For the first time since Garden City High began playing varsity football in 1933, the opening day of school is also the opening game of the football season. Next Tuesday, September 7, Mepham visits Warren King Field for a 3:30 game that will mark the beginning of Garden City’s defense of its Long Island Class II title.

For the second straight year, religious holy days have brought schedule changes that result in the Trojans playing their first two home games on weekdays. GC will host Calhoun on Thursday, September 16 in game two.

The 2010 team will have a tough act to follow. Last year’s squad went undefeated (12-0), shut out nine opponents, won the Nassau Conference Two Championship, the Long Island crown and the Rutgers Cup, emblematic of Nassau’s best team. The cherry on the cake came when the New York State Sportswriters Association named Garden City tied for the number one spot among Class A schools after the Trojans beat Class AA North Babylon in the L.I. final.

While a strong nucleus returns, Head Coach Tom Flatley will have to fill some big shoes. All-Long Island linemen Connor Horl and Billy Sweeney have graduated as has center Joe Gentile. Quarterback Matt Montgomery, who threw 13 touchdown passes and wasn’t sacked at all in 12 games, also must be replaced along with most of a strong receiving corps.

Flatley, who returns for his 26th season at the helm with a remarkable 214-36-7 record, does have plenty of talent to choose from as he attempts to keep the magic going. After a week at camp, the coaching staff returned with a positive outlook. The most obvious bright spot is the depth at running back which features the return of All-Long Island fullback/linebacker Steve Jahelka and All-Nassau, 1,000 yard rusher Brian Fischer. Also back are juniors, halfback/kick returner Mark Ellis, whose speed was on display in the first scrimmage, Conor McDonnell , who is clearly bigger and stronger, and talented Patric Berkery.

Senior Tom Gordon has waited for his opportunity to start at quarterback and now he has it. Gordon is big and athletic with a strong, if somewhat erratic arm. If he makes good decisions, he could be outstanding.

Big Billy Allen and John Bock are back on the line and they have been joined by James “Bubba” Wright , who moves to tackle from tight end. Some of the others battling for spots are Anton Dobrolezhin, Brendan Logan, Peter Cline, Griffin Eilbeck, John Karikas. Scott McElroy returns at tight end.

Mike Borges, despite his small stature, has been very effective at nose guard. Eugene Berkery’s hits resonate at linebacker and Liam Kennedy provides depth at safety. Matt Confort is a sure-tackler and is a veteran holder for returning junior placekicker/punter Ryan Norton, whose clutch 38-yard field goal provided the winning points against North Babylon in last year’s Long Island Championship. There are also a number of talented prospects up from last year’s undefeated J.V. team.

EXTRA POINTS: Running back Rob Savage will miss at least three games after having an appendectomy in late July… Coach Flatley has made a complete recovery from a serious auto accident that sidelined him last spring… the opening scrimmage vs. Farmingdale, Sewanhaka and Malverne was lackluster as Jahelka and Fischer sat out after a stomach virus cost them the necessary practice days. The team was scheduled to scrimmage Valley Stream Central and Locust Valley before the opener... Football camp went well except for the unanimous bad reviews for the mystery red sauce. “I spoke to them about that,” said Coach Flatley who also was upset that he didn’t get to see the horse he owns win at Saratoga… the J.V. opens at Mepham on Saturday, Sept. 11 at 9:15 a.m.

2010 GARDEN CITY HIGH VARSITY

FOOTBALL SCHEDULE

Tues. 9/7 Mepham H 3:30 p.m.

Thurs. 9/16 Calhoun H 4:30 p.m.

Sat. 9/25 Carey A 1:30 p.m.

Sat. 10/2 Long Beach A 1:30 p.m.

Sat. 10/9 Elmont H 3 p.m.

Sat. 10/16 New Hyde Park A 2 p.m.

Sat. 10/23 Wantagh * H 1:30 p.m.

Sat. 10/30 JFK-Bellmore A 1:30 p.m.

Fri. or Sat. Nov. 5-6 Conf. II Quarterfinals

at higher seed

Sat. Nov. 13 Conf. II Semifinal

at Hofstra 10 a.m. or 1 p.m.

Sat. Nov. 20 Conf. II Championship

at Hofstra 12:30 p.m.

Sat. Nov. 27 L.I. Class II Championhsip

at Stony Brook, noon

* Homecoming