Long Island high school football preview for Week 6, plus game picks

The high school football plate is full of tasty matchups this week. It may be the most competitive week of the regular season in Nassau, Suffolk and the CHSFL.

Let’s start in Nassau Conference III where the top four teams, Wantagh, Plainedge, South Side and Bethpage, meet in two games that can be considered toss-ups.

Wantagh, the two-time defending champion, is off to a 5-0 start and hosts Bethpage (4-1) at 1:30 p.m. on Saturday. They handed Bethpage its only two losses last season, including a 28-14 come-from-behind win in the Nassau final.

“It’s always a good game with Bethpage,” Wantagh coach Keith Sachs said. “They like to pound the ball and play physical football. The top teams in this conference are all very good and on any given day . . .”

Wantagh has junior Luke Martini, who earned the Thorp Award last year as a sophomore, and can take over a game. He has rushed for 866 yards and 13 touchdowns. The play of first-year starter Max Avena has helped Wantagh win five in a row.

“He’s been impressive,” Sachs said. “He made key third down throws in our comeback win over Plainedge. Some teams have put nine defenders in the box to defend the run and try to stop Martini. That makes Avena so much more important to our success. He reads the defense well and makes big plays.”

Bethpage prides itself with defense allowing the second fewest points in the conference at 11 per game. Quarterback Michael Mastrangelo and halfback Louis Schneider key the Golden Eagles offense.

NASSAU III

Plainedge (4-1) at South Side (5-0), Friday, 6 p.m.: Since dropping the season opener to Wantagh, the Red Devils have won four in a row paced by halfback Dom Agovino. Plainedge has allowed a division-low 40 points in five games. The Cyclones roll with QB Rob Cesario Jr., who had TD passes to wide receiver Ryan Solomon and halfback AJ Magaraci in last week’s 21-14 win over Bethpage.

NASSAU I

Port Washington (4-1) at Oceanside (3-2), Friday, 6:30 p.m.: The Sailors need to rebound after last week’s 33-0 loss to Massapequa. Port Washington QB Harry Eynon and top receiver Levi Felix have been unstoppable. Inclement weather is expected which could put a damper on the Vikings passing game.

SUFFOLK I

Connetquot (3-2) at Longwood (3-2), Friday, 6 p.m.: A critical game in the division. Both teams yearn for a home playoff game — a win here guarantees it. The Longwood secondary will be tested by QB Caleb Maugeri, but the wind and rain will play a factor. The Longwood running game with Kyon Sarwari and Mark Davis is one of the best one-two punches on Long Island.

Sachem North (5-0) at Ward Melville (5-0), Friday, 7 p.m.: Two of LI’s top quarterbacks, Sachem North’s Luke LaRocca and Ward Melville’s Hudson Philbrick will have to navigate poor weather conditions to pull out a win. The game can be won on the ground and with stingy defense.

SUFFOLK II

North Babylon (4-1) at Half Hollow Hills East (5-0), Saturday, 3 p.m.: North Babylon halfback Jack Miller leads LI with 129 carries, for 1,044 yards and 15 TDs. Hills East is led by defensive tackle Michai Crump. The RedHawks defense has allowed one TD this season and pitched four shutouts.

SUFFOLK IV

Bayport-Blue Point (5-0) at Sayville (5-0), Friday, 6 p.m.: Sayville needs to stop Bayport halfback Josh Franchak to win this one. Franchak has rushed for 723 yards and 10 TDs. The Sayville defense has yielded one TD through five games — and it was against the second-team defense. This promises to be a hard-hitting affair for schools separated by five miles on Suffolk’s south shore.

NASSAU I

Carey (5-0) at Garden City (4-1), Saturday, 1:30 p.m.: Two of LI’s top halfbacks go head-to-head here. Garden City’s Anthony Asaro and Carey’s Justin DePietro are both having fine seasons. Both will be tested against teams that play great defense.

SUFFOLK I

Whitman (3-2) at Floyd (3-2), Saturday, Noon.: The Floyd School District will name the football field in honor of legendary coach Paul Longo in a pregame ceremony. The winner will earn a home playoff game. Whitman QB Dodge Alahverdian and halfback Jashawn Thompson have lit it up this season. Alahverdian threw for a school record six TDs last week.

SUFFOLK III

West Islip (4-1) at East Islip (4-1), Saturday, 1 p.m.: One of LI’s deepest crosstown rivalries resumes as East Islip, the defending Suffolk II champion, hosts the Lions. Halfback Jake Kramer has an Island-leading 16 TDs.

By Gregg Sarra

gregg.sarra@newsday.com@Gregg_Sarra

Gregg Sarra is Newsday's high school sports editor and has been on the beat since the mid-1980s.