Football: Three locals to represent Long Island in Empire Challenge
After guiding Shoreham-Wading River through an unforgettable run to the Long Island Championship last fall, Shoreham-Wading River senior Dan Hughes will get one more chance to throw on the pads as a high school football player.
Hughes, the quarterback of the Wildcats, is one of three local players who will represent Long Island next week in the annual Empire Challenge game at Hofstra University. The game features the top Long Island players against New York City.
Hughes, who will play on defense as a free safety, will be joined by teammate Isreal Squires and Riverhead’s Ethan Greenidge.
Squires will play wide receiver and Greenidge will play on the offensive line.
The game kicks off at 7 p.m. Tuesday. A tailgate begins at 3:30 p.m. and the gates open at 6 p.m. A postgame fireworks show follows the game.
The Empire Challenge, which supports the Boomer Esiason Foundation and its battle against cystic fibrosis, dates back to 1996 when it started as an all-star game featuring Suffolk County against Nassau County. Two years later it was expanded to Long Island against New York City.
Long Island has won the last three games.
Shoreham-Wading River head coach Matt Millheiser and assistant coach Hans Weiderkehr will both serve as coaches on the Long Island team this year.
Tickets to the game are $15 and VIP tickets are $35. They can be purchased here.
Click here for a video of Dan Hughes as he talks about his football career