Father-son duo Reade and Mikey Sands teaming up on the football field one final time

Mikey Sands grew up with a guy who knew a whole lot about football.

“He taught me everything,” he said about his dad.

Reade Sands also coached Mikey the last three seasons with the Sayville varsity. Now, father will be coaching son and son will be playing for father one final time.

Reade will serve as the defensive coordinator and Mikey, the first-team All-Long Island linebacker, will be playing for the Long Island team that will face New York City in the National Football Foundation All-Star Classic at 1 p.m. Saturday at Hofstra’s Shuart Stadium.

“For us to do this one last time, I wonder how he feels about it, to be honest with you,” said Reade, who had an eight-year run as Sayville’s head coach before stepping down after last season. “I’m obviously excited and happy. I trust him more than I trust any player I’ve coached. So it’s going to be fun just to watch him play.”

So, how does the younger Sands feel about it?

“It’s very special,” Mikey said. “One last time before it’s all over.”

His dad said, since Mikey had knee surgery in February and tweaked his knee last week, he wasn’t certain how much he would use him “just to make sure he’s safe and healthy going into next season.” That will be for Division III Franklin & Marshall in Pennsylvania where he will play with his brother, junior-to-be linebacker Benny Sands.

But at least Mikey will be out there Saturday at times.

“It’s an honor,” he said. “Playing football in the summer is more than I could ever ask for. It’s amazing. I’m very excited.”

The 5-9 1/2 senior played mostly at middle linebacker and made 116 tackles, including 21 for a loss, last season. He earned Newsday’s Rob Burnett Award as Suffolk’s Defensive Player of the Year and the Bob Collotta Award as the county’s best linebacker.

“He has defensive back speed, Division I speed,” Reade said. “His instincts are just off the charts. He’s been coached up his whole life.”

Dylan Martini is also coming off knee surgery. He had it last Thursday, repairing the meniscus he tore during the Wantagh boys lacrosse team’s regional final loss to Somers on June 7.

Last fall, the running back/defensive back received Newsday’s Tom Thorp Award as Nassau’s most outstanding player after rushing for 1,976 yards and 28 touchdowns and helping Wantagh claim a Long Island championship. But he will be on the sideline, unable to play.

“It sucks because that was something I was looking forward to,” Martini said. “But I’m happy just to be involved still. But I was definitely looking forward to one more game.”

After committing early to Albany for lacrosse, Martini wasn’t chasing after a college football ticket.

That commitment was since switched to Army lacrosse.

“Once West Point reached out, I was really, really committed there,” Martini said. “I mean, I still love it. I didn’t really have a chance to pursue football just yet. We don’t know what the future holds. But right now, it’s lacrosse.”

He scored 53 times this past season. The midfielder helped Wantagh win a Long Island lacrosse championship, too.

But his value went beyond goals in lacrosse and yards in football.

“He’s a born leader,” said James Polo, his Wantagh lacrosse coach. “I know he did that in football as well.”

Now he will be rooting on his All-Star team.

“Up and down, we’re stacked, talent at every position,” Martini said. “I’m really excited to see what we really put together come game time. I think we’ll get ’em.”