Thursday, October 1, 2026
Massapequa offensive coordinator Mike Ambury called the play, but for Dylan Milio, his game-winning touchdown had divine intervention.
The senior wide receiver hauled in a 29-yard touchdown pass from Luke Garguilo with 30.2 seconds left in the fourth quarter, sealing Massapequa’s thrilling 21-14 win over Garden City in a Nassau Conference I/II football crossover game at Hofstra’s Shuart Stadium Monday night.
It came seven days after what would have been his sister Madison’s 14th birthday. She died Dec. 2, 2021, after a battle with diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma, a rare and inoperable pediatric brain tumor.
“These days around my sister’s birthday are always really hard for me and my family so I am just happy that we got it done for her,” Milio said. “Because I play and do everything for her and with her in my mind the entire time.”
The game was billed by some as the biggest regular-season game in Nassau County history, a first-of-its-kind crossover battle between perennial powerhouses.
And in front of a crowd of nearly 6,000, it lived up to the hype.
Massapequa snapped Garden City’s 68-game winning streak, the longest in the nation, while extending its own winning streak to 26 games. It was the Trojans’ first loss since falling to Lindenhurst in the Long Island Class II championship game Nov. 30, 2019.
“Garden City was a great opponent, and we respected them greatly,” Massapequa head coach Kevin Shippos said. “They were every bit as good as advertised … and the [game’s atmosphere] was everything and more tonight.”
Garguilo opened the scoring for the Chiefs with a 1-yard touchdown run with 11:24 left in the second quarter.
Garden City quarterback Brayden Robertiello responded with a 60-yard touchdown run to tie the score at 7 with 11:17 left in the third quarter.
After a Casey Gilchrist interception, Justin Farrell followed a pancake block by Jake Spina on an 8-yard touchdown run to again put Massapequa (3-0) in front, 14-7, with 4:36 left in the third quarter.
On a naked bootleg, Robertiello added his second touchdown — a 5-yard score — to tie the score at 14 with 5:47 left in the fourth quarter.
On 2nd-and-1 from the Garden City 44-yard line on the Trojans’ next possession, Ryan Chabus intercepted a screen pass intended for star running back Anthony Asaro, and the Massapequa defensive end returned it to the 18-yard line with 1:50 left.
“We have athletes everywhere, we just try to put them in the right spot and get out of the way, and let them do their thing,” Shippos said. “He did it tonight.”
Facing a 3rd-and-21 with 36.1 seconds left, Shippos called timeout. The head coach said he contemplated a field goal attempt, hoping a crossing pattern Ambury dialed up would gain back some yards they needed for the kick.
Milio lined up in the slot and crisscrossed with Farrell. Garguilo fired over the middle to an open Milio, who ran untouched into the end zone.
“Getting that touchdown felt awesome,” Milio said. “After catching the ball and running into the end zone with all my teammates behind me and all the fans screaming, it felt amazing.”
As gratifying as the win was, Shippos was quick to point out it’s just Week 3.
“We’re going to remember this forever,” Shippos told his team. “But we’re back to work tomorrow.”
