Newsday's top 50 Long Island flag football players for 2025
Clockwise, from top left: Jenna Biondo, Delaney Donato, Rachel Ganz, Grace Gilmartin, Emily Brake.
Lauren Alvarez, Valley Stream District, WR/CB, SR.
The two-way threat had 450 receiving yards and seven touchdowns. She also had 45 flag pulls and eight interceptions.
Caitlin Barry, MacArthur, WR/LB, Sr.
She caught 39 passes for 349 yards and six touchdowns. Barry also had 60 flag pulls and four INTs for the Generals, who went 13-4.
Alexa Benun, Port Washington, WR/SS, Sr.
The speedy 5-6 wide receiver rushed for 1,008 yards and scored 12 touchdowns. She also had two interceptions.
Jenna Biondo, North Babylon, QB, Sr.
The dual threat quarterback led North Babylon to an undefeated league championship and the Suffolk semifinals.
Lia Bono, Herricks, WR, Jr.
She had 39 catches for 737 yards and 10 touchdowns. Bono also rushed for 195 yards and a score on 37 carries.
Emily Brake, Plainview-Old Bethpage JFK, WR/DB, Sr.
The All-Long Island second-team selection caught 15 touchdown passes. The defensive back also had 59 flag pulls.
Stephanie Braun, Hauppauge, LB/RB, Sr.
She was a key cog in Hauppauge’s drive to the Suffolk title game. Braun had 77 flag pulls and four interceptions.
Rachel Burch, East Rockaway, RB/LB, Sr.
The 5-7 linebacker had 48 flag pulls and eight interceptions. She also scored four touchdowns.
Scarlet Carey, Harborfields, LB/WR, Jr.
She had 20 receptions for 414 yards and six touchdowns. Carey also had six interceptions and 43 flag pulls.
Hazel Carlson, Northport, RB/FS, Jr.
The 5-5 running back rushed for 328 yards and caught 38 passes for 524 yards. She was one of the top flag grabbers on Long Island with 152 pulls. Carlson also had six interceptions.
Valentina Castelli, Commack, WR/S, Soph.
The 5-6 wide receiver caught 17 passes for 300 yards and five touchdowns. She also had 30 flag pulls.
Kate Cusack, Bethpage, WR/ LB, Sr.
Cusack, who had 11 interceptions, was named the 2024 Nassau Conference B Defensive Player of the Year. The leader of the senior-laden team had 14 touchdowns.
Delaney Donato, Massapequa, QB, Sr.
A 5-10 quarterback that sees the field well, passed for 2,100 yards to helped lead Massapequa to the Nassau semifinals.
Joeyce Forero, Valley Stream District, WR/SS, Fr.
She had 600 yards receiving and 12 touchdowns and rushed for 215 yards and a score. Forero also had 20 flag pulls and four INTs.
Kate Franks, Plainedge, DE, Jr.
A tough defensive edge rusher who had 45 flag pulls, including 11 sacks.
Zoe Franks, Half Hollow Hills, WR/CB, Soph.
The 5-10 wide receiver is difficult to cover and has great hands. The All-Suffolk selection had 59 receptions for 720 yards and 12 touchdowns. Franks also had 46 flag pulls and seven interceptions.
Rachel Ganz, Plainview-Old Bethpage JFK, WR/DB, Sr.
The All-Long Island first-team selection caught 47 passes for 595 yards and 14 touchdowns. She led Long Island with 14 interceptions.
Grace Gilmartin, Northport, QB/DB, Jr.
The All-Long Island first-team selection and 5-7 quarterback rushed for 1,110 yards and 11 touchdowns. She also passed for 2,136 yards and 24 TDs.
Lara Glasser, Plainview-Old Bethpage JFK, WR/DB
The All-Long Island first-team selection and 2024 Newsday Player of the Year caught 75 passes for 1,026 yards and 14 touchdowns to help lead the Hawks to an undefeated season for the second straight year. She also had nine interceptions and 57 flag pulls for POB JFK, which won the state Division I title.
Regan Glick, Roslyn, WR/LB, Jr.
She caught 16 touchdown passes and ran for two more. The 5-5 linebacker had over 70 flag pulls and 18 interceptions, including eight pick-6s.
Abby Gregory, Division, WR/DB, Jr.
The All-Long Island second-team selection had 375 rushing yards, 428 receiving yards and 15 flag pulls.
Meghan Harker, Center Moriches, LB, Sr.
The 5-6 linebacker had 82 flag pulls, including 25 sacks. She also scored five touchdowns.
Giselle Harris, Longwood, WR/DB, Sr.
The 5-8 wide receiver had 36 catches for 810 yards and 11 touchdowns. She also had five INTs.
Clockwise, from top left: Lara Glasser and Emma Heaney, Alana Henry, Giselle Harris, Abby Gregory.
Emma Heaney, Plainview-Old Bethpage JFK, WR/DB, Sr.
The All-Long Island second-team selection had 22 receptions for 382 yards and seven touchdowns. She also had three interceptions, including two pick-6s.
Alana Henry, Amityville, QB/S, Sr.
The 6-foot quarterback is an outstanding athlete and can see the field well. Henry, who threw for six touchdowns, also had 24 flag pulls.
Samantha Heyman, Half Hollow Hills, QB/DB, Jr.
The All-Long Island first-team selection passed for 2,446 yards and 41 touchdowns. Heyman completed 82% of her passes, tops on Long Island. She also rushed for 868 yards and six scores and had 69 flag pulls and five interceptions.
Mackenzie Hughes, Patchogue-Medford, QB, Jr.
She passed for 905 yards and 16 touchdowns and rushed for 170 yards, two scores and five conversions.
Delaney Israel, Longwood, QB/DB, Sr.
The 5-6 quarterback and three-year starter threw for 1,200 yards and 10 touchdowns.
Sofia Larrea, Sachem, East, QB, Jr.
The All-Long Island second-team selection rushed for 14 touchdowns.
Ella Ledwith, Herricks, Slot, Sr.
The slot back totaled 618 yards and three scores on 62 attempts. She also caught 57 passes for 616 yards and four touchdowns.
Khaleis London, Bay Shore, WR/LB, Sr.
The 5-10 wide receiver caught 31 passes for 378 yards and five touchdowns for the Marauders. She also grabbed 24 flags.
Alexa Marchese, Sachem East, RB/WR/LB, Sr.
The speedy halfback scored four touchdowns and starred on defense with 80 flag pulls.
Ivy Matthews, Syosset, QB/DB, Sr.
The All-Long Island second-team selection passed for 1,357 yards and 16 scores to help lead Syosset to a 9-4 record. She also rushed for 900 yards and 13 touchdowns and had four interceptions.
Angie McGrath, Patchogue-Medford, WR/SS, Sr.
She caught 30 passes for 489 yards and six touchdowns. She also 22 flag pulls and seven interceptions.
Taylor Mileti, Hauppauge, QB/LB/P, Jr.
The All-Long Island first-team selection led Hauppauge to the Suffolk title game. Mileti, who passed for 2,041 yards and 40 touchdowns, completed 85% percent of her passes. She also rushed for 526 yards and six scores on 55 carries, pulled 57 flags and had six interceptions for the Eagles (15-2).
Olivia Moynihan, Sayville, QB
The All-Long Island first-team selection and 2024 Suffolk Player of the Year threw for 2,230 yards and 38 touchdowns and completed 64% of her passes. She also rushed for 867 yards and 13 touchdowns to help propel Sayville to the Long Island Division II championship.
Victoria O’Neil, Massapequa, QB/WR/DB, Jr.
Perhaps the most versatile player for Massapequa. O'Neil, who rotated between quarterback and wide receiver, passed for more than 1,000 yards.
Gianna Ponticello, Plainedge, QB/DB, Soph.
She 16 touchdown passes and ran for four more. Ponticello also returned two interceptions for scores.
Sarah Power, Northport, WR/DB, Jr.
Power had 901 receiving yards and nine touchdowns. She also pulled 54 flags and had four interceptions.
Gaby Ramirez, Lynbrook, RB/DL, Sr.
One of the better defensive linemen in Nassau had more than 50 flag pulls. She also scored five touchdowns.
Katelyn Reyes, Long Beach, TB/LB, Sr.
The 5-8 tailback had six touchdowns and also grabbed 50 flags.
Trinity Ricevuto, Sayville, CB/WR, Sr.
The All-Suffolk selection is considered by coach Reade Sands as one of the best cornerbacks in the state. She also will move to wide receiver.
Madi Richter, Whitman, QB, Soph.
She completed 165 of 269 pass attempts and threw for 1,507 yards and 25 touchdowns. She also had 27 conversions.
Rielle Solop, Roslyn, QB/LB, Soph.
The dynamic quarterback threw for 28 touchdowns and rushed for four more. She also had 60 flag pulls.
Brigid Southard, Port Washington, RB/DL, Sr.
The 5-8 edge rusher had 67 flag pulls, including 34 tackles for a loss and 21 sacks for a Vikings team that finished 11-5.
Olivia Stuart, West Babylon, WR/DB, Sr.
Stuart had 545 rushing yards and four touchdowns. She also had 45 flag pulls, one interception and four passes defended.
Ava Vadyak, Sayville, DB/WR, Sr.
The All-Long Island first-team selection had 59 receptions for 765 yards and 16 scores. She also had 32 flag pulls, eight interceptions and a defensive touchdown.
Ava West, Bellmore JFK, RB/LB, Sr.
The 5-10 halfback rushed for 1,200 yards and 17 TDs. She also had 80 flag pulls and six INTs to help lead Bellmore JFK to a 9-5 record.
Jolie Yablon, Bellmore JFK, WR/DB, Sr.
The 5-9 defensive back was one of Long Island’s interception leaders with eight.
Gianna Zawol, Kings Park, QB, Sr.
The All-Suffolk quarterback selection threw 14 touchdown passes.
Top row, from left: Sofia Larrea, Delaney Israel, Samantha Heyman. Middle row, from left: Alexa Marchese, Ivy Matthews, Taylor Mileti. Bottom row, from left: Olivia Moynihan and Ava Vadyak, Gianna Ponticello, Trinity Ricevuto.
Gregg Sarra is Newsday's high school sports editor and has been on the beat since the mid-1980s.
