Nassau County football: Week 1

The 2011 Nassau County High School football season kicks off this Friday with four games, including Oceanside hosting Uniondale, and Baldwin visiting Farmingdale, in Conference I action at 6:30 p.m.

Defending Long Island Class I champion Freeport opens at home against MacArthur on Saturday at 1:30 p.m. The top-seeded Red Devils, led by quarterback Isaiah Barnes and receiver Jere Brown, seek a fourth straight county title and will also try to become the first team since Hempstead — 25 years ago — to win the Rutgers Cup in back-to-back seasons.

Also on Saturday, defending Long Island Class III champ Lynbrook hosts Glen Cove. The Owls, with quarterback Luke Spitzer, running back Rocco Scibelli and linebacker Matt Trotta, are seeded second in Conference III behind Lawrence, which opens at home versus Manhasset. The Golden Tornadoes should put up plenty of points this fall behind the backfield tandem of Ryan and Tyler Fredericks.

Hewlett’s opener against Floral Park will be played at Hofstra at 3 p.m. Mark Rizzo takes over at quarterback for the Bulldogs, who return wingback Sam Martorella and linebacker Gabe Rodriguez from injuries that cost them last year’s playoffs.

South Side’s first game under rookie head coach Phil Onesto, a former Cyclone a member of their 2001 championship squad, takes place at Valley Stream South.

In Conference II, top-seeded Carey is on a mission to unseat Garden City after falling short in last year’s title game. The Seahawks open at home against Jericho. A few miles down Hempstead Turnpike, Elmont hosts Long Beach in a battle of returning playoff teams. One of last year’s biggest surprises, Mepham, will try to pick up where it left off at Kennedy. Calhoun hits the road to face Wantagh.

In Conference IV, newcomer West Hempstead and tailbacks Tayvon Hall and Justin Boatwright will look to make an opening statement at Oyster Bay. East Rockaway hosts Island Trees, while Clarke and Roosevelt do battle at the Carrier Dome in Syracuse on Sunday.

Please visit www.liherald.com this weekend for recaps on the Lynbrook-Glen Cove, Mepham-Kennedy, and South Side-Valley Stream South games.

Enter the Herald's Pigskin Pick'em contest to try to win a $25 gift certificate to a local restaurant. This week's game is South Side-Valley Stream South.