Nation’s longest high school football winning streak ends after historic run

A remarkable seven-year run ended Monday night on Long Island when Massapequa defeated Garden City 21-14 at Hofstra University, bringing the nation’s longest active high school football winning streak to a dramatic close.

Garden City had won 68 consecutive games, dating back to a November 2019 loss to Lindenhurst. The Trojans also entered the matchup with five straight Long Island championships and 10 consecutive Nassau County titles, making the showdown one of the most anticipated games in the region in years.

The game, originally scheduled for Saturday, was postponed because of a nor’easter. The extra wait only intensified the anticipation before nearly 6,000 fans watched the two unbeaten teams finally meet at Shuart Stadium.

Massapequa, which had won 25 straight entering the contest, struck first through quarterback Luke Garguilo . Garden City answered in the second half, and the game remained tied 14-14 with less than six minutes remaining.

A finish decided by two crucial plays

With Garden City threatening late, Massapequa defensive lineman and captain Ryan Chabus intercepted a screen pass with 1:50 remaining and returned it 20 yards to the Trojans’ 18-yard line. The turnover gave the Chiefs an opportunity to produce the decisive score.

Just 80 seconds later, Massapequa quarterback Luke Garguilo found senior receiver Dylan Milio for a 29-yard touchdown. Milio broke free down the seam and reached the end zone with 30 seconds remaining, putting the Chiefs ahead 21-14.

Garden City couldn’t respond, as Massapequa’s defense forced three incompletions on the final possession. The victory sent the Chiefs’ winning streak to 26 games, now the longest active run in New York state.

The interception was the kind of moment Chabus had expected would decide a matchup between two dominant teams.

“Give extended credit to them — they came out to play,” Chabus told The New York Post. “I knew I had to make a play. That's what football players do. That's what three-time Long Island champions do.”

Milio , meanwhile, described the winning touchdown as a moment that made the long-awaited contest even more meaningful. The senior receiver said the players had been eagerly anticipating the clash and were barely able to focus on school before kickoff.

The matchup was particularly significant because the two programs had never previously met. They competed in different conferences and classifications, but a rule change finally created an opportunity for the Long Island powerhouses to face each other.

Garden City’s defeat ends one of the most impressive winning runs in recent high school football. The Trojans had remained unbeaten since 2019 while collecting five consecutive Long Island championships during the streak.

Massapequa, meanwhile, has built an impressive run of its own. The Chiefs entered the game as three-time defending Long Island champions and now have 26 consecutive victories. Their immediate focus will turn toward continuing that streak and pursuing another championship.

Although Garden City’s national-leading run is over, its place in the sport’s recent history remains significant. The team’s 68-game unbeaten stretch ranks among the most remarkable sustained runs by a high school football program.

The national record, however, remains considerably higher. California’s De La Salle won 151 consecutive games between 1992 and 2004, establishing a benchmark that still stands as the recognized national record.

Monday’s thriller has now added another memorable chapter to Long Island football history, with Massapequa emerging from a battle between two unbeaten powers after a dramatic final minute.