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High school football blog: Paul Longo victorious in SWR debut

Paul Longo makes his debut as coach of Shoreham-Wading River during...

Paul Longo makes his debut as coach of Shoreham-Wading River during a football game against visiting Babylon on Friday, Sept. 4, 2026. Credit: Thomas Hengge

The Long Island high school football season is here. Follow along for updates, notable scores, big moments and more.

1:33 a.m.

By Mike Anderson

Noah Gregorek helps Paul Longo get win in debut as coach of Shoreham-Wading River football

Shoreham Wading-River coach Paul Longo shakes hands with his nephew,...

Shoreham Wading-River coach Paul Longo shakes hands with his nephew, Babylon’s Nick Longo, after a football game on Friday in Rocky Point. Credit: Thomas Hengge

This one will be talked about at Longo family Thanksgiving dinners forever.

New Shoreham-Wading River football coach Paul Longo — the former longtime coach at Floyd — made the perfect first impression with his new program in Rocky Point on Friday night. As the designated hosts of a neutral-site, Suffolk Division IV game, Longo’s Wildcats defeated Babylon, 52-45, behind seven total touchdowns from junior quarterback Noah Gregorek.

Longo, who won 253 games and five county titles over 31 seasons with Floyd, was elated to begin his SWR tenure 1-0.

“I’ve had a lot of big games, but this one was certainly one of the most exciting ones I’ve had,” Longo said. “It’s great to start off on the right foot. I’m very proud of the way they played tonight.”

For more on tonight's game, you can find the full article here: SWR vs. Babylon football story

2:02 a.m.

By Jared Valluzzi

Massapequa football's Michael Castellano runs for three TDs in win over Port Washington

It was finally Michael Castellano’s time to shine in Massapequa’s backfield.

The junior made his varsity debut as the feature back with a punishing running style. He repeatedly lowered his shoulder and battered through the Port Washington defense. Castellano rushed 14 times for 73 yards and three touchdowns.

“I just want to run through them,” Castellano said. “I’m just looking straight downhill, always. Not to the side, no dancing. I just want to get straight downhill.”

Massapequa rode that physicality to a 42-12 victory over Port Washington in its Nassau Conference I season opener Friday night.

The full game story on this season opener can be found here: Massapequa vs. Port Washington game story

1:59 a.m.

By Michael Sicoli

Oceanside football's Chace Morris dominates in win over Farmingdale

Oceanside quarterback/running back Dylan Parker looked fantastic against Farmingdale, scoring two touchdowns with 87 all-purpose yards in the first half.

But just three plays into the third quarter, Parker suffered an ankle injury that led him to be carted away from the medical tent.

Someone needed to pick up Oceanside, and coach Rob Blount put it best when describing his running back Chace Morris.

“We lost lightning,” Blount said, “but we still had thunder.”

Morris ran 34 times for 200 yards and two touchdowns as Oceanside defeated Farmingdale, 37-29, Friday night in the Sailors’ home opener in Nassau’s Conference I.

To find out what else happened in the game, check out the full article here: Oceanside vs. Farmingdale.

1:06 a.m.

By Michael Sicoli

Oceanside's Dylan Parker suffers ankle injury in win over Farmingdale

12:56 a.m.

By Michael Sicoli

Oceanside holds on to defeat Farmingdale in another thriller between the teams

12:54 a.m.

By Jared Valluzzi

Michael Castellano propels Massapequa football past Port Washington to begin season

12:51 a.m.

By Brian Heyman

St. Anthony's drops season opener to Red Bank Catholic

12:48 a.m.

By Mike Anderson

SWR halts Babylon's rally and scores with 3 minutes left to go up 15

12:46 a.m.

By Michael Sicoli

Oceanside and Farmingdale in one-score game with 30 seconds left

12:42 a.m.

By Brian Heyman

Red Bank taking it to St. Anthony's in the 4th quarter

12:40 a.m.

By Mike Anderson

Babylon makes it a one-possession game against SWR with 4 minutes left

Incredible things happening right now between Shoreham-Wading River and Babylon.

A bad snap on a punt recovered by Babylon sets up a short field. Nick Longo rushes for his fourth touchdown of the night and then converts the two-point attempt.

With 4:12 left in the fourth quarter, this is now a one-possession game. Shoreham-Wading River leads, 45-37.

12:33 a.m.

By Brian Heyman

Red Bank takes two-TD lead in 4th quarter

12:32 a.m.

By Mike Anderson

Babylon making things interesting against SWR

12:27 a.m.

By Brian Heyman

Red Bank takes lead over St. Anthony's in 4th quarter

12:21 a.m.

By Michael Sicoli

It's that man again! Chace Morris makes INT to put Oceanside in Farmingdale territory

12:19 a.m.

By Jared Valluzzi

It's a hat trick! Michael Castellano scores third TD of game

12:16 a.m.

By Brian Heyman

St. Anthony's ties it up and the Friars head to the 4th tied with Red Bank

End of the third quarter: St. Anthony's 41, Red Bank Catholic 41.

12:12 a.m.

By Brian Heyman

St. Anthony's trails Red Bank in a high-scoring affair

12:10 a.m.

By Michael Sicoli

Chace Morris reaches end zone to put Oceanside up 9 in final quarter

12:08 a.m.

By Mike Anderson

Another Longo TD from Babylon

12:06 a.m.

By Michael Sicoli

Oceanside leads Farmingdale by 3 heading into the 4th quarter

Sept. 4 at 11:54 p.m.

By Mike Anderson

Babylon's Nick Longo scores against his uncle's team

Sept. 4 at 11:46 p.m.

By Mike Anderson

Shoreham-Wading River opens second half with kickoff return for score

Sept. 4 at 11:43 p.m.

By Jared Valluzzi

Massapequa gets a turnover before halftime and goes up by three TDs

Sept. 4 at 11:39 p.m.

By Michael Sicoli

Point of view: You're on the field in Oceanside

Sept. 4 at 11:36 p.m.

By Jared Valluzzi

Massapequa goes back up two TDs before halftime

Sept. 4 at 11:33 p.m.

By Michael Sicoli

Some first-half stats for Farmingdale and Oceanside

Sept. 4 at 11:27 p.m.

By Jared Valluzzi

Port Washington gets on the board

Sept. 4 at 11:26 p.m.

By Brian Heyman

Halftime between St. Anthony's and Red Bank: It's all tied at 27

Sept. 4 at 11:24 p.m.

By Mike Anderson

The Wildcats and their new coach up big at halftime

Sept. 4 at 11:20 p.m.

By Michael Sicoli

A football buzzer beater?! Oceanside scores as time expires before halftime.

Sept. 4 at 11:14 p.m.

By Brian Heyman

This St. Anthony's vs. Red Bank Catholic game is bananas

Sept. 4 at 11:11 p.m.

By Jared Valluzzi

Massapequa takes two-touchdown lead vs. Port Washington

Sept. 4 at 11:07 p.m.

By Mike Anderson

The Wildcats are rolling in the first half

Sept. 4 at 11:05 p.m.

By Michael Sicoli

Dalers get defensive stop and score before halftime

Sept. 4 at 11:00 p.m.

By Mike Anderson

Update on Paul Longo's debut at SWR. . . it's off to a good start

Sept. 4 at 10:58 p.m.

By Michael Sicoli

You're going to want to see these action photos at Oceanside

Sept. 4 at 10:55 p.m.

By Jared Valluzzi

Massapequa strikes first vs. Port Washington

Sept. 4 at 10:53 p.m.

By Michael Sicoli

Blink and you'll miss another score! Oceanside scores another TD

Sept. 4 at 10:51 p.m.

By Brian Heyman

St. Anthony's uses big play to take lead at beginning of second quarter

Sept. 4 at 10:47 p.m.

By Michael Sicoli

Hope you're keeping up! Farmingdale answers back

Sept. 4 at 10:43 p.m.

By Michael Sicoli

Oceanside back out in front of Farmingdale, plus some scoring photos

Sept. 4 at 10:41 p.m.

By Brian Heyman

St. Anthony's and Red Bank Catholic are throwing haymakers early

Sept. 4 at 10:38 p.m.

By Mike Anderson

Babylon narrowly leads Shoreham-Wading River after first quarter in Paul Long's debut

Sept. 4 at 10:34 p.m.

By Michael Sicoli

Farmingdale gets big special-teams play

Sept. 4 at 10:32 p.m.

By Jared Valluzzi

We are at Massapequa for a football opener vs. Port Washington

Sept. 4 at 10:30 p.m.

By Brian Heyman

St. Anthony's in a close battle with Red Bank Catholic

Sept. 4 at 10:25 p.m.

By Michael Sicoli

Oceanside gets on the board first

Sept. 4 at 9:51 p.m.

By Michael Sicoli

Farmingdale and Oceanside ready to put on a show

Sept. 4 at 9:26 p.m.

By Michael Sicoli

Farmingdale and Oceanside prepare for battle

Farmingdale and Oceanside football met twice last season. The first featured an offensive slugfest as Farmingdale’s Josh Kama rumbled for 495 yards and seven touchdowns on 26 carries, setting Long Island’s single-game rushing record as the Dalers won, 64-57.

The second came down to the final play as Oceanside prevented Farmingdale’s 2-point conversion with no time remaining, winning 28-27 in the playoffs.

Tonight, both teams are set to kick off the 2026 season against each other on the turf at Oceanside. Newsday’s Michael Sicoli is reporting live from the field and will provide updates when the game begins at 6 p.m.

Sept. 4 at 2:05 p.m.

By Mike Anderson

Island Trees' Markus Bazelais back in a big way in LI's first public HS football game of 2026

Welcome back, Markus Bazelais, and welcome back public high school football.

The running back in the middle of a monster year for Island Trees in 2025 — rushing for 284 yards and five touchdowns through the season’s first three games. However, while trying to burst through a hole, Bazelais stumbled and landed on his right thumb, tearing his UCL ligament. He missed the final five games, and without him, the Bulldogs lost all of them.

In the first public school football game on Long Island this year, Bazelais made his return to the field against the newly-merged Oyster Bay/Friends Academy team and carried visiting Island Trees to a 25-22 win on Thursday night. He rushed for 165 yards and two touchdowns on 10 carries and added two catches for 66 yards and a score. He also forced and recovered a fumble.

“I feel pretty great,” Bazelais said. “I missed the feeling of being with my teammates and cheering them on. I’m pretty proud of this, and I couldn’t have done this without my linemen.”

Now that Bazelais is back, Island Trees, which was seeded 12th in the preseason coaches’ poll, has a weapon at its disposal.

Bazelais said, “[Thursday] was definitely an indicator that I’m coming back stronger."

Sept. 4 at 1:00 p.m.

By Newsday Staff

Newsday's high school football preview is here

Need to get up to speed on the Long Island high school football scene before today's games? We've got you covered with our special section, with everything from top players to team-by-team previews to games to watch in each conference. (And make sure to pick up a physical copy of the pullout section, with St. Anthony's star running back Xavier Bala adorning the cover, in Sunday's editions of Newsday!)

Newsday's 2026 high school football preview section cover, featuring St. Anthony's running back Xavier Bala.

Sept. 4 at 1:00 p.m.

By Newsday Staff

This weekend's schedule of games

FRIDAY

Suffolk Division IV

Babylon at Shoreham-Wading River, 6 p.m.

Mattituck/Greenport/Southold at Hampton Bays, 6 p.m.

Miller Place at Harborfields, 6:30 p.m.

Nassau Conference I

Farmingdale at Oceanside, 6 p.m.

Port Washington at Massapequa, 6:30 p.m.

Uniondale at Syosset, 6:30 p.m.

Freeport at Plainview-Old Bethpage JFK, 6:30 p.m.

Non-league

Eagle Academy at St. John the Baptist, 1 p.m.

Kellenberg at New Rochelle, 6 p.m.

St. Anthony's at Red Bank Catholic, 6 p.m.

Hackley at St. Dominic, 7 p.m. (at Centre Island, Bayville)

SATURDAY 

Suffolk Division IV

Mt. Sinai at Glenn, 1:30 pm

Nassau Conference I

Hicksville at East Meadow, 1:30 pm

CHSFL

Chaminade at Bishop Hendricksen (N.J.), 6 pm

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