Division 1 Suffolk County Football Preview

Division I

William Floyd 

Head Coach: Paul Longo

Coach Longo returns for his 31st season as head coach and he said he will do this for as long as he can, "I love it". The Colonials have won each of the past two Division 1 titles to add to their record 15 overall championships. Last season they were replacing 19 seniors but this year they have some main cogs back and ready to deliver once again. The biggest name being Ja’Quan Thoma, who many consider the best player on Long Island. The New York Jets named him “High School Football Offensive Player of the Year” by the New York Jets and Gatorade and he was the D-1 MVP last season. Thomas told me that he wants to "be better than last year and win as a team. His focus is on winning a Long Island Championship and to make history for the school and fans." With over 2,500 yards and 37 TDs last season William Floyd seems like the favorite to win this tough division once again. 

Patchogue-Medford 

Head Coach: Greg Murphy

Pat-Med will now have a new head coach for the 3rd time in as many seasons and last year they endured another rough one. They have won just two games in the past two seasons. Murphy now takes over with over 30 years of experience under his belt and has turned programs around leading his last team to its first Suffolk County championship and Long Island championship game appearance. He brought in veteran coaches with him and the excitement level showed with 40 kids on the roster showing up to off season workouts. Murphy is not shy to aim big saying “We’re going to compete for the playoffs." The team’s slogan for this season is “New beginnings, same tradition", with Murphy in charge the future looks bright. 

Longwood 

Head Coach: Sean Kluber 

Last year Coach Kluber said "this is the largest roster we have ever had at Longwood High School. We are holding 67 kids. We have 40 seniors and are bringing back 8 starters on each side of the ball." That is now a thing of the past as they graduated all of those seniors, but under Coach Kluber it's retool not rebuild. They come back with a ton of talent, even if their experience level is not what it was. Kluber has shown in his five years that he can elevate talent quickly and they will rely on sophomore QB Ryan Greene. Their defense should again be a cornerstone for them with an excellent secondary leading the way. 

Ward Melville 

Head Coach: Chris Boltrek 

One of the longest running football programs on the island is now going into its 59th year as a program and Head Coach Boltrek is entering his 12th. Their senior laden team from last year is gone, but their star power is back, especially on the offensive side of the ball. QB Hudson Philbrick, RB Joey Benedetto and  WR Joey Karpowicz will lead the charge for this explosive offense and they are gunning for William Floyd. The Floyd vs. Ward Melville rivalry has been historically owned by William Floyd, but Ward Melville is 2-2 the last 4 years against the powerhouse and their offensive playmakers could swing the balance in the division this season.  

Sachem East 

Head Coach: Ray Pickersgill 

Last season Sachem East felt great heading into the season returning every starter on both sides of the line, a line that won the lineman's challenge but this year that means massive turnover in the trenches. Jack Martineswill stabilize that uncertainty on both sides and his leadership can carry this team. How the new line gels with basically a new QB will make or break this season for East. 

Sachem North 

Head Coach: Dave Caputo 

Sachem North doesn't hide from their offensive outlook much. They want to run the ball early and often to set the tone and once again behind what should be a very good offensive line, they will be able to establish that mentality. The O-line won the coveted National Football Foundation Lineman Challenge this year and Coach Caputo expressed how proud he was of them. This will be the backbone of the team as it buys time for QB Luke LaRocca to open up the downfield passing game. Merely making it to the playoffs isn't Sachem's goal, as they have reached the semifinals each of the past three years, but behind this line they believe they can win the championship. 

Walt Whitman 

Head Coach: Robin Rosa 

Coach Rosa enters his 16th season at the helm and he will be coaching a team without a lot of experience. Whitman went into last season with low expectations but made it to their 5th straight postseason and this year the young squad looks to be energized at making that six straight. Their size at the power positions will be the X factor in determining how far they can go. 

Lindenhurst

Head Coach: Mark Frole 

Coach Frole became the 14th coach in the school's history last season and promptly delivered a winning season and a playoff berth. The former assistant coach knows the history of this program and hit the ground running and now can put even more of a stamp on his brand of football. He comes in with a young offensive line and a two headed QB situation, which can make some nervous, but Frole showed last year that his teams can get on the same page fast and how that line holds up will be the difference between another winning season or a growth year.  

Bay Shore 

Head Coach: Andrew Nevitt 

Nevitt had that two QB situation last year and now in year three he will be looking to get over the break even point. His players are on board and spoke at media day about the excitement they have coming into the year.  Coach Nevit highlighted the upward trend in Bay Shore's performance over the past two seasons and his players feel that same upward momentum. RB/LB Ray Cerda said,  "These last few years we've really changed the culture and the mindset, and we really just want to win. We've earned it, we've worked for it, and we're going to work towards a good season. You should expect big things out of us. We're going to surprise a lot of people." "I'm excited to play with all of my fellow teammates. I really think everyone in this season, they're really bringing each other up," said Lineman Nate Perez. While the school's proud history wasn't lost on defensive back Cato Thomas saying, "Bay Shore's a great program and for me to be a part of the ninety-ninth year is very special to me." 

Brentwood 

Head Coach: Rich DeJesus 

Coach DeJesus has some key playmakers this season and some solid line play makes Brentwood a trendy pick to have a very good season. They are led by All Suffolk team member Chris Peralta and there was a ton of talk about their offensive, and defensive line at media day. If Peralta can keep it up on both sides of the ball and the line holds up Brentwood will be a playoff team. 

Riverhead

Head Coach: Don Nelson

It's been a rough couple of years for Riverhead, after 2-6 and 1-7 seasons, they made a change at the top inserting new head coach Don Nelson to the role. Nelson is coaching his hometown team and he calls it a dream come true. Nelson was born in Riverhead, played for them and was part of Riverhead’s coaching staff in 1988 when the team won the Rutgers trophy, which is awarded to the best team in Suffolk County. His coaching has to focus on priority one being getting the defense right and if he can do that this feel good story will show up in the wins column. 

Central Islip

Head Coach: Sean Christie 

There is more turnover at the top at C.I. as they have hired Sean Christie as their new head coach. Christie comes in with D-1 playing experience and that was highlighted at media day. The players look up to someone who has had that sort of success and the school can feel the enthusiasm. Coach Christie was a 3 year starter at left guard at the University of Maryland from 2017-2019. Aristides Holman is a talented QB and the offense has some playmakers but there are line issues that need to be corrected. That is where we will see the coaching of Christie come in and can change the direction of this team that has won just one game the past two seasons.