Long Island football’s Elite Eleven
Oceanside's Tommy Heuer checks the sideline for an audible in the Nassau I quarterfinal on Saturday, Nov. 5, 2016. Credit: Peter Frutkoff
1. Oceanside (4-5): The Sailors should score often with quarterback Tommy Heuer leading a talented offense. Oceanside has an experienced offensive line that could be the difference in Nassau Conference I.
2. Freeport (11-1): The Red Devils are the defending LI Class I champions, after winning their fifth title. Team speed will be a huge plus and the defense is led by senior linebacker Robert Fitzsimmons.
3. Garden City (12-0): There never seems to be a rebuilding year at sharpen City. The Trojans are the defending LI Class II champions after winning a record-tying sixth LIC. The Trojans rely on stingy defense. Newsday’s All-Long Island DE Andrew DeSantis is back.
4. Floyd (10-2): The Colonials are coming off its 10th Suffolk title in the last 16 years. Halfback Nick Silva gained over 1,000 rushing yards last year and his offensive line is bigger and better.
5. Half Hollow Hills West (9-3): The Colts won the Suffolk Division II title last season and lost in the Class II championship to Garden City, 13-6. The Colts moved to Division III and are loaded this year. Junior Deyvon Wright rushed for 1,047 yards and scored 19 touchdowns.
6. Wantagh (12-0): Wantagh went undefeated and won the Class III crown for the second time in school history. Senior returnees linebacker Gavin Casey and halfback Tom Rohan will lead a deep, experienced team.
7. East Islip (9-3): The Redmen have played in the county final in nine of the last 11 years. Senior halfback Justin Taveras moved to QB this season. He rushed for 1,023 yards as a halfback as a junior andmissed parts of four games due to injury.
8. Carey (8-2): The Seahawks have senior Frank Porcasi as the anchor on both sides of their physical lines.
9. Lindenhurst (9-1): Ohio State-bound Jeremy Ruckert (WR/LB) is a playmaker on both sides of the ball and his goal is an LIC.
10. Massapequa (7-3): The Chiefs will ride an experienced offensive line to the final four of Nassau Conference I.
11. Bay Shore (4-5): The Marauders are trying to win a playoff game for the first time since 1986. They have one of their biggest offensive lines in their 90-year history led by Matt Mirabito (6-7, 325 pounds).
Gregg Sarra is Newsday's high school sports editor and has been on the beat since the mid-1980s.
