Massapequa defense slows down Ward Melville, delivers third straight Long Island Class I football title

You would have thought that Massapequa and Ward Melville would wage a high-scoring affair in the Long Island Class I championship game Friday afternoon at Hofstra University.

Massapequa, the highest-scoring offense on Long Island, was averaging 44 points. Ward Melville, Suffolk’s top offense, was averaging 40 points.

Let the offensive fireworks begin, right?

Think again. This game started and ended with the Massapequa defense.

Massapequa opened the game by forcing three turnovers and holding Ward Melville to 46 yards in a scoreless first half. With the game on the line, Massapequa’s secondary of Michael Ippolito, Cole Villalta and Dylan Milio batted down consecutive deep balls in the final minutes to clinch Massapequa’s 14-12 win.

FINAL: Massapequa 14, Ward Melville 12
Dylan Milio swats down the Patriots’ Hail Mary attempt on 4th&long, allowing Pequa to kneel out its third straight LI title. https://t.co/9HV1DCwUmW pic.twitter.com/7O0CV5jy8d

— Matt Lindsay (@MattLinds19) November 28, 2025

Massapequa (12-0) became the first Nassau Class I school  to win three straight Long Island crowns. It was the school’s sixth Class I title overall.

“From start to finish, it was a pleasure to coach this group,” coach Kevin Shippos said. “We’re very athletic and we matched up well with Ward Melville at the skill positions. Speaking fundamentally, there were too many mistakes in that first half and it was not the way we drew it up. But it was an exciting finish, and I guess the fans loved it. Ward Melville was an extremely worthy opponent and they have our respect.”

Ward Melville finished 10-2, losing for the second time in four years in the Class I final.

“Too many turnovers,” coach Chris Boltrek said. “We didn’t take care of the ball. I’m disappointed that we didn’t make the big plays.”

The first half was a classic in which the hard hitting led to six turnovers.

“We played great defense all season,” Boltrek said. “It was overshadowed by our offense.”

Ward Melville had three early scoring opportunities in which it started drives in Massapequa territory, but it failed to capitalize. That was a harbinger of things to come.

“We had them figured out,” Massapequa middle linebacker Anthony DiNello said. “We shut down that running game.”

Massapequa opened the third quarter with an 11-play, 61-yard touchdown drive. Halfback Joe Brooks scored on a 4-yard run and Chris Bascetta added the kick for a 7-0 lead with 5:54 left in the quarter. The ground game moved methodically down the field behind halfback Andrew Pedalino, who had six carries for 28 yards.

Massapequa 7, Ward Melville 0
Joe Brooks runs in a 4-yard TD to cap a 6:06 opening drive to start the second half. Chris Bascetta adds the PAT. 5:54 left in Q3. pic.twitter.com/T8kLE6Fenc

— Matt Lindsay (@MattLinds19) November 28, 2025

“I told the guys in the locker room, we’ve been here before,” Brooks said. “We’ve fought back from adversity, we’ve come back from being down and we have experience here. If there is a 0-0 game, we know we’re going to fight it out.”

On Ward Melville’s next possession, Hudson Philbrick fired over the middle to an open receiver, but it bounced off his hands and Brooks made a diving interception at the Patriots’ 35.

Five plays later, Pedalino went over left tackle and found no room to run. He cut back across the defense and into the end zone for a 17-yard touchdown run for a 14-0 lead with 2:36 left.

Andrew Pedalino scores a TD to put Massapequa up 14-0. pic.twitter.com/EvoC5Qfsg5

— Newsday HS sports (@NewsdayHSsports) November 28, 2025

“That’s his signature run,” Shippos said. “And he delivered when we needed it.”

“I was going to the left, there was nothing there, and bounced it back to my right and saw the end zone,” Pedalino said. “I told myself, ‘No one is stopping me from getting in.’ ”

Ward Melville answered with an eight-play, 69-yard touchdown drive. Philbrick completed three passes for 44 yards before halfback Joe Benedetto scored on a 4-yard run with 26 seconds left in the third quarter. The Patriots missed the PAT and trailed 14-6.

Ward Melville closed the gap to 14-12 when Benedetto scored on a 5-yard run with 9:56 left in the fourth quarter. The two-point conversion play was stuffed by DiNello and company on a run up the middle.

Ladies and gentleman we have a ball game! Benedetto scores another TD to cut the Patriots’ deficit 14-12. Massapequa was able to stop the 2-point conversion for the tie. 4:56 left remaining in the game! pic.twitter.com/oirH3xvZ5c

— Newsday HS sports (@NewsdayHSsports) November 28, 2025

“This team had a lot of personality,” Shippos said. “They showed me there’s more than one way to get it done. They love the game and enjoy playing with one another.”