Newsday's All-Long Island flag football first team 2026

Newsday Player of the Year: Samantha Heyman, Half Hollow Hills, QB, Sr.

Samantha Heyman spent four years carving out her place in the Long Island flag football history books.

A four-time First Team All-Long Island selection, Heyman saved her best for her last. The senior quarterback finished with 4,369 passing yards and 70 touchdown passes en route to a 19-0 season and the program’s first state championship.

Her career numbers are more than eye-popping. She finished with 12,898 passing yards and 197 touchdowns, along with 4,192 rushing yards and 52 scores.

“Her competitiveness is beyond most athletes,” Hills coach Mike Lupa said. “Her ability to take over a game, put the team on her back or make a gutsy play is what makes her special. On top of that, she was a great teammate and great team leader.”

Heyman threw three touchdown passes in the state final, a 26-12 win over Shaker. Her career will be remembered as a historic one for flag football on Long Island.

“This run was special,” Lupa said. “She did it better than anybody and it’ll probably be that way for a very long time.”

Nassau Player of the Year: Gina Iannuzzi, MacArthur, QB, Jr.

MacArthur had to face two juggernauts in Plainedge and Hauppauge in the county final and Long Island championship.

With both games going down to the wire, MacArthur quarterback Gina Iannuzzi was clutch. The junior delivered championship drives, capped off by late touchdown passes to give the Generals both titles.

“The plays people remember are the winning touchdowns, but it was the drive to get there,” MacArthur coach Steve Fazzolari said. “. . . Having to drive down the field to even get in that spot, and her mental toughness in those moments came out.”

Iannuzzi had 3,189 passing yards and finished with 45 touchdown passes. She guided MacArthur to a state semifinal appearance.

“Her mindset is to be prepared to win it all next season,” Fazzolari said. “It’s not going to be easy. A lot of teams bring back talent, but she knows what she has to do for next year — just get better each day.”

FIRST TEAM

Lia Bono, Herricks, LB, Sr.

Bono had tremendous closing speed, finishing with 163 flag pulls and eight interceptions. She added 61 carries for 644 yards and four touchdowns, along with 51 receptions for 589 yards and five touchdowns, helping Herricks win the Nassau Class A championship.

Hazel Carlson, Northport, DB, Sr.

Carlson recorded 154 flag pulls and flew all over the field. She added 67 carries for 745 yards and four touchdowns, along with 64 receptions for 722 yards and 12 touchdowns.

Leah Calderone, Syosset, LB, Sr.

Calderone finished with 88 flag pulls and six interceptions, including five returned for touchdowns. She led a Syosset defense that allowed double-digit points only four times in 15 games.

Zoe Franks, Half Hollow Hills, WR, Jr.

Franks had 135 receptions for 1,682 yards and 27 touchdowns. The tall and athletic receiver consistently made plays as Samantha Heyman’s No. 1 target. She was named Suffolk I Offensive Player of the Year.

Kate Franks, Plainedge, Edge, Sr.

Franks registered 33 sacks and 81 flag pulls. The senior was also the primary ball carrier, rushing 93 times for 727 yards and eight touchdowns.

Meghan Farrell, West Islip, DB, Jr.

Farrell recorded 15 interceptions as one of Suffolk’s best defensive players. She rushed for 1,036 yards and 13 touchdowns while throwing for 2,429 yards and 31 touchdowns.

Joeyce Forero, Valley Stream District, All-Purpose, Soph.

Forero rushed 152 times for 1,243 yards and seven touchdowns. She passed for 1,069 yards and 22 touchdowns and collected 10 interceptions as a defensive back. She was named Nassau Class A Player of the Year.

Taylor Garro, MacArthur, WR, Sr.

Garro had 95 receptions for 1,078 yards and 14 touchdowns. She scored the game-winning touchdown in the Long Island Class B championship, a 25-19 overtime victory over Hauppauge.

Emma Gould, Half Hollow Hills, Edge, Jr.

Gould was the top pass rusher on Long Island. She recorded 62 sacks and 105 flag pulls. She also added 46 receptions for 319 yards and three touchdowns.

Taylor Mileti, Hauppauge, LB, Sr.

One of Long Island’s top two-way players, Mileti recorded 125 flag pulls and 10 interceptions. She rushed for 815 yards and 11 touchdowns and completed 256 of 413 passes for 2,727 yards and 40 touchdowns.

Gianna Ponticello, Plainedge, QB, Jr.

Ponticello was one of Long Island’s top pure passers. She completed 217 of 306 passes for 2,825 yards and 45 touchdowns, leading Plainedge to a Nassau Class B final appearance.

Vinte’ya Rountree, Floyd, RB/WR, Sr.

Rountree rushed 89 times for 758 yards and five touchdowns. She added 49 receptions for 754 yards and nine touchdowns. She also recorded 152 flag pulls and nine interceptions.

Claire Sclafani, Longwood, LB, Sr.

The leader on both sides of the ball for Longwood, Sclafani recorded 107 flag pulls. She completed 228 of 324 passes for 2,566 yards and 30 touchdowns while rushing for 650 yards and seven touchdowns.

Suffolk Coach of the Year: Mike Lupa, Half Hollow Hills

Lupa led Half Hollow Hills to a perfect 19-0 season. He now owns a 64-8 record over the past four years and has guided the program to two straight Class A Long Island championships.

Nassau Coach of the Year: Steve Fazzolari, MacArthur, Coach

Fazzolari guided MacArthur to its first county and Long Island championships in program history. He led the Generals to an 18-1-1 record and a state Class B semifinal appearance.