Gilbert-Northwestern parents and fans cheer on their team as they take on Waterbury Career Academy during their Thanksgiving Day game Thursday at The Gilbert School in Winsted.
Jim Shannon Republican American
REPUBLICAN-AMERICAN
This week’s local Thanksgiving high school football games were perhaps the most uncompetitive in the century-plus of tradition.
None of the 14 games involving teams in the Naugatuck Valley, Greater Waterbury and Northwest Connecticut were decided by fewer than two possessions. The closest game was Oxford’s 35-22 victory over St. Paul on Wednesday, and four others were decided by 19 points each.
It’s the first time since 2003 that none of the games involving Naugatuck Valley League squads were one-score contests. Expanded to the entire area, this year was the most uncompetitive slate since 2007, when only Seymour’s 36-35 win over Woodland was a one-score game.
But the Republican-American staff writers and correspondents were out in full force to put some lipstick on this year’s Thanksgiving pig. Here are some Thanksgiving leftovers from the games.
ANSONIA 44, NAUGATUCK 0
Dissenting opinion: While there may have been some grumbling from fans about the lack of competitiveness of Ansonia’s 44-0 win over Naugatuck on Thursday, Chargers coach Tom Brockett said no one should point a finger at Naugy coach Craig Bruno for not having his team ready to play.
“I just thought we played really well,” Brockett said. “I think Coach Bruno did an excellent job. They lost a lot from last year. I think that team really overachieved this year based on what they had coming back. I think today we just had a couple more athletes than they had. Physically we were a little better than they were.
“I think Coach Bruno did a lot to get that team to seven wins. I think really for the first time all season the ball didn’t bounce their way.”
Ansonia now leads the series, 70-37-10, and has won the last six games in the series. While the 44-point win was the biggest during that streak, the Chargers’ average margin of victory in those six wins is 34.5 points.
The 44-point win was the largest in the series since 2003 when Ansonia won, 49-0.
Pleasant surprise: Markell Dobbs earned co-MVP honors by rushing for 157 yards and two touchdowns on 12 carries and leading the defense with a pair of interceptions. Not bad for a kid who didn’t play any role last year.
“We knew he was a good kid and he would work hard,” Brockett said. “We didn’t really think he would have this type of season. Last year he maybe got on the kickoff team a little bit, but he really had no role in the varsity games to make you think he was going to become a star in the league. It’s a great credit to him.”
Dobbs has rushed for 1,726 yards and 23 touchdowns in 10 games this year.
“He is a year older, he is a year bigger and a year stronger,” Brockett said. “I also think he has such great pride, and knowing the tradition of Ansonia football and really wanting to add his legacy to it, that really shows in how he played the game.”
Happy anniversary: At halftime, Ansonia honored the 10th anniversary of its 2006 NVL and Class S state championship team. That squad went 13-0, defeating Holy Cross for the NVL title and Bloomfield for the state title. Among the key players on that team were Alex Thomas, Kyle Shortell, Tristan Roberts, Taylor King, Michael Flynn, Taylor Jones, Dan DeGennaro, Rashaad Bass, Erik Kuraczea and Tom Pitney.
That was also Brockett’s first season as head coach after taking over for the legendary Jack Hunt.
SEYMOUR 55, WOODLAND 20
Finally involved: The Wildcats finished the regular season with perhaps their two sharpest offensive performances of the year, and it’s no coincidence that those were also running back Bobby Melms’ two best games of the fall.
The junior speedster carried 13 times for 192 yards and five touchdowns in Seymour’s 55-20 win over Woodland on Wednesday. He added a 21-yard catch for 14 total touches, one week after he had 19 touches for 231 total yards and three scores.
Melms didn’t touch the ball more than 13 times in any previous game this season, but now his NVL-best speed has the Wildcats clicking.
“When I see him get past the second layer (of defense), I start waving,” said Seymour quarterback Jaylen Kelley, who threw for 125 yards and a touchdown and added 145 yards and two scores rushing. “I start waving goodbye, because nobody is catching him. This year he is a very good runner. He knows what he is doing.”
Narrow edge: Seymour claimed an 8-7 all-time lead in its series against Woodland and evened up the holiday series at 7-7. The Wildcats also beat the Hawks in the 2007 Class SS state semifinals. This year also marks the ninth time in the last 14 seasons that the winner advanced to the state playoffs.
WOLCOTT 47, HOLY CROSS 28
Sideline presence: Along the Holy Cross sidelines Thursday were players from the Crusaders’ 2006 Class SS state title team, which was honored at halftime.
Twenty of the past team members included Tim Brady, Christopher Marino, Maurice Fabiani, T.J. Campion, Dan Crane, Dan Mulrooney, Michael Croce, Kevin Lauber, Matt Fazo, Jordan DiGiovanni, Chris Brouillard and Andrew Salcito. Coaches on the team included then-head coach Mike Phelan, Joe Marino, Mike Diorio, Pete McCasland, Matt Smolley, Mike Mannetti and Mike Giampetruzzi, now the head coach.
Campion and Mulrooney spoke at the Crusaders’ team dinner Wednesday night. The two told the 35 varsity players about their path to the state title. As sophomores in 2004, Holy Cross lost to Woodland in the Class SS state final, 35-0. In 2005, the Crusaders lost to Brookfield in the Class SS semifinals, 35-30. But a year later as seniors, they responded and beat Stratford, 40-0, in the final.
“T.J. and Dan inspired us,” Holy Cross junior Albert Nieves said after the Crusaders (3-7) lost to the Eagles, 47-28. “We played very well and this was a big step for us going into the offseason. We are going to be determined.”
“We all need to buy into the program,” Cross sophomore Vincent Graziano added. “All of our coaches are working hard and we all need to. We played phenomenal against Wolcott. We need to get stronger and better, and if we do, good things will be in store for us next season.”
Not in the scoring summary: Wolcott sophomore defensive lineman Ethan Miner tipped a ball at the line of scrimmage that was intercepted by teammate Jake Filippone in the first half of the Eagles’ win over Holy Cross. Miner was incorrectly identified in Friday’s story.
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KENNEDY 61, CROSBY 42
Honored: Mike Marshall did his level best to try to get Crosby back into Thursday’s game against rival Kennedy. The senior quarterback completed 26 of 43 passes for 320 yards and three touchdowns in the 61-42 loss to the Eagles at Jimmy Lee Stadium.
It was easy to see why he was selected the winner of the Robert J. Boland Award, given to the Crosby player who shows leadership, loyalty, commitment and sportsmanship.
“It means a lot to me,” Marshall said. “I’m really honored. A lot of guys who came before me showed me how to be a leader and a classy player when I was a freshman and sophomore. I took all those lessons they taught me and applied them to how I approached this.
“I have no regrets. The last four years have been great. I loved playing with these guys and for this program.”
Lesson learned: Marc-Anthony Telsuma had an amazing day for Kennedy, carrying the ball 10 times for 287 yards and five touchdowns, most of the long variety.
One play in particular had him excited. Kennedy was stuck on its 16-yard line when he took a handoff from quarterback Joe Schaff. Immediately after taking the handoff, one of his backfield mates ran straight into him, resulting in a broken play that looked as if it was going nowhere.
Telusma somehow managed to get outside and outraced everybody for an 84-yard touchdown. He was hit with an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty, however, when he somersaulted into the end zone with nobody around.
“I shouldn’t have done that, but I wanted to celebrate that play,” Telusma said. “One of my teammates ran right into me and I almost dropped the ball. I was just excited.
“If I had to do it over again, I wouldn’t do that.”
SACRED HEART-KAYNOR TECH 68, WILBY 14
Chain gang: After the Hearts whipped the Wildcats, 68-14, on Wednesday night at Municipal Stadium, Sacred Heart-Kaynor Tech’s Tyler Gendron stood with a metal chain around his neck on Ray Snyder Sr. Field.
Each week, one Hearts player who puts forth the best effort is awarded the chain by the team’s defensiv