"I saw old autumn in the misty morn. Stand shadowless like silence, listening to silence" - the words of poet Thomas Hood could very well describe the scene and mood of Stewart Field in the early hours prior to the Thunder's football tripleheader Oct. 6.

Late that beautiful fall afternoon, the 9-year old Thunder Boys hosted their NYCFL rival, the Elmont Cardinals, in a rematch of last season's "unofficial" championship game between two undefeated teams, a watershed mark in the Garden City 2001 season as they would overcome a 6-0 halftime deficit to defeat Elmont in dramatic fashion, 12-6, capping their perfect 9-0 season.

Both teams' defenses dominated early on, going with each of the first four possessions resulting in punts. A breakdown in containment led to a long Cardinal touchdown run, but the Thunder offense quickly answered with a 9-play, 70-yard touchdown drive, culminated by Shane Thorton's 15-yard counter run.

Down 7-6 to start the second half, the Garden City offense was determined to make their move, but Elmont's size and team speed provided the ultimate challenge to the Thunder runners' attempts to get outside. The Cardinal offense then took control of the game with a time consuming, methodical drive that featured many rushes into the belly of the Thunder defense. Down late in the fourth quarter, 14-6, and needing two scores to win, the Garden City offense, short on time but long on grit, took to the field one last time.

The size of the dog in the fight doesn't matter, but the size of the fight in the dog. Despite a swarming, heavy hitting Cardinal defense, the Thunder Boys began to impose their will, converting on two fourth down situations - the latter, a heart inspiring 10-yard run by Steve Jahelka that took half the Cardinal defense to bring him down. Facing a 4 and goal from the 2-yard line, the Elmont defense rose to the occasion, putting the wraps on a great, well-played game.

Following this weekend's bye in the schedule, Garden City (4-2) will travel to Burns Park on Sunday, Oct. 20, to face the undefeated and unscored-upon Massapequa Mustangs.