Newsday's Elite 11 high school football teams
Credit: Newsday / Bob Herzog
1. Longwood
Linebacker Latrell Horton, a bruising two-way starter, will lead the defending Long Island Class I champions' title defense. The Lions (11-1) beat Farmingdale, 47-28, with a LIC record 555 rushing yards after defeating Lindenhurst, 44-14, in the Suffolk I final. Longwood has the depth to reload and repeat in Suffolk
Credit: James Escher
2. Farmingdale
The Dalers are in position to repeat in Nassau I and exact revenge in the Class I title game. Halfback Jordan McLune rushed for 1,985 yards and 35 touchdowns last year and the addition of Plainedge transfer Corey Hill cannot be understated. This team is deep.
Credit: Newsday / Thomas A. Ferrara
3. Sayville
Jack Coan is headed to Wisconsin to play quarterback, but before he leaves, Coan, who has 97 career TD passes, has his eyes on another LI Class III title. Sayville is looking for a third-straight Suffolk crown and a Class III repeat. Coan also has 7,625 passing yards (36 shy of the LI record) and receivers Jason Intermesoli, Jake Kloar, and Mike Dionisio should have a blast this season.
Credit: Joseph D. Sullivan
4. East Islip
There is at least one team that can burst Sayville's bubble. Two-way lineman Kyle Nunez leads an extremely physical front line with speedy HB Justin Taveras (7.7 yards per carry in 2015) and dual-threat quarterback Kyle Fleitman.
Credit: Richard T. Slattery
5. Half Hollow Hills West
The Colts have suffered back-to-back losses in the Suffolk championship games. Senior wideout and Syracuse-bound Cam Jordan and senior running back Alexander Filacouris are the perfect 1-2 combo to win the LI Class II crown. Hills West is a combined 18-4 the last two seasons.
Credit: James Escher
6. Garden City
The Trojans play defense as well as anyone. The combo of a stingy defense and playmakers Jamie Atkinson and Chris Mixon will put them in the Nassau II title hunt.
Credit: James Escher
7. East Meadow
The Jets pose the largest obstacle in Farmingdale's trek to another Nassau I crown. The experience of two-way starters Paul Imperiale, Anthony LaRosa and Joe Matchekosky will key the Jets run to the playoffs.
Credit: Joseph D. Sullivan
8. Shoreham-Wading River
Shoreham-Wading River owns a 24-game win streak, winning two straight Long Island Class IV titles in the process. Ethan Weiderkehr, one of Long Island's blue-chip prospects, would like to leave with another Class IV championship in his wake before heading to Northwestern University.
Credit: Newsday / Bob Herzog
9. MacArthur
The Generals are the No. 1 seed in competitive Nassau II. Ryan O'Shea is one of Long Island's top linemen. Junior QB Kyle Acquavella and senior receiver Mike Manfredo are big-time threats.
Credit: Richard T. Slattery
10. West Islip
The Lions have athleticism at QB in junior Jake Guercio and a monster player in two-way starter Tim Mullane, one of LI's top linemen.
Credit: Kathleen Malone-Van Dyke
11. Miller Place
Miller Place, which has made four straight appearances in the Suffolk III semifinals, drops down into Division IV and becomes an instant threat to derail Shoreham-Wading River. Joe Filippetti and Shane White are multi-year starters at linebacker and will anchor the defense.
