Long Island high school football games to watch and picks for Week 8

Wantagh meet Cold Spring Harbor.

Cold Spring Harbor meet Wantagh.

For the first time ever, Wantagh will play Cold Spring Harbor in football. And they’ll do it with playoff implications. Wantagh (6-1) travels to play at undefeated Cold Spring Harbor (7-0) in Nassau Conference IV Friday at 7 p.m. The matchup was inevitable when Wantagh and Plainedge dropped from Conference III into Conference IV this season. One loss Plainedge beat Wantagh, 33-27, in overtime but lost to Cold Spring Harbor, 18-14.

“There’s a lot to cover with Wantagh,” Cold Spring Harbor coach John Mendreski said. “Speed wise we pretty much match up with them. And the running back [Dylan] Martini is shifty and stops on a dime. He sets up his blocks well, and he’s patient looking for an opening. We have to tackle well and play fundamentally sound football to win.”

The game features two of Long Island’s top running backs, who are ultimately in the Thorp Award conversation for Nassau’s best player.

Mendreski said that Martini, Wantagh’s big playmaker, who has 1,123 yards rushing and 18 TDs, is a top talent. But he also likes his halfback, Alex Bauer, who has 1,119 yards rushing and 19 TDs.

“Our guy Bauer is really good too,” said Mendreski, who led the Seahawks to the Long Island Class IV title in 2018. “It’s an interesting head-to-head matchup. We must execute and make our blocks and control the tempo.”

Wantagh coach Keith Sachs said the game is important for seeding but knows the best two teams will meet for the title.

“If we win, there’s a three-way tie for first place,” Sachs said. “And one of those one loss teams will get stuck with the three seed in the playoffs. I’m not surprised about CSH. They have talent and they’re well coached. We might have to play them twice in three weeks the way the power points work out.”

They could go from having never played each other – to meeting twice in three weeks.

NASSAU I

Oceanside (6-1) at Port Washington (4-3), Friday, 5:30 p.m.: Oceanside absorbed its first loss of the season after the defense was shredded for 63 points against Farmingdale last week. The Sailors, however, average 41 points per game, behind quarterback Shane Harmon’s 1,074 yards passing and 12 TDs. Port Washington's defense has allowed the fewest points in the conference, including a 14-6 loss to Farmingdale. Watch out for Port Washington halfback Christian Sarchese, who has 14 TDs.

NASSAU I

Syosset (5-2) at Massapequa (6-1), Friday, 6:30 p.m.: Massapequa opened the season with a 42-39 loss to Oceanside and then reeled off six straight wins, including an impressive 34-21 win over Farmingdale. This is a rematch of last season’s Conference I final, won by Massapequa, 33-7. Both teams have clinched first-round playoff home games. Massapequa halfback Tyler Villalta has rushed for 775 yards and 19 TDs.

SUFFOLK I

Floyd (6-1) at Connetquot (6-1), Friday, 6 p.m.: With a road win, Floyd will clinch first place for the fifth time in the last six years. Connetquot is off to its best start since 2013 and needs to stop halfback Ja’Quan Thomas, Long Island’s leading rusher, to win. Thomas has 1,385 yards rushing and 17 TDs. The Colonials also have balance in the offense as quarterback AJ Cannet has thrown for 1,088 yards and 11 scores. Connetquot quarterback Vincent Feraca can light up a defense too. He’s passed for 1,702 yards and 21 scores and relies on wide receiver Andrew Amarando to get open. Amarando has 40 catches for 734 yards and 15 TDs.

SUFFOLK I

Sachem North (2-5) at Lindenhurst (5-2), Friday, 6 p.m.: Don’t let the records fool you. Three of Sachem North’s losses are by a touchdown or less. Sachem North, the preseason No. 2 seed, lost to Floyd, 26-9, in last year’s title game. They are three plays away from being as good as 5-2. Lindenhurst rides the big arm of quarterback Reece Wrightington, who has thrown for 1,303 yards and 19 scores. His favorite target is Christian Aquino with 27 receptions, 522 yards and eight TDs.

SUFFOLK IV

Shoreham-WR (5-2) at Babylon (6-1), Friday, 6 p.m.: Aidan Winter has rushed for more than 120 yards in every game this season. The Shoreham-Wading River defense has struggled, allowing an average of 21 points per game. The game likely will be won or lost on how the Wildcats contain the athletic Winter. He’s rushed for 1,302 yards and 14 TDs. The Wildcats counter with a playmaker of their own in halfback Sean Casey. Shoreham overcame a 17-point fourth quarter deficit to beat Babylon, 36-35, in the Division IV semifinal last season.

NASSAU II

Long Beach (4-3) at Mepham (6-1), Saturday, 2 p.m.: The winner is guaranteed a home playoff game in the quarterfinal round. The loser will most likely be on the road. Both starting quarterbacks have had solid seasons. Mepham quarterback Owen Heller has thrown for 933 yards and nine scores. And Long Beach QB Charlie Conway has thrown for 804 yards and six TDs.

With Andy Slawson

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.