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Harrison Behan of Port Washington celebrates after running the second-half kickoff...

Harrison Behan of Port Washington celebrates after running the second-half kickoff for a touchdown against Massapequa during a Nassau Conference I football game at Massapequa on Oct. 19, 2024. Credit: David Meisenholder

Harrison Behan figured his football career had ended last fall.

But the Port Washington senior, a Syracuse lacrosse commit, was elated when he learned he would have one final chance to take the field.

Behan and 49 other seniors will represent Long Island in the first National Football Foundation All-Star Classic against a New York City squad at 1 p.m. Saturday at Hofstra’s Shuart Stadium.

“I love football because that's originally what I wanted to do,” Behan said. “I didn't play club lacrosse. I played football growing up, and that's the sport that I love. I'm super happy to put on the pads one last time.”

The game replaces the Empire Challenge, which was played for 24 years and organized by the Boomer Esiason Foundation. The game was canceled in 2020 because of COVID-19 and never resumed.

Pete Blieberg, who served as the game coordinator for the Empire Challenge, is back in the same capacity.

“Marc Hudak, the president of the National Football Foundation’s New York City chapter, he was able to – with his connections – get this thing up and running again,” said Blieberg, also the assistant executive director of Section XI, the body that governs Suffolk high school sports. “So he reached out to me, and I couldn't be more excited to get back involved with it.

“It's been a major void for the last couple of years. You do something for 24 years and then it just stops, you kind of miss it.”

Garden City’s Dave Ettinger, who owns a 109-3 record in 10 seasons, will coach the Long Island team.

“I was lucky enough to be involved in the game twice previously when they did it, and it was a great experience for the coaches, a great experience with the kids,” Ettinger said. “And so far, it's been a mirror image of the past experience.”

The game will honor a top college rivalry each year. On Saturday, LI will wear Ohio State uniforms and NYC will don Michigan’s.

The teams were custom-fitted for Riddell Axiom helmets in February, which Blieberg called the best on the market. Rich Polo, the area representative for Riddell, was instrumental in putting together the uniforms from head to toe.

From players to coaches, Long Island is loaded.

Twenty-nine players from the 2024 Newsday All-Long Island team are on the roster, including major award winners like Massapequa quarterback Joey Diesso, Sayville linebacker Mikey Sands, Garden City all-around star Michael Berkery, Floyd lineman Aaron Fisher and Whitman two-way force Xavier Ali among others.

“It is pretty awesome,” said Behan, who played virtually every skill position for Port Washington. “Because when you're playing against these kids, it's nothing but sportsmanship. But then to get to know them outside of school and know who they are, it's also pretty cool.”

Carey coach Mike Stanley, who led the Seahawks to last season’s LI Class II title, is the offensive coordinator. Reade Sands, who coached Sayville to the Suffolk Division III title last fall, is the defensive coordinator.

The other championship-caliber coaches on the staff are Oceanside’s Rob Blount, Manhasset’s Jay Iaquinta, Wantagh’s Keith Sachs, Longwood’s Sean Kluber, Half Hollow Hills East’s Alex Marcelin, Bayport-Blue Point’s Mike Zafonte and St. Anthony’s Joe Minucci.

“It’s cool to see some of the best coaches work,” Ettinger said. “It's good to meet some of the guys from Suffolk County who you just don't get to be in a room with very often. So it's definitely a great experience to just meet all the people in the profession from a coaching aspect.”

The game also features a renowned officiating crew led by former NFL referee Steve Zimmer.

While it is just an all-star game, do not question Long Island’s will to win.

“We better,” Behan said. “City kids going down.”

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