Celebrating Outstanding 2024 Suffolk County Football Players

More than 50 of Suffolk County’s 2024 outstanding high school football players were honored at the annual scholar athlete awards at the Marriott Hotel in Melville on April 27. Awards were presented by the James C. Metzger Suffolk County Chapter of the National Football Foundation.

The NFF acknowledged its Golden Eleven Honorees along with Division 1-4 scholar athletes and scholar athletes for Catholic and independent schools. Additional awards were presented to team offensive lines and others associated with local high school football.

The James Conrad Metzger Top Scholar Athlete award was presented by Metzger and the chapter to Xavier Ali or Walt Whitman High School. The James Conrad Metzger Top Scholar Athlete-Catholic League award was presented to William Handley of Chaminade High School. James C. Metzger is a 1970s Half Hollow Hills East High School and Hofstra University athletic standout. He is the founder, chairman and chief executive officer of The Whitmore Agency, LLC, one of the leading insurance brokerage companies in the New York City area. As a philanthropist, his contributions to community and athletic programs include Long Island youth football and lacrosse.

Metzger Award Profiles

Ali carries a 100.3 GPA. He is a three-time All-County player and earned 1st team All-Long Island honors as a junior and senior. Ali started all four years on both sides of the ball and moved from the defensive line to linebacker as a senior. He led the Walt Whitman Wildcats on defense with 114 tackles and 10 sacks. Ali is a member of the Natural Helpers Club, the Leadership Club and the Finance Club. He is a member of the varsity track team and is an All-County and All-Selection champion in the shot put and discus. Ali volunteers as a youth football and wrestling coach, along with the Wildcat Food Pantry.

Handley carries a 95 unweighted average and scored 1310 on the SAT. He earned All-Catholic League honors on the gridiron. Handley is a member of the Business Club, Economics Club and Sodality Club. He was a member of the basketball team and volunteers as a mentor and youth football coach.

Additional Awards

2023 National Football Foundation Golden Eleven Honorees

• Finn Drake, Westhampton Beach High School
• Aaron Fisher, William Floyd High School
• Michael Frankie, Bellport High School
• Gavin German, Smithtown West High School
• Jack Kalinowski, East Islip High School
• Brennan Kurtz, Ward Melville High School
• Cole Madden, John Glenn High School
• Kyle Messina, Sayville High School
• Brady Nash, Islip High School
• Nicholas Paliotta, Kings Park High School
• Dylan Spano, Bayport-Blue Point High School

The 2024 NFF Offensive Line Award was presented to one team in each public school division.

Division 1: Longwood High School – Jordan Bennett, Clint Chicester, Michael Duarte, Gio Johnson, Ryan Morrissey, Greg Princivil

Division 2: East Islip High School – Dylan Bayer, Tyler Cato, Sam Henderson, Glendon Kinnear, Niko Meyers, Mike Tramaglini, Drew Walendowski

Division 3: Eastport-South Manor High School – Nolan Douglas, Collin Fessel, Stevey Pacella Gordon, Joseph McLaughlin, Tommy Powers, Aiden Westra

Division 4: Bayport-Blue Point High School – Patrick Ahern, Ryan Bachmore, Charles Crisera, Sam DeVore, Christian Sauer, Dylan Spano, Evan Waldbauer

The Gregg Sarra Trophy named for the Newsday high school sports editor, was presented to Joseph Filardi of Half Hollow Hills West High School as offensive player of the year and Michael Sands of Sayville High School as defensive player of the year.

The inaugural Paci Iron Grit Award named for former Huntington High School coach John Paci, Jr. was received by Longwood High School’s wide receiver and defensive end Mike Warren.

The Bryan Collins Memorial Scholarship named for the legendary coach of LIU Post and Stony Brook University was presented to Michael Sands of Sayville High School.

The Norman D. Carter Official of the Year award was presented to Marc Negrin, Jr., who began officiating during 2015 at age 18.

Orlin & Cohen Orthopedics Player of the Week Team

• Joseph Filardi, Half Hollow Hills West High School
• Andrew Amarando, Connetquot High School
• Brady Nash, Islip High School
• Shane Kiernan, Miller Place High School
• Hudson Philbrick, Ward Melville High School
• Kyle Messina, Sayville High School
• Aidan Winter, Babylon High School
• Cody Tiringer, Copiague High School
• Fabrice Cormier, Copiague High School
• Ja’Quan Thomas, William Floyd High School
• Ryan Park, East Islip High School
• Anthony Raio, Half Hollow Hills West High School
• Tommy McCann, Sayville High School

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Mike Virgintino is the author of Freedomland U.S.A.: The Definitive History and Freedomland U.S.A.: More Definitive History that tell the story about America's theme park located in The Bronx. Published by Theme Park Press, the books can be found on Amazon and other online retailers.