To the east, opulent yachts owned by millionaires are docked, while to the west, expansive farmland and cornfields stretch out.
The Porters practice on an often-overlooked grassy area, which could easily be converted into sod. Meanwhile, fans endure wooden bleachers that seem to date back to the days of Bush Sr., and during a recent practice at Greenport High School, a herd of deer was spotted grazing near an end zone.
Nevertheless, North Fork residents hold their only varsity football team in high regard, refusing to consider it a minor player on Long Island.
“It’s electric. … To look up into the stands, we can pack them out. It’s a great feeling, having everybody supporting you. It’s like nothing else,” said Porters lineman Emmett Tramontana. “The farmers and the guys with the four-story yachts — they’re all coming out to support us.”
For the local youth, their football games offer a much-needed respite for the year-round residents, who endure autumn weekends clashing with a wave of city dwellers.
Every year, the influx of visitors seeking autumn activities such as foliage viewing, vineyard visits, and pumpkin picking transforms the once-quiet neighborhoods into luxurious waterfront retreats, leading to city-level traffic congestion.
“We have people out here, everywhere, with tourism. But in the fall, when it’s football season — it’s just us, our team,” said Porters head coach Brian Olshefsky. “And we can become the main attraction of this town.”
Facing Challenges
Three small school districts — Mattituck, Southold, and Greenport — have merged to form a single football program. However, even that unity sometimes falls short, as seen in 2025 when the Porters couldn’t field a varsity team due to a lack of players, despite the continued influx of tourists.
“Our enrollments at all three schools have gone down over the past decade,” said Olshefsky, who noted that 11th graders had to play JV last season.
“They have a lot of community pride here, and they really love their athletics, and they’re excited to see varsity football back. … The feel in the fall gets different out here with it.”
In his first season as head coach, Olshefsky leads a small team of 20-something players who play both offense and defense. He has been innovative in addressing the gaps, such as enlisting soccer player Matt Malinowski as a kicker, a practice permissible in Suffolk County.
Tramontana, a senior from Southold, entered the season with six years of experience, while fellow senior lineman Aaron Cruz is new to the sport, having been recruited by his music teacher from the school band where he plays bass.
“Everything is new to me right now. I don’t know much, but I am hoping to learn a lot more,” Cruz acknowledged. “It’s really cool … but there’s pressure being on varsity.”
Upperclassmen who played JV last year are crucial to integrating newcomers like Cruz, as noted by the coach.
Even if it involves a steep learning curve.
“If you get them used to hitting,” Tramontana said, “they’re not gonna be scared in the game.”
The Porters might lack the size advantage of larger teams, but Olshefsky’s wing-T offense focuses on speed and skill.
Quarterback Brayden Kruk has confidence in his teammates.
“With the amount of training that we’ve put in throughout the past weeks, I feel like they’ve gotten ropes,” the Mattituck junior said.
“I feel like we can make a push for playoffs, and going .500 or above is my goal.”
Building for the Future
The North Fork lacks its own youth development league, which contributes to the player shortage, with the nearest option located miles away in Riverhead, according to Olshefsky.
“At that young age, trying to pique that interest is probably our biggest goal right now. The biggest thing of what we’re trying to do is build this thing up back from the bottom, versus building from the top.”
Other small Suffolk programs are also struggling in the lowest division.
The Port Jefferson School District has withdrawn its varsity program this season, and Southampton also opted for JV-only in 2025.
The South Fork team has merged with Hampton Bays for 2026 and will face the Porters in their first game.
Several smaller programs on the island have pushed for modified eight-on-eight leagues, similar to those upstate that have their own championships.
The Porters are focused on the present: offering North Fork a long-awaited Friday night lights experience.
“We’ve had a storied past. In the ’50s and the ’60s, this was a solid program. We have a Rutgers Trophy. We have championships here,” Olshefsky said.
“The last time we had varsity football here two years ago, this town shut down.”
