It’s been years since either the Garden City Trojans or the Massapequa Chiefs lost a football game.
But one has to Saturday night at Hofstra University.
The two Long Island title towns will play head-to-head for the first time in a long-awaited thriller that all eyes are on — especially the schools’ most high-profile alumni.
“Once a Trojan, always a Trojan,” FBI director Kash Patel told The Post.
“I played my playoff games at Hofstra as Garden City’s place-kicker, and I am proud to see the tradition they’re carrying forward. Let’s keep it rolling. Go Trojans!”
The excitement is just as palpable a few miles east off Merrick Road, added Fox News host and Massapequa graduate Brian Kilmeade.
“I have never in all my years in Massapequa heard more buzz about a regular-season game than this one vs. Garden City,” said Kilmeade, a former MHS soccer player who still lives in town.
“While I hope the Chiefs will prevail, I guarantee the stands will be packed — and the football will be great.”
The Nassau County districts have never played each other because they are in separate conferences based on school size — the Chiefs being the larger in Conference I and the Trojans in Conference II.
A recent Section VIII rule change allowed the heavyweight crossover that’s shutting down both nabes this weekend, even with an inbound nor’easter — the game is a go as of late Thursday — set to slam the island.
“It’s going to be loud,” Chiefs senior wideout Dylan Milio said. “Really loud.”
An All-American epic
Coach Kevin Shippos’ hot-handed Chiefs — Massapequa has won 25 consecutive games — have reigned historically supreme as the first Nassau County squad to win three straight Long Island titles at the team’s level.
He called the upcoming iconic Saturday “something the team will remember for the rest of their lives” and is leaving them with this message: “Go out there and let it fly.”
“You only get eight games guaranteed, and this happens to be one of them. It’s a special time,” added Shippos, who expressed great admiration for Garden City.
“This is good not just for us, but Nassau County football in general. There’s too many lopsided games.”
Christopher Nolan could have written a screenplay about the opposing Trojans, as Garden City’s dominance echoes across the United States.
Coach Dave Ettinger’s gridiron warriors lead the nation with a 68-game winning streak dating to 2019, with five straight Long Island championships and 10 Nassau County titles in a row to show for it.
Ettinger was honored by the NFL at Super Bowl 60 as a coach of the year — and his school is taking a low-profile, business-as-usual approach to the hyped matchup that already has sports bars planning watch parties.
“We are excited for the opportunity to test ourselves against a great program and a school twice our size. At the same time, we’re keeping everything in perspective,” Garden City athletic director Ed Ramirez said.
“It’s a Week 3 nonconference game, and while we certainly want to compete and win, our season goals go well beyond this one game. Ultimately, our goal isn’t about winning this game — it’s about putting ourselves in position to win the last game of the year.”
Massapequa also has “tunnel vision” leading up to Saturday, said senior tight end Giovanni Tarasi.
“I think it’s just similar to every other game — just block out the noise.”
Mass appeal
Still, he can’t help but get excited for the moment, which Chiefs Nation’s passionate fanfare is massively amplifying.
“It’s great to have all the alumni — hearing them talk about it, having them behind us.”
One of those graduates is former NFL defensive lineman Gary Baldinger, who will address them Friday.
“I always talk about how Chief Pride runs deep,” said Baldinger. “That’s my motto — and that’s what Massapequa is all about.”
He does not need to hit the boys with the “nuts and bolts” of a motivational speech ahead of this one. Everybody knows what’s on the line.
“This is once in a lifetime,” Baldinger added. “There’s a lot of bragging rights involved.”
These Chiefs in particular have no interest in resting on glory days, caring instead about the legacy they will have come Saturday and beyond.
“It’s our turn to write our own story,” said senior lineman Ryan Chabus.
“Leave no doubt that we left everything out on the field. Regardless of the result, we’ll be happy with what happened.”
