Trojans Defeat Carey in County Semi-Finals

The players on the Garden City football team were not ready to move on to their winter sports just yet. After finding themselves down to a tough Carey squad the Trojans came out strong in the second half to erase a twelve point deficit.

Quarterback Brett Stewart directed the stunning comeback that had the Garden City fans smiling, but not until the Trojan defense came up with three key stops in the fourth quarter. First Stewart hit Justin Guterding for a 26-yard touchdown in the third quarter to cap a 73-yard drive to get Garden City on the scoreboard.

On Carey's ensuing drive the Trojan defense came up with their first big stop of the game forcing the Seahawks into a turnover at the six yard line as they were driving for the score.

Starting with the ball deep in their own territory Garden City began their march that ultimately would put them on top. The drive was highlighted by several key plays by Stewart, both on the ground and in the air, as he converted three times on third and long. The final play of the 94-yard drive was a bullet pass to Spencer Bais from six yards out to give Garden City their first lead. Stewart then hit Tim McDonagh for the two-point conversion that put the Trojans up by three.
 
With a little over seven minutes left in the game the Seahawks responded with a long drive of their own to put the ball inside the five-yard line with a first and goal. This is where Garden City came up with their second key defensive stop of the game.

On a fourth and inches the defensive front seven of Garden City got the push they needed and kept Carey out of the end zone. A subsequent unsportsmanlike penalty brought the ball out to the sixteen yard line. On the first play from scrimmage Scott D'Antonio took the hand-off and bounced it to the outside and saw nothing but daylight ahead of him and a 22-12 Trojan lead.

Carey did respond with a quick touchdown, a twenty five yard strike to receiver Dylan Demeo from quarterback Ray Catapano with a little over a minute remaining in the game. Catapano had terrific game throwing for 353 yards and two scores.

To make things interesting the Seahawks recovered the on sides kick and had one more chance. After a first down that moved the ball into Trojan territory Catapano looked to have an open receiver inside the ten. But what he didn't see was a leaping Guterding who made a spectacular one handed interception for the third key defensive stop to seal the victory.

Carey had come out strong on both sides of the ball, scoring a touchdown in each of the first two quarters. But Garden City, and in particular Stewart and the defense, put together a dominant second half to win the game.

Garden City will play for the Nassau County championship against Wantagh at Hofstra next Sunday at noon.