Division IV Preview: A New Look at the Top With Plenty of Familiar Power

Division IV could be one of the most interesting divisions in Suffolk County this season. There is plenty of experience returning, several teams are changing divisions, and there are also some programs beginning new chapters with new coaches or new quarterbacks.

At the top, Sayville, Bayport-Blue Point and Babylon have established themselves as programs that expect to play deep into November. But this division has plenty of teams capable of making things difficult, and a few programs could surprise everyone.

There is also no shortage of storylines. From a new beginning at Shoreham-Wading River with legendary coach Paul Longo taking over, to Miller Place changing its offensive identity, to Greenport/Southold/Mattituck returning to varsity football, Division IV has plenty to watch.

Babylon

Head Coach: Rick Punzone

Babylon arrived at Media Day wearing shirts that simply said, “Never Again.” The message was symbolic after the Panthers finished 10-1 last season but came up just short against Bayport-Blue Point in the Suffolk County championship.

Two major stars from that team are gone, but Babylon returns four of its five starting offensive linemen. That could be a huge advantage as the Panthers turn the offense over to a young group of quarterbacks and running backs.

Seniors Shamus Cuneen, Kai Donnelly, Joe Rubendall and Brodie Schwirzbin will provide experience up front. If that group can give the younger skill players time to develop, Babylon has the physical foundation to get right back to the championship game.

And judging by those shirts, getting back isn't enough.

Bayport-Blue Point

Head Coach: Mike Zafonte

The defending Suffolk County and Long Island champions have earned the right to enter the season with confidence.

Bayport-Blue Point gave everyone a championship game to remember last season, with Tommy Steyert becoming the unlikely hero when he drilled the game-winning field goal to win the Long Island championship.

Steyert certainly wasn't the biggest storyline at last year's Media Day. This year, he was impossible to overlook.

The Phantoms return a strong group of juniors and seniors, led by defensive lineman Patrick Ahern, who was named the National Football Foundation's Division IV Preseason Defensive Player of the Year. Blake Romano will join him up front, while Josh Franchak should once again give the offense a strong running game.

BBP has been one of the most consistent programs in Suffolk, and there is little reason to think that changes this season. The question is whether they can make another championship run without making everyone reach for the blood-pressure medication.

Center Moriches

Head Coach: Matt Millheiser

Coach Millheiser knows what winning looks like.

He led Shoreham-Wading River to three straight Long Island championships before leaving in 2018, and now he has brought that experience to Center Moriches.

His philosophy is simple: do your job.

That mentality could serve the Red Devils well. Caleb Delgado will be one of the most important players on both sides of the ball as a standout running back and safety. Christian Versacci and Nolan Tenety give the offense additional weapons, while seniors Joe Martuscello and Michael Sheehan provide experience on the line.

Millheiser has already shown he knows how to build championship teams. Now he has the opportunity to build another one in Center Moriches.

Sayville

Head Coach: Robert Hoss

Sayville has become one of Suffolk's standard-bearers regardless of what division it happens to be playing in.

The Golden Flashes have reached three Suffolk championship games and two Long Island championships over the past four seasons. They enter Division IV with the same expectations, although there are some questions that need to be answered.

The biggest one is under center.

Junior Frankie Hanley is competing with James Coan for the starting quarterback job. Hoss believes both are capable of running the offense, which will be protected by an experienced offensive line led by senior Ben Kloska and juniors Michael Morgan and Chase Neugebauer.

Whoever wins the quarterback competition will have the benefit of handing the ball to Tim Holahan, the NFF Division IV Preseason Offensive Player of the Year.

Sayville might look a little different this season, but the expectations haven't changed.

Shoreham-Wading River

Head Coach: Paul Longo

And then there is the biggest coaching storyline in the division.

After decades of building William Floyd into one of Suffolk County's premier football programs, Paul Longo is back on the sideline.

Longo, the winningest coach in Suffolk County history, left William Floyd after an incredible run that included 15 county championships and five Long Island championships. He wasn't sure if he would coach again.

Then Shoreham-Wading River came calling.

Longo has spoken highly of his time at William Floyd, but he is embracing the challenge of taking over a smaller program and building his own culture. That process starts with getting the Wildcats back into the playoffs.

The team is young, with quarterback Noah Gregorek among the juniors expected to play major roles. Five of the eight players Longo brought to Media Day were juniors, showing just how important development will be.

There is already belief throughout the division that this team can make noise. Coaches voted Shoreham-Wading River as the division's Preseason Surprise Team.

Longo knows winning. Now he has to get a young group to believe they can win with him.

Harborfields

Head Coach: Rocco Colucci

Harborfields moves into a new division, but Colucci doesn't believe the preparation changes.

In fact, the change could provide an advantage because the team will see new opponents and have a fresh challenge.

The key will be the trenches.

Brian Henry and Rich Pryhocki will lead a group that believes controlling the line of scrimmage is the foundation of everything they want to do. If Harborfields can dominate up front, they could quickly become one of the division's more difficult teams to deal with.

King's Park

Head Coach: Mark O'Brien

Few coaches in Suffolk have the experience of O'Brien, who enters his 32nd year leading King's Park.

That experience is reflected in his team.

The Kingsmen have a senior-heavy group, and O'Brien believes that maturity can make a major difference. Zach Lampert and Wesley Krupp were two players he singled out, calling them among the hardest-working players he's coached.

At this point, football IQ and consistency are major advantages for King's Park.

Miller Place

Head Coach: Joe Mancini

Miller Place is entering a new era.

Shane Kiernan is gone, and Mancini takes over after spending eight years with the program. With that coaching change comes a change in philosophy.

The Panthers appear ready to become a more physical, run-oriented team.

Mancini is a local who believes the offensive line should be the centerpiece of the offense, and the players seem to have bought into that idea. The line performed well during the offseason Offensive Lineman Challenge.

Jack Miller will take over at quarterback, with Brayden Ellis and Jack Galligan helping protect him. Senior receivers Cameron Meadows and Brendan Cannon give Miller some weapons when the Panthers do decide to throw.

This could be a very different Miller Place team, but the hard-nosed identity may fit this division perfectly.

Mount Sinai

Head Coach: Vinnie Ammirato

Mount Sinai has always had a strong sense of community, and that continues to be one of the program's biggest strengths.

Ammirato has a coaching staff filled with former players and local ties, and that pride carries onto the field. Ethan Arita and Danny Paolella will be among the players expected to take on bigger roles.

The key will be how quickly the younger players develop. If that group grows quickly, Mount Sinai has the pieces to make a run at the top of the division.

Port Jefferson

Head Coach: Craig Perrino

Perrino takes over his first head-coaching job after spending years as an assistant alongside his father at Smithtown.

Now the program belongs to him.

Junior quarterback Sam Fabian will immediately be asked to lead the offense, with Kemp Jarrett handling much of the running game. Fabian has an experienced line in front of him, led by Luca Caltagirone and Maklyn Mejia Ceballos.

The biggest challenge will be getting those juniors ready to contribute immediately.

The Rest of Division IV

There are plenty of other intriguing stories.

Amityville will rely heavily on a young group that includes freshmen Christopher Ayala Madrid and Mekhi Brown, while Jared Currie, Anari Armstrong and Deion White provide older leadership.

John Glenn has a strong foundation up front, with Ryan Bulger, Aras Buz, Max Clemens and Karim Rafiq giving the Knights plenty of experience on the line. Junior GJ Cook is already being viewed as a leader.

Greenport/Southold/Mattituck returns to varsity football after not having enough players to field a team last season. Thomas Arena and Emmett Tramontana will lead the lines, while Owen Edgett is expected to be a focal point of the running game.

Hampton Bays/Southampton is continuing to build after bringing football back last season. Jack DeBenedette impressed at the JV level and will be expected to make the jump, while junior Connor Bullinger takes over at quarterback.

Wyandanch believes it can make some noise behind senior leaders Dom Correnthi and Javion Kimble. Junior quarterback Jayshawn Coleman has talent, but establishing the running game will be critical.

Division IV has plenty of experience, but it also has plenty of uncertainty. The defending champions want to repeat, Babylon wants another shot, Sayville wants another title and Shoreham-Wading River has a legendary coach trying to build something new.

That makes this one division worth watching from Week 1 all the way to November.