The Wantagh Warriors football team claimed its third Long Island Championship in team history, and first since 2016 on November 29, 2024, defeating previously undefeated Bayport-Blue Point at Hofstra University. The Phantoms of Bayport-Blue Point entered the title game in the midst of an incredible 34 game winning streak, looking to capture their third Long Island Championship in as many years. However, just as they had done all year, the Warriors showed they didn’t care who their opponent was.

On the same field that the Warriors watched their 2023-2024 season end on a year ago, Wantagh had come back to Hofstra, and upset the Phantoms, 29-21, in an instant classic of a Long Island Championship. The playoff run was more than remarkable for the Warriors; a year after losing to Plainedge, Wantagh defeated the Red Devils a week prior in the Nassau County Championship, 48-21. The Warriors’ lone blemish in the teams outstanding 7-1 regular season record was a crushing overtime defeat to Plainedge back in October, setting the table for a revenge game in the playoffs en route to a County Championship. However, more incredible accomplishments of the team’s season came after the last whistle had blown.

The “Tom Thorp” Award is given to the best football player in Nassau County after every football season. The award has been handed out 83 times in its history. This season, for the first time ever, the recipient wore “Wantagh” on the front of his jersey. Senior running back Dylan Martini was granted the prestigious trophy after amassing nearly 2,000 rushing yards paired with 35 touchdowns.