title since 2018.

“It would mean a lot because our school has won plenty of state championships in lacrosse, but football, we haven’t won a title lately,” Kiely said. “It would mean a lot to finally get there.”

Coach Jon Mendreski credits his relationship with lacrosse coach Dennis Bonn for encouraging athletes to play both sports.

Testa will take over as the feature running back after learning behind a line of productive Cold Spring Harbor backs that included his brother Roger and Alex Bauer.

“Cold Spring Harbor has always had a great running back, and I’m excited to be one behind some great lineman.” Testa said.

Vitale will anchor the offensive line at center and also play defensive tackle.

“If I can open up a hole for him to run right down, I love it,” Vitale said. “Our running backs, especially Roy, are really what’s gonna help us this season.”

Kiely will be a versatile back and a physical blocker for Testa.

Vitale is committed to Williams and Testa to Johns Hopkins for lacrosse, but football gives them a different outlet, which could be a strength.

“When they come to play football, they’re just able to play,” Mendreski said. “No prospect days or showcases. They’re just playing ball with their boys.”

Prokop back where it all started at Centereach

Before Jax Prokop became a two-year varsity player at St. Anthony’s, Centereach was the first program to give him an opportunity. For his final high school football season, he decided to return home.

“They gave me a shot immediately when I was younger, took me up to JV as an eighth-grader and gave me reps against varsity kids,” Prokop said. “It was just always somewhere I thought of and wanted to be.”

Prokop, a 6-4, 220-pound tight end/defensive end, is expected to make an immediate impact. The return also gives Prokop the chance to spend his senior season with his older brother Joe, who is on Centereach’s coaching staff.

“It’s amazing,” Prokop said of being with his brother. “I’ve had a great time with him. I wouldn’t ask for anything else.”

Centereach went 1-7 last season. Prokop said he has been impressed by his teammates’ work ethic thus far.

First-year head coach Mike Mikochik said Prokop has quickly become a leader.

“He’s been nothing but a role model around the locker room,” Mikochik said. “Kids really do look up to him. Since he’s been back, he’s done nothing but the right thing.”

Prokop also will work with junior quarterback Gunner Peranio, who Mikochik believes has significant upside.

“The fact that those two can work together, I think it’s going to be a special thing for us this year,” Mikochik added.

Two years ago, Prokop caught a touchdown pass in the CHSFL AAA title game against Iona Prep. Now, he wants another postseason run, this time in Suffolk Division II.

“I expect the playoffs and nothing else,” he said. “I think we have what it takes to make it.”

South Side starts 100th year No. 1

There was Nassau III’s preseason No. 1 seed practicing under the sun outside of South Side Monday for the job ahead. Preseason No. 1 is a whole new status symbol for this football program.

“It’s the first time in our school’s history, as far as I know about, that we’re the preseason No. 1 seed,” said Phil Onesto, their 16th-year head coach who guided the Cyclones to a county title in 2023. “So it comes with a lot of pressure. It’s also our 100th year of the program this year. So the stars are aligning in that aspect.”

The Cyclones have many guys returning, and they’re highly motivated after going 7-3 and falling in the semis to Bethpage, 18-15. Onesto said a lot of players looked at the postseason as “a missed opportunity” since the team had beaten eventual champ Wantagh in the regular season.

“I feel like everyone knows what our goals and aspirations are this year, what we have to do,” senior AJ Magaraci said. “We’ve got to bring back the county championship team from 2023. It’ll be the fourth one ever, first ever [as] preseason No. 1.

“We want to be the first Long Island championship [team] out of South Side. And I think I know and the coaches know and all the other players know that we have the talent and we’re going to go out and do it.”

Magaraci said the running game “is going to be lights out this year” with him and another returning starter, junior Ethan Johnson. Junior QB Rob Cesario is also back, as is junior receiver Kieran Vetter.

Seniors Pat Lamparello, Jaylen Fletcher and Jalen Hurt bring starting experience to the offensive line.

Fletcher and Hurt are also returning starters at defensive tackle. Senior Dre Mullings-Newberry returns at defensive end. Magaraci and Vetter are back at safety, and senior Reagan Petrone is back at cornerback.

“.. The kids know that we’re not just going to be given a trophy for being the one seed,” Onesto said. “We’ve got to earn every game. We’re going to have a target on our back every single week.”

Can Oceanside break through in Nassau I?

Massapequa has pushed Oceanside off onto the exit ramp in the Nassau playoffs the last six seasons. Three of times were in the final round, including last year’s Conference I clash.

“They’ve had our number,” coach Rob Blount said in his office before Monday afternoon’s training camp practice.

But Blount has a strong program, and his tight-knit Sailors are aiming to play again for the title no matter what team is lined up across from them. They’re the preseason No. 2 seed in Nassau I behind Massapequa, the three-time defending Long Island Class I champ.

“We’ll see what happens this year, what type of team they are, what type of team we are, what type of team Farmingdale and Port Washington are going to be, and Syosset,” Blount said. “So there’s going to be a lot of competition this year.

“Our goal, no doubt, is to be in the championship game. … Usually, when you get to those games, they’re 50-50s, so you can figure it out when you get there. Our expectations here never really change.”

This team has 36 players, the fewest in Blount’s 18 seasons.

“But I think we have the right players,” he said.

Senior Peter Palotti and junior Brian Saccareccia are vying to be the QB. But Oceanside is settled at halfback with the talented duo of “Thunder and Lightning” — senior Chace Morris and junior Dylan Parker.

“I’m ‘Thunder,’ ” Morris said with a smile, “and he’s ‘Lightning.’ ”

“Thunder” ran for 1,294 yards and 28 TDs and made second-team All-Long Island last season.

“I think the combination between me and Dylan is definitely going to be great this year,” Morris said.

Morris also starts at safety and Parker plays at cornerback.

Senior offensive tackle/linebacker Benny Jacofsky and seniors Bey Alexander and Hudson Triscari, both fullbacks and linebackers, are also returning starters who are “irreplaceable,” according to Blount.

“I think we definitely have a lot of potential with this team,” Morris said. “I think if we just focus in and keep doing our job, then we’ll be in the same spot as last year. We’ll be good.”

Blake Bender steps up for Huntington

Huntington's Blake Bender has some big shoes to fill. But he's looking forward to taking on the responsibility.

With star linebacker Ethan Lawless having graduated, coach Ron Wilson needed someone to step up and take on that role. And Bender didn't hesitate.

"He has committed himself to the football program," Wilson said. "He has a deep desire to do well. If he has a doctor's appointment, he will ask his mom to change it. When you have that type of commitment level, you're going to see great things."

"I've loved this game since I was a little kid," Bender said. "It's ingrained in me, I wake up in the morning and think about football."

Bender, who will be a middle linebacker this season, says he's learned a lot from Lawless, including his "never give up" attitude.

"I'm not as big, but I'm a little more fundamental," Bender said. "He had a certain mentality that I'm trying to carry into this year."

The Blue Devils lost a few vital pieces from last year, but Wilson believes that players like Bender will be the strength of this team.

"We've exceeded our expectations so far," Wilson said. "Blake is bringing the young kids along and trying to show them the ropes."

Bender said: "Our motto this season is chasing greatness."

The boys up front will lead Miller Place

Miller Place spent most of last season airing the ball out. This fall, the Panthers expect their identity to look much different.

With quarterback Shane Kiernan gone, new coach Joe Mancini said Miller Place plan to become more balanced and lean heavily on a veteran offensive line.

“I think our line is the backbone of our team,” Mancini said. “They’re gonna help us win games.”

Senior lineman Bradyn Ellis said the group has embraced the change after spending the summer in the weight room and preparing for a larger role. Miller Place finished third in the NFF Suffolk County Lineman Challenge.

“We’re gonna be running the ball,” Ellis said. “We’re gonna be showing teams that our offensive line can move people, and we can be one of the best in Division IV.”

“If we’re not physical, we’re not winning games,” he added. “That’s our mentality.”

Some of those athletes running the ball are Cameron Meadows, Brendan Cannon and Mikey Poerio.

Junior lineman Jack Galligan said the unit had to adjust to a new quarterback in Jack Miller but communication has already improved.

“We’ve just been locked in at practice, going 100% every play and just trying to get better from there,” Galligan said.

With Suffolk Division IV presenting a tougher schedule, including defending Long Island Class III champions Sayville moving down, Miller Place believes its path starts up front.

“It starts in the trenches,” Galligan said. “We just gotta be a very physical team.”

Who will be Sayville's starting QB?

Steady quarterback play has been a key to Sayville’s sustained success.

Jake Tripptree and Patrick Coan led the Golden Flashes to three Suffolk titles and two Long Island championships in the last four years. Sayville has yet to name a starting QB for this season, but coach Rob Hoss is excited about the competition between two young players.

Junior Frankie Hanley and freshman James Coan, Patrick’s younger brother, are vying for the starting job.

“We have two young kids and I love both of them,” Hoss said. “Frankie Hanley was with us last year, so he’s got a great grasp of the offense. With Patrick dealing with some nagging injuries, Frankie got a lot of practice reps. James Coan has a really bright future. The pedigree is there. He’s going to be a really good quarterback.”

Whoever winds up under center will be behind a big, experienced offensive line led by returning starters Ben Kloska, Michael Morgan and Chase Neugebauer. Kloska, a three-year starter, stands at 6-2, 282 pounds with Morgan and Neugebauer checking in at 6-2, 225 pounds and 6-foot, 210 pounds, respectively.

“Our front is going to be really good on both sides of the ball,” Hoss said. “The last couple years, we’ve been smaller and quicker up front, which has benefited us in our zone game and pass game. This is probably the biggest line I’ve ever had. We’re excited to see what that looks like.”

He hasn't played football since 8th grade. Now he's QB1 for Northport.

Gavin O’Brien hasn’t played organized football since the eighth grade. That will all change when he steps on the field for the Northport Tigers in the season opener at Newfield on Sept. 10.

The 6-3, 195-pound All-American lacrosse standout will step in at the starting quarterback position for his senior year for the third-seeded Tigers.

“All my friends play and I figured why not it’s always been a dream of mine to play high school football,” O’Brien said. “We have a strong team, an experienced offensive line and we can be right in the playoff mix.”

O’Brien committed to play lacrosse at Rutgers but later flipped his commitment to the highly ranked Virginia. The support of Virginia head coach Kevin Cassese convinced O’Brien to play football.

“Coach Cassese was all for it,” O’Brien said. “He likes multi-sport athletes that can do different things. It makes for a more well-rounded, versatile athlete.”

Northport coach Pat Campbell was thrilled with O’Brien’s desire to once again play football. He was the middle school quarterback in the district years ago.

“I anticipated all the athleticism, but I didn’t anticipate all the leadership he brings,” Campbell said. “He’s a kid that takes charge. He looks comfortable in the role. He’s trying to organize everything in his head. He’s mastered a lot of what we’re trying to do offensively already, he just needs some more repetition. It’s going very well, better than I could’ve expected in a million years considering he hasn’t played football in a few years.”

O’Brien wants to bring home a championship.

The schedule is not kind. The Tigers open on the road at No. 5 Newfield and then at No. 2 North Babylon. The first home game comes in Week 3 against No. 7 Lindenhurst, which dropped down from Division I because of a decline in enrollment.

“We’ll know right away where we stand,” he said. “I’m excited about the season.”

Steyert back for another season of kicking for BBP

Tommy Steyert started last season expecting to just kick extra points.

Then he ended the season with a 47-yard field goal to win the Class IV Long Island championship, the longest ever in an LIC.

Steyert, a soccer player, had never kicked for a football team before last year. Bayport-Blue Point needed a kicker, and coach Mike Zafonte and some of Steyert’s friends encouraged him to try it.

“I was like, ‘I don’t know. I think I’m just gonna stick to soccer,’” Steyert said. “Then my coach and a few of my friends convinced me to try it out, and I gave it a go.”

“Going into the season, I was like, ‘I’m just here for PATs,’” he added. “I didn’t think field goals would even be a possibility for me.”

By the end of the year, Steyert was lining up for the biggest kick of his life, and he nailed it.

“Surreal, honestly,” he said. “I kind of blacked out in the moment.”

Steyert now works with a kicking coach and hopes to continue kicking in college. He also will be playing soccer for Bayport this season. Zafonte plans for the team to kick more, saying the position group he was most excited about was “kicker.”

Steyert also has developed his own little kicker quirk along the way.

“I tie my shoes about as tight as I can before every kick I do,” Steyert said.

Zafonte still has trouble believing how Steyert’s first season ended.

“I have not [seen an ending like that],” Zafonte said. “Only in movies. Our season last year could easily be a movie.”

Now Steyert and the Phantoms will try to deliver a sequel — if that’s even possible.

Paul Longo up to the challenge of coaching a new team

Paul Longo is excited to take on a new challenge.

After resigning from Floyd in December, Longo became the new head coach at Shoreham-Wading River in late January. He thought coaching football may not be in his cards anymore, but when the opportunity presented itself, he wanted to accept a new challenge.

"It's a smaller school, and it's a lot of adjusting," Longo said. "It's new, and it's different. I'm enjoying the challenge."

Longo is the winningest coach in Suffolk history, with a career record of 253-67, and has led Floyd to 15 county championships and five Long Island championships. He believes SWR has the talent to make a postseason run.

"I will always miss Floyd and the community," Longo said. "Rome wasn't built in a day, but we've been working hard, and we have some real talent here."

As training camp progressed, Longo has been implementing a new offense that has his players excited to showcase on the field.

"I remember opening my phone and seeing that (Longo) was my new coach, and I was excited," said wide receiver Brandyn Bland. "He's been showing us that every little thing counts and all the details to evolve our game."

The strength of Connetquot could be its strength

Connetquot is moving back up to Suffolk Division I, and the T-Birds have addressed an important area: pure strength.

Coach Mike Konsevitch Jr., who has been in the program since 1998, said this is one of the strongest teams he has had collectively in more than two decades. Four players reached the program’s 1,000-pound club this summer, based on combined weight-room lifts, with plenty of guys being close to that number.

“This is the strongest team we’ve had as a whole,” Konsevitch said. “Since the early 2000s, no doubt. The kids really bought in, and it showed.”

The emphasis came after a season in which Konsevitch felt the T-Birds needed to become more disciplined and physically stronger. Connetquot also returns three offensive linemen.

Senior lineman Christopher Lindsay said the work has already changed the team’s confidence.

“Weight room-wise, that has been our biggest thing,” Lindsay said. “We have the strongest team Connetquot has had in years. We’re ready for anything going our way, I have no doubt in my mind about that.”

The first test comes when Connetquot opens at home Sept. 9 against perennial power Floyd on youth night. Approximately 150 youth football players are expected to run through the tunnel with the varsity team.

“We’ve been preparing for this the entire offseason,” Lindsay said. “We’re ready for Week 1.”

Calloway is back for Westhampton

The entire Suffolk football community knows about Westhampton quarterback Jake Calloway, but he has yet to show his true potential.

Calloway broke onto the scene as a sophomore, but missed four games due to an injury. In the first half of last season’s opening game, Calloway broke his collarbone. He missed the rest of the year.

Even though he’s been limited by injuries the last two years, he was named the Suffolk Division III preseason offensive player of the year at the Suffolk football media day Friday at the Hyatt Regency in Hauppauge.

“I think it’s really impressive and I appreciate our Division III coaches thinking so highly of him,” coach Bryan Schaumloffel said. “I just think it speaks to the ability that he has.

“I think they were two freak injury type of plays that he had. They weren’t caused by anything he did or didn’t do. We’re expecting him to have a full season and do great things for us.”

After Calloway’s injury last season, the Hurricanes leaned heavily on running back Nic Simone, who ran for 1,193 yards and 15 touchdowns. With both players back for their senior year, the excitement around Westhampton’s offense is sky high.

“It’ll be really cool to share the field with him,” said Calloway, a Penn State lacrosse commit. “Nic is amazing in the run game and also a good receiver out of the backfield, and I can also run. It’s going to be tough to stop.”

Hills West looking to rebound under new coach

A new era has begun for the Half Hollow Hills West football team.

Coach Bradley McCoy takes over the program after Gerald Filardi stepped down after seven years as head coach. McCoy and the rest of the Colts look to bring life back to the program and head in a new direction after an 0-8 season.

"The language around here has been having a short-term memory," McCoy said. "We need to understand to take it step by step and move forward."

"It's a whole different energy, we're having a lot more fun in practice," said wide receiver Justin Zeva. "(McCoy) has been instilling the value of showing up on time and being in the weight room and getting stronger."

It is the first time McCoy will be a head coach in high school, but he's been around. He coached at Hills West for two years, Half Hollow Hills East for five years, and St. John's the Baptist for two years. He was also part of the coaching staff of the Half Hollow Hills flag football team that won a state championship last spring.

"I moved to the district in 2007, and that's when I got more engaged with coaching," McCoy said. "It's a blessed opportunity to be able to coach the kids. I've seen some of them since PAL, and it feels good to coach them at this level."

Islip moves Halpin from WR to QB

Jack Halpin was one of the top targets in Islip’s high-powered offense last year. Now, he is being tasked with continuing the Buccaneers’ trend of having a dynamic dual threat quarterback.

He is following in the footsteps of Brady Nash and Jack Rao, who were at the helm of Islip’s explosive offenses the last two years.

Halpin reeled in 26 passes for 508 yards and seven touchdowns from Rao as a wide receiver. The LIU lacrosse commit will rely on his athleticism as he switches positions.

“(Nash and Rao) were more pure quarterbacks, but Jack is just as good of an athlete as them, so we’re looking to be one of the more explosive offenses again,” coach Jamie Lynch said. “He might run the ball a little more than those two did, but he has some quarterback experience behind him, so he can certainly throw it. He’s been a leader all offseason. Even with as much lacrosse he plays, he’s put as much time into football.”

Halpin was Islip’s JV quarterback as a sophomore, so it’s not a complete culture shock for the senior.

“It’s definitely a lot of pressure trying to follow up two great quarterbacks,” Halpin said. “It’s a lot different this offseason. I’ve had to memorize what everyone else on the offense is doing on each play. I’m also playing safety, so I have to know what everyone is doing defensively. It’s been a lot, but that’s what keeps me going.”

Don't count out Floyd

Floyd lost coach Paul Longo and 2026 Hansen Award winner Ja’Quan Thomas, but senior leaders Jake Rivera and Derek Glock are back.

Rivera, who had 16 sacks last season, said the mindset remains the same under new head coach Pete Friedman.

“We lost a lot of guys, but our mindset going into this year is next man up,” Rivera said. “We know we got a bunch of guys that can go out there and make plays, and we’re confident in our ability.”

Rivera said Longo’s departure was a surprise, but the team quickly rallied behind Friedman.

“Whenever you graduate 26 seniors, you don’t know which direction the team is going to go,” Friedman said. “But with the kids that we have coming up and the kids coming back, we are confident in the direction we’re going, I’ve seen the excitement all summer and they've responded well.”

The Colonials are looking to maintain Floyd’s physical identity.

“We’re going to go out there and be violent,” Rivera said. “That’s our mentality on defense, every drive, every play — be violent and make plays.”

Glock, a defensive back, also pointed to a young group that went 8-0 on junior varsity last season as a reason for optimism.

“I feel like we shouldn’t be getting written off,” Glock said. “We have some great young guys and still a very strong team, and we’re gonna show that.”

Rivera smiled and made his expectations clear when asked which game on the schedule he was looking forward to most.

“Whoever is in the Long Island championship.”

How wrestling helped Seaford's Brock Conway prepare for football season

Seaford junior Brock Conway had some unique summer preparation.

The tight end/linebacker made some noise on the wrestling mat at the U.S. Marine Corps Junior Nationals in Fargo, North Dakota, which is widely recognized as the most difficult high school wrestling competition in the country.

Conway went 2-2 in freestyle and 3-2 in the Greco Roman competition, building off a strong sophomore season in which he won the Nassau Division Il title at 157 pounds and placed sixth at the state tournament.

Conway didn't get to the podium in Fargo but was extremely proud of his performance against the best wrestlers in the country.

"It gives me a lot of confidence heading into the wrestling season, but also for this football season," Conway said. "Going out there and competing with the best of the best, regardless of the sport, makes me feel like I'm ready for anything... The techniques in football and wrestling are pretty similar, especially being a tight end on the line. And my strength and conditioning are on a different level now."

Conway started in Seaford's final three games last year, making his first varsity start in the semifinals. He is expected to become an impact player as the Vikings look for a second straight Nassau IV title.

"It was definitely a big jump from the last time I started in JV,” Conway said. "I was very nervous during the first game, but I knew I was ready for it. I was very excited to be a part of the starting group and help the team win a championship."

Elmont 'ready' for trilogy against South Side in Week 1

Elmont doesn’t have to wait long for another shot at the team that has repeatedly stood in its way.

South Side beat Elmont in Week 8 last season and again the following week in the Nassau conference III quarterfinals. It also ended Elmont’s season in 2024.

Now the teams meet again this season in Week 1.

“It was an emotional loss,” sophomore lineman Ugom Nnabuogor said. “We lost to them last year in the first round, so very hyped about this upcoming game.”

Elmont returns senior running back Elijah Davis, one of the most talented players in the conference. He’ll be the leader of a young Elmont offense looking to take a step forward.

“It means a lot to me,” Davis said of his senior season. “I’m filling the shoes of my former teammates, my older brother, this town, my family, my friends. This is my last ride. I just want to win it with my brothers.”

Nnabuogor, a 6-3, 290-pound lineman who started on the offensive line as a freshman, said last year’s experience helped push him to improve and make strides.

“I definitely improved on my footwork, explosiveness,” he said. “You should definitely expect more pancakes and better blocking.”

Elmont lost 9-6 in last year’s quarterfinal and now their third straight game on a football field will be against South Side.

“You know who we’re playing Week 1. We have a lot in the tank,” Davis said. “We’re ready.”

Wantagh's Martini has got a lot on his plate, and that's not a bad thing

Luke Martini will spend Sept. 9 hearing from some of the top college lacrosse programs in the country. A day later, his focus shifts completely.

The Wantagh junior, ranked No. 4 prospect nationally in the 2028 class by the National Lacrosse Federation, will enter the college recruiting window just 24 hours before Wantagh opens its football season against powerhouse Plainedge on Sept. 10.

“It’s definitely going to be a lot, balancing both football and lacrosse,” Martini said. “I love both sports equally… I’m extremely grateful to have the chance to attend a school for lacrosse, but it’s gonna be a lot of balancing."

Martini is also coming off a Thorp Award-winning football season, becoming the first sophomore to win the award. He consistently went to summer lacrosse tournaments and football workouts all summer.

This year the NCAA changed the date college lacrosse coaches can reach, and when the football opener lined up on consecutive days, Martini said he initially embraced it.

“I feel like I get calls one night and play an insane football game against Plainedge the next day,” he said. “So I was kind of excited. But then it kind of hit me that there’s gonna be a lot to do back to back, but I’m looking forward to it.”

His approach is simple.

“Whatever sport I’m in right now, I put 100% focus on that sport,” Martini said. “If it’s football season, it’s a priority to me. I showed up to everything, and I can’t wait.”

Terwilliger vs. Agwu a friendly competition this season

Floral Park’s Ryan Terwilliger and Lynbrook’s Orji Agwu are very familiar with each other.

The two have gone head-to-head in basketball for several years and both enjoyed breakout junior seasons as wide receivers. Terwilliger caught 37 passes for 579 yards and six touchdowns in Conference III and Agwu totaled 826 receiving yards and five TDs in Conference IV.

With Floral Park’s move to Conference IV, Terwilliger and Agwu will meet up under the lights on Oct. 9 in Lynbrook.

“We’ve always had competition in basketball from JV all the way through varsity,” Terwilliger said. “We’re both athletic, tall and know how to go up and catch the ball. It’s going to be fun trying to guard him and him trying to guard me.”

“I’m excited for that competition,” Agwu said. “We have similar builds and similar play styles. Having him in the conference makes me feel like I have to stay at the top of my game and leave it all out on the field every game.”

Terwilliger stands at 6-5, 185 pounds and Agwu is 6-4, 180 pounds.

The two became friends after a summer league basketball game a few years ago in which Terwilliger said he had a shot blocked through a window by Agwu.

“It gets chippy sometimes, but at the end of the game, we’re back to being friends,” Agwu said.

Terwilliger was a finalist for the Pizzarelli Award as Nassau’s top receiver last year. Could Terwilliger and Agwu both be up for the award this December?

“I would not be surprised if we’re both up there,” Terwilliger said.

Mepham under the radar?

Bellmore JFK's destination: Hofstra

Bellmore JFK went from winless in 2024 to a playoff team in 2025. Now the Cougars want more.

After being voted Nassau’s most improved team last season, Bellmore JFK enters 2026 with a different standard. Just making the playoffs is no longer the goal. It’s about reaching the Nassau Conference II semifinals at Hofstra for the first time.

“Last season felt amazing, but the standard is definitely to do more than what we did last year,” senior cornerback Demetri Christopoulos said. “Our standard is now winning in the playoffs instead of just getting there.”

The turnaround started with a culture shift. Christopoulos credited coaches Jay Iaquinta and Chris Wagner with bringing experience and a different level of preparation to the program, along with the efforts of head coach Johnny McGuire.

That preparation showed up in Bellmore JFK’s conditioning, something the players believe separated them late in games.

“Coaches told us last year, ‘You guys aren’t gonna like all these running drills, but it’s all gonna pay off,’” senior quarterback Dylan Babek said. “And what they said was true.”

Now the next step is clear.

“Definitely making Hofstra,” Christopoulos said. “Our program has never made it to Hofstra. … We’re here to change that.”

MacArthur football players react to coach's abrupt decision to step down

The gravity of the moment was not lost on MacArthur quarterback Vinny Szucs. The two-year captain listened as his coach Bob Fehrenbach informed the team Monday he was stepping away from the program and into retirement.

It was the first day of practice and Szucs, in his third year of varsity, said he was shocked at Fehrenbach's announcement.

“He’s the greatest coach,” Szucs said at Tuesday's Nassau County football media day. “I went over to him to speak privately afterward. I told him it was a pleasure and privilege to play for him these past two years. And we’ll miss him.”

Szucs was just one of many players who shared their feelings with Newsday. For more reactions, check out Gregg Sarra's full story here: https://www.newsday.com/sports/high-school/football/macarthur-bob-fehrenbach-x1esc1rw.

Long Beach's dual-threat dynamic duo

What happens when a Thorp Award nominee and a CHSFL defensive player of the year team up? Long Beach is about to find out.

Senior running back/linebacker Brody Riedel returns after helping lead the Marines to their first Nassau title appearance in 39 years. Now he’ll be joined by wide receiver/linebacker Joseph Henn, a transfer from Holy Trinity who was named CHSFL AA-II Defensive Player of the Year as a sophomore.

Henn, who is from Island Park, already knew many of Long Beach’s players from growing up with them in football and lacrosse.

With Holy Trinity suspending its football program this season, Henn felt like it was time to come home.

“I just wanted to reunite with my brothers,” Henn said. “I’ve been playing with them since I was 6. So I’m just glad to reunite with them again, and I’m happy to be here.”

Now Long Beach gets a physical linebacking duo to lead its defense.

“Joe is a great player and people should expect a hard-hitting, physical and aggressive defense,” Riedel said. “In Long Beach, we’re taught to go 100%, dig into them, drive them to the floor till the whistle blows.”

Riedel rushed for 1,076 yards and 15 touchdowns last season. Henn will be a major addition alongside him offensively at wide receiver.

“A lot of people know me as a defensive player, but I want to shock a lot of people this year on offense too, at wideout,” Henn said. “And with Brody, he’s a really great player. So we’re gonna be a dynamic duo on both sides of the ball.”

Long Beach knows Garden City remains the team everyone points to in Nassau Conference II, but Riedel isn’t intimidated.

“They’re normal kids with a different jersey on,” Riedel said. “They are a great team, but that doesn’t mean we can’t beat them.”

Hempstead is 'ready to shock everybody'

Hempstead already had a promising quarterback-running back combination returning. The addition of wide receiver/defensive back Sylas Pratt from Westbury gives the Tigers another threat and one of Nassau Conference I’s most intriguing offensive trios.

Junior quarterback Seth Montgomery enters his third varsity season with plenty of experience. He threw for 1,103 yards and 12 touchdowns and rushed for 768 yards and six touchdowns last season. Senior running back Lamarcus Parson rushed for 754 yards and nine touchdowns.

“I learned a lot from the past couple years,” Montgomery said. “People can expect a lot with me, Sylas and Lamarcus. I think we’re gonna bring it home this year.”

Pratt transferring in gives them a new deep threat on the outside and a 6-3 presence that causes matchup problems.

“We’re building chemistry every day,” said Pratt, a senior. “We’re on the field every day, putting in the work, and I’m pumped to be here with them.”

Parson believes the group can surprise people and finish higher than its preseason No. 6 seed.

“I’m ready for my senior season,” Parson said. “Me and Seth have been playing together since youth football. My line is ready to block for me. Sylas is ready to show who he is, and we’re ready to shock everybody and bring it back home.”

There is also some history tying Montgomery and Pratt together.

Montgomery’s father, Bobby, and Pratt’s father, Sylas Pratt Sr., played together at Hempstead and won a Nassau championship in 1990. (Hempstead's program also won five straight Conference I titles from 1984 through 1988.) Now their sons are trying to create their own run alongside Parson.

“My dad played with his dad in high school,” Montgomery said. “I’m excited for me and him to play with each other and show everybody what we could do.”

Changes afoot at East Meadow

East Meadow has a new head coach who plans on bringing the Jets back to their old ways.

Matt Castaneda graduated from East Meadow in 2012 and played under Vinny Mascia in 2011, when the Jets last won a Nassau title. Castaneda has spent the last four years on East Meadow’s staff, including last year as defensive coordinator under coach Keith Lizzi.

After running the spread offense the last two years, the Jets will return to the triple option offense that was in place when Castaneda played.

“It’s an East Meadow tradition,” Castaneda said. “It creates problems for defenses to prepare for. A lot of teams run the spread, so it’s a lot easier for defenses to prepare each week for different teams. When they have to play us, it’ll be difficult to prepare for the triple option.”

East Meadow is back in Conference I after reaching the Conference II semifinals last year. Castaneda has high expectations for the seventh-seeded Jets.

“I think that a lot of people are going to be impressed with us after a couple weeks and realize that going back to the triple option was the right idea, even though we have one of the best receivers in the conference in Nick Schwabe,” Castaneda said. “We’re going to use him in the offense like no other team has in the past.”

Schwabe caught eight touchdown passes and added a rushing TD last season.

“I’ve been with coach Castaneda every year,” said Schwabe, a senior said. “He’s coached me in baseball and football and he’s a first-year head coach, but he’s been a guy that we’ve always looked up to, so it’s nothing new. He’s a little more than just a coach to us.”

Dalers want to send coach Krumenacker out on top

Farmingdale coach Buddy Krumenacker is beloved by his players and the Farmingdale community.

With his announcement that his 34th year as the Dalers' head coach -- and his 58th as a football coach on Long Island -- will be his last, his players feel an extra sense of urgency to bring Farmingdale a 10th county title under Krumenacker's leadership.

"He's been a huge part of my life," senior running back and defensive back Patrick Videau said. "He's taught me so much in football and in life in general. He tells us, 'Everything you put yourself into, you have to do it 100 percent. That's how we have to approach this year."

"He's taught us to focus on the little things and emphasized being a good person off the field and good students in school," senior lineman Michael Bilello said. "It's great to see him at lacrosse games in the spring. It means a lot to have his support outside of football."

Farmingdale's last two seasons have each ended with a one-point loss in the playoffs at Hofstra. The Dalers didn't need any extra motivation coming into this season, but they feel it is important to send the second-winningest coach in Long Island history off on a high note.

"Every practice, every workout, you can see it in everybody's faces," Videau said. "We want it really bad this year."

Syosset's conference championship connections

Syosset reached the Nassau Conference I title game in 2023, and this year’s group is carrying a direct connection to that run.

Senior Austin Cohen will be the defensive anchor at middle linebacker, the same position his older brother Jake starred at during that 2023 season. Cohen said learning from his brother helped prepare him for this moment.

“My brother is my best friend,” Cohen said. “He’s mentored me, and even since eighth grade, I was working with varsity guys and learning from those guys at the higher level.”

Cohen was a freshman on varsity when Syosset made its county-final run and still remembers the feeling of getting there.

“After we beat Farmingdale on a game-winning field goal [in 2023], that’s a feeling no one can take away from you,” Cohen said. “Getting bounced at Hofstra in the semifinals [in 2024 and 2025] was a bad feeling, and I want everyone else on the team to feel how I did when we won that game.”

Wide receiver Raghav Ghosh has a similar connection to the 2023 team through former star quarterback Mustafa Mozawalla. Ghosh will wear No. 3 for Mozawalla, who wore it during the run to the title game.

“He was one of the first people to believe in me, and he got me working hard,” Ghosh said. “I saw his work ethic and wanted to emulate that. Watching what he did and watching him play was amazing. The way he dominated is something I really want to do, and that’s what I’m going to try to do in my senior year.”

After falling in the Nassau Conference I semifinals the last two seasons, Cohen and Ghosh want to help this year’s group finish what the 2023 team started.

New turf and new energy at Longwood

As the opening week of training camp continued on Wednesday morning, the Longwood football team wasted no time breaking in its new turf field.

"It's been an experience to be in a new field," said quarterback Ryan Greene. "It's going to bring in a lot of fans, and I can't wait for the energy they are going to bring."

Longwood returns nine starters on offense and five on defense.  The Lions want to set a high standard and make a run for the Suffolk Division I crown.

"The energy in the locker room is amazing," said offensive tackle Ed Princivil. "Coach [Sean Kluber] has been great so far. Two-a-days have been tough, but he's been here with us, even running some sprints. We want to attack every session as hard as we can."

Kluber emphasized strength and conditioning drills during training camp to get his players in shape for Week 1.

"They matured both physically and mentally," Kluber said. "I think a lot of them have put on 20-30 pounds and grown an inch or two. They adjusted to the pace of the game, and mentally, they're ready to handle adversity."

Friars' front line ready to show what they can do

The hype around St. Anthony’s running back Xavier Bala has built tremendously over the last few years, and this season the Boston College commit will have an experienced group paving the way in front of him.

The Friars return four starters on the offensive line, with Bala and returning dual-threat quarterback Anthony Diieso expected to make plays behind them.

“They’re gonna set the tone for us, without a doubt,” St. Anthony’s coach Joe Minucci said. “We have to be able to run the football. … I don’t think we’re fooling anybody by saying that’s not going to be our bread and butter.”

One of those key blockers is junior Justin Joseph, a 6-4, 315-pound offensive lineman. He thrived this offseason, collecting offers from Nebraska, Virginia Tech and others.

“I think the main thing was focusing on the details and getting better mentally,” Joseph said. “The physical is gonna come with the mental. I think that’s the biggest thing in the offseason, just focusing on preparation.”

Senior Nathan Furnell leads the experienced group, and Franklin & Marshall commit Jack Ortiz returns after missing his junior season due to injury.

But the talk wasn’t about the offensive line last season, and Furnell wants that to change.

“Us being overlooked for a couple of years, it’s really been bothering me,” Furnell said. “I think that this year is our time to come out and show what we got.”

St. Anthony's plans ceremony for home opener in Sept. 11

St. Anthony’s home opener will be under the lights against one of the tri-state area’s toughest opponents, but the significance of the date will make that Friday night about much more than football.

The Friars host St. Peter’s Prep of New Jersey on Sept. 11, the 25th anniversary of the terrorist attacks. St. Anthony’s planned a pregame ceremony featuring an honor guard and honorary captains who are retired FDNY and NYPD members or veterans with ties to the St. Anthony’s community.

“Obviously, 9/11 is a momentous day in our country, especially in this region,” St. Anthony’s coach Joe Minucci said. “Being the 25th anniversary, it makes it that much more special to make sure that we honor and recognize all the lives that were lost and everybody that served.”

After the ceremony, St. Anthony’s will face arguably its biggest test of the season.

St. Peter’s Prep enters the season ranked No. 99 in the MaxPreps preseason National Top 100. Its defense features four-star defensive backs Adrian and Amir Woodward. Offensively they have New Jersey’s top prospect in 6-7, 295-pound lineman Oluwasemilore Olubobola, who is committed to Notre Dame.

Friars junior wide receiver Rory McDermott, who recently received his first Division I offer from Colgate, is looking forward to the challenge alongside returning quarterback Anthony Diieso.

“It’s more challenging against top prospects,” McDermott said. “It gives an opportunity to show how good we are as a team. I’m definitely excited.”

“Those are the games we want,” Diieso said. “High competition, high-level players. We’ll see what we’re about.”

But the meaning of the night will extend beyond the matchup.

“It’s very important to me,” senior offensive lineman Nathan Furnell said. “It’s really an honor to be a part of something like this.”

Hungry Patriots

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Luke Garguilo at full strength for Massapequa

The last time Luke Garguilo took the field, he couldn’t be his normal dynamic self.

Garguilo was hampered by a sprained ankle in Massapequa’s 14-12 win over Ward Melville in the Long Island Class I championship game.

The senior looked explosive in Monday’s practice. He ran option plays, designed runs to the outside and uncorked downfield passes on the run.

“It’s so much better when you can actually run, cut and jump,” Garguilo said. “It makes the job a lot easier. Hopefully, I can stay healthy this year. I felt like I left some personal goals on the table last year, but I don’t care too much about that stuff as long as we win.”

Garguilo won the Don Snyder Award as Nassau’s top quarterback last season. He completed 66 of 94 passes for 1,121 yards and 17 touchdowns and ran for 738 yards and eight scores.

“It’s awesome to see him at full strength,” senior offensive lineman Nolan Wieczorek said. “I think he’s probably the best player on Long Island, so it’s great to have him behind you. I would give my all for him and he’d give his all for us.”

The Hudson Philbrick-Joe Karpowicz connection

Ward Melville might have the most entertaining passing attack on Long Island this fall, and seniors Hudson Philbrick and Joe Karpowicz are at the center of it.

Philbrick, a Stony Brook commit at quarterback, and Karpowicz, a receiver who is committed to St. John’s for baseball, have been connecting with each other in the end zone since their sophomore seasons. At this point, finding each other is almost instinctive.

“It’s been a special connection,” Karpowicz said. “We’ve always been growing, you know, after practice every day or before practice. Anything to get that connection flowing.”

Ward Melville coach Chris Boltrek hasn’t had a starting quarterback for multiple years until Philbrick, and he knows this duo is special.

“You’re talking about two Division I athletes,” Boltrek said. “They’re great athletes who have played together for a really long time, and it’s second nature to them now. So everything’s easy.”

Philbrick is committed to Stony Brook for football, and Karopwicz to St. John's for baseball.

Last year, Philbrick completed 112 of 162 passes for 2,000 yards and 24 touchdowns and rushed 88 times for 495 yards and seven touchdowns. Karpowicz had 37 receptions for 763 yards and nine touchdowns.

In last year’s 31-28 county final win over Floyd, Philbrick threw for 230 yards and two touchdowns. Karpowicz had six catches for 141 yards and a touchdown.

If Ward Melville’s offense is going to be as dangerous as advertised, the Philbrick-Karpowicz connection will be a big reason why.

“I feel like chemistry carries us a long way,” Philbrick said. “Expectations are higher than ever. The pressure’s on, but that’s what makes us better.”

Ward Melville starts as No. 1 and wants to finish that way

Expectations have never been higher for Ward Melville football.

The Patriots enter the season as the No. 1 seed in Suffolk Division I for the first time in program history, one year after falling to Massapequa, 14-12, in the Long Island Class I championship game. They believe this could be the year they break through and win their first LIC.

“It’s just a really experienced group,” coach Chris Boltrek said. “You have a lot of kids who have been three-year starters on varsity. It helps when you have a quarterback who’s a Division I scholarship athlete and a lot of really good players around him in their own rights.”

Stony Brook-bound quarterback Hudson Philbrick and wide receiver Joe Karpowicz headline a veteran offense. Four starting offensive linemen return, including Quinn Kurtz, one of the Island’s top two-way linemen.

“All four of us have been here since sophomore year,” Kurtz said. “We’re looking to prove ourselves that we’re the best line on the Island.”

The excitement was evident during Monday’s first official practice, even with rain pouring as players flipped tires and worked through intense circuits.

“A lot of times, you would come out to a football practice like this in the rain, coming out and flipping tires right away, and kids shrink,” Boltrek said. “But these guys want to do it. They want to do anything that is going to make them better.”

The chase is officially on for Ward Melville.

“To win it here would be everything for us. Linebacker Austin Sicoli said. "And I think we can take it home.

Flipping tires at Ward Melville

It starts up front for Massapequa

Great programs are built in the trenches. Whether it’s the first day of practice or the Long Island championship game, Massapequa coach Kevin Shippos expects intensity from his linemen.

And just because Monday morning was the first of two practices on day one of the 2026 football season, Shippos demanded the attention to detail of a reigning three-time Long Island champion.

Between reps, Shippos corrected his linemen’s pad levels, hand positioning, pulling techniques, movement to the second and third levels and of course, physicality.

“The kids are very curious as to what they did right or what they did wrong,” Shippos said. “We tell the kids that we’re going to tell them either way. When you do something right, we’re going to coach you up. When you do something wrong, we’re going to coach you up. We don’t win any games without our linemen, so they understand that I put a big exaggeration on them so they don’t feel like they’re being overshadowed by the skill guys.”

With rock music blaring, Shippos was animated after just about every rep, whether he was pleased or displeased.

“It’s good to be back,” Shippos said.

Massapequa’s quest for a fourth straight Long Island Class I title will begin in the trenches.

“Coach Shippos really pushes you to your full potential and makes sure he’s getting every single bit of energy that you have out of you,” senior offensive lineman Nolan Wieczorek said. “It’s awesome. We really embrace that culture and that tough, disciplined mentality.”