Newsday's top 10 Long Island high school flag football team rankings
Samantha Heyman of Half Hollow Hills rushes the ball against Longwood during a Suffolk League I flag football game at Half Hollow Hills on April 24, 2026. Credit: David Meisenholder
1. Half Hollow Hills (9-0): Hills’ offense has averaged 38.7 points per game, the most on Long Island. Samantha Heyman has thrown for 2,226 yards and 34 touchdowns. Zoe Franks and Ella Candel have been a matchup nightmare. Franks has recorded 70 receptions for 976 yards and 16 TDs. Candel has 31 receptions and nine socres. Emma Wilck leads a defense that has allowed only 46 points through nine games.
2. Plainedge (11-1-1): Gianna Ponticello is one of the top pure passers on Long Island. She leads Nassau in touchdown passes with 36, and Charlotte Norbury leads the county in TD receptions with 14. McKenna Hovorka and Kate Franks guide a fast and efficient defense.
3. Longwood (9-1): Quarterback/linebacker Claire Scalfani leads the Lions on both sides of the ball. She’s accounted for 31 total touchdowns. Aliyah Khamis leads the receiving corps with nine TD catches. Longwood has arguably the best edge-rushing duo on LI in Liana Collazo and Jada Griffith.
4. Hauppauge (10-0): Dual-threat quarterback Taylor Mileti has thrown for 1,497 yards and 25 scores and has added 423 rushing yards and five TDs. Charlotte Derby is one of LI’s fastest players, and she’s hauled in 16 TD passes. Mileti leads the defense with seven interceptions, and the unit hasn’t allowed more than 14 points in a game.
5. MacArthur (11-0-1): Sophie Midy guides a strong MacArthur defense. She leads LI in flag pulls with 109. Quarterback Gina Iannuzzi has thrown 26 scoring passes. Their deep receiving group of Alexa Coppola, Taylor Garro, Meaghan Campbell and Natalie Yan all have at least four TD receptions.
6. Deer Park (9-1): The Falcons’ lone defeat came by six points to unbeaten Hauppauge. Taylor Gabel and Destinee Williamson have formed one of LI’s best duos. Gabel has thrown for 24 TDs and has run for six. Williamson leads LI with 76 receptions, totaling 800 yards and 16 TDs.
7. Syosset (8-1-3): After starting 0-1-3, Syosset has won eight straight games, including five shutout victories and wins over Massapequa and Valley Stream District. Sienna Cummo leads a dynamic offense.
8. Sachem East (9-1): Sofia Larrea has passed for 1,905 yards and 21 scores to guide an explosive Sachem East air attack. Abby Christie has 50 receptions for 595 yards and five TDs. Aubrey Canale leads the defense with seven INTs.
9. Massapequa (9-4): Victoria O’Neil and Abby Stapelton have both thrown for more than 1,000 yards this season. Reese Reustle has incredible hands, registering 844 receiving yards and 10 TDs. Annie Terranova is another dynamic receiver with seven TD catches.
10. Valley Stream District (8-2): Joeyce Forero is one of LI’s most complete players. She has 922 rushing yards, 839 passing yards, 21 offensive TDs and eight INTs. Valley Stream has won four of its last five games. Alyssa Haughton and Gabriella Rivera have four TD catches apiece.
On the cusp: West Islip, Bellmore-Merrick, Floyd, Whitman, Wantagh.
