Click here for Greater Long Island newsletters. Click here to download the iPhone app. Or follow Greater Mineola on Instagram.
The annual showdown between Long Island and New York City’s top high school football talent is officially back.
For the first time since 2019, the gridiron classic returns Saturday under a new name: The National Football Foundation All-Star Football Classic. The game will be played at Shuart Stadium on the campus of Hofstra University, where the tradition first took root more than two decades ago.
Originally founded by former NFL quarterback and East Islip native Boomer Esiason, the all-star game ran for 24 years as the Empire Challenge. It began as a matchup between Nassau and Suffolk counties, eventually growing into a full-on Long Island vs. New York City clash that raised money for cystic fibrosis and youth football programs.
The final Empire Challenge was held in 2019, with Long Island defeating New York City 44-20.
The COVID-19 pandemic forced a cancellation the following year, and the game never returned — until now.
A community effort
“I’m super-excited for the Long Island high school football community, especially because it’s a great opportunity,” said Len Genova, president of the Suffolk County chapter of the National Football Foundation. “My younger son played in the (Boomer) game back in 2015, so I saw up close and personal just how special it was to those young men and their families.”
The road to a comeback wasn’t easy. Rising costs for helmets and insurance made organizing the game nearly impossible — until a group of sponsors stepped in.
Thanks to lead sponsor Orlin and Cohen Orthopedic Group, along with contributions from the New York Jets, New York Giants, and a partnership with Riddell to outfit all 100 players with Axiom helmets, the game is back.
Barclay Insurance Brokers CEO Marc Hudak also helped secure insurance for the event. Hudak has a proven track record organizing large-scale college games, including the Cortaca Jug at MetLife and Yankee Stadiums.
“Ever since it got shut down in 2020 due to COVID, I’ve been asked every year if we’re bringing the game back,” said Peter Blieberg, the game’s executive director and longtime organizer of the Empire Challenge. “The excitement has been there, so everybody is excited about it coming back.”
A chance to shine
For many players, this will be their last-ever football game. Others will use the spotlight to launch into college careers.
Either way, the stakes are personal.
“It’s a special opportunity and it’s creating a memory that will last them throughout their life,” said Genova. “It certainly means a lot to everyone but especially those players who will not be playing college football.”
Coaching Long Island will be Garden City’s Dave Ettinger. Dan Landberg of Erasmus Hall will lead the New York City squad. Both are Empire Challenge veterans.
A full roster of Long Island players can be found here.
What to know for Saturday
Kickoff is set for 1 p.m., with gates opening at noon. General admission tickets are $20, while children in youth football jerseys can get in for $10. Tickets are available here.
This year’s game will feature several rule adjustments:
- Quarters will be 15 minutes, not the usual 12
- The clock will stop on incomplete passes and plays out of bounds
- The last four minutes of each half will follow standard clock rules
- Defenses must line up in a 4-3-4, with no blitzing or stunts
- Offenses must have at least one running back in the backfield
- Fake punts are not allowed, and teams can only punt twice per half
- Onside kicks are only allowed in the final four minutes
It’s been a long time coming, but Long Island and New York City will finally meet again on the field.
Bragging rights — and some great youthful memories — are on the line.
Top: Scene from the 2011 Empire Challenge game at Shuart Stadium. (Credit: Jeffrey Holmes)
