The Sayville Golden Flashes are your Long Island Champions. After a brilliant, undefeated season, they held on against a strong Wantagh team to earn a 42–35 victory. The championship win took place this weekend at Hofstra University and marked the eighth Long Island title in program history. Sayville opened the game with two quick touchdowns, but Wantagh had been the comeback team all season, so the Flashes knew they were in for a four-quarter battle. It was the fifth time in six weeks that the Warriors trailed in the first half, and in each of those previous games they rallied to win. However, Sayville’s dominant ground attack prevented another comeback, as the Flashes ran all over the Wantagh defense.
Sayville was led by senior tailback Tristan Vitale and senior quarterback Patrick Coan. Vitale delivered a historic performance, rushing for 239 yards and five touchdowns, while Coan added 229 rushing yards and a score of his own. It was an offensive showcase, with both teams scoring at least one touchdown in every quarter. But despite Sayville’s offensive fireworks, the defense produced the biggest play of the day to secure the championship.
After Vitale’s 10-yard touchdown run on the first play of the fourth quarter put Sayville ahead 42–28, Wantagh answered with a 71-yard scoring drive and then recovered the ensuing on-side kick. Needing a stop, the Sayville defense rose to the moment. They allowed just one first down on the possession before forcing a fourth-and-13. That’s when Luke Neugebauer stepped in front of a pass for a game-clinching interception, sealing the Long Island title.
The win highlights Sayville’s recent dominance. This was the program’s third trip to the Long Island Championship in the last four years. The Golden Flashes previously won the title in 2022.