Massapequa seeks three-peat, while Ward Melville chases history in football Long Island Class I championship

This group of Patriots from Ward Melville can make some program history, but it will need to get past a very large obstacle with shoulder pads standing in the way.

Ward Melville has never experienced the fabulous football feeling of winning a Long Island championship.

“In the past few years, we’ve played in a bunch of high-level games, but we haven’t been able to win the big one,” coach Chris Boltrek said. “So that’s definitely an incentive for these guys.”

Because after winning a big one — upending two-time defending Suffolk I champ Floyd 31-28 in Friday’s county final — Ward Melville has a second-ever chance to win its first Island title after falling to Farmingdale in the 2022 Class I championship game.

The 10-1 Patriots will face 11-0 Massapequa for Island supremacy in this classification at noon Friday at Hofstra’s Shuart Stadium.

“I think it would mean pretty much everything to us,” said Hudson Philbrick, Ward Melville’s junior quarterback. “I mean, we’ve worked hard for this. We’ve bled for this. And not only it being a huge accomplishment for the program, but just ourselves in showing how much time we’ve put in over the offseason and over the years to get to that.”

The other side wants it just as much.

“It would mean everything in the world,” said Massapequa sophomore defensive tackle Jack Mulligan, who delivered a pick-6 twice in about 68 seconds during Friday’s 55-18 win over Oceanside in the Nassau I final. “It would be history. It would be something awesome.”

Massapequa has won five Long Island crowns, including the ones in 2023 and 2024 that came by beating Floyd. The team is fresh off claiming the program’s first county three-peat. Now it’s chasing the program’s first Long Island three-peat.

“They’re a phenomenal program,” Philbrick said. “… But I think a lot of hard work will beat them. We’ve just got to make sure we stay really focused.”

His team averages about 40 points. Massapequa averages about 44.

“I think [Massapequa is] definitely a team that runs a lot of formations and does a lot of stuff that we don’t see very often,” Boltrek said. “But I think we also probably are giving them that same feeling.”

Philbrick, a 6-2, 195-pound second-year starter, has thrown for 1,917 yards and 24 touchdowns with one interception. He has run for another 433 yards and seven scores.

“He’s obviously a gifted an athlete,” Boltrek said, “but he’s also just a kid who’s very, very humble and really wants to excel in the system that we have for him.”

Philbrick credited the line with providing “all kinds of time” and his offseason work “building chemistry with the receivers.” But the Patriots also have hard-running senior tailback Joey Benedetto, who has rushed for 1,100 yards and 18 TDs.

“Honestly, we’re, like, probably a 60-40 split running the ball more than we pass the ball,” Boltrek said. “I don’t think people realize that. … I think that balance really helps us out.”

Senior running back Andrew Pedalino has rushed for 970 yards and 19 TDs for Massapequa.

Luke Garguilo has thrown for 1,117 yards and 17 TDs and run for 737 yards and eight scores. The junior quarterback missed most of the second half in the county final after twisting an ankle.

“We’ll get him ready to go,” coach Kevin Shippos said. “He’s going to give it everything he’s got. It’s the last game of the year. He’s as tough as they come mentally and physically.”

Massapequa’s 2025 edition has extended the program’s run to 34-1 over these last three seasons.

“This team has a lot of personality,” Shippos said. “They’re a very social bunch in a good way.

“I’m a quiet person. They’re very lively from 3 o’clock at practice to 5:45. They love being out there. They love each other. They love playing the game. … They’re showing me their way is working and it’s working good.”