Thursday, October 1, 2026
New York City had just completed its best possession of the 2nd Annual National Football Foundation’s All-Star Football Classic, driving 60 yards on 11 plays following a takeaway to cut Long Island’s lead to four points with 4:51 remaining in the third quarter.
However, it didn’t take long for momentum to swing back in favor of Long Island.
Thirteen seconds, to be exact.
Mount Sinai’s Dontae Spadaro took the ensuing kickoff in stride and blazed down the sideline 73 yards for a touchdown to extend Long Island’s advantage to two scores and it held on for a 21-13 victory Wednesday night before a crowd of 1,500 at Hofstra University’s Shuart Stadium.
“It meant a lot to me to score that touchdown and help our team win,” Spadaro said. “It’s pretty emotional.”
Long Island won last year’s inaugural All-Star Classic, 33-15, as the senior showcase game made its return for the first time since the Boomer Esiasion Foundation’s Empire Challenge completed a fantastic 24-year run in 2019.
The new version, with a special touch featuring some of college football’s most renowned rivalries (Long Island wore Notre Dame uniforms; New York City wore USC), also honors Esiason, with the game’s MVP trophy named after the former East Islip and NFL star quarterback.
East Islip’s Jovan Bonilla was named MVP. He had a tremendous night leading a Long Island defense that allowed only one touchdown — Eagle Academy quarterback Aaron Smith’s 20-yard run up the middle that brought NYC within 14-10 before Spadaro’s special teams heroics. Bonilla batted down a pass on the opening play of the second quarter to hold NYC to a field goal and racked up 8 tackles.
“It was a great experience,” Bonilla said. “Our defense was relentless the whole game. The energy was high and I’m just grateful for the opportunity.”
Long Island’s first scoring drive answered the first of two Jake Borrowes (Monsignor Farrell) field goals. Quarterback Simmon Blisset (Northport) directed a 10-play, 57-yard drive capped by his 6-yard touchdown pass on a backfield screen to Huntington’s Yasir Jones. It was 7-3 after kicker Justin Jones’ (Chaminade) first of three successful extra points.
Carle Place’s Ryan Leary kept the drive alive, hauling down a 16-yard pass from Blisset on fourth-and-8 from Long Island’s 45. Jones added a 22-yard reception.
“There was so much talent on the field,” said Leary, who had three receptions for 43 yards. “One thing that struck me was the size of the linemen. It was a lot of fun and great to be targeted.”
Long Island led 14-3 at halftime following an impressive 89-yard touchdown drive that culminated with a 23-yard scoring strike from Miller Place quarterback Shane Kiernan to William Floyd running back Ja’Quan Thomas.
It was back to a one-possession game with 6:18 remaining in the fourth quarter after Borrowes nailed a 24-yard field goal. New York City got the ball back with 3:22 left, but East Islip’s PJ Gannon’s interception sealed the outcome.
“The kids were class acts for weeks, became a team and really showed up and played for each other,” said longtime Wantagh coach Keith Sachs, who along with Garden City’s Dave Ettinger, Roosevelt’s Joe Vito, Massapequa’s Kevin Shippos, St. Anthony’s Joe Minucci, Ward Melville’s Chris Boltrek, Cold Spring Harbor’s John Mendreski, Bayport’s Mike Zafonte, East Islip’s Sal Ciampi, Smithtown West’s Craig Perrino, West Islip’s Steve Fasciani was part of a Long Island staff led by Sayville’s Rob Hoss.
