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2026 HIGH SCHOOL S P O RT S P R E V I E W September 10, 2026

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2026 HERALD High School Football Preview

Football Preview

TEAM INDEX

A special advertising supplement to the Herald Community Newspapers

Publisher

Baldwin Bruins ..............................................6 Calhoun Colts ................................................9 Carey Seahawks .........................................10 Clarke Rams ...............................................12 East Meadow Jets .......................................14 East Rockaway Rocks .................................16 Elmont Spartans .........................................18 Farmingdale Dalers .....................................19 Freeport Red Devils .....................................20 Hempstead Tigers .......................................22 Hewlett Bulldogs .........................................23 Kennedy Cougars .......................................24 Lawrence Tornadoes ...................................26 Long Beach Marines ...................................30 Lynbrook Owls ............................................32 MacArthur Generals ....................................33 Malverne Mules ..........................................34 Massapequa Chiefs ....................................35 Mepham Pirates .........................................36 Oceanside Sailors ...................................... 38 Plainedge Red Devils ..................................41 Seaford Vikings ...........................................42 Sewanhaka Ravens .....................................43 South Side Cyclones ...................................44 Uniondale Knights ......................................48 Valley Stream Central Eagles .......................51 Valley Stream North Spartans .....................52 Valley Stream South Falcons .......................53 Wantagh Warriors .......................................54

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Brody Riedel Long Beach High School Photo by Erik Lee

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Cover Design - Jeffrey A. Negrin Photo - Karen Millindorf Cover Photo - Justin DePietro Carey High School

Wantagh captured the Nassau Conference III championship in 2025. Photo by Paul Grassini C

High School Football Preview

Football Preview is an advertising supplement to the Herald Community Newspapers. Copyright © 2026 Richner Communications, Inc. Published by Richner Communications, Inc. 2 Endo Blvd., Garden City, NY 11530 (516) 569-4000 • www.ilherald.com

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High School Football Preview

September 10, 2026

BALDWIN

2026 HERALD High School Football Preview

Bruins work to create brand new identity By PATRICK MOQUIN

hile the school undergoes construction for a new athletic complex, Baldwin football will similarly need time to fully develop an identity on the field in 2026. But with a young core of rising stars and several key seniors, head coach Mike Robinson said he hopes to surprise opponents while the Bruins rediscover themselves in Nassau Conference II. “We have a good group of young kids, as far as juniors and sophomores stepping up into impact players,” Robinson said. “We’re going to try and move those guys into position and try and get them on the field and develop a program. This year might be an under-construction year, just like our building and our grounds. But I think next year, we can be very, very solid again.” The Bruins are coming off a 2025 season in which they went 3-6, winning games against Glen Cove, Roslyn/Friends Academy, and Roosevelt. They earned the eighth seed in the Conference II playoffs and went down 31-0 to first-seeded Garden City in the quarterfinals. With many starters graduating, several younger Baldwin contributors may have to step up to fill key roles, particularly on offense. Ralph Bourdeau, who earned significant reps out of the backfield as a sophomore last year, is actively being considered for a move from running back to quarterback. “It’s all hands on deck,” Robinson said. “I think everybody needs to help each other get better. Ralph has been pretty consistent with stuff in the summertime. He’s not really a pure passing quarterback, more like a double threat. We’re going to try and utilize him as much as possible on offense.” Bourdeau’s best game at running back last year was arguably against Roosevelt, when he broke off several chunk plays and scampered in for a nine-yard score. He will carry on as a starting linebacker. Regardless of who ends up under center, Baldwin will have a new quarterback in 2026, and the goal will be to put him in good situations. Senior Alejandro Acosta, a 6’2” standout who can line up at wide receiver or tight end, High School Football Preview

will lead a developing group of offensive playmakers and provide a reliable first option. Among Baldwin’s younger talent, sophomore Giovanni Duplessy has demonstrated “blazing speed” in practice this summer and will likely earn a starting role. As a freshman track and field athlete, Duplessy was a member of Baldwin’s 4x100 relay team. “He’s an impact player,” Robinson said. “He was all-state as a freshman on the track team. I’m trying to get him the ball in open space.” Alongside Acosta and Duplessy, juniors Ayden Stewart and Mekhai Samuels are likely to fill in around Bourdeau. Stewart has already demonstrated explosive ability at running back and wide receiver, while Samuels has become a receiving threat. Sophomore Jayden Smith has also impressed Robinson early on, proving to be a potential deep threat with dependable receiving ability. Baldwin’s greatest strength in recent years has been its special teams, as senior Gavin McGinley has become one of the best kickers on Long Island. In 2025, he successfully kicked extra points on 21 of Baldwin’s 22 touchdowns and tacked on two field goals from 28 and 20 yards. “He’s an excellent kicker,” Robinson said. “He’s been working in the offseason and proved that this is something he might want to pursue at the next level.” Senior Ayden Robinson will be Baldwin’s only returning offensive lineman, providing another stalwart contributor on both sides of the ball. He will be joined on the defensive line by seniors Lucas Diaz, who could also take reps at center, and Adam Hilburger, who notably returned a fumble recovery for a 40-yard touchdown against Glen Cove last year. Baldwin’s defense arguably runs through its linebackers, as Bourdeau, Acosta, and Samuels will be joined by senior Patrick Feeney, one of Baldwin’s most versatile players. He can also play safety as needed and has taken reps as a wide receiver. Robinson said he might even consider him for a role at quarterback. Duplessy, Smith, and Stewart are all expected to take on dual roles down the sidelines, providing help in the secondary on defense. 6

Mekhai Samuels

RALPHAEL BOURDEAU

GIOVANNA DUPLESSY

Schedule

10 19 26

AYDAN STEWART

3 9 17 24 31

September V.S. Central 5:00 p.m. @ Carey 1:30 p.m. Westbury 1:30 p.m. October @ Kennedy 2:00 p.m. @ Jericho 6:00 p.m. Roosevelt 1:30 p.m. Mepham 1:30 p.m. @ New Hyde Park1:30 p.m. Photos by Ron Manfredi

September 10, 2026

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September 10, 2026

CALHOUN

2026 HERALD High School Football Preview

Colts reload after 6-win campaign By MARC BERNAM

ith 19 players gone from last year’s roster, it would seem a difficult chore for Calhoun to repeat last season’s 6-3 clip. But the Colts, with their linebacker-oriented defense and star running back Nick Mareska, plan to be solid again. Calhoun is the fifth seed in Conference II. “We got a higher seed, tougher schedule but we feel pretty good about the guys coming back and coming up,’’ fifth-year head coach Nick Rawls said. “We still have a lot of work to do.’’ In early August, Rawls took a rare, extended vacation to the Tuscany region of Italy to unwind and refresh himself. Conference II2 superpower Garden City looms as the season opener. “We lost some really good kids and athletes,’’ Rawls said. “The team is younger but a lot of them were on varsity last year. Some of this year’s juniors were varsity as sophomores. They’re not brand new to varsity. Some are. We had a good bench last year and we have some kids who have been on varsity three years.’’ Mareska, a senior who may play baseball in college, is a returning All-County player and excels at both running back and linebacker. An active varsity performer since sophomore year, Mareska rushed for 621 yards on 70 carries with 6 rushing touchdowns in 2025. “He’s good at everything – fast, got power and can catch the ball out of the backfield,’’ Rawls said. “He brings a lot to the table.’’ So does senior utility man Joe Smith, who will line up at receiver, running back and also play cornerback. He’s started at the corner since freshman year. “He’s kind of like a do-it-all player,’’ Rawls said. Another huge contributor will be senior middle linebacker/receiver Keith Schaefer. “Keith shines as a middle linebacker,’’ Rawls said. “That’s his strong suit. He’s very smart.’’ Rawls is in charge of the defense and always has a competent unit. Calhoun plays a 3-4 defense, so four linebackers are on the field at all times. Junior Gianni Capizzi will be an outside linebacker after doing a nice job in spot duty

High School Football Preview

last year as a sophomore after being pulled up from JV. Another junior, running back/linebacker, John Ruisi, who broke his collarbone in Week 2, will likely rotate between linebacker and defensive back. Ruisi will also see time at running back. Before his injury, Ruisi was splitting time with Maresca in the backfield. His twin brother, junior Ryan Ruisi saw action late in the year at receiver and showed promise as a tall, outside threat. “Our running game should be very good and defensively we did a nice job,’’ Rawls said. “But there’s always things to improve upon.’’ The quarterback position will be something of a mystery. Senior Nic Esposito is a first-year starter and took minimal reps as a junior. He replaces All-County performer, Timmy Lynch. But he’s got a big arm. “I’m not overly concerned,’’ Rawls said. “It’s our job to put him in the best situations to be successful. He throws the deep ball very well. He’s got a lot of power and velocity to the football.’’ Will he get proper protection? The leader of the 0-Line is senior Anthony Cespedes, a terrific run blocker who will be a third-year starter at 5-11, 205 pounds. But Steven Welti and Sean Schettino are first-year starters on the line. Welti is known for his strength. Junior Brandon Roman could also start on the 0-Line but doesn’t have much varsity experience. Senior Michael Teta, a good route runner, will start at receiver and the defensive line. Junior receiver/defensive back Aydin Habib saw varsity action last year and will compete for starting spots on both sides of the ball. Junior Chris Kim, talented and hardworking, will compete for a starting position on the D-Line. Last season, the Merrick program lost in the first round to East Meadow 28-20 after blowing a 14-0 lead. The Colts should find its way again to the playoffs – with Mareska’s two-way productivity key. Mareska is also the outside linebacker with a lot of responsibility against the run and pass and should make Calhoun very competitive Conference II foe.

Nick Maresca

JOE SMITH

KEITH SCHAEFER

Schedule

ANTHONY CESPEDES

September 10 @ Garden City 4:30 p.m. 18 Mepham 3:30 p.m. 25 @ Syosset 6:30 p.m. October 3 Jericho 3:30 p.m. 9 @ Carey 3:00 p.m. 17 Kennedy 1:30 p.m. 24 Long Beach 1:30 p.m. 30 @ Roosevelt 6:00 p.m. Photos by Ron Manfredi

September 10, 2026

CAREY

2026 HERALD High School Football Preview

Seahawks bring talent and work ethic By DYLAN BUTLER

he Carey football team brings everything it needs for practice — helmets, cleats, pads. But it’s the extra element the Seahawks have brought in preseason that has impressed head coach Mike Stanley. The lunch pails. “The thing I can say about the group in general is everyone shows up and gets to work,” said Stanley, in his 20th season at the helm. “It’s a good, hardworking group. They were that way in the weight room for us all winter and spring, and that’s how they were all summer as well.” And it’s a group that enters the season with a bitter taste in their mouths following a 7-3 season that ended with a heartbreaking loss to Wantagh in the Nassau Conference III semifinals at Hofstra. This year, Carey is the No. 2 seed in Conference II. It kicks off with a serious test against Long Beach and then hosts Baldwin for Homecoming in Week 2 before visiting Conference I’s Oceanside in an interesting crossover. “We fell short of our goal last year. Not to take away anything from Wantagh, they were a great team, but for us, we kind of felt we just ran out of being healthy,” Stanley said. “But we still had expectations, we still had opportunities, and we didn’t finish it off. So, yeah, there’s definitely a bitter taste in our mouth, but we’ve got to turn the page in the new year.” Helping the Seahawks turn the page is having one of Long Island’s best two-way players back for his senior year. That’s Justin DePietro, who led Carey with 81 tackles and four sacks last year as a linebacker and rushed for 918 yards and 14 touchdowns. “He’s lighter, he’s leaner, and he’s faster, and that’s exactly what he needed to do,” Stanley said. “He took pride in working on his flexibility, working on his speed. He looks fast, he looks lean, and I think that’s going to make him a better player, no question.” Sal D’Amato, who partners with DePietro as a linebacker, is taking first-team snaps at quarterback in the preseason,

High School Football Preview

joined there by Gunnar Nelson. “He’s a really intelligent kid, his football IQ is outstanding, and we trust him to run the operation,” Stanley said of D’Amato. Jayden Radow returns as a gamebreaking wide receiver, joined by Logan Alvizures, who will also play tight end. Lucian Roman and Paul McNamee have impressed in camp, and David Avila will also get some carries as DePietro’s backup. “He’s so explosive,” Stanley said of Radow. “He’s gotten so much stronger. He did some good speed training in the summer as well. He’s a guy we have to line up everywhere because he’ll get a lot of attention as well.” Leading the rebuilt offensive line is Matt Lemite, who will be a two-way starter on the line, along with Michael Carollo, who has emerged as a leader of that group, and Dara Milner, who has taken some reps at center. “He rotated in last year, got some reps, some meaningful reps, and maybe even a start or two,” Stanley said of Carollo. “But he’s had a really good offseason in the weight room, he’s having a good camp.” On the defensive line, Lemite is joined by fellow returning starter Charlie Jaime, with Avila moving to the line from linebacker. “Charlie is an explosive player, not a small frame, not the biggest guy, but he works hard in the weight room,” Stanley said. “He’s got really good takeoff.” The linebacking corps is as good as it gets, with DePietro and D’Amato leading the group, along with Alvizures. “He becomes a quarterback of the defense a lot of times, him and Justin,” Stanley said of D’Amato. “They get us in and out of the right checks and the right fronts and coverages and stuff. Having both of them is like having an extra coach on the field.” In the defensive secondary, Radow will bring his athleticism to free safety, Dan Assadi will be a first-year starter at corner, and Dylan Walsh and Roman will also play safety.

Jayden Radow

SAL D’AMATO

LOGAN ALVIZURES

Schedule

DAVID AVILA

September 10 Long Beach 4:30 p.m. 19 Baldwin 1:30 p.m. 26 @ Oceanside 1:30 p.m. October 2 @ MacArthur 6:00 p.m. 9 Calhoun 3:00 p.m. 17 @ Garden City 1:30 p.m. 24 New Hyde Park 1:30 p.m. 31 @ Mepham 1:30 p.m. Photos by Karen Millindorf

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High School Football Preview

September 10, 2026

CLARKE

2026 HERALD High School Football Preview

Rams feature new coach and revamped roster By BRIAN KACHARABA

or Joe Roche, returning to the Clarke football sideline as the Rams’ head coach is more than a promotion. It is a homecoming. Roche, a 2015 Clarke graduate and former wide receiver and defensive back on the varsity team, has spent the past four years coaching in the program on both the junior varsity and varsity levels. He now has a chance to shape the next generation of Rams. “The opportunity came up, and it felt like it was the right time in my coaching career to take a next step,” Roche said. “And having played for the coaches at Clarke and going through that program, and being back on staff as a coach, it just felt right.” Roche takes over a team that went 6-3 last season before losing in the playoffs to eventual county Conference III champion Wantagh. The Rams graduated a large senior class, leaving Roche with a roster that features plenty of players stepping into expanded varsity roles. Clarke does return 15 seniors, including several who saw limited playing time behind last year’s veteran group. Roche believes that experience can help ease the transition. “Getting to coach these kids as freshmen and sophomores on the JV and then taking this step up this year and now to have these guys as juniors and seniors, it’s a nice moment to kind of step back and see where they started and how far they’ve come,” he said. At quarterback, Clarke has a competition between senior Will Grassini and junior Nicco Carino. Roche said both have shown strengths during camp and the battle is expected to continue through scrimmages before a final decision is made on the Week 1 starter. Senior Jake Thakkar is expected to be one of the Rams’ primary leaders and should carry a significant workload at running back and inside linebacker. Roche praised his football instincts and IQ. “He brings a true, experienced feel for the game with the way he plays and sees the game much slower than most guys,” Roche said. “This game plays a little fast at the varsity level, but he’s very good at keeping the game

High School Football Preview

under control in his mind and makes the right decisions and makes the right plays.” Junior Everett Barsauskas and senior Luke Walker could provide relief in the backfield. Barsauskas brings speed, while Walker offers a more physical, downhill running style. Clarke also has playmakers in the passing game. Senior Yaya Segura, a tight end who can line up across the formation, gives Roche a versatile target, while senior Victor Rosario brings speed and strong route-running ability at receiver. The offensive line will feature senior returners Joey Wehrman and Anthony Vechianno. Wehrman got plenty of reps at center last year, but Roche is hoping to slot him to guard to get him more open space to block. Vechianno can play either guard or tackle. Junior Aiden Piper, who saw varsity action last season, is another key piece and is expected to contribute on both the offensive and defensive lines. Defensively, several positions remain unsettled. Mike Cardozo is expected to help anchor the secondary, while Carino and Grassini are also competing for spots in the defensive backfield. Barsauskas is slated to play strong safety. The other linebacker spots remain a work in progress outside of Thakkar Senior Bryan Araujo gives Clarke another weapon. A three-year varsity player, Araujo will handle kicking, punting and kickoffs, giving the Rams a special-teams option they have not traditionally used as extensively. The Rams will need every advantage during a brutal opening stretch. Clarke begins the season at Bethpage, which lost to Wantagh in that county title game, before facing South Side, Malverne and Plainedge, a Nassau IV finalist in 2025. For Clarke, the immediate goal is not simply replacing last year’s graduates. It is building confidence and experience quickly enough to compete for another playoff berth this season in a challenging conference. “Getting back to the playoffs in one of the toughest conferences in Nassau County would be a major step for a group that is really getting full-time play for the first time this year,” Roche said.

Jake Thakkar

YAYA SEGURA

JOEY WEHRMAN

Schedule

ANTHONY VECCHIANO

September 10 @ Bethpage 6:30 p.m. 19 @ South Side 2:00 p.m. 26 Malverne 1:30 p.m. October 3 Plainedge 2:00 p.m. 9 @ Glen Cove 7:00 p.m. 17 Manhasset 1:30 p.m. 24 Mineola 1:30 p.m. 30 @ Hewlett 6:00 p.m. Photos by Paul Grassini

September 10, 2026

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High School Football Preview

September 10, 2026

EAST MEADOW

2026 HERALD High School Football Preview

New coach takes Jets back to former scheme By MARC BERMAN

here’s a new Jets head coach in Matt Castenada and he’s installed a newold offense – The Triple Option/Wing T. Castenada, who had been defensive coordinator the past four years, played for former legendary head coach Vin Mascia as a receiver on the last East Meadow squad to win the Nassau County title in 2011. “We’re going back to the triple option,’’ Castenada said. “I’m East-Meadow homegrown. I go back to the roots of Coach Mascia and the triple option offense I ran when I played for him.’’ The past two seasons, East Meadow ran the spread offense. It was effective in 2025 as it made the Conference II semifinals before being beat by juggernaut, Garden City, 49-0. Despite its final 6-4 clip, there will be alignment changes to suit the Wing T – an old-school attack featuring two tailbacks and a fullback. With its strong senior class led by Nick Schwabe, Castenada is thrilled to be in the top seat. “It’s been great,’’ said Castenada, who becomes the program’s fifth coach in the last seven years. “I’m coming into a large senior class where there’s a lot of leadership in the program. They take accountability. They play and practice hard for us coaches,” he added. Castenada’s biggest move is switching AllCounty stud, Schwabe, from receiver to having him alternate at running back. “He’s going to be a Swiss army knife this year – a threat on the outside as receiver and will get his fair share running the ball,’’ Castenada said. Schwabe, aiming to play in college, will also start at safety. “His defense is truly underrated as he covers a lot of ground from the safety position,’’ Castenada said. In another giant move, Castenada is taking returning All-Conference player, Alex Lengu, off the offensive line to play fullback in the Wing T. “We had a lack of depth on the O-Line (last year),’’ Castenada said. “The guard in a spread offense need to be lighter. I thought he was a running back last year playing on the offensive line. This year this offense gives him the opportunity to showcase his skills.’’

High School Football Preview

There is belief in new starting quarterback, Mike Petitto, who made two starts in 2025. “He’s dual threat athlete,’’ Castenada said. “We’re looking to use his athletic attributes as a running quarterback this year as well.’’ In one of his two starts, he had a monster game versus Glen Cove with 283 passing yards and 42 rushing. “His arm is better than his legs but in this offense, he’ll showcase both,’’ Castenada said. “We’ll get some good play-action with this offense so he’ll be throwing the ball around.’’ The quarterback will get good protection from senior offensive /defensive lineman Kalem Calderon, who has started on both sides since sophomore year. “He’s a game wrecker in the trenches as he has a good combo of strength and footwork,’’ Castenada said. “His get-off on the ball, there’s no stopping the kid. He’s got a motor like no other.’’ The wildcard to the Wing T could be Josh Perez, a senior who played receiver. He’s moving to running back to take advantage of three-back sets. He also starts at safety. “His instincts on the football field are some of the best I’ve seen in a while, which is why he’ll be a playmaker on both sides,” Castenada said. “Josh will take this offense to a new level with his versatility in the backfield. He’ll be able to catch the ball out of the backfield. But he also can get loose in open space. He’s shifty and an underdog people don’t know about. But people are going to know who Josh Perez is.’’ Noah Garner is another senior contributor spotting at running back and safety. Underclassmen who will help are junior Alex Rosenkrantz (running back/cornerback), and sophomore linemen Vincent Gamer and Peter Rogers. East Meadow’s comeback triumph over Calhoun in the first round last year was “huge’’ to the program, Castenada said. “ I knew they were a firepower offense. I did everything I could as defensive coordinator to throw them off with presnap reads,’’ Castenada said. Now he’s HC. “I know it’s a new offense but the kids have bought into the East Meadow tradition,’’ Castenada said. “We’re going to be tough.’’

Nick Schwabe

MIKE PETITTO

ALEX LENGU

Schedule

KALEM CALDERON

5 10 19 26

September Hicksville 1:30 p.m. Oceanside 4:00 p.m. @ Uniondale 1:30 p.m. @ MacArthur 2:00 p.m.

3 17 24 30

October Farmingdale 3:00 p.m. Massapequa 1:30 p.m. @ Herricks 1:30 p.m. @ Westbury 6:00 p.m. Photos by Paul Grassini

September 10, 2026

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High School Football Preview

September 10, 2026

E. ROCK/W. HEMP

2026 HERALD High School Football Preview

Rocks and Rams have joined forces By BRIAN KACHARABA

or the first time, East Rockaway and West Hempstead will join forces on the football field this fall, creating a new team with players from both programs. The merger came together after West Hempstead faced low roster numbers. Only 10 players from last year’s Rams playoff team are on this year’s roster. “When the merger came up, West Hempstead approached me,” Pajer said. “Dom Carre is a graduate of East Rockaway. He played for me. He coached with me before he went to West Hempstead. So, he said, ‘Listen, we’re having a problem with numbers. What do you think about merging?” Pajer said the transition has gone smoothly. “The kids are getting along really well,” Pajer said. “Everything’s been very smooth so far. They’re enjoying playing. They laugh. They have a good time. I think all that stuff kind of puts things together and makes teams successful.” Carre, who coached West Hempstead for 16 seasons, is now Pajer’s defensive coordinator. The team will practice at East Rockaway. Its Sept. 26 game against Elmont will be played at West Hempstead for Homecoming. East Rockaway’s Homecoming is Oct. 9 against North Shore. The team does not have a nickname. West Hempstead finished 4-4 during the regular season before losing to eventual Conference IV champion Seaford in the first round. East Rockaway went 2-6 last season, but Pajer believes the record does not fully reflect how competitive the team was. The team lost quarterback Mike Tizio early in the season and struggled with depth. “We were 2-6, but we lost our quarterback in Week 3,” Pajer said. “We were down 14-0 in the Seaford game at halftime, and we lost our quarterback for the rest of the year. He was our quarterback and one of our middle linebackers. So, records can be deceiving when you play.” The merger has given Pajer more depth and options. If Tizio goes down again, junior Rohan Mathai provides a strong backup.

High School Football Preview

“When Tizio got hurt, we had a running back convert to quarterback,” Pajer said. “We’ve got two legit quarterbacks right now. Right now, Tizio’s the guy. He can do a lot of things. Tizio has some different athletic abilities, and Rohan has some different abilities.” The backfield includes Tristen Rose, Jayden Romeo, Steven James and Merge Pesnatez. Frank Monteleone and Javon Campbell give the team options at fullback. At tight end, Pajer expects Yency Duran and Maurice Knight to contribute. The offensive line includes Terry Hayes, Evan Gulino, with John Rios and West Hempstead lineman Ethan Bonilla also in the mix. Tristan Mathai is the expected center. Hayes also anchors the defensive line. Pajer said the senior was one of the team’s most dominant players last season. “Terry Hayes, an All-County player last year, was a dominant force,” Pajer said. “Ten sacks, I think 15 tackles for losses. He did a phenomenal job last year.” Duran and Knight are also defensive-end options. The linebackers include Monteleone, Rose and Tizio, with Dominic Martinez providing depth. In the secondary, Pajer mentioned James, Romeo and Jack Elliott at safety, with Rohan Mathai also able to play there. Shawn Barrett, Dadley Derosiers and Pesnatez are among the cornerbacks. East Rockaway-West Hempstead enters the season as the preseason No. 5 seed in Conference IV. The schedule includes tough defending county champion Seaford, newcomers Floral Park and Valley Stream North, Elmont in a crossover game, and North Shore. “We’ve got a tough schedule,” Pajer said. “I don’t think we have any easy games.” Pajer believes the team has enough depth to withstand the demands of the schedule and compete with the conference’s top teams. “I think we can compete with everybody,” he said. “I’m very optimistic on the year. I think we have a good core. We have depth.” Pajer has set an ambitious goal. “I think we can contend for the county championship,” he said. “I think we’re definitely one of the top four teams in our conference, but you’ve got to play the game.”

Yency Duran

JAYDEN ROMEO

TRISTEN ROSE

Schedule September 10 @ V.S. North 3:00 p.m. 18 Seaford 6:00 p.m. 26 Elmont 2:00 p.m. October 3 @ Floral Park 2:00 p.m. 9 North Shore 7:00 p.m. 16 Lynbrook 6:00 p.m. 23 @ Island Trees 6:30 p.m. 30 @ C.S. Harbor 7:00 p.m. TERRY HAYES

Photos by Sue Grieco

September 10, 2026

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September 10, 2026

ELMONT

2026 HERALD High School Football Preview

Spartans must overcome lack of returning starters By GARRETT D. URIBE

ollowing back-to-back wining campaigns under head coach Tom Innes, Elmont – hit by the offseason graduation of three All-County receivers – slipped to 3-6 last season to finish sub-.500 for the first time in Innes’ tenure. Still, at season’s end, only a field goal’s margin separated Elmont from what it had hoped would be its first Nassau semifinal appearance in five seasons, the Spartans getting edged 9-6 at South Side in the Conference III quarterfinal. Turning a page, Innes in his fourth year at the helm will have a mostly clean slate to work with as Elmont returns just three starters. But, crucially, among that trio is last season’s breakout two-way anchor Elijah Davis, a senior All-Conference linebacker and running back who averaged almost 90 yards rushing per game while also leading Elmont in tackles. For a young squad looking to regain its stride, a lot of the load is likely to fall on the six-foot-one, 220-pound Davis this season, a task that Innes said the third-year starter should be primed to take on. “Elijah looks faster, looks stronger, his vision has gotten better,” Innes said. “He’s a powerful back who can also get to the edge. He’s going to lead us.” “It’s miserable trying to tackle Elijah Davis,” Innes went on. “Even in practice, we’ve got to be careful how we match up guys tackling him. With lots of new people on offense, a lot of it is going to go through Elijah.” Returning with Davis to Elmont’s defensive first unit is fellow senior captain Kyle McGruder at tackle, with Phillip Menard, Kesaan Thompson and Jaden Modelo set to join the Spartans’ first rotation at linebacker, while juniors Ruben Chery and Emmanuel Omoseyin become starting Spartans edge rushers. Modelo – a converted safety – has been a top defensive standout in camp, said Innes, who also pointed to McGruder as a possible disrupter on that side of the ball. “Jaden and Kyle will probably be our big leaders (on defense), along with Elijah,”

High School Football Preview

Innes said. “Both (Modelo and McGruder are) strong, athletic kids. They’re two of our special players.” Gio Michel takes over for three-year Spartans starter Aiden Barnes at quarterback. The 150-pound sophomore – last year’s starting quarterback on Elmont’s JV team – has some of his predecessor’s dual-threat tools, Innes said, but may focus more on arm skills while maturing as a runner this season. “Gio’s a tremendous athlete; he reminds me a lot of Aiden,” Innes said. “But he’s still just sophomore. So we’ve got to be conscious of that as he develops. He’ll grow into that running role.” Working with first-year-starting wideouts Christian Pierre and Chris Franklin – who’ll also start in the Spartans’ defensive backfield, along with Olamide Akanni – Michel will operate behind an O-line led by 6-3, 305-pound sophomore Ugum Nnabuogor, a second-yearstarting prodigy at guard. “Ugum is just massive, and he has exceptional footwork,” Innes said. “It’s hard to believe he’s only 15 years old. He’s a tremendous lineman and he’s only going to get better, from putting in the hard work.” Though the Spartans this year welcome more new faces than in any other season under Innes, the veteran skipper said he sees as much silver lining as he does downside in the situation. “Yes, there’s some lack of football experience for the guys coming in,” Innes said. “But that makes for almost easier coaching, the lack of what they know coming in. They’re easier to teach because they only know what we’re teaching them.” “Talent-wise,” Innes continued, “I’m not worried. We have plenty to work with.” Elmont opens the season with a rematch at rival South Side, followed by its home opener Sept. 19 against Conference III finalist Bethpage. The Spartans host reigning county champ Wantagh Oct. 24. “The key to a good season will be our execution,” Innes said. “Last year, we faltered a little bit in the execution category, and on big plays. This year, if we execute and we come up with big plays, this team will be very dynamic and very competitive in our conference.

Elijah Davis

JADEN MODELO

KYLE MCGRUDER

Schedule 9 19 26 3 9 17 24 30 MIDE AKANNI

September @ South Side 6:00 p.m. Bethpage 1:30 p.m. @ ERock/WH 2:00 p.m. October Mineola 2:00 p.m. @ Plainedge 6:30 p.m. Sewanhaka 1:30 p.m. Wantagh 1:30 p.m. @ Glen Cove 7:00 p.m. Photos by Erik Lee

September 10, 2026

FARMINGDALE

2026 HERALD High School Football Preview

Dalers’ legendary coach’s finale By DYLAN BUTLER

is decision was made in the spring, but it wasn’t officially known until the Farmingdale football team broke preseason camp. Legendary head coach Buddy Krumenacher is retiring at the end of this season, his 33rd at his alma mater. “Time to do this one more time and then move on,” Krumenacher said. “It’s all good.” Krumenacher, who also spent 11 years as Hempstead head coach, has a 315-105-11 overall record and is second in Long Island all-time wins behind Bethpage’s Howie Vogts, who had a 364-124-10 record in 56 years. Krumenacher’s Dalers have won nine Nassau Conference I titles and a pair of Long Island Class I championships. Krumenacher took the helm from his former coach, Don Snyder, who coached the Dalers for 40 years. “It’s very special. I grew up here. I played here for Coach Snyder,” said Krumenacher, a 1965 Farmingdale graduate and captain of the 1964 team. “Between the two of us, this will be 74 years — 40 for him and 34 for me. Nobody’s got head coaches for that long.” Despite his announcement, Krumenacher said the preseason has the same feel this year as any of his previous 32 as Farmingdale head coach. “Just doing the same thing that we’ve always done,” said Krumenacher, Farmingdale’s all-time winningest coach. “Nothing’s changed. Nothing’s changed at all.” After back-to-back one-point losses at Shuart Stadium in the playoffs, can the Dalers send Krumenacher off with another championship? Farmingdale is the No. 3 preseason seed in Nassau Conference I and coming off an 8-2 season in which the Dalers fell to Oceanside, 28-27, in the semifinals at Hofstra. That came on the heels of a 35-34 overtime loss to rival Massapequa in the championship game in 2024. The running back tandem of Josh Kama and Jovens Theodate, who combined for 2,662 yards and 36 touchdowns, has graduated. So too has the entire offensive line from that team. But Krumenacher said there are seniors who have waited their turn to fill those roles,

High School Football Preview

including Michael Bilello, who was a power back last year, Dom Martillotti, Anthony Dimeglio, Braeden Lyons and Shayne McCarthy. “They’ve all been here, and they’ve been waiting to play,” Krumenacher said. While there’s an open competition between three or four running backs to fill the void left by Kama and Theodate, junior Nick Toto returns at quarterback. Thrown into the starting role a year ago because of an injury to Michael Galgano, Toto thrived as a starting sophomore signal-caller and Krumenacher called him the strength of this year’s team. “He’s got a lot of experience, and he’s very good,” Krumenacher said of Toto, who threw for 1,080 yards and 13 touchdowns, against just one interception, while completing 79 percent of his passes. Toto’s top targets will be senior Patrick Videau and junior Jack Watrous, who each had touchdown receptions in the Nassau Conference I semifinals a year ago. Watrous, a cerebral and versatile player, also saw time a year ago as a tight end, while also playing some fullback. Both are also starters on defense, with Videau and senior Tyce McClune returning as cornerbacks, with Watrous anchoring the linebackers, where junior Aiden Eley is also in the mix. Watrous had 46 tackles a year ago as a middle linebacker. He’s the lone returning starter among that unit. The same is true up front of Bilello, who Krumenacher calls “the leader of the group,” at defensive end. As a junior, Bilello had 41 tackles and three sacks. “We’re pleased with them,” Krumenacher said of his team in the preseason. “They’re working hard.” Farmingdale’s season starts with a playoff semifinal rematch against Oceanside on Sept. 4. However, and whenever the season ends, Krumenacher said he’s content to ride off into the sunset. While whoever takes the program over will have big shoes to fill, Krumenacher said the mission is simple. “Just gotta keep the train on the track,” Krumenacher said.

Nick Toto

PATRICK VIDEAU

TYCE MCLUNE

Schedule September 4 @ Oceanside 6:00 p.m. 18 Plainview 6:30 p.m. 25 Long Beach 6:30 p.m. October 3 @ East Meadow 9 Freeport 16 Syosset 24 @ Massapequa 30 @ Port Wash. MICHAEL BILELLO

3:00 p.m. 6:30 p.m. 6:30 p.m. 1:30 p.m. 6:00 p.m.

Photos by Michael Scro

September 10, 2026

FREEPORT

2026 HERALD High School Football Preview

Red Devils fired up for new turf field

By ANDREW COEN

reeport football will see the return of a familiar face on the sidelines. Jimmy Jones, who took over as Freeport head coach in 2024 following the retirement of legendary Russ Cellan, will lead the program for his second season this fall after a one-year absence. Prior to taking over the Red Devils after Cellan spent 38 seasons as head coach, Jones was an assistant coach for 17 years. “I’m excited to be back,” said Jones, who was a standout running back at Freeport in the mid-1990s. “I missed the kids and doing and it’s been a smooth transition back into the day-to-day operations thanks to the assistant coaches and the support of the community and my family.” Jones got a unique opportunity prior to the start of preseason practices when he took part in a weeklong NFL coaching internship program at the Washington Commanders training camp. The experience gave Jones a chance to get back into the coaching mode and reconnect with Commanders’ head coach Dan Quinn, who was an assistant coach at Hofstra in the late 90s when Jones was in the backfield for the then Flying Dutchmen. “Quinn does a great job down there fostering a family environment with very open conversations with the coaches and I went in on day one and was treated like a coach,” Jones said. “Having been away for a year it also showed me the little discipline things that you need to do in practice organization with everybody being on the same page as coaches and players and being a family.” Jones inherits a team that graduated 13 seniors during a 3-6 2025 campaign in which the Red Devils were forced to play a nomadic schedule with multiple home game sites due to renovations at Freeport’s turf field at the high school. On offense, Freeport returns senior running back Kahli Shaw, who rushed for two touchdowns as a junior last year including a clutch decisive 11-yard score in the Red Devils’ 22-18 win at Westbury. Shaw will get

High School Football Preview

more carries as the primary running back this fall after playing behind experienced seniors last year. The offense also features versatile receivers in junior Christian Mccravey and senior Dylan Pigott, who both could also see time in the backfield. Junior Jasaya Curtis is another receiving weapon who shined on junior varsity last year. Junior Jaren Reeder is expected to play a big part in leading the offensive line and also may play a key role in the passing game as a tight end. “Right now we are trying to figure out if he is going to be a tight end or a tackle,” Jones said of Reeder, a third-year varsity player. “He’s got the athletic ability to play a skill position, but he’s just a physical, physical kid so if we need the help on the line he may end up there.” After graduating the bulk of last year’s starting offensive line, seniors Darius Brooks and junior Mason Bowen will be counted on to anchor the trenches. Junior Judah Murchison is slated to start at quarterback after starting some games under under center last year as a sophomore. Murchison, who is also starting middle linebacker, threw for 101 yards and three touchdowns in a 42-23 homecoming victory against Herricks/Wheatley held at Long Beach Middle School. Murchison and senior linebacker Jason Sandy will help anchor the defense along with Reeder at defensive end. Jones said he plans to mix up the defensive schemes utilizing both three and four linemen. On special teams, Freeport returns senior place kicker and punter Cristian Martinez. Murchison can also punt if needed. Freeport enters the season seeded 10th in Conference I. Last year the Red Devils earned the seven seed for the county playoffs and fell to Farmingdale in the quarterfinals, 48-12. “We’re looking to prove that we can rebound and get back to where we normally are,” said Jones, who was an assistant coach under Cellan for four Long Island titles. “We want to measure ourselves against those great Freeport teams.”

Mason Bowen

JUDAH MURCHISON

JAREN REEDER

Schedule September @ Plainview 6:30 p.m. Westbury 5:30 p.m. @ Herricks 5:30 p.m. @ Roosevelt 5:00 p.m. October 3 Hicksville 2:00 p.m. 9 @ Farmingdale 6:30 p.m. 23 Syosset 6:30 p.m. 31 Uniondale 1:30 p.m. 4 10 18 24

DYLAN PIGOTT

Photos by Ron Manfredi

September 10, 2026

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HEMPSTEAD

2026 HERALD High School Football Preview

Tigers poised for a bounce-back year By NIKO SCARLATOS

fter a season that started with plenty of promise before ending in frustration, the the Tigers enter the new campaign determined to prove they can finish what they start. Hempstead went 3-6 last season after opening the year with three wins in its first four games before dropping its final five. While the late-season skid left a disappointing taste, head coach Matthew Ali believes the experience gained during that stretch, combined with a veteran core and a strong offseason, has positioned the Tigers to take a step forward. Now entering his fifth season as head coach, Ali has seen his players embrace the challenge. “We bring back a really strong group,” Ali said. “They’ve worked hard in the offseason and want to compete with the top teams in the conference.” The biggest emphasis throughout the program has been simple: finish. “We talked a lot about finishing games and finishing the season strong,” Ali said. “The word ‘finish’ has been used a lot. Most of those losses came down to not playing well in the second half. Finishing practices now will lead to finishing games.” Hempstead, seeded No. 6 in Conference I, returns a significant amount of offensive production, giving the Tigers confidence they can put points on the board. Leading the way is senior running back Lamarcus Parson, who rushed for 754 yards and 9 touchdowns last season. One of the unquestioned leaders of the team, Parson combines explosive playmaking ability with a strong work ethic that sets the tone for everyone around him. Ali praised Parson not only for his production but also for the example he sets every day. “He sets the standard,” Ali said. “He keeps his teammates accountable.” Junior quarterback Seth Montgomery will be entering his third season as the starter. Montgomery burst onto the scene as a freshman by throwing four touchdown passes in his first varsity game and has steadily developed into one of the conference’s more experienced signal-callers. According to Ali, the biggest difference has been Montgomery’s growth as

High School Football Preview

a leader. With another year of experience, Montgomery will have several reliable weapons around him. Senior receiver Sylas Pratt, a transfer from Westbury, has impressed the coaching staff with his consistency and willingness to put in the work every day. Senior Zidan Lewis is expected to make an impact on both sides of the ball as a wide receiver, defensive end and linebacker after a productive offseason that included competing in both winter and spring track. Sophomore Noah Smith provides additional versatility and playmaking ability at both wide receiver and running back. The offensive line also returns a solid mix of experience and toughness. Senior left tackle Levon Mckithen has transformed himself during the offseason, getting into excellent shape while maintaining the physical style that makes him effective in the trenches. Ali also highlighted Mckithen’s quick feet as one of his biggest strengths. Junior Zaire Dawkins returns at left guard after an injury during preseason camp limited him last season, while junior center Bryan Bonilla anchors the middle of the line. Bonilla has emerged as one of the team’s leaders, providing stability up front. Jaden Butler has also put together an impressive preseason camp and is expected to contribute in the trenches. Defensively, Ali expect several returning and new faces to play key roles. Junior linebacker Amir Dawkins returns as one of the leaders of the defense, while junior defensive back Devotne Burton adds size and athleticism to the secondary after spending last season on JV. Hempstead also welcomes sophomore Josiah Diddem, a transfer from Georgia who is expected to start at both linebacker and fullback, giving it another physical presence on each side of the ball. Ali believes the talent has always been present within the program. The challenge now is turning that potential into consistent execution throughout an entire season. “Every team and every year is different,” Ali said. “There’s always going to be talent here.” The Tigers’ first opportunity to put their hard work to the test when they host Uniondale.

Lamarcus Parson

SETH MONTGOMERY

SYLAS PRATT

Schedule

LEVON MCKITHEN

10 19 25

September @ Uniondale 4:45 p.m. @ Hicksville 1:30 p.m. New Hyde Park 6:00 p.m.

2 9 17 23 31

October Massapequa @ Syosset Plainview @ Port Wash. Oceanside

6:00 p.m. 6:30 p.m. 6:30 p.m. 6:30 p.m. 1:30 p.m.

Photos by Jeff Wilson

September 10, 2026

HEWLETT

2026 HERALD High School Football Preview

No shortage of effort when it comes to Bulldogs By NICK MONGIOVI

oming off a 2-6 campaign where they were bit hard by the injury bug, the Bulldogs will look to improve behind good old fashioned hard work. “We want to lead the conference in effort,” head coach John Palladino said. “Worry about the next moment.” That’s the standard that this program has set for 10 years under Palladino. He’s hoping for a much healthier season after Hewlett was forced to go to its third quarterback in just the second game. “They stayed the course and they kept chopping the wood and coming to practice every day,” he continued. Fast forward to this season, and that same third-string quarterback is competing for the starting job. Senior Preston Cusumano went down as the second-string, handing the offense to senior Jacob Eisenberg. The offense will be led by one of those seniors in the fall. “They compete in the weight room and the offseason against each other,” Palladino said. “They competed during the summer with and against each other, and they’re competing every day in practice.” The offensive line has three team captains in senior right tackle Dom Lord, senior left guard Liev Hecht and senior center Jostin Poveda. The quarterback’s blindside is up for competition between senior Alex Fournier and sophomore Joe Piccionne, while right tackle is junior Buddy Amitrano. “We’re going to rely heavily on the offensive and defensive line,” Palladino said. “For leadership because three of our four captains are on the line. We’re going to rely on them to stop the run, run the ball and be leaders.” Senior running back and captain Dylan Parchment returns as the team’s head offensive playmaker. He’s coming off a junior campaign where he ran for 735 yards and 7 touchdowns on 135 carries, averaging 5.4 yards per carry. “He’s a hard-worker,” Palladino said. “His actions speak much louder than his words, he doesn’t talk a lot. He leads by example and he

High School Football Preview

works so hard in every period of practice. If he stays healthy, we think we have have a pretty good year.” Senior Eilai Karadi and junior Sal Castro are two X wide receivers who Palladino expects to lead this team through the air. As first-year varsity starters, the coach also expects Sal Castro and Buddy Amitrano to contribute a lot. Senior free safety Jacob Zohar has caught the eye of his head coach in the early days of practice. “His ability to change positions, his football IQ has improved, he committed himself to the weightroom and has gotten himself in very good shape,” Palladino said. “He’s very coachable.” Palladino stressed he wants his team to lead the conference in effort. He has a standard of his program and under his watch, no team will work harder than Hewlett. “The identity of this group is hard working, they’re coachable and they love football,” Palladino said. “The spring and the summer [attendance to offseason workouts] have been really good. This week has been really good. We want to have great effort every day. We want to practice with great effort, play with great effort and focus on things we can control. We want to lead the conference in the number one thing we can control, which is effort.” Palladino added the expectation is to be on time and be a good teammate. He doesn’t talk about wins and losses with his players, just hard work and effort. The Bulldogs are seeded 11th in the 12-team Confernce III and open on the road against Division. “The standard showed a lot by us being able to keep the team together, how we do things and the level of expectations we have at Hewlett,” Palladino continued. “We don’t have youth football and we get a lot of kids in high school who have never played football before. And we have 80 kids between JV and varsity. I think that says a lot about the community, for the school, administrations and the Athletic Director [David Viegas].”

Dylan Parchment

DOM LORD

JUSTIN POVEDA

Schedule

LIEV HECHT

9 19 26

September @ Division 7:00 p.m. @ Manhasset 2:00 p.m. Carle Place 1:00 p.m.

2 9 16 23 30

October @ Bethpage Sewanhaka @ Mineola Glen Cove Clarke

7:00 p.m. 6:00 p.m. 6:30 p.m. 6:00 p.m. 6:00 p.m.

Photos by Erik Lee

September 10, 2026

KENNEDY

2026 HERALD High School Football Preview

Cougars on prowl to keep momentum going By PETER SCHWARTZ

hat a difference a year can make. In 2024, the Cougars were a winless football team struggling through an 0-8 season. But last year, they turned things around in a big way. They knocked off MacArthur in the final game of the regular season to conclude a 5-3 campaign as they punched their ticket to the Conference II playoffs. Not even an opening-round playoff loss to Mepham could spoil what Kennedy had accomplished. “I couldn’t have been prouder of how the team did,” head coach John McGuire said. “To beat MacArthur in a win and get in game was huge. It was a big moment for the program. We’re the perpetual little brother in some people’s eyes.” The Cougars are little brothers no more as Kennedy was voted the most-improved team in Nassau County and now, they look for a second consecutive playoff appearance with a number of key players returning from a year ago. Last season, Kennedy was seeded 12th out of 14 teams, but this season, they’re eighth and with that higher seed comes a tougher schedule. Still, there’s good vibes at Kennedy. “We’re cautiously optimistic,” McGuire said. “I think our boys are excited about it and they’ve worked tremendously hard.” On offense, the Cougars are a triple option under-center team and the system runs through senior quarterback Dylan Babek and junior fullback Nico Pasquariello. Babek, who is also a pitcher on the baseball team and is committed to Stony Brook after helping lead the Cougars to a Long Island title, returns for his second season as the starting signal-caller. Pasquariello, who lives in the weight room and became a thousand-pound club member, is going to be looked upon to take the next step and be more dynamic. “They’re the two main guys that the offensive goes through,” McGuire said. “We’re a triple option under-center team and it goes through the quarterback and the fullback for the large of the carries.”

High School Football Preview

Defensively, the Cougars will look for another big year from senior Nose Tackle C.J. Siegler, an All-Conference selection who recorded seven sacks last year. He is a faceoff specialist on the lacrosse team and is committed to Long Island University. “He’s another one who is a thousandpound club kid,” McGuire said. “He lives in the weight room and has a motor that goes all day.” Another key player on defense is senior cornerback Dom Vaglica, the only two-way player on the team last year, who will also see some time on offense as the slot back. “He is just sound,” said McGuire. “You can depend on him to know his assignment, do the right thing, and be in the right place.” Other players to watch include senior defensive back/running back Dimitri Christopoulos who will also serve as the backup quarterback, Senior wideout Robbie Beinert, and senior linebacker Jonny Cohen who steps into the middle of the defense after playing safety last year. On special teams, Babek will handle the punting while junior Ryan Finkelstein, who is also on the soccer team, will be the kicker. But, in reality, the whole team, as well as the support system, is something special. “We have some really good kids here,” McGuire said. “It really is a pleasure to coach these kids. I’m blessed to have really good kids and good families here at Kennedy. It’s really a special place.” The Cougars will begin their season at home against Roosevelt. Garden City is the cream of the crop in a very strong Conference II that also features quality contenders like Carey, Long Beach, Mepham and New Hyde Park. Getting back to the postseason will not be easy for McGuire’s squad. “It’s going to be tough,” he said. “Conference II is definitely no pushover. If you get into the playoffs in Conference II, you’ve definitely earned it.” Last season, the Cougars were one of the biggest surprise teams in the county. This fall, those “perpetual little brothers” will be out to prove to the big boys that they belong in the playoff conversation once again.

Jonnie Cohen

DEMETRI CHRISTOPOULOS

DOM VAGLICA

Schedule

10 19 26 3 10 17 24 30 NICO PASQUARIELLO

September Roosevelt 4:30 p.m. @ Long Beach 1:30 p.m. Plainview 2:00 p.m. October Baldwin 2:00 p.m. @ V.S. Central 1:30 p.m. @ Calhoun 1:30 p.m. Garden City 1:30 p.m. @ Jericho 6:00 p.m. Photos by Ron Manfredi

September 10, 2026

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September 10, 2026

LAWRENCE

2026 HERALD High School Football Preview

Golden Tornadoes face difficult and long road By TONY BELLISSIMO

ith three straight winless seasons and dwindling numbers with no middle school, JV or local youth teams, there may not be much time left for Lawrence’s football program to secure a historic 550th victory. It needs one more to reach the milestone. The Golden Tornadoes were voted Nassau Conference IV’s most-improved team by coaches in 2025, becoming far more competitive but unable to crack the win column. They enter this year on a 28-game slide, but head coach Akym Land is focusing on the bright side. “Last year was encouraging, but we’re still in a tough situation,” said Land, a former Lawrence quarterback and 2017 grad. “We were pretty close in a few games and with the starting 11 we’re planning to have, we can do something and hopefully make history getting to 550,” he added. If there’s going to be any celebrations this fall, junior running back/linebacker Dilon Harris is likely a big reason why. He earned All-Conference honors as a sophomore after contributing as a freshman. He’ll also be a key on return units. “He’s shifty and fast and can literally play anywhere,” Land said. “If we asked him to be a lineman, he’d block. He loves football and loves contact. He’ll get the most touches and is the heartbeat of the team.” Senior quarterback Khalil Brassell returns as the starter and will also see more reps on defense after making just one start on that side of the ball a year ago for safety management reasons. “He’s gotten bigger and stronger from his work in the weight room,” Land said of the dual threat under center. “He knows the offense like the back of his hand and is the smartest kid on the field.” Brassell will look to get the ball in the hands of senior Tristian Darwin, junior Joel Brassell and sophomore Timothy Jiminez. Darwin is a slot receiver and linebacker described by Land as the strongest skill player on the roster. He’s also speedy with

High School Football Preview

solid blocking ability. Jiminez is a receiver/cornerback who scored a few touchdowns and intercepted a couple of passes in 2025. “He’s got the best hands on the team,” Land said. “He started on offense all year long and started on defense in the second half of the year.” Joel Brassell is in line for a larger role both in the passing game and at defensive end/linebacker. On the offensive line, the Golden Tornadoes return three of five starters and could also have a little depth. The anchor, both on the O-Line and D-Line is senior Anthony Martinez. “Teams run away from his side on defense and he’s a consistent force at left tackle,” Land said. Martinez and senior right tackle Josh Jonas are vocal leaders as well, Land noted. Jonas is the tallest and biggest lineman on the squad and along with Martinez does a great job motivating teammates. Senior center Ilan Perez-Lopez enters just his second year playing organized football but quickly developed into a reliable snapper both for the offense and special teams. At guard, the coach is looking for senior Jeremiah Ulloa, who missed last season with an injury, to top the depth chart. There’s also seniors Arnold Hernandez and Markus Villars who can contribute at the other guard spot and provide depth. Hernandez, also a starting linebacker, will handle kicking responsibilities as well. Lawrence is seeded at the bottom of the 14-team conference, but the schedule does offer some relief. The highest-ranked opponent on the slate is seventh-seeded Malverne. The Golden Tornadoes face No. 13 Oyster Bay twice in the first three weeks with a Week 2 trip to Carle Place in between. Due to the turf football field at the high school in a condemned state and not permitted to be used for any activity, and the inability to secure somewhere to host games, it’ll be eight bus rides for Lawrence this fall. “We’re trying to figure out if we can conduct any kind of Homecoming,” Land said. “I hope we can for the kids’ sake.”

Dilon Harris

KHALIL BRASSELL

ANTHONY MARTINEZ

Schedule 10 18 26 3 10 17 24 30 TRISTIAN DARWIN

September @ Oyster Bay 5:00 p.m. @ Carle Place 7:00 p.m. @ Oyster Bay 2:00 p.m. October @ Island Trees 2:00 p.m. @ V.S. South 1:30 p.m. @ North Shore 1:30 p.m. @ V.S. North 1:30 p.m. @ Malverne 7:00 p.m. Photos by Sue Grieco

September 10, 2026

2026 HERALD High School Football Preview

MIKE ROBINSON Baldwin

RUSS PAJER

East Rockaway/West Hempstead

NICK RAWLS Calhoun

MIKE STANLEY

JOE ROCHE

Carey

Clarke

BUDDY KRUMENACKER

TOM INNES

Farmingdale

Elmont

MATT CASTANEDA East Meadow

JIMMY JONES Freeport

2026 HEAD COACHES MATTHEW ALI

JOHN PALLADINO

Hempstead

Hewlett

JOHN MCGUIRE

AKYM LAND

STEVE FAZZOLARI

KITO LOCKWOOD

ADAM HOVORKA

TOM SCHIAVO

Kennedy

MacArthur

Plainedge

VS Central

SCOTT MARTIN

DAVE YAKER

KEVIN SHIPPOS

TOM MAZEIKA

ROB BLOUNT

MIKE MCHUGH

GEORGE KASIMATIS

PHIL ONESTO

ANDREW BERRY

MIKE PAOLILLO

JOE GUASTAFESTE

KEITH SACHS

Lawrence

Malverne

Seaford

VS North

High School Football Preview

Long Beach

Massapequa

Sewanhaka

VS South

Mepham

South Side

Lynbrook

Oceanside

Uniondale

Wantagh

September 10, 2026

CIRCLE CIRCLE THE THE CALENDAR CALENDAR 2026 HERALD High School 2026 HERALD High School Football Preview Football Preview High School Football Preview

Fri. Fri.Sept. Sept. 4 4FARMINGDALE FARMINGDALE OCEANSIDE OCEANSIDE Fri. Fri.Sept. Sept. 4 4PortPort Washington Washington MASSAPEQUA MASSAPEQUA Fri. Fri.Sept. Sept. 4 4UNIONDALE UNIONDALE Syosset Syosset Fri. Fri.Sept. Sept. 4 4FREEPORT FREEPORT Plainview Plainview Sat. Sat. Sept. Sept. 5 5Hicksville Hicksville EAST EAST MEADOW MEADOW Wed. Wed. Sept. Sept. 9 9GlenGlen Cove Cove SEWANHAKA SEWANHAKA Wed. Wed. Sept. Sept. 9 9ELMONT ELMONT SOUTH SOUTH SIDESIDE Wed. Wed. Sept. Sept. 9 9HEWLETT HEWLETT Division Division Thur. Thur. Sept. Sept. 10 10EROCK/WHEMP EROCK/WHEMP V.S. NORTH V.S. NORTH Thur. Thur. Sept. Sept. 10 10OCEANSIDE OCEANSIDE EAST EAST MEADOW MEADOW Thur. Thur. Sept. Sept. 10 10LONG LONG BEACH BEACH CAREY CAREY Thur. Thur. Sept. Sept. 10 10Roosevelt Roosevelt KENNEDY KENNEDY Thur. Thur. Sept. Sept. 10 10V.S.V.S. CENTRAL CENTRAL BALDWIN BALDWIN Thur. Thur. Sept. Sept. 10 10HEMPSTEAD HEMPSTEAD UNIONDALE UNIONDALE Thur. Thur. Sept. Sept. 10 10CALHOUN CALHOUN Garden Garden CityCity Thur. Thur. Sept. Sept. 10 10MACARTHUR MACARTHUR MEPHAM MEPHAM Thur. Thur. Sept. Sept. 10 10LAWRENCE LAWRENCE Oyster Oyster BayBay Thur. Thur. Sept. Sept. 10 10Westbury Westbury FREEPORT FREEPORT Thur. Thur. Sept. Sept. 10 10WANTAGH WANTAGH PLAINEDGE PLAINEDGE Thur. Thur. Sept. Sept. 10 10CLARKE CLARKE Bethpage Bethpage Thur. Thur. Sept. Sept. 10 10MALVERNE MALVERNE Locust Locust Valley Valley Thur. Thur. Sept. Sept. 10 10LYNBROOK LYNBROOK SEAFORD SEAFORD Thur. Thur. Sept. Sept. 10 10Island Island Trees Trees V.S.V.S. SOUTH SOUTH Fri. Fri.Sept. Sept. 18 18MEPHAM MEPHAM CALHOUN CALHOUN Fri. Fri.Sept. Sept. 18 18FREEPORT FREEPORT Herricks Herricks Fri. Fri.Sept. Sept. 18 18SEAFORD SEAFORD E.ROCK/W.HEMP E.ROCK/W.HEMP Fri. Fri.Sept. Sept. 18 18Floral Floral Park Park V.S.V.S. NORTH NORTH Fri. Fri.Sept. Sept. 18 18Plainview Plainview FARMINGDALE FARMINGDALE Fri. Fri.Sept. Sept. 18 18Division Division PLAINEDGE PLAINEDGE Fri. Fri.Sept. Sept. 18 18MASSAPEQUA MASSAPEQUA Syosset Syosset Fri. Fri.Sept. Sept. 18 18SEWANHAKA SEWANHAKA WANTAGH WANTAGH Fri. Fri.Sept. Sept. 18 18C.S. C.S. Harbor Harbor MALVERNE MALVERNE Fri. Fri.Sept. Sept. 18 18LAWRENCE LAWRENCE Carle Carle Place Place Sat. Sat. Sept. Sept. 19 19V.S.V.S. CENTRAL CENTRAL NewNew Hyde Hyde Park Park Sat. Sat. Sept. Sept. 19 19Bethpage Bethpage ELMONT ELMONT Sat. Sat. Sept. Sept. 19 19HEMPSTEAD HEMPSTEAD Hicksville Hicksville Sat. Sat. Sept. Sept. 19 19EAST EAST MEADOW MEADOW UNIONDALE UNIONDALE Sat. Sat. Sept. Sept. 19 19KENNEDY KENNEDY LONG LONG BEACH BEACH Sat. Sat. Sept. Sept. 19 19BALDWIN BALDWIN CAREY CAREY Sat. Sat. Sept. Sept. 19 19Locust Locust Valley Valley LYNBROOK LYNBROOK Sat. Sat. Sept. Sept. 19 19V.S.V.S. SOUTH SOUTH Oyster Oyster BayBay Sat. Sat. Sept. Sept. 19 19CLARKE CLARKE SOUTH SOUTH SIDESIDE Sat. Sat. Sept. Sept. 19 19HEWLETT HEWLETT Manhasset Manhasset Sat. Sat. Sept. Sept. 19 19MACARTHUR MACARTHUR Garden Garden CityCity Thur. Thur. Sept. Sept. 24 24FREEPORT FREEPORT Roosevelt Roosevelt Fri. Fri.Sept. Sept. 25 25NewNew Hyde Hyde Park Park HEMPSTEAD HEMPSTEAD Fri. Fri.Sept. Sept. 25 25Herricks Herricks V.S. CENTRAL V.S. CENTRAL Fri. Fri.Sept. Sept. 25 25PLAINEDGE PLAINEDGE LYNBROOK LYNBROOK Fri. Fri.Sept. Sept. 25 25SOUTH SOUTH SIDESIDE SEAFORD SEAFORD Fri. Fri.Sept. Sept. 25 25LONG LONG BEACH BEACH FARMINGDALE FARMINGDALE Fri. Fri.Sept. Sept. 25 25V.S. SOUTH V.S. SOUTH Division Division Sat. Sat. Sept. Sept. 26 26Carle Carle Place Place HEWLETT HEWLETT Sat. Sat. Sept. Sept. 26 26LAWRENCE LAWRENCE Oyster Oyster BayBay Sat. Sat. Sept. Sept. 26 26CAREY CAREY OCEANSIDE OCEANSIDE Sat. Sat. Sept. Sept. 26 26V.S. NORTH V.S. NORTH SEWANHAKA SEWANHAKA Sat. Sat. Sept. Sept. 26 26Westbury Westbury BALDWIN BALDWIN

6:006:00 p.m.p.m. 6:306:30 p.m.p.m. 630630 p.m.p.m. 6:306:30 p.m.p.m. 1:301:30 p.m.p.m. 4:304:30 p.m.p.m. 6:306:30 p.m.p.m. 7:007:00 p.m.p.m. 3:003:00 p.m.p.m. 4:004:00 p.m.p.m. 4:304:30 p.m.p.m. 4:304:30 p.m.p.m. 4:304:30 p.m.p.m. 4:304:30 p.m.p.m. 4:304:30 p.m.p.m. 4:304:30 p.m.p.m. 5:005:00 p.m.p.m. 5:305:30 p.m.p.m. 6:306:30 p.m.p.m. 6:306:30 p.m.p.m. 6:306:30 p.m.p.m. 6:306:30 p.m.p.m. 7:007:00 p.m.p.m. 3:003:00 p.m.p.m. 5:305:30 p.m.p.m. 6:006:00 p.m.p.m. 6:006:00 p.m.p.m. 6:306:30 p.m.p.m. 6:306:30 p.m.p.m. 6:306:30 p.m.p.m. 7:007:00 p.m.p.m. 7:007:00 p.m.p.m. 7:007:00 p.m.p.m. 1:001:00 p.m.p.m. 1:301:30 p.m.p.m. 1:301:30 p.m.p.m. 1:301:30 p.m.p.m. 1:301:30 a.m.a.m. 1:301:30 p.m.p.m. 1:301:30 p.m.p.m. 1:301:30 p.m.p.m. 2:002:00 p.m.p.m. 2:002:00 p.m.p.m. 3:003:00 p.m.p.m. 5:005:00 p.m.p.m. 6:006:00 p.m.p.m. 6:006:00 p.m.p.m. 6:006:00 p.m.p.m. 6:006:00 p.m.p.m. 6:306:30 p.m.p.m. 7:007:00 p.m.p.m. 1:001:00 p.m.p.m. 1:301:30 p.m.p.m. 1:301:30 p.m.p.m. 1:301:30 p.m.p.m. 1:301:30 p.m.p.m.

Sat. Sat. Sat. Sat. Sat. Sat. Sat. Fri. Fri. Fri. Fri. Fri. Fri. Fri. Fri. Sat. Sat. Sat. Sat. Sat. Sat. Sat. Sat. Sat. Sat. Sat. Sat. Sat. Sat. Fri. Fri. Fri. Fri. Fri. Fri. Fri. Fri. Fri. Fri. Fri. Fri. Sat. Sat. Sat. Sat. Sat. Sat. Sat. Sat. Sat. Fri. Fri. Fri. Fri. Fri. Fri. Fri. Fri. Sat. Sat.

September 10, 2026

Sept. 26 Sept. 26 Sept. 26 Sept. 26 Sept. 26 Sept. 26 Sept. 26 Oct. 2 Oct. 2 Oct. 2 Oct. 2 Oct. 2 Oct. 2 Oct. 2 Oct. 2 Oct. 3 Oct. 3 Oct. 3 Oct. 3 Oct. 3 Oct. 3 Oct. 3 Oct. 3 Oct. 3 Oct. 3 Oct. 3 Oct. 3 Oct. 3 Oct. 3 Oct. 9 Oct. 9 Oct. 9 Oct. 9 Oct. 9 Oct. 9 Oct. 9 Oct. 9 Oct. 9 Oct. 9 Oct. 9 Oct. 9 Oct. 10 Oct. 10 Oct. 10 Oct. 10 Oct. 10 Oct. 10 Oct. 10 Oct. 10 Oct. 10 Oct. 16 Oct. 16 Oct. 16 Oct. 16 Oct. 16 Oct. 16 Oct. 16 Oct. 16 Oct. 17 Oct. 17

WANTAGH MALVERNE Garden City Plainview ELMONT MEPHAM EAST MEADOW Manhasset MASSAPEQUA Syosset CAREY Locust Valley HEWLETT LYNBROOK V.S. NORTH Hicksville Roosevelt E.ROCK/W.HEMP Glen Cove BALDWIN LAWRENCE PLAINEDGE Mineola Division C.S. Harbor UNIONDALE FARMINGDALE V.S. CENTRAL Jericho CALHOUN MALVERNE Floral Park SEWANHAKA WANTAGH BALDWIN HEMPSTEAD ELMONT FREEPORT CLARKE North Shore SEAFORD Garden City LAWRENCE UNIONDALE LONG BEACH SOUTH SIDE KENNEDY Oyster Bay OCEANSIDE MACARTHUR LYNBROOK Jericho PLAINEDGE Syosset Port Washington HEWLETT New Hyde Park MEPHAM Manhasset Herricks

High School Football Preview

Floral Park CLARKE MASSAPEQUA KENNEDY E.ROCK/W.HEMP Port Washington MACARTHUR SOUTH SIDE HEMPSTEAD OCEANSIDE MACARTHUR SEAFORD Bethpage MALVERNE Carle Place FREEPORT LONG BEACH Floral Park WANTAGH KENNEDY Island Trees CLARKE ELMONT SEWANHAKA V.S. SOUTH Plainview EAST MEADOW MEPHAM CALHOUN CAREY Island Trees LYNBROOK HEWLETT Manhasset Jericho Syosset PLAINEDGE FARMINGDALE Glen Cove E.ROCK/W.HEMP C.S. Harbor MEPHAM V.S. SOUTH Westbury New Hyde Park Bethpage V.S. CENTRAL V.S. NORTH MASSAPEQUA Roosevelt E.ROCK/W.HEMP V.S. CENTRAL SOUTH SIDE FARMINGDALE OCEANSIDE Mineola MACARTHUR LONG BEACH CLARKE UNIONDALE

1:30 p.m. 1:30 p.m. 1:30 p.m. 1:30 p.m. 2:00 p.m. 2:00 p.m. 2:00 p.m. 6:00 p.m. 6:00 p.m. 6:00 p.m. 6:00 p.m. 6:30 p.m. 7:00 p.m. 7:00 p.m. 7:00 p.m. 2:00 p.m. 2:00 p.m. 2:00 p.m. 2:00 p.m. 2:00 p.m. 2:00 p.m. 2:00 p.m. 2:00 p.m. 2:00 p.m. 2:00 p.m. 3:00 p.m. 3:00 p.m. 3:00 p.m. 3:30 p.m. 3:00 p.m. 6:00 p.m. 6:00 p.m. 6:00 p.m. 6:00 p.m. 6:00 p.m. 6:00 p.m. 6:30 p.m. 6:30 p.m. 7:00 p.m. 7:00 p.m. 7:00 p.m. 1:30 p.m. 1:30 p.m. 1:30 p.m. 1:30 p.m. 1:30 p.m. 1:30 p.m. 1:30 p.m. 2:00 p.m. 2:00 p.m. 6:00 p.m. 6:00 p.m. 6:00 p.m. 6:30 p.m. 6:30 p.m. 6:30 p.m. 7:00 p.m. 7:00 p.m. 1:30 p.m. 1:30 p.m.

Sat. Oct. 17 Sat. Oct. 17 Sat. Oct. 17 Sat. Oct. 17 Sat. Oct. 17 Sat. Oct. 17 Sat. Oct. 17 Sat. Oct. 17 Sat. Oct. 17 Sat. Oct. 17 Fri. Oct. 23 Fri. Oct. 23 Fri. Oct. 23 Fri. Oct. 23 Fri. Oct. 23 Fri. Oct. 23 Sat. Oct. 24 Sat. Oct. 24 Sat. Oct. 24 Sat. Oct. 24 Sat. Oct. 24 Sat. Oct. 24 Sat. Oct. 24 Sat. Oct. 24 Sat. Oct. 24 Sat. Oct. 24 Sat. Oct. 24 Sat. Oct. 24 Sat. Oct. 24 Sat. Oct. 24 Sat. Oct. 24 Thur. Oct. 29 Fri. Oct. 30 Fri. Oct. 30 Fri. Oct. 30 Fri. Oct. 30 Fri. Oct. 30 Fri. Oct. 30 Fri. Oct. 30 Fri. Oct. 30 Fri. Oct. 30 Fri. Oct. 30 Sat. Oct. 31 Sat. Oct. 31 Sat. Oct. 31 Sat. Oct. 31 Sat. Oct. 31 Sat. Oct. 31 Sat. Oct. 31 Sat. Oct. 31 Sat. Oct. 31 Sat. Oct. 31 Sat. Oct. 31

MASSAPEQUA SEWANHAKA V.S. NORTH KENNEDY Roosevelt Bethpage CAREY LAWRENCE Plainview MALVERNE Westbury HEMPSTEAD Glen Cove Jericho Syosset Manhasset Garden City Mineola V.S. SOUTH EAST MEADOW New Hyde Park SOUTH SIDE LAWRENCE Hicksville Roosevelt MEPHAM WANTAGH FARMINGDALE North Shore SEAFORD C.S. Harbor PLAINEDGE CALHOUN CLARKE EAST MEADOW KENNEDY FARMINGDALE SEWANHAKA MASSAPEQUA ELMONT E.ROCK/W.HEMP LAWRENCE Garden City MACARTHUR UNIONDALE ELMONT UNIONDALE SOUTH SIDE LYNBROOK OCEANSIDE BALDWIN CAREY SEAFORD

EAST MEADOW ELMONT V.S. SOUTH CALHOUN BALDWIN WANTAGH Garden City North Shore HEMPSTEAD SEAFORD OCEANSIDE Port Washington HEWLETT MACARTHUR FREEPORT PLAINEDGE KENNEDY CLARKE Locust Valley Herricks CAREY SEWANHAKA V.S. NORTH UNIONDALE V.S. CENTRAL BALDWIN ELMONT MASSAPEQUA MALVERNE Floral Park LYNBROOK Bethpage Roosevelt HEWLETT Westbury Jericho Port Washington Mineola Plainview Glen Cove C.S. Harbor MALVERNE LONG BEACH V.S. CENTRAL FREEPORT SOUTH SIDE FREEPORT WANTAGH V.S. SOUTH HEMPSTEAD New Hyde Park MEPHAM V.S. NORTH

1:30 p.m. 1:30 p.m. 1:30 p.m. 1:30 p.m. 1:30 pm. 1:30 p.m. 1:30 p.m. 1:30 p.m. 2:00 p.m. 2:00 p.m. 6:00 p.m. 6:00 p.m. 6:00 p.m. 6:00 p.m. 6:30 p.m. 6:30 p.m. 1:30 p.m. 1:30 p.m. 1:30 p.m. 1:30 p.m. 1:30 p.m. 1:30 p.m. 1:30 p.m. 1:30 p.m. 1:30 p.m. 1:30 p.m. 1:30 p.m. 1:30 p.m. 1:30 p.m. 2:00 p.m. 2:00 p.m. 5:30 p.m. 6:00 p.m. 6:00 p.m. 6:00 p.m. 6:00 p.m. 6:00 p.m. 6:30 p.m. 6:30 p.m. 7:00 p.m. 7:00 p.m. 7:00 p.m. 1:30 p.m. 1:30 p.m. 1:30 p.m. 1:30 p.m. 1:30 p.m. 1:30 p.m. 1:30 p.m. 1:30 p.m. 1:30 p.m. 1:30 p.m. 2:00 p.m.

POSTSEASON Fri./Sat. Fri./Sat./Sun. Fri./Sat. Fri./Sat.

Nov. 6/7 Nov. 13/14/15 Nov. 20/21 Nov. 27/28

Playoff Quarterfinals Playoff Semifinals Nassau County championships Long Island championships

NOTE: Home teams on right. Local teams listed in BOLD/CAPS

September 10, 2026

LONG BEACH

2026 HERALD High School Football Preview

Marines coming off finals appearance By NICK MONGIOVI

ong Beach will have plenty of familiar faces back this season, but the Marines will look to their experience up front and a star running back to lead them back to the Nassau Conference II championship stage. With five senior offensive linemen returning and two-time All-County and All-Long Island standout Brody Riedel anchoring the offense, Long Beach enters the season with its sights set on finishing the job after falling to Garden City, 27-12, at Hofstra University, in the county title game last November. The starting five in the trenches are left tackle Vaughn Bogacki, left guard Charles Muskin, center Jack Muskin, right guard Gavyn Vicente and right tackle Kellen deBruin. They’ll be the ones creating the holes for Riedel, who is coming off a campaign with 1,500 scrimmage yards and 20 total touchdowns. “Riedel has been our top player, top running back for the last two seasons,” said head coach Scott Martin, who enters his 18th season at the position. “He’s an outstanding linebacker as well, but we prioritize him on the offensive end. He’s our leading rusher, and he also catches passes,” he added. Martin noted they’ll be a team that controls the line of scrimmage on both sides of the ball, and pounds the rock. Former wide receiver who will be playing a ton alongside Riedel is senior Jaron Burns. He won the program’s special teams player of the year, as he’ll be asked to expand his game as a runner. “Jaron is a total athlete, can play everywhere,” Martin said. “He’s probably the most athletic player we’ve had in the last eight years or so. We want to get him carries too. We just think that’s another way to get him a few more touches.” Burns also received an All-State honorable mention, as he enters the season as a Swiss Army knife. Riedel won All-State as a linebacker last season. Returning alongside him is senior safety Danny Corea, who led the team in tackles with 65 and grabbed 4 interceptions. This defense returns more than half of its starters,

High School Football Preview

and eight players who had substantial roles. “This season’s going to go as far as they can bring us,” Martin said about both the offensive and defensive trenches. “They own the line of scrimmage.” On the offensive side, Corea led the team in receiving with 300 yards. Martin described him as a downhill runner and a real tough, strong kid. Making the switch from wide receiver to quarterback is senior Brody Juan. He’s always been the backup, but with the vacancy open, it’s time for Juan to get under center. “He has the physical abilities,” Martin said. “He can throw the ball really well. He can run the ball better than our quarterback last year, so that opens up the playbooks a little bit more.” Some who may have expanded roles include Holy Trinity transfer Joe Henn, who will play tight end and linebacker; junior fullback/ outside linebacker Christian Capria, and sophomore receiver/ safety Ethan Mosley. “We have the ability to do multiple things,” Martin said. “We do have threats in the air.” With back-to-back trips to Hofstra, this group has the experience they need to reach the pinnacle of high school football. “Experience is an important thing,” Martin said. “Especially when you get into the playoffs. The more kids that know what’s going on, the more that confidence will spread throughout the team. We have a lot of kids coming back and a lot of intelligent experience. Experience is one of the keys and that’s why we feel like we can be one of the favorites in this conference.” With a veteran core returning and another trip to the county championship in mind, the Marines look to improve off an 8-3 season, but Garden City and Carey stand in their way. “Our goal is to make it to the final four,” Martin said. “It’s something we’ll talk about on day one. The key is to improve each week and even further than that, each day to put forth effort in practice and each game week that we take leaps to get as good as the top teams in the league.”

Brody Juan

VAUGHN BOGACKI

DANNY COREA

Schedule September 10 @ Carey 4:30 p.m. 19 Kennedy 1:30 p.m. 25 @ Farmingdale 6:30 p.m.

JACK MUSKIN

October 2 Roosevelt 7:00 p.m. 10 @ New Hyde Park 1:30 p.m. 16 Mepham 7:00 p.m. 24 @ Calhoun 1:30 p.m. 31 Garden City 1:30 p.m. Photos by Erik Lee

September 10, 2026

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September 10, 2026

LYNBROOK

2026 HERALD High School Football Preview

After soaring to semis, Owls can fly high again

By PATRICK MOQUIN

n Lynbrook football’s fourth season under head coach Dave Yaker, the Owls earned a strong 7-3 record and enjoyed a run all the way to Hofstra for the Nassau Conference IV semifinals. Yaker described it as the culmination of years spent redeveloping the program, but a new era begins in 2026. “The goal last year was to get to Hofstra,” Yaker said. “The program had not been there in almost nine years, and we hadn’t hosted a home playoff game in 13 years. Every team has championship aspirations, but our goal was to get to Hofstra, and we did that.” With a 6-2 regular season record, Lynbrook’s only defeats last year came against Plainedge and Seaford, the latter of which also defeated it in the semifinals. Plainedge, which went undefeated in its first 10 games, allowed a combined 40 points from all other regular season opponents, but Lynbrook did not go quietly in a 45-35 defeat. The Owls depended on a core group of seniors in 2025, but Yaker said he anticipates several players stepping up to fill key roles. He will not have to worry about the wide receiver position, as star senior Orji Agwu returns to lead the offense. As a junior, Agwu broke out to earn 724 receiving yards and five touchdowns. In the game against Plainedge, he caught eight passes for 172 yards and a touchdown, earning his wings against one of the best defenses in the county. “You have a guy who’s six-foot-four, 185 pounds, runs like a deer and jumps out of the building,” Yaker said. “He’s smart and he’s coachable. That’s the ultimate security blanket.” Agwu, who also lines up at cornerback, is expected to be a great help to Will O’Riordan, who will take over as starting quarterback. After earning limited reps on offense last year, the senior will benefit from having a premium receiver core at his disposal early on. “We’re just looking to get him like real experience,” Yaker said of O’Riordan. “Then, we’re hoping that he can carry along. He’s

High School Football Preview

got a big arm, so we’re hoping that he could be a guy who can get the ball to a guy like Agwu and some of the other receivers that we have.” O’Riordan will have another massive target on the other side, as Yaker said he expects senior Peter Rahaniotis to step up as the other starting receiver. The triple-threat player has also contributed as a defensive end and punter. In Lynbrook’s playoff loss to Seaford, he caught his first touchdown pass after earning more reps down the stretch. Lynbrook will employ a committee of four running backs, led by junior Tommy Potash, who will take on an expanded role on offense after starting as a cornerback last year. He will rush alongside seniors Chris Sommer and Mark Chojnacki, as well as sophomore Luke Marinos, who had a successful JV campaign. “We like what we have back there,” Yaker said. “We have four guys, four very capable guys, four different guys. They’re all built a little bit differently, but they all bring a different skill set, so we’re definitely excited.” Last year, Potash and Chojnacki made the most of limited carries in the backfield, with Chojnacki scoring a 39-yard touchdown against Malverne and Potash stepping into a wildcat quarterback role as needed. Sommer and Chojnacki have also made their presence felt on defense as linebackers where senior Marco Palleschi leads the charge both physically and vocally. On the offensive line, right tackle Alex Ioannou and left guard Jovanni Grullon will return to protect Lynbrook’s new passer. The seniors will likely be joined by sophomore Aiden Brown, senior Klev Vilsaint, and junior Jonuel Grullon, Jovanni’s brother. Yaker said he also plans to deploy Ioannou on the defensive line, where he will join the likes of Potash, Agwu, Chojnacki, Sommer, Palleschi and others as key two-way contributors. Senior Phillip Dzieciolowski will return as Lynbrook’s kicker, joining the punter Rahaniotis to form a dynamic special teams unit for the Owls, who open the campaign at defending county champion Seaford.

Orji Agwu

MARCO PALLESCHI

CHRIS SOMMER

Schedule

PETER RAHANIOTIS

10 19 25

September @ Seaford 6:30 p.m. Locust Valley 1:30 p.m. Plainedge 6:00 p.m.

2 9 16 24 31

October @ Malverne Floral Park @ ERock/WH C.S. Harbor @ V.S. South

7:00 p.m. 6:00 p.m. 6:00 p.m. 2:00 p.m. 1:30 p.m.

Photos by Jeff Wilson

September 10, 2026

M MacARTHUR

2026 HERALD High School Football Preview

Generals off rare non-playoff year

By ANDREW COEN

acArthur’s football season preseason kicked off with a bit of a curveball and the end of an era. Bobby Fehrenach, who had served as MacAthur’s head coach for the past 28 years, retired from his longtime position after the first day of practice, leaving behind a legacy on Old Jerusalem Road that included 151 wins and two county championships. Steve Fazzolari, MacArthur’s defensive coordinator for the past 20 seasons, was named the Generals’ new head coach Aug. 26 and will be looking to carry forward the legacy of Fehrenach’s success on and off the field. “Bobby Fehrenbach was the greatest coach this school could ever have and coaching with him for 20 years was a blessing to me not just as a coach but he made me a better person, a better father, a better teacher,” Fazzolari said. “He made us all better by running this program as long as he did and we wish him all the best.” Fazzolari inherits a MacArthur squad that returns plenty of talent from last year’s 2-6 team that dropped a number of close games with a young roster after graduating the bulk of its starters from the 2024 season. The returning talent includes a number of skilled position players who earned plenty of snaps on offense last year including senior running backs Ethan Shapiro and Tyler Centonze. Shapiro, who is also starting defensive back, rushed for 155 yards and three touchdowns in Macarthur’s 42-13 win against Jericho last season. Senior quarterback Vinny Szucs also returns after making progress in his first season as starting quarterback last fall both as a runner and passer. His versatility was on full display in MacArthur’s narrow 24-21 loss to Mepham last season when he threw for 158 yards and a touchdown while also rushing for 31 yards and two scores. “Vinny has made tremendous strides from his junior year to now,” Fazzolari said. Senior wide receiver Ryan Solomon will be Szucs’ top receiving target this season. The passing game will also get contributions from

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senior receivers Colin McDermott and Mike Lane. The offensive line returns three starters in seniors Connor Schmidt right (tackle), Trisian Waters (center) and Brian Lynch (right guard). Schmidt brings plenty of experience to the trenches as a two-way defensive starter at tackle for the past three years. The defense brings back experience up front led by Schmidt and Lynch on the defensive line. The Generals also bring back starting linebackers in senior Garrett Thompson and Centonze. Fazzolari is also expecting strong contributions from newcomers on defense that include junior linebacker Robbie Ruocchio and senior defensive lineman Sebastian Vasiliou. “It’s a good mix of returning players and players who can step up,” said Fazzolari of his defense. “Our athleticism has improved from last year.” On special teams, the Generals have multiple potential kickers including Szucs. Fazzolari said there are a number of capable kick returners in Shapiro, Solomon and McDermott. MacArthur was seeded seventh in Conference II and is looking to return to the playoffs after a rare missed postseason year in 2025. The Generals will be tested early with a meeting at second-seeded Mepham in the season opener followed by a road game at 10-time defending Conference II champion Garden City. The Generals are looking to return to the playoffs and have a chance to reach the county semifinals stage at Hofstra University’s Shuart Stadium for the first time since 2021. Fazzolari said his players are showing plenty of fire entering the season and credits the way they have stayed focused while handling a sudden coaching change. “The expectations are the way they have always been as we are going to work hard and go out there and try to go 1-0 every single week,” Fazzolari said. “The boys are putting the work in and had a great first couple weeks of practice dealing with something they didn’t expect to deal with.”

Ryan Solomon

VINNY SZUCS

TYLER CENTONZE

Schedule

CONNOR SCHMIDT

10 19 26

September @ Mepham 4:30 p.m. @ Garden City 3:00 p.m. East Meadow 2:00 p.m.

2 10 16 23 31

October Carey @ Roosevelt New Hyde Park Jericho @ V.S. Central

6:00 p.m. 2:00 p.m. 7:00 p.m. 6:00 p.m. 1:30 p.m.

Photos by Karen Millindorf

September 10, 2026

2026 HERALD High School Football Preview

MALVERNE

Mules lean on experience, skill position players By TONY BELLISSIMO

shorthanded and youthful Malverne football squad squeezed into the Conference IV playoffs a year ago, and head coach Kito Lockwood is looking for that experience to pay dividends. “We snuck in the back door of the playoffs and it was a good year for the young guys to learn and build from,” said Lockwood, who guided the Mules to a 3-5 regular-season mark leading to a first-round postseason defeat to top-seeded Plainedge. “The kids put in a lot of work during the offseason both on the field and weight room,” he added. “To get where we want to go, we have to avoid the injury bug and beat a team we’re not supposed to beat.” Seeded No. 7, Lockwood believes the first half of the schedule will set the tone. Malverne has a trio of pivotal games in September starting with a trip to sixth-seeded Locust Valley. The home opener against No. 4 Cold Spring Harbor is next, followed by a visit to Conference III’s Clarke in an intriguing crossover. “Locust Valley is never easy,” Lockwood said. “We’re hoping to get that first one and go from there.” The Mules return four of their five starting offensive linemen and a host of skill position players led by senior receiver Jace Richards and junior tailback Jayden Johnson. Richards is a third-year starter who emerged down the stretch last season with a few touchdown receptions. “He’s fast and elusive and we’ll look to him to pick up some key first downs however they come,” Lockwood said. “We’ll get the ball in his hands and let him do his thing.” Johnson earned All-County last fall and is no longer a secret. He rushed for 798 yards and 11 touchdowns, including 159 yards and four scores in a victory over North Shore. “All eyes are on him now and he’s eager to prove last year was for real,” Lockwood said. “Not many sophomores get AllCounty. I keep reminding him [Luke] Martini

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of Wantagh won the Thorp Award, so there’s always a next level to strive for. Jayden has 1,000-yard ability and he’s working to get stronger so he can break more tackles. Him getting to the edge and exploding is easy.” There’s a new quarterback who’s new to the position but not the sport. Senior Braylon Lewis impressed during summer 7 on 7s throwing the ball and will also work at linebacker and punter. “We’ve been trying to find a true position for him for years,” Lockwood said. “It looks like quarterback is it, but he hasn’t played a game with the pads on.” Junior Tyler Thiem is coming off a monster JV campaign and figures to be a prominent piece of the offense. He has experience at running back, receiver, quarterback and kicker. “He had one of the best JV seasons I’ve ever heard of,” Lockwood said. “He’s going to contribute as a two-way starter for sure.” Malverne’s stud and leader, noted Lockwood, is senior Brian Major. He’s a defensive end and right tackle who also sparks special teams and serves as captain. “He’s a throwback type of player who does it all,” the coach said. “He’s going to be disruptive on defense and is an equally strong blocker in the pass and run games.” Senior Axel Perez returns at center and comes off a solid and consistent year, Lockwood said. At left tackle, senior Leelyn Green is strong and athletic and expected to benefit greatly from last year’s experience. The same goes for senior right tackle Chris Morales, who’s agile. Right guard is the lone spot up front without a returning starter and remains up in the air. On the defensive side, Major and junior Cameron Wesley form a pair of scary bookends on the line. Both are 6-foot-2, 200 pounds. Wesley will also play tight end. “Cameron is a physical presence who requires a double team to stop,” Lockwood said. “On defense he’s a menace. Every coach in the conference knows who No. 9 is.”

Jace Richards

BRIAN MAJOR

CAMERON WESLEY

Schedule 10 18 26 2 9 17 24 30 JAYDEN JOHNSON

September @ Locust Valley 6:30 p.m. C.S. Harbor 7:00 p.m. @ Clarke 1:30 p.m. October Lynbrook 7:00 p.m. @ Island Trees 6:00 p.m. @ Seaford 2:00 p.m. North Shore 1:30 p.m. Lawrence 7:00 p.m. Photos by Sue Grieco

September 10, 2026

MASSAPEQUA

2026 HERALD High School Football Preview

Chiefs looking to add to history book By DYLAN BUTLER

rom the moment the game was announced, the Long Island football community has been abuzz. Throughout most of the summer, it felt like the highly anticipated crossover game between Massapequa and Garden City, a clash of champions at Hofstra’s Shuart Stadium on Sept. 26, was the only thing talked about. That is, by everyone but the Massapequa players. Well, except for the first day of summer workouts. “We’re shutting that down right now,” Chiefs head coach Kevin Shippos told his team that day. “I said, this is the only time I’m going to talk about this is right now. I said I don’t want to hear a word, and they haven’t said a word the entire summer.” The interest is understandable. Massapequa is a three-time defending Long Island Class I champion taking on a Garden City team that has a 66-game winning streak, the longest in the nation. But for Massapequa, the focus is on Port Washington in Week 1 “Obviously, it’s a big game, but we’ve got a monster opening game with Port Washington, and that is a huge threat,” Shippos said. While the Chiefs graduated a bulk of their key skill players last year, they do return standout quarterback Luke Garguilo, who, like his predecessor Joey Diesso, won the Don Snyder Award as Nassau’s top quarterback. “He’s a gamer, one of the hardest workers I’ve ever coached,” Shippos said. “He takes everything very seriously, and he doesn’t need to say much around the guys. He just has a commanding presence.” After having a complementary role last year, Dylan Milio is slotted in as Massapequa’s top receiver this year. The senior has been “lights out,” according to Shippos, in 7-on-7 play this summer. “Having Dylan as a deep threat now is going to force teams to respect him and not be able to just load the box to try to stop a Luke or any of the other guys,” Shippos said. Jason LaRosa, Casey Gilchrist, Dom High School Football Preview

Antonelli and Mike Ippolito will all feature in the receiving corps, while running back Mike Castellano is up from the junior varsity and Giovanni Tarasi and Justin Farrell will feature as tight ends. Nolan Wieczorek and Jack Mulligan are returning starters who will anchor an offensive line that does have some inexperience. “They’ve been working hard, but that’s where we’re going to have to play at a high level to get these skilled guys involved,” Shippos said. “We’ve been preaching all summer and the first two practices: We don’t go anywhere unless we get a push up front on both sides of the ball.” Mulligan and Ryan Chabus are also returning starters on the defensive line, though Chabus’ impact came in the second half of the season last year. “He really was a spark for us last year when we had some injuries,” Shippos said. “When we moved Jack from defensive end to defensive tackle, and then put Ryan at end, it really solidified us up front.” Wieczorek will be the leader of the defense at linebacker, joined by Tarasi, a fellow returning starter, while Aiden Carozza, who is up from the junior varsity, will likely fill the third linebacker spot. In the secondary, Milio and Ippolito are returning starters at each corner. “They give us an advantage on the outside where we don’t necessarily have to put a safety over the top,” Shippos said. “We can go one-on-one and feel good, with them being able to single-cover anybody’s receiver. Both of them are great kids, super talented, great effort, great attitude, just great leaders.” Expectations are sky-high for the Chiefs, 35-1 over the last three years and the No. 1 preseason seed in Conference I. But that’s nothing new in Massapequa, even if some of the names are different. “It’s a good mix between established, veteran players and some youthful, inexperienced, but eager to learn and get better,” Shippos said. “You’re never gonna have 11 starters back on both sides of the ball. That’s the fun part about coaching. Every team is different.” 35

Luke Garguilo

NOLAN WIECZOREK

GIOVANNI TARASI

Schedule

4 18 26 2 10 17 24 30 DYLAN MILIO

September Port Washington 6:30 p.m. @ Syosset 6:30 p.m. Garden City 5:00 p.m. October @ Hempstead 6:00 p.m. Oceanside 2:00 p.m. @ East Meadow 1:30 p.m. Farmingdale 1:30 p.m. @ Plainview 6:30 p.m. Photos by Michael Scro

September 10, 2026

MEPHAM

2026 HERALD High School Football Preview

Experienced Pirates can make a deep run By DAVID WEINGRAD

senior-heavy Mepham team that came within a game of the Conference II finals last season returns with an experienced roster determined to make the most of one final run together. The Pirates went 8-2 and reached the conference semifinals a year ago, and enter this fall seeded fourth. Head coach Tom Mazeika, now in his 23rd year coaching football at Mepham, believes a group that has enjoyed success together since middle school is ready to take another shot at its ultimate goal. Leading the offense is junior quarterback Adam Erlichman, who began last season as the backup before taking over in Week 2. Erlichman made an immediate impact by leading a 90-yard touchdown drive and continued to improve from there. “I’ve been at Mepham a while and he’s got a shot to be as good of a quarterback we’ve had,” Mazeika said. Mazeika praised Erlichman’s poise and work ethic, along with his ability to make plays both through the air and with his legs. With an experienced group of receivers around him, Mazeika believes the Pirates can be more explosive offensively and throw the ball more frequently. Senior Lucas Eagleston headlines that receiving corps after earning All-County honors. An explosive playmaker who Mazeika said can score anytime he touches the ball, Eagleston will also take on a larger role in the secondary. Joining him is Ryan McCabe, another senior who gives Erlichman a big target capable of going up and getting the football, while classmate Tyler Gaskin will contribute at receiver and cornerback after a strong offseason. At linebacker, Paul Genovese is one of the leaders of the defense and will also receive carries at running back. Mazeika called the senior “the heart of our team,” praising his toughness and effort. Senior William Braun provides another veteran presence at linebacker and on the offensive line, while James Condoulis, also a senior, will start on both lines. Mazeika praised Condoulis for his technique and High School Football Preview

considers him one of the team’s physically strongest players. Another physical presence on both lines is senior William Entler. “He’ll get a little bit nasty,” Mazeika said. “Which is what you want from a lineman.” The Pirates graduated several players up front, creating opportunities for others to take on larger roles. Senior Connor Flynn has a chance to start on both lines, with Mazeika impressed by his size and footwork. Senior William Ragone brings toughness and physicality after seeing time last season. Senior Andrew Fleming will contribute at receiver and defensive end, where he brings good hands and blocking ability on offense and is an effective pass rusher defensively. Kellen Franquiz, also a senior, returns to football after not playing the past two seasons and has emerged as one of the surprises of camp with his athleticism and ball skills in the secondary. Sophomore John Cloudman is another versatile option after moving up from junior varsity. He will back up Erlichman and could see time as a Wildcat quarterback, running back and defensive back. Mepham’s depth in the secondary gives Mazeika flexibility to experiment with different defensive packages, while a reshaped offensive line is expected to bring plenty of physicality. That gives this year’s team a different makeup than recent Pirates squads, and Mazeika plans to play to those strengths. Mepham opens against MacArthur, faces local rival Calhoun in Week 2 and top seeded Garden City in Week 5 before a Week 6 rematch with Long Beach. The Pirates defeated the Marines handily earlier last season before Long Beach won the rematch in the county semifinals. Mepham then closes the regular season against a tough Carey squad. For a senior class accustomed to winning, the goal is to make sure its final season lasts as long as possible. “This senior group is a group of kids that, from middle school, they’ve won a lot of games,” Mazeika said. “They’re used to winning. They expect to win. They want to hopefully be playing for a county championship when it’s all said and done.” 36

Paul Genovese

LUCAS EAGLESTON

TYLER GASKIN

Schedule

September 10 MacArthur 4:30 p.m. 18 @ Calhoun 3:30 p.m. 26 @ Port Wash. 2:00 p.m.

JAMES CONDOULIS

3 10 16 24 31

October V.S. Central Garden City @ Long Beach @ Baldwin Carey

3:00 p.m. 1:30 p.m. 7:00 p.m. 1:30 p.m. 1:30 p.m.

Photos by Jeff Wilson

September 10, 2026

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September 10, 2026

OCEANSIDE

2026 HERALD High School Football Preview

Dozen returnees lead Sailors’ hopes By GARRETT D. URIBE

veraging a league-best 42.9 points per game last autumn, Oceanside, for the first time in four seasons, returned to the county Conference 1 final, where the Sailors’ top-ranked offense was stopped by perennial postseason nemesis – and eventual three-peat Long Island champ – Massapequa. While Oceanside’s offense this year faces questions at quarterback and along an almost all-new O-line, its All-County backfield should offer only answers, with Third-Team All-State halfback Chace Morris (Nassau-leading 28 touchdowns) returning alongside Sixth-Team All-State tailback Dylan Parker. Dubbed “Thunder and Lightning” by teammates, the Sailors tag-team tandem struck for a combined 2,000-plus rushing yards – Morris’s 1,294 ranking fifth in Nassau – as each back averaged over 10 yards per carry last season. Eighteenth-year Sailors head coach Rob Blount sees a path back to Hofstra for Oceanside if its powerhouse rushing attack can reprise its force-of-nature performance, offsetting any dip that could come with breaking in a new passing corps, which will feature either Peter Palotti or Brian Saccareccia starting a fist year under center, with Jaden Belone the lone returning starter at receiver opposite new starting split ends David Gibson and Steve Saccareccia. “We might lean on the run game a little bit,” said Blount, whose club – which opens as the No. 2 seed in Conference 1 – finished 8-3 last season (7-2 Conference 1). “(Morris and Parker) are special, each in his own way, something we’ve never really had before.” “Chace, even though he’s smaller, is a power back,” Blount said of the 5-foot-9 senior, a reigning county wrestling champ at 144 pounds. “Dylan is more of an elusive, big-play back, maybe the most athletic player on the team.” “We’ll take what teams give us, though,” Blount added. “If they key on our backs, we’ll look to pass. We’ll be able to do that.” Defensively, the Sailors look to take a step forward behind senior captains Benny Jacofsky and Hudson Triscari – returning starters at linebacker – with Bey Alexander and Nick High School Football Preview

Scarlata becoming starters at edge, and fellow seniors Ben Cipolla, Drew Lynch and Nick Valukis moving up to man the defensive line. With a team head-count of 36 – “Our smallest numbers in years,” Blount said – Oceanside will employ an almost-total twoway roster. The Sailors’ starting line personnel sees the same names on either side of the ball – as does Oceanside’s backfield, with Morris and Parker in the secondary, joined by Belone and Gibson. Triscari, who started last season at fullback, will again rotate with Alexander at the position, the pair also splitting duties at first-string tight end. “Having our two fullbacks back will really help our offense continue,” Blount said. “Yes, we graduated a lot of seniors, a lot of receivers, and of course our four-year quarterback. But we’ll find a way to make it work with the guys we do have coming back.” Palotti – notwithstanding his frontrunner status at QB – is slated to start at cornerback, and will also succeed school all-time great Ryan Pender as Oceanside’s placekicker. Both Palotti and Saccareccia – last year’s starting signal-caller for Oceanside’s JV team – give the Sailors dual-threat options at quarterback, Blount said, possibly further enhancing Oceanside’s already lethal ground game. “Peter’s a little faster, maybe gets a little more separation,” Blount said. “Brian runs more like a power runner. But really, they’re very similar.” “Both can pass, too,” Blount added. “Which ever one we go with, they can do the job.” Oceanside hosts Conference 1 foe Farmingdale – which it eliminated last year in the league semifinal, avenging an early loss – in the opener, with a Week 5 rematch at Massapequa looming on Oct. 10. “We’re built totally differently (from last year),” Blount said. “One thing I would say, I think this group, it being a much smaller group, I think they’re very close knit. They have a nice a nice brotherhood between them, and a nice amount of grit.” “I think they believe in themselves,” Blount added. “They want to get back to the final.” 38

Benny Jacofsky

HUDSON TRISCARI

BEY ALEXANDER

Schedule

CHACE MORRIS

4 10 26

September Farmingdale 6:00 p.m. @ East Meadow 4:00 p.m. Carey 1:30 p.m.

2 10 16 23 31

October Syosset 6:00 p.m. @ Massapequa 2:00 p.m. Port Washington 6:30 p.m. @ Westbury 6:00 p.m. @ Hempstead 1:30 p.m. Photos by Michelle Ebel

September 10, 2026

Thank you to all the sponsors of the 2026 Sailor Nation Football & Lacrosse Golf Outing Platinum Sponsor EGP Land & Sea & Oceanside

Hole Sponsors Briguglio Construction Dowling Mechanical Plumbing Dario’s Restaurant Best Auto Leasing Speed Island Beach Liquors Coach Bryan Collins Foundation Island Time Shine Jones Beach Brewing Co. Oceanside Warriors Ramalho Tree Service Blount Family Dato Family Di Dio Family Guida Family Harmon Family Hickam Family Italiano Family Jacofsky Family Kelly Family Kraemer Family Mohr Family Pender Family Puma Family Triscari Family

Polo Shirt Sponsor South Shore Collision Long Island Gear Beverage Glass Sponsor TwinCo Plumbing Corporate Sponsors J Paul's Terrace Cafe East Rockaway/Oceanside Raiders Football 25 North Simply Strong Construction Alumni Hole Sponsors Joe Denaro Alumni 2012-2014 Luke Schwasnick Alumni 2012-2014 Connor Johnson Alumni 2012-2014 DiGiovanna Family Alumni 2010-2022

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Sailor Nation Football & Lacrosse Players & Coaches 39

September 10, 2026

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PLAINEDGE

2026 HERALD High School Football Preview

Red Devils under new leadership

By MARC BERMAN

here is a new sheriff in town but Plainedge’s glowing football tradition should carry on. North Massapequa product Adam Hovorka replaces legendary head coach Rob Shaver, who served 30 years, weaving a 210-87-1 record, leading the Red Devils to six Nassau County championships and two Long Island titles. The defensive coordinator the past nine seasons, Hovorka a 1994 Plainedge graduate, is ready to fill big shoes. “I’m incredibly excited,’’ Hovorka said. “I played here, grew up here. I coached other places and came back. My family is here. I’m as all in as all in could be.’’ Shaver was on the verge of notching his seventh county title last winter but Plainedge (10-1) got upset by Seaford in the Conference IV championship game. “Sometimes you get lulled, but I’m not going to stay we took them lightly,’’ Hovorka said. “Their coaches and players did a really good job and got us that day.’’ What struck Hovorka was how players responded to the defeat. “Without saying anything to anyone, that Monday after the disappointing loss, they all came to the weight room,’’ Hovorka said. “That loss motivated them to put in a lot of work and time in the offseason.’’ Despite losing 14 seniors, Plainedge is No. 2 seed as it moves up from to Conference III from IV. It’s still is loaded with a dense senior class, including its star senior running back/receiver/safety Dom Agovino. “We’re the two seed for a reason,’’ Hovorka said. “That’s with a new coach coming in. That’s credit to what coach Shaver has built here and how our community values football. We got a lot of good players.” Agovino, armed with a lacrosse scholarship to Wingate (N.C.), is a super football player, too, and mans three positions. “He’ll be the best player on the team most likely,’’ Hovorka said. “He does a little bit of everything offensively – shifty, electric with the ball, hard to cover, hard to tackle.’’ The new coach won’t disclose his strategy on when Agovino will be used in the backfield. Shaver acted as offensive High School Football Preview

coordinator. The OC position is now shared by Mike Walsh and Kevin Spellman. “He’s probably our best running back and best receiver,’’ Hovorka said of Agovino. “It would be silly not to use him in both.’’ Senior Casey Auer is another key offensive cog - the running back who will take quarterback reps in “wildcat” formations. Last season, Auer, who will play lacrosse at Hofstra, lined up at receiver in 2025. He’s a third-year starter, also playing linebacker. “He’s very athletic and strong,’’ Hovorka said. The new quarterback is junior Aidan Ryan, taking over for senior Jaxson Torres, who’s focusing on his baseball scholarship at Arizona State. “He’s very athletic and a dual-threat guy who can run and throw,’’ Hovorka said of Ryan. “He had a great summer and worked really hard.’’ As a sophomore, Ryan started at safety and will do so again. Anchoring the offensive line is runblocking specialist Jake McClosky. He also plays the defensive line and is headed to Springfield College for football. Also returning on both lines is senior Matteo Pallone. The Red Devils will need good work from senior offensive and defensive lineman Alex Martinez, a first-year starter. The offense could be measurably helped if junior tight end Jimmy Marx is as good as advertised. Marx is up from JV – a 6-foot-3 potential stud. “Big, tall guy, strong as heck in the weight room,’’ Hovorka said. “He won’t be a surprise as he’s been real good all summer.’’ The defense is boosted by linebacker Jonny Cynar, who also received a lacrosse scholarship to Wingate. Cynar started at linebacker a year ago but will get a crack at running back. James Cito, a senior, was a backup player last year but his hard work in the weight room has earned him a role at receiver/safety. Senior Andrew Speed also will see time at receiver/safety. A junior, Caiden Farrell is up from JV after a solid offseason and will play on both lines. “He got really strong - one of the strongest kids we have,’’ Hovorka said. “We lost a lot of seniors but we’re still pretty deep,’’ he added. 41

Dom Agovino

CASEY AUER

AIDEN RYAN

Schedule September 10 Wantagh 6:30 p.m. 18 Division 6:30 p.m. 25 @ Lynbrook 6:00 p.m.

JAKE MCCLOSKEY

3 9 16 23 29

October @ Clarke Elmont @ South Side Manhasset @ Bethpage

2:00 p.m. 6:30 p.m. 6:00 p.m. 6:30 p.m. 5:30 p.m.

Photos by Karen Millindorf

September 10, 2026

SEAFORD

2026 HERALD High School Football Preview

Vikings set sail on defending title By PETER SCHWARTZ

ast year, the Vikings enjoyed a spectacular 10-2 season that included an upset victory over Plainedge in the Nassau Conference IV championship game. Seaford’s memorable season came to an end with a tough loss to Bayport-Blue Point in the Long Island Class IV championship game and now the goal for 2026 is to do it all over again. But this time, finish the season with a L.I. title is the goal. “Our outlook is always the same,” head coach Mike McHugh said. “Our outlook is always to reload, put the pieces back in place, and get back to Hofstra. And then once we get to Hofstra, then we reassess everything but our goal is get to Hofstra, win a championship, and then move on to the Long Island championship. That’s always our goal. We don’t every try to shortchange ourselves. We’re trying to run a championship team out there every year.” This year’s squad will look a lot different than 2025 as the Vikings, still seeded at the top of Conference IV, lost a plethora of seniors including all of their offensive starters. With a goal of reloading and the expectation that they will continue to win, Seaford will look to some key players to step up and lead the way back the postseason to compete for a title. Senior running back and captain Michael Calvacca is a dynamic player who’ll provide a big spark to the offense. “He’s a tremendous runner,” McHugh said. “He’s a very quick and shifty runner and has the ability to score on every play. If he gets through that hole, he’s going to be tough to tackle and tough to chase down.” Following the graduation of quarterback Michael Spinella, junior Finn Curry will take over under center in what will be his third year on varsity. “He’s an agile, mobile, and quick quarterback,” McHugh said of Curry. “He’s not a pocket passer. He’ll get out and run the ball in the spread. We’re looking for good things from him. He can run and he can throw.”

High School Football Preview

Senior Michael Kofod is a strong twoway player and will be a force at cornerback and running back. He’s a running back who offers a different look than Calvacca while also filling a key role on defense. “He’s going to be the one who is going to put his head down and run you over,” McHugh said of Kofod. “He’s also our lockdown corner and will play the opponent’s best receiver.” Another two-way player and leader is senior safety and wide receiver Jackson Pignataro. A captain, Pignataro is a dynamic slot receiver who is small but shifty and also brings a lot to the table in the defensive backfield. “He catches the ball in tough situations in tight spaces,” said McHugh. “He’s a tough safety. He reads the quarterback and reads the receivers well. He breaks on the ball and is a solid tackler.” Other important pieces include captain Brock Conway, who plays middle linebacker and tight end, senior wide receiver Carmine Pandolfino, and senior offensive lineman/ middle linebacker Anthony Foglia. The latter voluntarily switched from fullback/tight end because Seaford needed help on the line. On special teams, Vincent Catalfomo will handle kicking duties and Logan DiFondi the punting. The Vikings are sure to have a target on their backs as the defending county champs. “I think this year is going to be tough,” McHugh said. “I think it’s going to be an even conference. Lynbrook is going to be a challenge and Floral Park is going to be a challenge. We don’t know what to expect with the merger of West Hempstead and East Rockaway. While it’s going to be a tough conference, there are a lot of unknowns. I think it’s going to be a battle every week.” The Vikings open at home Sept. 10 against No. 2-seed Lynbrook under the lights for a 630 p.m. kickoff. Seaford will also face the top seed from Conference III, South Side, in a highly anticipated crossover matchup in Week 3.

Michael Calvacca

MICHAEL KOFOD

FINN CURRY

Schedule September 10 Lynbrook 6:30 p.m. 18 @ ERock/WH 6:00 p.m. 25 South Side 6:30 p.m. October 2 Locust Valley 9 @ C.S. Harbor 17 Malverne 24 @ Floral Park 31 @ V.S. North JACKSON PIGNATARO

6:30 p.m. 7:00 p.m. 2:00 p.m. 2:00 p.m. 2:00 p.m.

Photos by Karen Millindorf

September 10, 2026

SEWANHAKA

2026 HERALD High School Football Preview

Ravens bring experience and playoff hopes By DAVID WEINGRAD

ith a young Ravens core that steadily improved as it adapted to the speed and physicality of varsity football last season, Sewanhaka enters this fall expecting that growth to continue. Many of those players are now experienced juniors and seniors, and head coach George Kasimatis, entering his 18th year, believes the Ravens can pick up where they left off and continue getting better as the season progresses. “The kids got experience and got used to the pace of the game,” Kasimatis said. “It’s a big step up from JV level to varsity.” Seeded No. 8 in Conference III, Sewanhaka believes its combination of experience and athleticism can make it competitive and part of the playoff race. Kasimatis also sees a close-knit team that has spent years playing together and developed a chemistry that should benefit the Ravens on both sides of the ball. At quarterback, last year’s starter Lance Williams Jr. is competing with fellow junior Peyton Saravia-Sims and senior Mahmood Kamal for the job. Kasimatis believes all three are strong candidates who’ll contribute. Williams started as a sophomore and brings running and passing ability along with experience at safety. Kasimatis considers leadership his greatest strength, noting that Williams constantly encourages his teammates. Kamal brings a strong arm and will also contribute in the secondary, while Saravia-Sims also throws well, is a physical runner and will also contribute as a linebacker. Senior Joe Balletta gives the Ravens a versatile weapon at running back and slot receiver who can both run and catch. The receiving corps includes junior Ryan Lerouge, a big, physical first year varsity player who will also play linebacker, and junior Justin Moreau, who gained valuable varsity experience as a sophomore. “He’s a specimen,” Kasimatis said of Moreau. “You look at the kid and you’re like, holy cow. Tall, long, strong, can run like a deer.” Junior Amari James adds another versatile option at running back and slot receiver after a strong JV season and will also play defensive back. Junior Anthony Gutierrez brings a physical style to the running game and will contribute at linebacker. Other players making the jump to varsity

High School Football Preview

include junior Gleed-arly Josma, a defensive back and receiver who impressed with his offseason work ethic, and junior Stephen Antoine, an athletic receiver and defensive back. “He’ll find his way on the field somewhere,” Kasimatis said of Antoine. “He’s too good to leave off.” Junior Chayce Clanton returns at running back and linebacker after earning All-Conference honors as a sophomore and provides another proven presence on both sides of the ball. Up front, senior Joelle Matheson is a threeyear starter and one of Sewanhaka’s primary leaders. Senior guard Aiden Jacob provides additional leadership, while junior Troy Marston emerged at center after getting an opportunity there late last season. Junior Isaiah Adeleke will contribute at tackle and defensive end, with Kasimatis praising his intelligence and work ethic. Senior Leonardo Velasco is taking on a new challenge on the offensive line while providing versatility defensively. Senior Jawad Kamal also returns at defensive end as one of the Ravens’ veteran leaders. “He’s one of these kids that’s the first guy out on the field, last guy off,” Kasimatis said. The Ravens will get an early measuring stick in Week 2 against two-time defending county champion Wantagh under the Friday night lights, and again in Week 6 against topseeded South Side, a game Kasimatis believes will provide a strong test of how much the Ravens have improved by that point in the season. That development remains the theme for a group that already showed its ability to improve last season. Playing mistake free football, utilizing the team’s speed and communicating effectively will all be important, but Kasimatis believes Sewanhaka’s chemistry can help bring everything together. “There’s no cliques,” he said. “These guys are together all the time.” And while the playoffs remain the ultimate destination, Kasimatis wants his Ravens focused on getting better each day. “Every team’s goal is to make the playoffs,” he said. “If we take care of the stuff we’re supposed to take care of, the outcome will be the playoffs. Work hard Monday through Friday, and Saturday will take care of itself.”

Aiden Jacob

JOELLE MATHESON

JAWAD KAMAL

Schedule

JUSTIN MOREAU

9 18 26

September Glen Cove 4:30 p.m. @ Wantagh 7:00 p.m. V.S. North 1:30 p.m.

3 9 17 24 30

October Division @ Hewlett @ Elmont South Side @ Mineola

2:00 p.m. 6:00 p.m. 1:30 p.m. 1:30 p.m. 6:30 a.m.

Photos by Erik Lee

September 10, 2026

SOUTH SIDE

2026 HERALD High School Football Preview

Cyclones celebrate 100th season as top seed By ANDREW COEN

outh Side will kick off the 2026 season with expectations sky high for a deep postseason run. The Cyclones are seeded first in Conference III after a 7-win season that ended with an 18-15 heartbreaking defeat to Bethpage in the county semifinals at Hofstra’s Shuart Stadium. It marks the first time South Side has garnered the No. 1 preseason ranking since the seedings have existed going back to the early 1990s during a year when the program fittingly marks its 100th anniversary. “It’s a testament to what we have coming back from last year’s team,” said 16th-year head coach Phil Onesto. “The expectation last year was to be in that county championship game and we fell just short so they are excited to get back out there as they feel like they have some unfinished business.” The Cyclones return plenty of offensive firepower from last year including both starting running backs in senior AJ Magaraci and junior Ethan Johnson. Magaraci rushed for 884 yards and nine touchdowns while Johnson amassed 660 yards and 10 scores. Junior quarterback Rob Cesario also returns after starting most games as a sophomore and tossing six touchdowns. One of his top targets will be junior wide receiver Kieran Vetter, who missed most of last season due to injury before returning in the playoffs and catching two touchdowns in the semifinal loss to Bethpage. Versatile senior Reagan Petrone will also play a role in the passing game either at slot receiver out of the backfield after earning some late-season experience last year. Senior Ryan Solomon will also be playing wideout this season after serving as backup quarterback as a junior. Other potential receivers were unknown entering preseason practices with a number of position battles up in the air including the tight end position between seniors Ryan Madden and Christian Harris. “There are a couple position battles in a couple different places but it is a good thing

High School Football Preview

because it’s not a situation where guys are just sliding into positions,” Onesto said. “They have to put in the work and they are going to make each other better by doing that.” The offensive line also has positions up for grabs after graduating some key seniors. The trenches will be anchored by returning starters in seniors Pat Lambarello at center and Jaylen Fletcher at guard. Brayden Owens and Alex Basile and could also see time on the line at the tackle position. The defense has experience in the secondary with Magaraci and Vetter returning as the starting safeties. Patron, who started at cornerback late in the season and South Side’s two playoff games, will also play a critical role in the Cyclones’ pass defense. The defense will also be keyed by senior defensive end D’Andre Mullings-Newberry, who was elected one of the team captains. “He’s very athletic and very fast,” Onesto said of Mullings-Newberry. “We’re expecting him to have a really big year.” Onesto said Johnson at linebacker and Fletcher at defensive tackle provide experience in stopping the run. Senior Jalen Hurt will also be stepping into a defensive tackle role this fall. On special teams, South Side returns Magaraci as the punter. The kicker job will be between Dylan Berenbroick, who started on junior varsity last year and Joshua James, a football newcomer who has shined on the South Side track & field team. The Cyclones have added two Catholic League transfers who could make contributions in Gavin D’Alessandro, a receiver and linebacker from Kellenberg, and Shea Owens, a receiver and defensive back from Chaminade. Onesto said he expects strong competition in Conference III with a number of potential championship contenders including Plainedge, Wantagh and Bethpage. “Every week is going to be tough,” Onesto said. “We have the number one next to our name, but we know week in and week out if we don’t bring our A game it’s going to be trouble.”

AJ Magaraci

ETHAN JOHNSON

KIERAN VETTER

Schedule

JALEN HURT

9 19 25

September Elmont 6:00 p.m. Clarke 2:00 p.m. @ Seaford 6:30 p.m.

2 10 16 24 31

October Manhasset @ Bethpage Plainedge @ Sewanhaka @ Wantagh

6:00 p.m. 1:30 p.m. 6:00 p.m. 1:30 p.m. 1:30 p.m.

Photos by Michelle Ebel

September 10, 2026

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UNIONDALE

2026 HERALD High School Football Preview

Knights aim for overall growth By NIKO SCARLATOS

he Knights enter the 2026 football season with a renewed sense of optimism, increased participation and a team that appears to be fully embracing the culture head coach Adrian Berry has worked to establish. After finishing 1-7 in Berry’s first season at the helm, Uniondale is looking to turn the page. The Knights are working towards opening day, which is right around the corner, providing an early opportunity to see how much the program has grown since last fall. “Things have been looking really solid so far in camp,” Berry said. “The team is coming together culture wise. This is the highest number we’ve had in terms of participation.” That growth is particularly important for a program coming off a difficult season. Berry acknowledged that his first year involved a significant adjustment period, both for himself and the players. “Last year was my first year, so there was a lot of learning that went on,” Berry said. “The seniors last year worked hard but had a tough time transitioning to a new coach, but this group has completely bought in and they’re finding ways to lead the team. Us coaches haven’t had to say as much which is a good thing.” The offense will be led by senior quarterback Abelardo Peralta, one of the key veterans expected to guide a roster filled with promising younger talent. “He’s taken on a huge leadership role,” Berry said. “He doesn’t shy away from any challenge and he’s the perfect guy for other players to follow.” Up front, center Noah Raymond is the only senior on the offensive line, giving him an important leadership role in addition to having chemistry with Peralta. Much of the line’s future will rest with junior twins Jaden and Joshua Armstead, who form a guard tackle combination that Berry believes can benefit from their natural chemistry and familiarity with one another. In the backfield, junior Aiden Lee High School Football Preview

returns after making his presence felt as a sophomore last season and emerging as one of Uniondale’s leading rushers. His experience should make him an important part of the Knights’ offensive attack. “We really like the development we’ve seen from him,” Berry said. The receiving corps also has several intriguing options. Jowell Facey is looking to build on a productive but injury affected season in which he recorded four touchdowns in four games. After dealing with injuries last year, Facey has put together a strong camp and could become a major target for Peralta. Junior Xavier Harding is another receiver Berry is watching closely. “He’s another guy who we’re looking to see break out,” Berry said. Sophomore Omar Larson could also make an immediate impact on both sides of the ball as a wide receiver and defensive back. According to Berry, Larson was “by far the best player on JV” last season and possesses a knack for getting open despite not being the fastest player on the field. On defense, strong safety Marquis Lawrence is another player generating excitement. Berry said Lawrence is looking stronger than ever entering the season, and the Knights are eager to see what he can bring to the secondary. Berry also believes the team’s improvement extends beyond the players on the field. In his second season, he has developed greater confidence in his coaching staff and is embracing a more collaborative approach. “I tried to do a lot of it on my own in year one, but this year I have so much more trust in my staff,” Berry said. “Some of these guys have better perspectives on what they see. It’s a team effort.” That team first mentality could be the foundation for Uniondale’s turnaround. With increased participation, returning contributors and a group of players that has bought into the program, the Knights hope this fall will mark a significant step forward. The progress has already started in camp and the journey begins at Syosset. Uniondale is seeded No. 11 in the 12-team Conference I. 48

Abelardo Peralta

MARQUIS LAWRENCE

AIDEN LEE

Schedule September 4 @ Syosset 6:30 p.m. 10 Hempstead 4:45 p.m. 19 East Meadow 1:30 p.m. 3 10 17 24 31 JAYDEN ARMSTEAD

October @ Plainview @ Westbury Herricks Hicksville @ Freeport

3:00 p.m. 6:30 p.m. 1:30 p.m. 1:30 p.m. 1:30 p.m.

Photos by Jeff Wilson

September 10, 2026

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Sports

real local, real news September 10, 2026

2026 HERALD High School Football Preview

V.S. CENTRAL Eagles embrace fresh start By NIKO SCARLATOS

alley Stream Central enters the new football season with plenty of motivation after finishing 3-6 last year and missing the playoffs. But if head coach Tom Schiavo’s assessment of his team is any indication, this is a group that has been building toward the fresh start for months. The Eagles began their offseason work right after Thanksgiving, and Schiavo has been impressed with the commitment of a veteranled roster that includes 26 seniors. “The kids have been working so hard since December, weight room, agility, speed,” Schiavo said. “Everyone’s really motivated.” That work ethic has become a defining characteristic of the program. Schiavo said the senior class has followed the example set by last year’s seniors. “A lot of seniors last year led by example and the loaded senior class this year has done the same thing so far,” he said. The Eagles will have experience at several key positions, beginning with quarterback. Senior Evan Nelson returns after starting all nine games and earning honorable mention All-County recognition. Nelson gives Central an athletic presence behind center, with Schiavo describing him as “lightning quick” and a player who runs hard and with authority. Just as important, Nelson enters the season with a thorough understanding of the system. “He knows the offense inside and out,” Schiavo said. Nelson will have a veteran group of wide receivers around him. Seniors Zakai Phillips, Matthew Feaster, Dylan Eason and Danny Sanchez all started every last season, giving the Eagles an experienced group on the outside. The receivers also bring versatility to the roster. Phillips and Feaster contribute at linebacker, while Eason and Sanchez also play defensive back. That two-way experience could be especially valuable as Central looks to get contributions from its returnees on both sides of the ball. The offensive line could be another area of strength. Senior Chris Jarushewsky started all nine games and can play center, guard or tackle.

High School Football Preview

Schiavo describes him as “tough as nails,” and his experience should provide stability up front. Nick Huerta, a 6-foot-1, 240 pound senior, also has the ability to play all three interior and tackle positions and is looking to make a major impact. The Eagles also return 6-2, 230-pound senior Jahsii Lumsden, along with Ryan Chamblin. Isaac Nyanin adds even more size and versatility at 6-1, 240 pounds and can contribute at running back as well as along the line. Dhanesh Sing can play offensive line and linebacker, while Kyle McCray is an offensive lineman who can also see time at nose guard. Daniel Desrossiers will primarily play nose guard. The running back position, meanwhile, remains wide open. None of the Eagles’ backs emerged as the clear workhorse last season, creating an opportunity for Nickoli Friday, Jalen Spady-Peak and Xavier Reinoso to compete for the starting job. Schiavo emphasized that all three deserve recognition as they battle for carries and playing time. The Eagles also expect significant contributions from younger players, an important development for a roster that already has so much senior leadership. The challenge will be blending that youth with an experienced group that understands what it takes to compete at the varsity level. For Schiavo, though, the most encouraging part of the preseason has been the culture surrounding the team. “You can never tell what our record is because they just work hard consistently on a daily basis no matter what,” Schiavo said. “The kids on this team love football and you can see it. The seniors really set the tone and I hope the younger guys are taking notes.” The Eagles will face a daunting schedule as the No. 11 seed in the 12-team Conference II. They open on the road at ninth-seeded Baldwin and travel to No. 6 New Hyde Park before their Week 3 home opener against Herricks. Schiavo also credited the administration and booster club for helping create an environment in which players can thrive. “We’ve built a great culture within this program,” he said. “The administration and booster club has been great and we’ve tried to make it an awesome place to play football.”

Evan Nelson

MATTHEW FEASTER

ZAKAI PHILLIPS

Schedule

CHRIS JARUSHEWSKY

10 19 25

September @ Baldwin 5:00 p.m. @ New Hyde Park 1:00 p.m. Herricks 6:00 p.m.

3 10 16 24 31

October @ Mepham Kennedy @ Jericho Roosevelt MacArthur

3:00 p.m. 1:30 p.m. 6:00 p.m. 1:30 p.m. 1:30 p.m.

Photos by Sue Grieco

September 10, 2026

V.S. NORTH

2026 HERALD High School Football Preview

Spartans can build off winning campaign By BRIAN KACHARABA

alley Stream North enters the 2026 football campaign coming off its first winning regular season since 2014, but coach Mike Paolillo knows building on that success will be difficult. The Spartans went 5-4 last year, finishing with a 42-13 victory over Jericho. A majority of that roster has graduated, and VSN has not returned to the playoffs since 2021. The Spartans move from Conference III to Conference IV, a change Paolillo believes could help because of depth. “It’s tough to build on, but we do have some people that can replace some of the big people that left,” Paolillo said. “Being in Conference IV helps us a little bit because other teams don’t have as much depth, similar to us, so it kind of helps us as well.” The Spartans will need replacements for several key contributors. Senior Adebayo Kayode, who started at defensive back last season and also saw time at tailback, is expected to take on a larger role. Kayode filled both spots admirably in the Jericho win, returning an interception 53 yards for a touchdown in the third quarter before scoring on a 58-yard run in the fourth. “We expect him to get the ball hopefully 20 to 30 times a game,” Paolillo said. “He hits the hole hard, and when he gets into space, nobody’s catching him.” Junior Justin Gangi gives North another downhill runner. Senior Mike Omojola is expected to play fullback and linebacker. “He’s strong,” Paolillo said of Omojola. “He’s in great shape. He’s aggressive. He’s fast for his size.” The tightest training camp battle was at quarterback, where seniors Brandon Rivera and Max Guzman were competing for the starting job. Paolillo said the race remains close and could continue into Week 1. “It’s going to come down to the little things that really make the decision,” he said. “They’re pretty neck and neck right now.” North also has weapons outside. Senior Jeremiah Thomas returns as a receiver and defensive, with his athleticism making him a

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potential matchup problem. “Any jump ball, he’s got,” Paolillo said. “He does have a great vertical leap. We’ve got to get him the ball more often.” Senior Asa Aswad will handle kicking and punting duties while also playing split end and outside linebacker. Paolillo described him as a precise route runner. The Spartans return Eddy Turcios at left guard and Alex Walfisch at center. Paolillo expects both to provide senior leadership on an offensive line that has only two returning players. Anthony Chioffe, another senior, is a candidate at tackle, while juniors Harold Bing, Yonny Turcios, Lucas Pagnotta and Rhaim Joseph are also competing for positions. Defensively, they have plenty of questions after losing much of last year’s roster. Junior Maddox Sessing is expected to play cornerback and contribute at wide receiver. Paolillo praised his speed, quickness and physicality. “He’s aggressive, and he plays well above his size,” he said. Senior Sean Smiley is expected to contribute at safety in the team’s defensive schemes, while Kayode, Omojola and Thomas will be among the players asked to play important defensive roles. North’s schedule includes games against two merged teams in East Rockaway-West Hempstead in the opener, and Oyster BayFriends Academy on Oct. 10. Paolillo said the Spartans will not have any easy games, but the first two contests should reveal where the team stands. “The first two games are going to tell where we are,” Paolillo said while also referencing the Spartans’ home contest against Floral Park on Sept. 18. “Win or lose, depending on how we compete against the first two teams, they’re going to tell us what we really are.” Paolillo’s goal is to return the Spartans to the playoffs for the first time in five years. “[I think] 5-3, 6-2 is what would be super successful,” he said. After missing the postseason for four years, Paolillo said the Spartans are determined to find their way back. “Yes,” he said. “We have to.”

Adebayo Kayode

EDDY TURCIOS

JERRY THOMAS

Schedule

MICHAEL OMOJOLA

10 18 26

September ERock/WH 3:00 p.m. Floral Park 6:00 p.m. @ Sewanhaka 1:30 p.m.

2 10 17 24 31

October @ Carle Place Oyster Bay @ V.S. South Lawrence Seaford

7:15 p.m. 2:00 p.m. 1:30 p.m. 1:30 p.m. 2:00 p.m.

Photos by Karen Millindorf

September 10, 2026

V.S. SOUTH

2026 HERALD High School Football Preview

Falcons set lofty goals following playoff berth By TONY BELLISSIMO

here was no shortage of gridiron excitement at Valley Stream South a year ago. The Falcons earned four victories, qualified for the Nassau Conference III playoffs and played in the highest-scoring regularseason game in county history when they beat Division, 68-64, on a touchdown from since-graduated quarterback Danny Casey. Back in familiar stomping grounds of Conference IV, head coach Joe Guastafeste is looking for the program to take the next step and reach the semifinals at Hofstra for the first time in 14 years. “Getting to the playoffs last year was a goal, and now it’s an expectation,” he said. “We can’t get too ahead of ourselves, but the goal is to get to Hofstra and it’s something we’re capable of. I like our schedule. We’re familiar with Conference IV to a degree, but it’s not easy to bounce around.” Seeded No. 9 in the 14-team conference, the Falcons will need to jump at least one spot from their preseason ranking to even make the playoffs. Then win a postseason game for the first time since 2012. In the mix to replace Casey, an AllCounty selection, under center is junior Jayvian Panka, last season’s varsity backup, and senior Dave Dyer, who served a vital role at wing back. “Both are quality athletes and most of all we’re looking for consistency at quarterback,” Guastafeste said. “Neither has experience throwing the ball in a varsity game, so we’ll see where we’re at as we get closer to Week 1.” Dyer will be part of the backfield corps if he’s not the starting signal-caller, Guastafeste noted. Junior Aiden Parris is set to be the workhorse at running back after becoming one of the team’s premier players down the stretch last fall. Parris, a powerful ball-carrier who’s tough to bring down, had 67 carries for 394 yards and 3 touchdowns. He’ll also contribute on special teams in the return game. Paving the way up front and in the leadership department is senior Hunter Rush,

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a captain and returning two-way starter at guard and linebacker. He’s 6-foot-3, 235 pounds and will also lead the kicking game. “Hunter is one of our leaders on and off the field,” Guastafeste said “He’s always working to get stronger and is athletic and intense.” Senior lineman Sherry Raza is another two-way returning starter who plays offensive tackle and any position along the defensive front. He brings good size (6-2, 260) and toughness and “plays with an attitude,” Guastafeste said. Rush, Raza and junior guard Kendall Martin were all starting offensive linemen on South’s undefeated JV team in 2024. Martin brings two years of JV starting experience to varsity and has excellent footwork and solid technique. He’ll also contribute at defensive line or linebacker. At center, senior Angel Cruz started the last half of the regular season and playoff loss to Carey. He’s back in that role and senior Christian Singh, who worked hard to earn the first four starts at center in 2025, could start at tackle opposite Raza. Junior Jayden Alliance is up from JV and also in the mix to top the depth chart. When the Falcons take flight with the ball, the quarterback can look to senior wideouts Michael Thimote, Joaquin Pagan and Branden St. Font. Thimote is a returning two-way starter with good hands and will be part of the defensive secondary with Pagan, the slot receiver who stood out during summer action. St. Fort has a wingspan larger than his 6-foot frame suggests and could also be an option at tight end. South’s utility knife is senior captain Jace Thomas, someone who can gain yards on the ground as a runner and make takes at linebacker after playing cornerback a year ago. “He’s one of our fastest kids,” Guastafeste noted. A fast start would go a long way towards the Falcons’ attaining their goals. A pivotal season-opening matchup with Island Trees and Homecoming versus neighboring Valley Stream North in Week 6 highlight the schedule.

Hunter Rush

JACE THOMAS

DAVE DYER

Schedule

SHERRY RAZA

10 19 27

September Island Trees 7:00 p.m. @ Oyster Bay 1:30 p.m. @ Division 7:00 p.m.

3 10 17 24 31

October C.S. Harbor Lawrence V.S. North @ Locust Valley Lynbrook

2:00 p.m. 1:30 p.m. 1:30 p.m. 1:30 p.m. 1:30 p.m.

Photos by Erik Lee

September 10, 2026

WANTAGH

2026 HERALD High School Football Preview

Warriors seek third straight county title By TONY BELLISSIMO

ou can count on one finger how many sophomores have won the Thorp Award, given annually to Nassau County’s top football player. That’s Luke Martini, who won it last fall after helping lead Wantagh to its second consecutive county title. The Warriors captured the Conference III crown after taking the Conference IV championship in 2024. The 2024 Thorp winner was Luke’s older brother Dylan, marking the first time a pair of brothers captured the award. Luke was the 84th recipient. “Luke’s the whole package and we know everyone is going to focus on trying to stop him,” head coach Keith Sachs said. “He can do it all and is a physical specimen. We have to work every day on being more diverse on offense and I think we have the pieces to do it.” Martini rushed for a 32 yards shy of 2,000, averaging 12 yards per carry, and had 329 yards receiving. He totaled 25 touchdowns. Most of Luke’s comrades graduated, but Sachs is excited about Wantagh’s depth up front and potential of yet another first-year senior quarterback. Senior Max Avena was last year’s backup to standout Carter Loughman and saw action in two games. “Max is smart and dedicated and doing everything he can to get ready for Plainedge in the opener,” Sachs said. “He has a good arm. He’s a pocket-type but also looks good in playaction.” Sachs said the opener on the road against a talented Plainedge squad, in Conference III after a 10-1 campaign in IV, will be tricky. “It’s a tough opener because they’ve got a new coach and a new quarterback,” Sachs said. “We can’t fully prepare as much as we’d normally like to not knowing what they’ll look like, but it’ll be fine.” Wantagh is seeded No. 2 in Conference III behind South Side. The teams don’t meet until the final week of the regular season.

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Homecoming is Week 4 versus Glen Cove. Senior guard Pat Forthofer leads a group of offensive lineman that brings strength, agility and physicality. He’s also the team’s top defender who recorded 90 tackles. Junior Vincenzo Fullone is another guard with a high motor and excellent football instincts, Sachs said. “He’s a solid blocker and you’ll never see him give up on a play,” the coach noted. “He can chase down running backs.” Junior Brendan Wood is a threepronged weapon who’ll start at right tackle, the D-Line and kicker. His leg was a weapon last season and Sachs is expecting much of the same. At center, senior Bobby Friedman and junior Sean Murphy, last year’s JV starter, will contribute. At left tackle, the Warriors have depth with junior Joey Moy and sophomore Michael Christoforidis who plays with a “mean streak,” Sachs said. There’s lots of talent at the skill positions, just not as much of experience as last year. Senior Joe Adamo is a wing and linebacker who’ll be a big part of what the Warriors will look to do on both sides of the ball. Last year’s JV tailback, junior Mike Arteca, is also in the mix. Junior fullback Marty Maniet will also play a key role clearing pathways for Martini & Co. Through the air, juniors Luke Rubbo and Jayden Amendolare are first-year starters who can compliment each other well, Sachs said. Rubbo will play safety and Amendolare defensive end. Along with Forthofer, junior cornerback Tyler Owens will help the Warriors set the tone on defense. Owens will typically get the toughest assignment and is a shutdown corner with great tackling ability. Senior Ray Azzariti is no picnic to go against at the opposite corner. Wantagh has reached the county semifinals at Hofstra in 28 of the past 30 seasons. It’s both a goal and an expectation. “We lost a lot of big guns, but we’re just as physical and strong as last year,” Sachs explained. “We always want to be playing our best football come playoff time.”

Luke Martini

PAT FORTHOFER

JOE ADAMO

Schedule

MIKE AMODIO

10 18 26

September @ Plainedge 6:30 p.m. Sewanhaka 7:00 p.m. @ Floral Park 1:30 p.m.

3 9 17 24 31

October Glen Cove @ Manhasset Bethpage @ Elmont South Side

2:00 p.m. 6:00 p.m. 1:30 p.m. 1:30 p.m. 1:30 p.m.

Photos by Jeff Wilson

September 10, 2026

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September 10, 2026

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September 10, 2026