Week 8 preview: Will Sayville hand Half Hollow Hills West its first loss of season?

There are eight undefeated/untied high school football teams left as we head into the final week of the regular season.

There will be seven at the conclusion of Week 8.

The final showdown of unbeatens, before we reach the biggest stage that is the Long Island championships, comes in the form of a Suffolk Division III offensive show.

Perennial powerhouse Sayville (7-0) will meet resurgent Half Hollow Hills West (7-0) in what should be a crowd pleaser for offensive-minded fans. The game is scheduled for a 1 p.m. Saturday start in Dix Hills.

Top-seeded Sayville has met all expectations with another reload of talent and an offense that averages 41 points per game. First-year starting quarterback Jake Triptree stepped in, and the Golden Flashes juggernaut hasn’t skipped a beat. He has been spectacular throwing for 1,303 yards and 16 touchdowns. Sophomore Kyle Messina, one of L.I.’s top halfbacks, has rushed for 1,142 yards and a Suffolk-leading 18 scores.

Hills West will counter with sophomore quarterback Joseph Filardi, who has emerged as one of L.I.’s top signal callers. The Colts were only an eight seed in the preseason after a 3-5 finish in 2021.

Filardi has thrown for 1,508 yards and leads L.I. with 27 touchdown passes. The Colts average 41 points per game and wide receiver Jesse Brooks has 32 receptions for 635 yards and 10 scores.

Sayville has finished first in its division 11 times in 17 years and leads the all-time series, 22-9.

NASSAU I

Oceanside (4-3) at Freeport (3-4), Friday, 6 p.m.: Both teams are playoff bound. The winner will earn a home playoff game. Oceanside needs to contain junior quarterback D.J. Gordon for the road win. The Freeport defense shutout Baldwin last week and handed the Bruins their second loss.

NASSAU IV

Clarke (3-4) at Seaford (5-2), Friday, 6 p.m.: Two teams headed in opposite directions as Clarke is trying to hold onto the final playoff spot and a win here will guarantee a postseason appearance. Seaford’s Aiden Calvacca has rushed for 927 yards and 12 scores and the Vikings have won four in a row. Clarke’s Matt Metzger has rushed for 588 yards and four scores, but the Rams have lost four straight games.  

SUFFOLK II

Bellport (6-1) at Smithtown West (5-2), Friday, 6 p.m.: Bellport runs the ball. Smithtown West likes to pass. Clipper’s halfback Donte Phillips has rushed for 768 yards and nine scores. Quarterback Brayden Stahl has passed for 1,892 yards and 23 touchdowns for the Bulls and his receivers, Jack Melore and Jack LaPrarie, have been unstoppable. Smithtown West has never beaten Bellport, losing all 11 meetings.

CHSFL

St. Anthony's (6-1) at Stepinac (7-1), Friday, 7 p.m.: There is so much on the line in this game. The winner takes first place in the AAA division and assures itself of two home playoff games. The loser drops to third place. Stepinac has won six of nine meetings since 2014. Friars quarterback Dante Torres has thrown for 2,028 yards and 19 touchdowns but can the defense slow down Stepinac enough to win.

SUFFOLK II

North Babylon (5-2) at Half Hollow Hills East (4-3), Saturday, 1:30 p.m.: This game features two dominant running backs. North Babylon’s Nathaniel Griffith has an L.I. leading 1,483 rushing yards and 18 touchdowns. Hills East is coming off a big win over Lindenhurst in which Jovanny Brown rushed for 250 yards, including a 96-yard scoring run.

CHSFL

Chaminade (4-3) at Iona Prep (6-2), Saturday, 1:30 p.m.: Chaminade plays great defense and is coming off a big win over previously undefeated Holy Trinity. But Iona Prep is a huge step up in competition for the Flyers and they’ll need to put up a few scores to win this one.

By Gregg Sarra

gregg.sarra@newsday.com@Gregg_Sarra

Gregg Sarra is Newsday's high school sports editor and has been on the beat since the mid-1980s.