High school football Week 4 blog: Updates, scores and more from the fourth week of games

Floral Park football honors the life of Keith Fairben, an alumnus who was killed in 9/11 attacks

The first plane had crashed into the World Trade Center’s North Tower, and so Ken Fairben called to check on his son, Keith, a paramedic who had responded to the frightful scene for New York-Presbyterian EMS.

“Yeah, Dad, I’m down here,” Keith said. “I can’t talk. Be safe. I’ll see you tonight at dinner.”

He didn’t make it home for dinner in Floral Park on Sept. 11, 2001.

Seven months later, his dad, the former fire chief for the all-volunteer Floral Park Fire Department, was working at a Williston Park funeral home when his wife (Diane) and Keith’s boss arrived. They had news.

Keith’s remains had been found.

That night, Ken and one of the funeral home directors took a hearse for a heartbreaking ride to the New York City Medical Examiner’s facility to get Keith, who graduated from Floral Park in 1994 and was a 24-year-old lieutenant with the village’s fire department.

His dad was told that Keith had been discovered with one of the injured in his arms.

So now it’s 25 years later. Floral Park football coach Ron Pickett and his staff wanted to have a tribute game for this special anniversary, honoring the heroes and victims from a community that got hit hard on that terrible day.

The pregame ceremony was pushed back a week due to bad weather. But it took place Saturday before Fairben made the coin toss at midfield, followed by the Knights beating East Rockaway/West Hempstead 42-21 on Homecoming Day.

For more on this story check Brian Heyman's full article. And for more information on Nassau football results, check them out here.

Jon Mullaly's big receiving effort lifts Sachem North past Longwood

Sachem North coach Dave Caputo called Saturday’s matchup with Longwood a “DNA game.”

A game that would show what his players were made of.

Jon Mullaly responded with the best game of his varsity career.

The junior receiver had eight receptions for 168 yards and three touchdowns in a breakout performance as host Sachem North defeated Longwood, 42-21, in Suffolk I Saturday.

“Not every game on the schedule is a DNA game,” Caputo said. “When Sachem plays Longwood, it’s a DNA game. We asked our guys to respond. Is it in your DNA to be a true football player, a true Sachem football player? And I think you saw it on the field today.”

For more on this Suffolk I matchup, check out Jared Valluzzi's game story.

Mepham gets back in the win column following two heartbreaking losses

The Mepham football team finally got some pent-up anger out — two weeks worth of it, to be exact.

The Pirates dominated all three phases of the game and led from wire to wire, defeating visiting Valley Stream Central, 50-15, in a Nassau Conference II football game in Bellmore on Saturday. The win served as an emotional rebound, as well as a perfect homecoming celebration for Mepham (2-2), which had previously suffered back-to-back heartbreaking losses.

The Pirates’ Week 2 and 3 games were right there for the taking, but they fell just short in both by a combined seven points. Last week, with the chance to pull off an upset of a Nassau I team in a crossover game, Mepham attempted a two-point conversion with no time remaining to try and win it, but its run was stopped in the backfield, resulting in a 7-6 loss. That deflating defeat followed a 25-19 loss in double overtime to district-rival Calhoun.

For more on this Nassau II matchup, check out Mike Anderson's game story.

Hudson Philbrick does it all for Ward Melville football in win over Floyd

Ward Melville’s football team is finally at full strength.

Quarterback Hudson Philbrick is a happy camper.

The senior Stony Brook commit had 10 carries for 161 yards and four touchdowns and completed 7 of 13 passes for 225 yards and a TD to lead host Ward Melville to a 44-27 win over Floyd in Suffolk Division I on Saturday.

With Joe Karpowicz, Demetrius Matte and Will Killigrew returning to the lineup, it was the first time the Patriots had all their starters healthy this season.

“It’s just a morale booster,” Philbrick said. “Without them, we still have to do what we do best. But with them, it just uplifts everybody because those are guys you want to have around you on the field.”

For more on this Suffolk I matchup, check out Matt Lindsay's game story.

Noah Reinstein's FG in OT lifts Hills East past Northport

Half Hollow Hills East kicker Noah Reinstein admitted he was a little nervous. That would be completely understandable.

Reinstein lined up to attempt the biggest kick through the first four games of the 2026 high school football season. He watched Northport storm back with 14 points in the fourth quarter to force overtime against top seed Half Hollow Hills East.

The pressure was on. All the big pass plays, hard hits, interceptions, defensive stops and key first down runs, brought them to this point.

Everyone was focused on the kick – in overtime.

And this is what kickers dream about. A shot at making that final kick and sending the home crowd into a frenzy.

Center Adonis Owen sent a perfect snap to holder RJ Peters, and Reinstein kept his head down and drilled the game-winning, 27-yard field goal just inside the left upright to send Half Hollow Hills East to a 17-14 win over Northport in Suffolk Division II on Saturday afternoon in Dix Hills.

Reinstein was mobbed after the kick as the RedHawks remained undefeated at 4-0.

“I was trying to stay stretched and ready on the sideline,” Reinstein said. “I’d never had the chance to kick a game-winner. I was ready.”

For more on this Suffolk II matchup, check out Gregg Sarra's game story.

Mepham takes commanding at half

Peters' touchdown give Half Hollow Hills East the lead

The tie at 7 lasted all of 54 seconds in the Half Hollow Hills East - Northport game. Vin Banculli fired a 51-yard TD pass to RJ Peters who beat man coverage for the TD. Hills East leads 14-7 with 5:43 remaining. And now a huge hit on the kickoff forces a fumble recovered by Hills' Christian Sivo at the Northport 32.

Morrissey with a tough catch to set up a Northport TD

Red zone alert. Northport is at the 13 yard line. Senior Sean Morrissey caught a 33-yard pass that deflected out of the hands of safety RJ Peters at the 15 yard line. Peters had excellent coverage and looked to have the pick but the ball deflected right to Morrissey. Hills East defense allows its first TD of the season -- actually first points. On fourth down and goal, Tristan Magro caught a tipped pass in the end zone for the score. Ty Hamada added the kick and it's tied at 7 with 6:37 left.

Half Hollow Hills East gets on the board

We said it would take one mistake - a turnover - that would decide a winner here at Hills East. We have our first turnover late int he third quarter. Junior defensive back Kaylib Merchant intercepted a downfield pass at the Hills East 45 and returned it 32 yards to the Northport 18. Tony Keahey rushed 15 yards to the one and quarterback Vin Banculli scored from a yard out got the first TD. Noah Reinstein added the kick for a 7-0 Hills East lead with 1:02 left in the third quarter. Northport is moving the ball into the RedHawks territory at the 47 with 10:17 left in the game

Half Hollow Hills East and Northport scoreless at half

How's this for a first place showdown in Suffolk Division II? Half Hollow Hills East and Northport played to a scoreless tie through the first half. Both teams could only muster three first downs apiece. Hills East had 49 yards on 19 plays and Northport managed 42 yards on 22 plays. There were seven consecutive punts and both teams were penalized four times. This is a clean, hard-hitting affair where the first big turnover will decide a winner. We are midway through the third quarter and setting up for the ninth punt in the game.

Jacob's touchdown puts Longwood on the board

Philbrick making big plays for the Patriots

Late night score update

Nassau

Massapequa 50, Hempstead 12

Oceanside 36, Syosset 7

Long Beach 15, Roosevelt 6

Carey 27, MacArthur 3

Bethpage 39, Hewlett 0

South Side 20, Manhasset 7

Malverne 22, Lynbrook 10

Valley Stream North 41, Carle Place 27

Seaford 20, Locust Valley 0

Suffolk

Whitman 28, Bay Shore 8

Westhampton 34, East Islip 0

West Islip 48, Hauppauge 6

Eastport-South Manor 27, Smithtown West 6

Center Moriches 47, Glenn 45

Bayport-Blue Point 35, Harborfields 0

Sayville 42, Mount Sinai 0

Miller Place 34, Hampton Bays 6

FRIDAY NIGHT SCORES

FRIDAY GAMES

Nassau I

Massapequa 50, Hempstead 12

Oceanside 36, Syosset 7

Nassau II

Carey 27, MacArthur 3

Long Beach 15, Roosevelt 6

Nassau III

South Side 20, Manhasset 7

Bethpage 39, Hewlett 0

Nassau IV

Malverne 22, Lynbrook 10

Seaford 20, Locust Valley 0

Valley Stream North 41, Carle Place 27

Suffolk I

Whitman 28, Bay Shore 8

Suffolk III

Westhampton 34, East Islip 0

West Islip 48, Hauppauge 6

Eastport-South Manor 27, Smithtown West 6

Suffolk IV

Bayport-Blue Point 35, Harborfields 0

Sayville 42, Mt. Sinai 0

Center Moriches 47, Glenn 45

Isaiah Smith dazzles on offense and defense for Malverne football

Isaiah Smith had already delivered when Malverne needed him.

With the Mules trailing Lynbrook by two, the 6-3, 230-pound bruising runner accounted for 39 yards on a 73-yard drive. He shed two tacklers on a 10-yard touchdown run with 59 seconds remaining. Smith added the two-point conversion to give Malverne a six-point lead.

But he had one more play to make.

Smith got a hand on a pass, hauled in the deflection, and suddenly had nothing but daylight in front of him. He raced 55 yards for a pick-6 with seven seconds left in the game. Malverne’s sideline and home crowd erupted, as almost everyone on the sideline put their hands in the air.

It was the finishing touch in a 22-10 victory over visiting Lynbrook in Nassau IV Friday night.

For more on this matchup, check out Jared Valluzzi's game story. 

South Side's Rob Cesario lights it up through the air

Stopping South Side’s run game and top backs AJ Magaraci and Ethan Johnson has been the priority for opposing defenses for the last two years.

Rob Cesario Jr. just created another problem for Nassau Conference III football teams to worry about.

In his second year at the helm, the junior quarterback threw two touchdown passes and completed 14 of 21 passes for a career-high 286 yards to lead the Cyclones over visiting Manhasset Friday night.

Cesario entered the game with 256 passing yards through three games this season.

“He’s made a big jump this year,” coach Phil Onesto said. “The game has definitely slowed down for him a little bit. He’s got a lot of arm talent and we’re very comfortable with him putting the ball in the air.”

For more on this Nassau II matchup, check out Matt Lindsay's game story.

Malverne pulls away with the win

Westhampton seals victory in East Islip

Jake Calloway found Brandon Reaves on a quick slant for a 65-yard TD pass in the third quarter and his added his third TD run from six yards in the fourth quarter. Coincidentally, the first game ever played by an East Islip varsity football team came exactly 72 years ago on the same date, October 2, 1954. And guess who they played? It was Westhampton, who came into town and beat East Islip, 32-0, at the old East Islip High School on Main Street.

For Calloway, who has earned his place in the discussion for the Hansen Award, presented to Suffolk’s most outstanding player, the long bus ride back to Westhampton will be filled with cheer.

There is only one goal for these Hurricanes – and that’s a Long Island championship.

For more on this Suffolk III matchup, check out Gregg Sarra's full game story.

Lynbrook retakes lead

Lynbrook 10, Malverne 8

Phillip Dzieciolowski nails a 25-yard FG. Just 48 seconds in the third quarter remain.

South Side continues winning streak, tops Manhasset

FINAL: South Side 20, Manhasset 7

Rob Cesario Jr. completes 13 of 20 passes for 280 yards and 2 TDs to lead the Cyclones to their 4th straight win. Kieran Vetter’s interception sealed the win.

Malverne narrowly leading Lynbrook at halftime

Westhampton keeps pouring it on

Westhampton's Jake Calloway hits Brandon Reaves with a quick slant for a 65-yard TD and the Hurricanes lead East Islip 27-0 with 1:54 left in the third quarter. Calloway has 247 all-purpose yards through three quarters. He's completed four of five passes for 149 yards and rushed for 98 yards.

Malverne takes the lead before half

Action photos from East Islip vs. Westhampton football

Westhampton senior Conner Ragimierski caught a 71-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Jake Calloway in the first quarter against host East Islip.

Westhampton senior quarterback Jake Calloway ran for two touchdowns in the first half against East Islip.

Westhampton still ahead after halftime

Westhampton Beach 20, East Islip 0 - early third quarter. Westhampton 10-play, 40-yard drive is shut down at East Islip 38 forcing a pooch punt. East Islip quarterback has been scrambling out of harms way quite a bit. He's made some nice throws on the run completing four of six passes for 56 yards. Intermittent showers have started making the ball slick. Crowd is still hanging in there despite the wicked weather, umbrellas popped everywhere.

Rob Cesario Jr. doing it all for the Cyclones

South Side leads Manhasset at the break

Westhampton up 20 at half

Westhampton quarterback Jake Calloway rolled to his right, set his feet, and launched a long pass to wide receiver Connor Ragimierski. He hit the junior in stride for a 71-yard TD pass and Blake Schaffer added the kick for a 7-0 lead with 5:49 left in the first quarter. This kid is special — not many QB's in high school can make this throw — it was impressive.
Westhampton extended the lead when Calloway went on a quarterback keep for a 26-yard TD run. Schaffer added the kick to make it 14-0 late first quarter. Calloway saw an opening in the East Islip defense bolted right up the middle for a 26-yard TD run and a 14-0 lead. He would cap a seven-play, 60-yard TD drive with a 3-yard scoring run for the 20-0 halftime lead. This is a Hansen Award performance. Calloway is doing all of this against an undefeated East Islip team.

Westhampton takes on East Islip

Here are few facts about the East Islip-Westhampton High School football rivarly:

East Islip's first game ever was Oct. 2, 1954. That is 72 years ago today. Westhampton won that game, 32-0 at the old East Islip High School on Main Street. They renew this matchup in a Suffolk Division III game with first-place on the line tonight at East Islip High School. Westhampton leads the all-time series 10-9.

Newsday's HS fantasy football league: Week 4 update

Standings

Jared Valluzzi, 669

Matt Lindsay, 653

Gregg Sarra, 620

Jonathan Ruban, 573

Tess Ferguson, 511

JP Cheslowitz, 482

Michael Sicoli, 478

Chris Matias, 451

Lenny Genova, 444

Mike Anderson, 428

Top performers

QB: Hudson Philbrick, Ward Melville

He put up 42 points for Team Valluzzi. Philbrick threw two touchdowns and ran in two more in the Patriots’ 35-25 comeback win over Connetquot.

RB: Dylan Parchment, Hewlett

He ran for a school-record five touchdowns in Hewlett’s 40-13 win over Carle Place, scoring 55 points for Team Ruban. Parchment finished with 252 yards on 12 carries.

WR: Jonas Mendez, Connetquot; RJ Peters, Half Hollow Hills East

Both put up 26 points for Team Sarra and Team Ruban, respectively. Mendez recorded 94 yards and two touchdowns on five receptions. Peters caught three passes for 110 yards and two touchdowns.

DEF: Bayport-Blue Point, Half Hollow Hills East

Both notched 15 points each for Team Valluzzi and Team Ruban, respectively. The Phantoms shut out Babylon, 23-0, and Hills East shut out Newfield, 37-0.

Waiver pickups

Team Anderson: Dillon Harris, WR, Lawrence

Team Chris: Abelardo Peralta, QB, Uniondale

Team Ferguson: Max McElhone, WR, Port Washington

Team Ruban: Jayce Boyle-Summers, WR, Glenn

The Week 4 LI high school football schedule

Friday, Oct. 2

Nassau

Conference I

Massapequa at Hempstead, 6 p.m.

Syosset at Oceanside, 6:30 p.m.

Conference II

Carey at MacArthur, 6 p.m.

Roosevelt at Long Beach, 7 p.m.

Conference III

Manhasset at South Side, 6 p.m.

Hewlett at Bethpage, 7 p.m.

Conference IV

Locust Valley at Seaford, 6:30 p.m.

Lynbrook at Malverne, 7 p.m.

Valley Stream North at Carle Place, 7:15 p.m.

Suffolk

Division I

Bay Shore at Whitman, 6:30 p.m.

Division II

Smithtown East at Commack, 7 p.m.

Division III

Westhampton at East Islip, 6 p.m.

Hauppauge at West Islip, 6 p.m.

Eastport-South Manor at Smithtown West, 6 p.m.

Division IV

Sayville at Mount Sinai, 6 p.m.

Wyandanch at Greenport/Southold/Mattituck, 6 p.m.

Miller Place at Hampton Bays, 6 p.m.

Glenn at Center Moriches, 6:30 p.m.

Bayport-Blue Point at Harborfields, 6:30 p.m.

CHSFL

Kellenberg at Fordham Prep, 6 p.m.

Saturday, Oct. 3

Nassau

Conference I

Hicksville at Freeport, 2 p.m.

Westbury at Herricks/Wheatley/Roslyn, 2 p.m.

Farmingdale at East Meadow, 3 p.m.

Uniondale at Plainview-Old Bethpage JFK, 3 p.m.

Conference II

Baldwin at Bellmore JFK, 2 p.m.

New Hyde Park at Garden City, 2 p.m.

Valley Stream Central at Mepham, 3 p.m.

Conference III

Plainedge at Clarke, 2 p.m.

Mineola at Elmont, 2 p.m.

Division at Sewanhaka, 2 p.m.

Glen Cove at Wantagh, 3 p.m.

Conference IV

Oyster Bay/Friends Academy at North Shore, 2 p.m.

Cold Spring Harbor at Valley Stream South, 2 p.m.

Island Trees at Lawrence, 2 p.m.

East Rockaway/West Hempstead at Floral Park, 2 p.m.

Suffolk

Division I

Patchogue-Medford at Riverhead, 1:30 p.m.

Central Islip at Brentwood, 1:30 p.m.

Floyd at Ward Melville, 2 p.m.

Connetquot at Sachem East, 3 p.m.

Longwood at Sachem North, 3 p.m.

Division II

Newfield at Copiague, 1 p.m.

Huntington at North Babylon, 1 p.m.

Northport at Half Hollow Hills East, 2 p.m.

Deer Park at Bellport, 2 p.m.

Centereach at Lindenhurst, 2 p.m.

Division III

Islip at Half Hollow Hills West, 1 p.m.

Rocky Point at West Babylon, 2 p.m.

East Hampton/Pierson at Comsewogue, 3 p.m.

CHSFL

St. John the Baptist at Xavier, 1:30 p.m.

St. Anthony's at Iona Prep, 1:30 p.m.

Private

Loudoun Sports Academy at Long Island Lutheran, 1 p.m.

Sunday, Oct. 4

CHSFL

Cardinal Hayes at Chaminade, 1:30 p.m.