Grand Island enters 2026 with Anthony Mantione back after productive sophomore season

Overview

• Grand Island comes into 2026 under head coach Dean Santorio after a 6-4 season in 2025.
• Anthony Mantione returns as a junior QB/LB after throwing for 953 yards and 10 touchdowns and rushing for 569 yards and six touchdowns in 2025.
• Riley O’Brien recorded 52 tackles in 2025; Santino Favorite added 35 and Chase Uribes had 29.
• Grand Island is scheduled for home games against Maritime - Tapestry, Hamburg, Kenmore East and Williamsville East.

Grand Island 2026 Football Preview

Grand Island enters 2026 with a returning junior quarterback, a group of experienced defensive contributors and a senior class spread across several position groups.

Dean Santorio leads a program coming off a 6-4 season in 2025. The returning production starts with Anthony Mantione, a Class of 2028 QB/LB who was one of Grand Island's most productive offensive players as a sophomore.

Mantione completed 68 passes for 953 yards and 10 touchdowns in 2025. He also carried 106 times for 569 yards and six touchdowns, giving Grand Island a returning quarterback with both passing and rushing production.

Defensive Production Back

Grand Island also has several returning defenders with 2025 production.

Riley O'Brien, a Class of 2028 RB/WR/ILB, recorded 52 tackles as a sophomore. Santino Favorite, a Class of 2027 RB/FS, added 35 tackles, one sack, one interception and one fumble recovery while also rushing for 76 yards.

Chase Uribes, a Class of 2028 FB/TE/DE, finished 2025 with 29 tackles, one sack and one fumble recovery. Ryan Mayer, a Class of 2028 G/DE, also had a sack as a sophomore.

The senior defensive backs and skill group includes Jack Heider, Blake Deloreto, Favorite, Chase Hall, Elijah Honeycutt and Brayden Macri. Up front, the Class of 2027 roster includes Bondi Carter, Dylan Serafini, Christian Kochanowski, Robert Cieri, Beau Bergeron, Kellen Hernandez, Tyler Meyer, Kayden Cleveland and Anthony Zachery.

Schedule Landmarks

Grand Island is scheduled to open Sept. 4 at Starpoint before hosting Maritime - Tapestry on Sept. 11 at Grand Island High School's Gene Masters Turf.

The road stretch continues with games at Lockport on Sept. 19 and North Tonawanda on Sept. 25. Grand Island then returns home for Hamburg on Oct. 2, Kenmore East on Oct. 9 and Williamsville East on Oct. 16.

The regular-season schedule closes Oct. 23 at South Park.

For Grand Island, the preseason picture starts with the production already back at quarterback and on defense. Mantione gives the offense an experienced dual-threat option, while O'Brien, Favorite and Uribes give the defense returning tacklers as Santorio's group moves into an eight-game regular-season schedule.