Sports

LI Football Game For a Cause

Boomer Esiason's Empire Challenge, an all-star game between LI-NYC, puts spotlight on cystic fibrosis.

Boomer Esiason’s mission to highlight cystic fibrosis takes center stage Tuesday in the form of the UnitedHealthcare Empire Challenge all-star football game.

Esiason, an East Islip native and former Jets quarterback, helped raise awareness and money to combat an affliction his son Gunnar, now 21, has battled his entire life. But by making Long Island high school football one piece of the foundation’s fundraising arm, he’s given area teens a spotlight-worthy venue.

The 18th annual game features Long Island’s top seniors versus New York City at Hofstra’s Shuart Stadium. The game will be broadcast live at 7:30 p.m. on MSG Varsity. Tickets cost $15.

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Coaching Team Long Island is Lawrence’s Joe Martillotti, who led the Golden Tornadoes to a 12-0 season capped by a Long Island Class III title with a 21-20 win over Sayville last November.

Martillotti’s high-octane offensive style will mesh well with Floyd quarterback A.J. Otranto, who directed the Colonials to the Long Island Class I championship

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Another Floyd standout, running back Stacey Bedell (now at UMass), was named game MVP of Long Island’s 31-7 win over NYC a year ago.

Plenty of hard-running backs fill the current LI roster: Anthony Anderson (St. Anthony’s), Tyler Fredericks (Lawrence), Tayvon Hall (West Hempstead), Willian Stanback (Uniondale). 

But traditionally this game comes down to a big kick. That’s a good thing for LI. Chaminade kicker Zane Wasp made one of the most pressure-packed kicks of the 2012 season when he beat St. Anthony’s, 17-16, on a 33-yard field goal in the CHSFL Class AAA title game. 

Whoever delivers the big play, it'll mark one last chance to shine. And yet another opportunity to raise awareness for CF.


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