Giving their best is part of spectacle

What happens on the sidelines can add spice to what happens on field

High school football is so much more than yards gained, tackles made, and points put on the scoreboard. The atmosphere that surrounds each game also brings the event to life. What would a great game be without an excited announcer? What would the sidelines or halftime be without cheerleaders and kick lines?

Of course, it's the players who make the games fun. But a great band performance, a dazzling kick line or just an afternoon with the community rooting for the home team can also make your day at the game enjoyable.

Here's an inside look into Long Island's High School football scene. Where can you find the best place to watch a game? Who has the coolest traditions?

Well, let's see ... let's start with our marching band to kick things off.

Best marching band: Huntington won the state title in Syracuse and marched in the Columbus Day Parade a year ago. Not only were the Blue Devils in tune and in demand, but the football team wasn't bad, either.

Best cheerleaders and kick line: There is a rich tradition at Longwood, where the kick lines and cheerleaders have captured national championships.

Best field (Nassau): Ed Walsh Field in Manhasset was unveiled in time for last season. Field turf, light towers and nice stands make a lasting impression.

Best field (Suffolk): The Floyd Sports Complex has a wide open, state of Texas sort of feel with the huge community outpouring of support on Friday nights. A state of the art track surrounds the all Kentucky blue grass field in Mastic Beach that has served as the home field for Floyd since 1998 and has been a place of horrors for opponents. The Colonials are 31-2 there and haven't lost a home game since 2000, a span of 19 straight wins.

Best following: The Sayville school parking lot and the adjacent streets fill up hours before game time. From the senior citizens to the middle school students, everyone is up to date on the team's depth chart.

Best fans: Massapequa may not have the most rabid fans, but the Chiefs can boast the largest following at last season's playoffs. It seemed the entire town showed up at Hofstra's Shuart Stadium.

Best home-field edge: Bethpage, led by iconic coach Howie Vogts had not lost a game at home in 60 games over 16 seasons - until last year. Wantagh ended the streak with a 27-0 win. That loss also snapped a 27- game winning streak for Bethpage. Don't mistake one defeat for a trend. Howie Vogts Field is where title dreams go to die.

Best homecoming: Garden City comes alive each homecoming. The parade, replete with floats and band, marches down Seventh Street and local businesses set up shop in an impromptu street fair.

Best uniforms: Chaminade's look is classic - and with a jet incorporated into the helmet logo - trendy at the same time. What really makes the uniforms stand out is the backdrop. The Flyers call Shuart Stadium their home.

Best national anthem: Before belting the opponent, members of the St. Anthony's team take off their helmets to belt out the anthem. With the three Papal Poles that guard the entrance to the field serving as a backdrop, it is a spine-tingling moment.

Best turnaround: Valley Stream North went from a 2-7 pushover in 2003 to a Nassau Conference IV semifinalist last season. The Spartans went from No. 13 seed to a trip to the semifinals. VSN lost to Cold Spring Harbor, 19-14, to finish 7-2.

Best game-day entrance: Freeport practices at a field one mile north of the school along Sunrise Highway. The locker room is there, too. So foes are left to wonder where the Red Devils are - right up to kickoff. That's when a bus loaded with players - warmed up and ready to play - pulls up outside the stadium in time for the coin toss.

Best concession stand: The barn in the South end zone at Syosset looks as if a twister from Kansas dropped it there. No sign of the wicked witch, though.

Best school spirit: The Chain Gang at Garden City's home games is none other than - the players from the Garden City girls soccer team. Now that's getting right on top of the action.

Best weight room: Texans linebacker Morlon Greenwood, fresh off signing a five-year, $23-million contract, revitalized the Freeport weight room over the summer with a $35,000 donation to his former school.

Loudest stadium: Lawrence boasts a boisterous home crowd, but what really makes the place a scream are the jumbo jets flying overhead. Lawrence is in the flight path of JFK.

Best pregame tradition: Located just outside the southeast corner of Northport's home field is a large rock. Before each game, every member of the Northport football team touches "The Rock" for good luck before they run onto the field.

Best postgame tradition: The use of a shoulder pad stand is a brilliant motivational tool. It could also be deemed insulting and riot-inciting. Babylon brings a shoulder pad stand to the playoffs - home or away. The stand is placed at the sideline. It signifies the end of the season for the playoff losers. A win - and the stand remains empty. It's a very good motivator - Babylon has reached the Suffolk Division IV final nine years in a row.

Best celebration: When the bell tolls - Riverhead has won a home game. After the final whistle, Riverhead and its large following walk out of the south end zone and toward the old school bell to ring it a few times.

Best emotional speaker: If you want a heartfelt speech made in a crackling voice with tears rushing down flushed cheeks, look no further than Commack. John Foley tries to force back tears when he speaks.

Best motivational speaker: St. Anthony's coach Rich Reichert, winner of four straight CHSFL Class AAA titles, knows how to press the buttons of his players. In the moments before the Friars took the field to defend their title against Farrell (S.I.) in 2003, his speech built to a crescendo, challenging each player to hold on to what St. Anthony's already owned. "We are the league," Reichert yelled.

Best motivational T-Shirt: How do you want to be remembered?