Matt Slovensky takes down Long Beach’s Chris Cori. See this photo at www.Newsphoto.com Garden City’s trip to the beach last Saturday started on a sour note when the Trojans fumbled the opening kickoff to set up a 30-yard field goal by the Marines’ Nick McCarthy. Those were the first points yielded by the tough Trojans all year, but it proved to be just a brief reprieve for Long Beach when the Trojans scored the next 53 points to win, 53-3, and remain undefeated at 6-0.

Losing the unscored-upon streak didn’t bother coach Tom Flatley who said the team “got the monkey off our backs.” Flatley wants no distractions as the team prepares for this Saturday’s classic Homecoming matchup with neighborhood rival Carey (5-1), whose only loss was to Wantagh, 14-13. There should be a huge crowd at Warren King Field for the 1:30 p.m. kickoff. Carey sees the Trojans as their biggest rival and after losing the first 12 meetings between the schools, the Seahawks have won two of the last four, including a 20-7 season opening triumph last year. They return outstanding all-purpose back Greg D’Arienzo who is among the county’s highest scorers.

Patric Berkery makes a move against Long Beach. See this photo at www.Newsphoto.com Down 3-0 to Long Beach, the Trojan offense showed that it should get some attention, too. The big offensive line of tackles Billy Sweeney and Conor Horl, guards Billy Allen and John Bock, center Joe Gentile and tight end James Wright opened huge holes for Brian Fischer and Stephen Jahelka. Jahelka scored three straight touchdowns on runs of 2, 5 and 15 yards. Then quarterback Matt Montgomery went to work. He launched a 40-yard pass to Joe Tursi who made a brilliant catch in the end zone. Ahead, 26-3 in the closing seconds of the half, the Trojans weren’t finished. Montgomery fired a 5-yard pass to Tursi who lateraled to Brian Fischer on the “hitch and pitch.” Fischer raced 40 yards to complete the scoring play.

Stephen Jahelka, on the way to one of his three touchdowns against Long Beach. See this photo at www.Newsphoto.com When senior Andrew D’Antonio blasted up the middle for a 44-yard touchdown on the Trojans’ first play of the second half and a 39-3 lead, all the starters came out. But that still didn’t help Long Beach. D’Antonio scored again on a 7-yard run, culminating a 57-yard drive that gave Garden City touchdowns on its first seven possessions of the game.

Flatley did all he could to hold the score down. Fourteen different players wound up carrying the ball and the Trojans threw only three passes. The coach even had his QB take a knee three times, including plays on first, second, and fourth downs. Sophomore Patric Berkery who is an outstanding prospect, scored the final TD on a five yard run after he actually pulled up on what would have been an 83-yard score. He allowed himself to be tackled at the 15 yard line. “I knew the coaches didn’t want to score any more points,” the unselfish Berkery said. That earned him another chance to get his first varsity touchdown when backfield coach Steve Finnell sent him back in to score. “He deserved it”, said Finnell.

Andrew D’Antonio in action for GC. See this photo at www.Newsphoto.com When it was mercifully over, Garden City had a season high 459 total yards with 343 rushing on 42 attempts. Montgomery was 3 for 3 passing for 116 yards and two TD’s. The defense held Long Beach (2-4) to 44 total yards and three first downs.

Brian Fischer completes the “hitch and pitch” and goes on to score for GC. See this photo at www.Newsphoto.com EXTRA POINTS: Outstanding sophomore kicking prospect and running back Ryan Norton was brought up from the JV to improve kickoffs and maybe punts. He put two of his kickoffs in the end zone, but the weakest part of the Trojans’ game, punting, went untested. They were never forced to attempt one... The 53 points was the fourth highest in GC history... Talk about depth, subs Berkery and D’Antonio rushed for 95 and 87 yards respectively... Have you seen the show “World’s Dirtiest Jobs”? Reserve quarterback Tom Adams should apply. He has been asked to take a knee on all five of his running attempts this year... the J.V. beat Long Beach, 27-8, for its sixth straight win... the 7th and 8th grade football squads both defeated Grand Avenue of Merrick