Hewlett has become a great rivalry, with some very memorable games in the past few years. In 1994, the Trojans squeaked by the Bulldogs 22-21. Last year, the two teams met both in the regular season and in the Conference II semi-finals, with the Trojans winning both (16-7 and 7-3).

Saturday's game didn't fit the usual pattern, as the Trojans blew the Bulldogs off the line and field, coming away with a 42-0 victory. Coach Joe Baccarella described the game as "mush."

All week in practice, Coach Bob Defliese told his players that Hewlett considered both Trojans victories last year lucky, and Saturday's game was deemed "unfinished business." Consider business finished.

John Maloney caught a Matt Casey pass and ran it in for a 12-yard touchdown and Kevin Waters added the extra point to make the score 7-0. The touchdown pass was Casey's 16th of the season and the 31st of his career, breaking Mike Gluck's school record of 30. Casey's milestone didn't take away from the Trojans' main objective: prove to Hewlett who was the better team.

With time running out in the first quarter, the Trojans' defense stopped the Bulldogs on 3rd and long, forcing a punt. Junior Dan Doherty took the ball, shed a tackle and went the rest of the way (59 yards) up the Garden City sideline, untouched for Garden City's second score. This was Doherty's first punt return for a touchdown this season, although he had two against Port Washington and Carey that were called back.

Maloney added two more touchdowns, one a 27-yard interception return and the other a 9-yard run. Jim Wills' 1-yard touchdown run, along with another extra point by Waters, gave the Trojans a 35-0 half-time lead.

Dave Kang took all the snaps for the Trojans in the second half. Rory Connolly was unstoppable and rumbled for 53 yards on 8 carries and a 3-yard touchdown run. Connolly's run capped the Trojan scoring and the Trojans finished the 1998 regular season undefeated.

Coach Tom Flatley is pleased with the team's accomplishments, but realizes there is still a lot of football left to be played. "We are now into our second season," said Flatley.

Game Balls

*Mark Oppedisano (G/DT) - The sophomore recovered three fumbles for the Trojans.

*Rory Connolly (RB/DB) - The junior ran for 53 yards and scored his first varsity touchdown. His hard running was an eye opener to a number of people, except his Trojan teammates and coaches, who know he can move.

*The PAT unit - For only the second game this season, the Trojans converted all of their extra point attempts. The Trojans were 6 for 6 in PATs.

Trojans and Blue Dragons Meet Again

The second season Coach Flatley referred to above is the Conference II playoffs. The Trojans are the #1 seed and will play the #4 seed, Division Blue Dragons at Hofstra Stadium.

The Trojans defeated the Blue Dragons 29-0 earlier this year, but they know there is more to this game. Senior G/LB Eric Wenzel remembers the last time Garden City and Division met at Hofstra.

"I was a sophomore and we totally outplayed them," said Wenzel. He added, "They had a few big plays, we had a few special team mishaps and they ended our season."

The Trojans know that Division will not turn the ball over seven times, as they did in their first meeting of the year. One thing the Trojans will have this time around that was unavailable to them in the first game is the player known by Trojans fans as "Mr. Excitement." WR/S/KR Dan Doherty (21 catches, 6 TDs, 4 INTs) missed the first game with a pulled calf muscle. With the absence of Doherty, Division was able to concentrate solely on Garden City's other wide receiver Kevin Waters, and took away most of the Trojans' pass attack.

"I always had their best cornerback on me and often was double teamed," said Waters, "but with both Doherty and me in there, they can't so that this time. They're going to have a tough time defending against us, both on the pass and on the run."

The Trojans hope to win the game and continue their memorable season, but as senior Bob Reeves warns, "This could be the last game of our season."

Reeves' statement is motivation alone, and when one factors in the rivalry between the two schools, it adds to the game. Maloney, who has been involved in many Garden City - Division sporting events says, "I hate those [guys]."