Garden City: Conference 2
Champions
By Michael Augello
There were some people who began to doubt
Garden City’s dominance after they gave up their
first touchdowns and barely escaped the comeback
executed by Carey in the Conference 2 Semi-final. On
Friday night, the Trojans made these people eat
their words.
Wantagh, coming in at 8-2, was looking to
avenge their 34-0 regular season loss against Garden
City. Last week Coach Sachs said his boys needed to
play like they did in the first half of the Elmont
game if they wanted to beat Garden City, and from
the start, they did.
In the scoreless first quarter, Wantagh
forced 2 turnovers that halted Garden City’s offense
that was moving the ball. While Wantagh’s defense
made plays, their offense was nothing compared to
the tenacious Trojan D.
The defensive dominance of
Garden City did not just last this first quarter,
but the whole game. They held talented Wantagh
halfback Mike Scully, who coming into this game
rushed for over 500 yards in two playoff games to
just 31 yards on 15 carries. Senior, Captain,
Offensive and Defensive lineman Conor Horl credited
their success to playing “their brand of football.”
Horl and the rest of the unselfish defensive line
takes on double and triple teams play after play in
order to free up linebackers like Steve Jahelka (9
tackles).
After Garden City missed a
field goal, and had a 69 yard Mark Ellis punt return
touchdown called back in the second quarter, the two
hard-nosed teams went into the half tied 0-0.
After a halftime highlighted by
a mind-boggling and fantastic Garden City Kick line,
2 different teams emerged from the locker room.
Wantagh went three and out, and punted from
deep in their own territory, giving the Trojans the
ball at the Warrior’s 30. It only took one play for
Garden City to find the endzone, as Brian Fischer
(15 carries, 106 yards, TD) followed the pancake
blocks of his offensive line 30 yards for the score.
After a personal foul penalty on the kickoff,
the Warriors again started deep in their own
territory. They again went three and out and punted,
but this time giving Garden City the ball at the
Warrior 23. Steve Jahelka (15 Carries, 90 yards, TD)
pounded it in from two yards, making it 14-0 Garden
City. This would be the last score of the game, as
the Garden City defense took over.
The Trojans racked up another shutout, their
9th of the year, an incredible number,
and in doing so, became the Conference 2 Nassau
County Champions.
Now, all that is standing between Garden City
and a Long island championship are the North Babylon
Bulldogs, who will also enter the game undefeated.
What is the key for Garden City to bring home
a Long Island Championship?
“Garden City Defense. No matter what they
run, no matter what they do, we’re gonna play Garden
City defense,” Horl insists.
No secret there.
The Trojans and the Bulldogs battle for the
Long Island Championship at 4:30 PM Friday November
27 at Hofstra University.
