GC Football Dominates Opening Day

Garden City NY

14 September, 2021

3:43 PM

Description

GARDEN CITY, NY — Opening day on the Garden City High School football field held many meanings this year for the large crowd in attendance. First off, it was the beginning of a new school year with bright hopes for a good year for all student athletes, both on and off the field. Secondly, it represented another step towards normalcy in this COVID-19 world with players and fans alike in full attendance. But maybe the most important meaning for all was that opening day occurred on the 20th anniversary of that horrible morning of September 11th, 2001, a day that all Americans will never forget. In Garden City the memories of that day strike close to home because of the number of lives lost from the community on that fateful day. With the main flag flying proudly at half mast as well as 30 or so flags flying along the sidelines, the remembrance was punctuated with a moment of silence, the playing of taps and the National Anthem by the Garden City Marching Band. As the final note was played, senior captain Brendan Staub led the Trojans carrying an American flag across the field. Representing the first responders, the Garden City coaching staff proudly wore NYPD and FDNY shirts. Garden City won the coin flip but elected to play defense the first series with the hopes of setting the tone for the rest of the game. After the powerful leg of Michael Fargione put the opening kickoff through the end zone, Staub made sure the tone was set as he burst through the line and tackled Baldwin running back David Wallace for a four-yard loss on the first play from scrimmage. The Garden City defense played an almost flawless game stuffing the running attack of the Bruins all day long and not allowing quarterback Zach Kirshner any time to throw the ball. Two key defensive plays for Garden City put a stamp on their first shutout of the season. Midway through the first quarter Robert Derkash broke through the line and blocked a punt that went through the end zone for a safety and a 9-0 lead. And then in the third quarter, Bryan Boccafola was in the right place to pick up a fumble recovery in the Baldwin backfield and ran it into the end zone for the final touchdown and a 50-0 score. Baldwin's offense could not get any momentum throughout the game as it seemed like Staub, Sawyer Olson, Jack Cascadden or Will Pasley were in the backfield. The Trojans held Baldwin to under 60 yards of total offense for the game. On the offensive side of the ball the Trojans were in good hands with senior captains quarterback Luke Schmitt behind center and Jack Cascadden running the ball. Cascadden ran the ball ten times for 105 yards and two touchdowns, while junior tailback Robert Votruba ran three times for 38 yards and two touchdowns. Votruba also caught a five-yard pass from Schmitt for his third TD of the game. Schmitt also connected with senior wideout Jackson Perisa on a 27-yard touchdown pass early in the second quarter to put the game out of hand at 29-0. Although seemingly outmanned and overmatched throughout the game head coach Frank Chimienti had his team play hard every down. Sophomore tailback Shane Mauldin continually tried to break through the tough interior line of the Trojans but was held to just 29 yards on ten carries. While quarterback Kirshner couldn't generate anything in the passing attack as he was under pressure on each of his seven dropbacks, completing just two for nine yards. Garden City returns home this Saturday for a game against neighborhood rival New Hyde Park at 2 p.m. Full game photos can be found at: https://zenfolio.page.link/neU...