By Jake White

Stephen Jahelka follows his blockers, John Bock (73), and goes up and over the pile. See this photo at www.Newsphoto.com With three games remaining in the Nassau Conference Two football regular season, the race could hardly be closer. Four teams, Garden City, Carey, Hewlett and Calhoun all stand at 4 and 1 while four others, Elmont, New Hyde Park, Long Beach and Levittown Division have 3 and 2 records. The race tightened last Saturday when Garden City beat previously undefeated Hewlett and Elmont, the pre-season top seed which had suffered two losses, knocked off Carey.

The Trojans' 14-3 win over Hewlett was an intense affair played in beautiful, 72 degree weather before a big crowd at Warren King Field. Garden City trailed 3-0 as the result of a 25-yard field goal by the Bulldogs' Eric Balberg three minutes before the half, before rallying for two touchdowns.

Sophomore tailback Stephen Jahelka and senior Matt Nesi led the comeback. Jahelka was a workhorse, carrying 24 times for 123 yards, many of them hard-earned blasts through the Hewlett line. Nesi, who wound up with 32 yards, completed a 14-play, 81 yard third quarter drive with a 14 -yard touchdown that put GC ahead, 7-3. Jahelka's 19-yard gallop culminated a 46-yard fourth quarter drive that iced the victory.

Matt Nesi, who scored the touchdown that put the Trojans ahead, in action. See this photo at www.Newsphoto.com The Garden City-Hewlett rivalry dates back to 1935 when Hewlett was Woodmere High School. The Trojans lead the 35 game series 24-7-4, but it has never been as intense as it is now. This is due in part to the success of the two programs but it also involves recurring incidents of what Garden City believes are Hewlett's tendency to use illegal blocks. Video tape clearly shows that at least one of the four injuries suffered by Garden City linemen during the game was caused by a blatant, but uncalled, chop block.

Hewlett also suffered a key loss when quarterback Andrew Cohen left with back spasms in the third quarter following what video showed to be a clean, legal hit. He didn't return and Hewlett's offense left with him. Credit Coach Tom Flatley, who won his 199th game, and the defensive unit with an outstanding effort as they held the Conference's highest scoring team to just 146 total yards and seven first downs.

Dennis Rice (18) intercepts a Hewlett pass. Teammate Brendan Engelke (80) was there for backup. See this photo at www.Newsphoto.com This Saturday as Coach Flatley looks for his historic 200th win, the Trojans play host to New Hyde Park at Warren King Field at 1:30 p.m. After five relatively injury free seasons, 2008 has seen an unusual rash of injuries which will present a challenge for the coaching staff as they plug holes against a good Gladiator team.

EXTRA POINTS: Hewlett's J.V ended Garden City's 52-game, seven season winning streak with a 28-13 victory at Hewlett. Ironically, it was at Hewlett on November 10, 2001 that GC had last lost. Tom Adams put the Trojans ahead with a quarterback sneak on his team's first possession and later connected with Tom O'Brien for a TD pass. However, the Trojans had no answer for Hewlett coach Bill Dubin's passing attack....GC has rushed for 1,023 yards in five games led by Jahelka's 464....The defense forced three Hewlett turnovers and held the Bulldogs to 78 yards rushing and 68 passing.

Matt Nesi (26) celebrates with Pierce Bradley (17) after Nesi scored the go ahead touchdown. See this photo at www.Newsphoto.com

Stephen Jahelka dives to gain additional yards for the Trojans. See this photo at www.Newsphoto.com Brian Fischer in action for the Trojans. See this photo at www.Newsphoto.com Some of the coaching staff L-R Dave Ettinger, Steve Finnell and Tom Flatley were on the field with trainer Jen Chimienti to assess the injury to a GC player. See this photo at www.Newsphoto.com