Team Sarra sits in first place heading into final week of Newsday high school fantasy football playoffs

Just like the regular season, Team Sarra didn’t start in first place, but heading into the final week of Newsday’s High School Fantasy Football Playoff League, he sits in first place with 389 points.

“The fantasy football playoff draft was a chance to pick a new team of only seven players for each coach,” Gregg Sarra said. “The goal was to select the top players who would lead their high school team through three weeks of the playoffs and to the Long Island Championships. The challenge was identifying the key players on teams with a realistic chance of reaching the LIC.

“Picking a great player whose team was eliminated early meant your fantasy run was over, as J.P. Chez, our rookie owner, quickly found out. There are still four teams with a real shot to win the playoff title.”

A trio of players boosted Team Sarra into first place. Long Beach quarterback Charlie Conway, Ward Melville quarterback Hudson Philbrick and Wantagh running back Luke Martini totaled 96 fantasy points.

Team Sicoli (378) is in second, Team Ferguson (372) has moved up to third and Team Lindsay (349) is in fourth.

Team Sicoli has been guided by Sayville running back Tristan Vitale and Seaford running back Brian Falk, his only two players remaining. Falk has 84 fantasy points through the playoffs.

“Brian has been tremendous,” Seaford coach Mike McHugh said. “ . . . He’s just a great football player. He has great vision, he sees the field, and I think he’ll show what he can do on Saturday.”

Although Team Lindsay is 40 points out of first place, he has three players remaining. Both of his quarterbacks made the LIC — Sayville’s Patrick Coan and Bayport-Blue Point’s Colin Clark — along with Wantagh running back Joseph Nicholson. The trio totaled 73 points last week.

Team Katzen bolted up the standings from 10th to sixth heading into the final week.“Being a part of this league has been so much fun,” Jolie Katzen said. “I’ve been loving the competition, and I’m just happy my team has been able to climb those standings during the playoffs.”

Her first-round pick, Ja’Quan Thomas, recorded 58 points. The running back showed off his passing ability in a special county-title performance for William Floyd.

“He is a great athlete, and he can do anything on the field,” Floyd coach Paul Longo said. “Ja’Quan would be a great guard, linebacker, running back, quarterback — he’s that rare athlete that could play any position on the field.”