East Islip football uses defense, special teams to beat rival West Islip
East Islip's Rayan Shehu celebrate a touchdown after blocked punt against West Islip during a Suffolk Conference III football game on Saturday, Oct. 17, 2026, in Islip Terrace. Credit: Derrick Dingle
Rayan Shehu wanted to make his mark. There was no better opportunity than the intense East Islip-West Islip football rivalry.
A year after playing junior varsity, Shehu recovered a blocked punt for a touchdown, then forced a fumble on the ensuing kickoff to help host East Islip defeat West Islip, 27-7, in Suffolk III on Saturday. The junior linebacker added a tackle for loss and a pass breakup as his breakout season continued.
“I want to be the guy to make the next play,” Shehu said. “I think we all played amazing today. It was a team effort.”
“He’s undersized, but he has certain traits that you can’t coach,” East Islip coach Sal J. Ciampi said. “Kids either got it or they don’t, and he’s got it.”
The rivalry reunited two Long Island legendary coaches for the ceremonial coin toss. Wayne Shierant wore his white, blue and gold West Islip jacket, while Sal Ciampi, the father of the current coach, wore an East Islip jacket with an old-school white “EI” football helmet on the back. Shierant won the toss.
Former West Islip head coach Wayne Shierant, left, and former East Islip head coach Sal Ciampi Sr. were both honorary captains for their respected teams during a Suffolk Conference III football game on Saturday, Oct. 17, 2026, in Islip Terrace. Credit: Derrick Dingle
“They’re two of the giants of coaching when it comes to high school football on Long Island,” the younger Ciampi said. “It was great to see them both out there today.”
The rivalry drew a large crowd, and after a scoreless first quarter, East Islip’s special teams gave it something to celebrate.
Senior Angelo Castaldo blocked a punt, and Shehu fell on the ball in the end zone with 9:40 left in the second quarter for a 7-0 lead. Shehu forced a fumble on the ensuing kickoff, recovered by kicker Blake Redding.
West Islip’s Luke Tate recovered a fumble at the Lions' 5-yard line to keep the deficit at seven points. East Islip forced another punt and took over at its own 35 with 2:10 left in the half.
Junior quarterback Owen Madden went to work. In five plays, he rushed for 14 yards and passed for 51, including a 26-yard touchdown to Hunter DePinto with 58 seconds left for a 13-0 lead.
“We do a two-minute drill at the end of every week, and I felt prepared,” Madden said. “I feel like when we’re all clicking and we’re on the same page, we can do great things.”
East Islip (5-1) allowed no play longer than 10 yards in the first half, with lineman Evan Gordon helping control the trenches.
“They wanted to come out and run the ball, and we knew that,” Gordon said. “And we dedicated our week to stopping the run, and we executed well today.”
Jaden DePinto recorded the first of his two interceptions on the second play of the third quarter. Three plays later, Madden’s 3-yard touchdown run made it 20-0 with 9:09 left.
A bad snap on West Islip’s next punt gave East Islip a 30-yard field. Andrew Arena scored on a 7-yard run behind Kristian Brunett’s blocking.
“We gave them too many short fields, and they’re a great program,” West Islip coach Steve Mileti said. “You can’t give them that many opportunities. “
Jake Kramer scored on a 7-yard run with 9:03 left in the fourth quarter for West Islip (4-2).
East Islip leads the all-time series 20-16-3 and has won the past three meetings. The teams have met only three times since 2014 due to enrollments.
Sal J. Ciampi is now 13–4 in the rivalry. He has the most coaching wins in the history of this rivalry.
“Hopefully, the way everything works out, we will play them more consistently,” Sal J. Ciampi said. “And that can become more of a memory for the kids.”
