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Overcast Elmont drops Homecoming game
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Elmont quarterback Diashawn Miller scrambles for a big gain against Garden City.
Jeff Wilson/Herald
In what most felt would be a classic high school football game between two unbeaten teams, top-seeded Garden City thoroughly defeated defending Nassau Conference II champion Elmont 28-0 to put a damper on Homecoming at Elmont. Running back Stephen Jahelka ran for 109 yards on 17 carries to lead the Trojans, who improved to 3-0.
Garden City’s heralded defensive unit, which hasn’t yielded a point in 2009, was dominant. Elmont was held to 99 yards in total offense and just a pair of first downs. The Spartans didn’t pick up a first down until the 5:15 mark of the third quarter. Juniors Jaquan Smith and Charles Dimoh played well defensively, and Isaiah Jackson and Diashawn Miller had interceptions in the loss.
Elmont head coach Jay Hegi gave Garden City its due. “They beat us up up front and in all other areas of the game,” Hegi said. “They outworked us, outplayed us, and coached better than we did. Garden City came in looking for revenge. They said it, they meant it, and they went out and did it.”
Neither team could get things going early. After playing nearly 12 minutes of scoreless football, the Trojans struck first. Quarterback Matt Montgomery found Kevin Dachille open on the left sideline and the senior wideout made his way into the south end zone. Montgomery and Dachille would hook up for another score later on in the half.
On the ensuing kickoff, Smith brought the Elmont faithful to their feet when he made a couple nifty moves, darted to the left, and was one block away from taking it all the way to the end zone. Unfortunately, the 45-yard return was for naught as Elmont couldn’t mount a drive.
While Elmont struggled mightily on offense, the Trojans were beneficiaries of good field position. After a poor punt gave Garden City the ball on Elmont’s 35-yard line, the Trojans needed just five plays to score. This time it was Montgomery following a block from center Joseph Gentile from a yard out. Dachille’s second touchdown reception of the game, with just :08 left on the half, gave Garden City a 21-0 lead at intermission.
For the most part, it was more of the same in the second half. The Spartans’ offense seemed energized when it finally moved the chains. But, after a 27-yard run by Miller moved them into Garden City territory, the drive was halted by the stingy Trojans’ defense.
Hegi believes the Spartans can bounce back. “If you going to lose a game like this, it’s better to do it early in the season,” Hegi said. “We’re still feeling things out and trying to get the right pieces in place. We’re going to see what we’re made of next week.
Elmont, 2-1, hits the road to take on Division this Saturday at 1:30 p.m.
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