10 things to watch for in the football county semifinals

1. It is a pass happy group of teams remaining in the Nassau and Suffolk high school playoffs. Nine of the 16 starting quarterbacks in this weekend’s semifinal round have thrown for at least 1,000 yards, led by Oceanside’s Charlie McKee (1,786 yards, 25 TD), Whitman’s Nicholas Bottoni (1,716 yards, 21 TD), Bayport-Blue Point’s Brady Clark (1,425 yards, 17 TD) and Massapequa’s Ryan Heidrich (1,632 yards, 17 TD).

2. The Garden City defense allows only three points per game as the program shoots for a record-tying sixth consecutive Nassau playoff title. They’ve won 25 conference titles, more than any other school. The Trojans are 9-0 and have not been tested this season. They have also scored a Long Island-best 389 points, averaging 44 points per game.

3. St. Anthony’s blew a 21-point third quarter lead and dropped a 35-34 decision in their first meeting with top-seeded Iona Prep. Friars QB Dante Torres completed 23 of 42 passes for 353 yards and four touchdowns in that game. He’ll need to be on target again for a shot to win in the CHSFL Class AAA semifinal Saturday at 1 p.m.

4. All of the No. 1, 2, and 3-seeded teams in both Nassau and Suffolk advanced to the semifinal round.

5. Halfback Dakim Griffin of Half Hollow Hills East leads Long Island with 1,736 yards rushing and 29 touchdowns. Halfback James McHugh of Seaford leads Nassau with 21 touchdowns scored.

6. Three of Long Island’s most efficient passers also take care of the ball. Oceanside’s Charlie McKee has thrown for 25 touchdowns and only one interception. Massapequa’s Ryan Heidrich has 17 TD passes and two interceptions. Whitman’s Nicholas Bottoni has 21 TD passes and two interceptions.

7. What’s on the line for two programs in particular? Top-seeded Whitman can win 10 games in a season for the first time ever in their 83-year history when they host No. 4 Ward Melville Saturday at 1 p.m. Half Hollow Hills East will travel to Bellport for a 1 p.m. start on Saturday. The Thunderbirds have lost eight in a row to Bellport and have never advanced to a Suffolk final.

8. Bayport-Blue Point’s lone loss this season came in heartbreaking fashion when Mt. Sinai’s Verissimo Pedra kicked a 25-yard field goal with nine seconds left for a 27-26 win. Bayport-Blue Point has not reached a Suffolk final since 2003 and hosts Mt. Sinai Saturday at 1 p.m.

9. Five Nassau defenders who can make a difference in the semifinals: Wantagh linebacker Tyler Martini, Floral Park defensive back Chris Naronis, Bethpage defensive back Justin Crumb, Garden City defensive end Brendan Staub and Plainedge junior linebacker Shane Mosia, who had three sacks a week ago.

10. Five Suffolk defenders who can make a difference in the semifinals: Lindenhurst linebacker Jake Trovato, St. Anthony’s linebacker Andrew Bardak, Northport linebacker Dylan McNaughton, Half Hollow Hills East sack machine Elias Barrett and Sayville defensive back Mack Murtha, the Island’s interception leader.

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.