Lawrence quarterback PJ Preziosa is sacked by Dan Savage, as Billy Fell comes in to help for GC. Photo by Newsphoto.com For 42 of the 48 minutes of last Friday's football game at Warren King Field, Garden City dominated Lawrence in a key Conference II match-up. But with six minutes left the Golden Tornadoes began a comeback which had them behind 16-8 with less than two minutes to play.

A potential game-tying touchdown pass was dropped, leaving Lawrence with a second and ten at the Trojans' 40. Enter the hero. Tim Harder, a senior who plays halfback and returns kicks, showed that he is just as valuable on defense. Lawrence quarterback P.J. Preziosa fired a pass down the right sideline which was tipped and deflected by Francis McDonough. Harder made a quick adjustment and grabbed the interception at his own 18 yard line, ending the Golden Tornado threat. To complete the job, he ran for the first down which enabled GC to kill the clock in the closing seconds.

It didn't look as if the Trojans would need any late heroics.

Blaise Ancona punts for Garden City. Photo by Newsphoto.com Quarterback Dean Gibbons sparked a game opening five plays, 56 yard scoring drive by completing two passes to Tim Harder and Terry Kennedy for 35 yards, then scampering 21 yards to the end zone.

Garden City (2-0) mounted another long drive in the second quarter, marching 14 plays from its own 30 yard line to the Lawrence three where a fumble seemingly killed the scoring opportunity. But Lawrence fumbled the ball right back with Declan Fee making the key recovery. Gibbons took advantage by tossing into the end zone to tight end Ryan Sweeney from the one yard line on a nice play fake. Dillon Dwyer's kick put GC ahead, 14-0.

The lead grew to 16-0 with four minutes remaining in the first half when Lawrence snapped the ball out of the end zone on a punt for a safety.

Lawrence, seeded third in Conference II, featured a quarterback returning for his third season as a starter, an excellent running back, two talented receivers, and three linemen who weighed in at over 310 pounds. The Golden Tornadoes had trounced Hewlett, 39-21, in their debut and veteran head coach Lou Andre felt his team was back to its old level.

Ryan Sweeney celebrates his touchdown with #71 Bobby Niebler. Photo by Newsphoto.com The Trojans' defense was equal to the task, however, holding QB Preziosa to 7 for 19 passing for just 69 yards and two interceptions. Halfback Bryan DiSabito, who had run for 160 yards against Hewlett, was held to 63 on 12 carries.

Lawrence's late rally started with a 7 yard GC punt which gave the South Shore team a short field at the Trojans' 29. Preziosa completed four short passes 2 three of them to Windell Wallace 2 to advance the ball to the six. DiSabato ran it in from there, and his two point conversion run changed a laugher into a nail-biter.

EXTRA POINTS: Dan Savage and Tim Harder led the Trojan rushers with 39 yards each. GC had 127 on the ground after rushing for 164 in the opener....Gibbons completed 6 of 12 passes for 62 yards and his third touchdown of the season, all of them caught by tight end Ryan Sweeney.

Terry Kennedy brings down Lawrence's Bryan DiSabato. Photo by Newsphoto.com Ryan also had an interception...Dillon Dyer's two extra points gave him a career total of 75 breaking the school record of 74 set by Chris Massey from 1991-93.....Kevin Rose made an outstanding special teams play; he tackled Lawrence's Bryan DiSabito to prevent a possible

touchdown on a kickoff return and on the play he stripped the ball and recovered the fumble.....GC improved its edge over Lawrence to 8-5-1 in one of their best rivalries....The JV beat Lawrence, 21-0, to go to 2 and 0 and extend its winning streak to 34 games over five seasons.

Fullback Sal Cassar had a big game.....This week the Trojans travel to Hewlett for a Friday night game. There is little love lost in this rivalry which began back in 1935 when Hewlett was "Woodmere High School." GC leads the series 21-7-4. After 11 straight Garden City victories, Hewlett went 2-1-1 until last year when the Trojans won twice, 28-14 and 35-0. The Bulldogs (1-1) have good team speed led by their double threat QB Steven DiNapoli.

Ryan Sweeney dives for the ball. Photo by Newsphoto.com2

L-R Kyle Walsh and Tim Harder combine to take down Lawrence running back Travis Kennedy. Photo by Newsphoto.com