BY ROGER CLEAVELAND

NAUGATUCK – If there is one game in storied football rivalry between Ansonia and Naugatuck that exemplified the Chargers’ dominance more than any other, it may have been the 1977 game, the first in the 118-year-old series in which both teams went into the game undefeated.

The game stands out just as much for what didn’t happen during the contest as what did. Ansonia’s All-State junior quarterback Sandy Osiecki didn’t play. Naugatuck’s balanced, dynamic offense didn’t score. The Chargers didn’t win impressively enough to hold onto the No. 1 ranking in the state a week later, and the Greyhounds didn’t halt Ansonia’s win streak as it reached 25.

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But ultimately what did happened was that Ansonia didn’t miss a beat as the Chargers won, 18-0, in Naugatuck en route to posting their first back-to-back undefeated seasons in program history.

Ansonia found out in the days leading up to the game that Osiecki was not going to be medically cleared to play due to a back injury against Watertown that forced him to sit out both the Wilby and Crosby games. The Saturday before Thanksgiving Osiecki played in a scrimmage against Newington and appeared well enough to play in the regular season finale, but the school doctor wouldn’t allow it.

So coach Bill McAllister approached the Chargers other All-State player on the team that year, safety Dave Debish, and asked him to shift from tight end to quarterback since he was a great athlete who knew the offense and had quarterbacked the freshman team three years earlier.

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“I hadn’t taken a snap since my freshman year,” Debish said. “Luckily, we played Crosby and Wilby before that so I got loosened up in those games and threw like 4-5 touchdown passes and ran for a few more. It wasn’t like they were expecting me to go out there and throw for 350 yards and five touchdowns against Naugatuck. It was going to be running game and a defensive game.”

The Chargers changed up the entire offense from heavily pass oriented to a pounding running game.

Mike Parks ended up rushing for 122 yards, including a 2-yard touchdown run. Fullback Mark Goumas paved the way with outstanding lead blocking and also picked up 26 yards rushing and a touchdown on seven carries. Gary Eaton added eight carries for 57 yards.

Debish, who completed just two of four passes for 21 yards, did a fine job overall of running the offense as linemen like tackles Steve Mankulics and Ron Balabon, guards Carm Pitney and Vin Holcomb and center Mike Simon cleared the way.

“It was your basic run-it-down-your-throat type of an offense,” Debish said. “I ran the ball maybe 8-10 times. I know I had one run where I jumped over someone and I stepped right on the face of the guy coming up to make the tackle and he landed on the ground as I cut to the outside for a 15-20 yard gain. I also had a touchdown on one of the quarterback sneaks.”

All this came against a Naugatuck team that was ranked No. 7 in the state poll at the time.

“You are playing a ranked team, you are both undefeated and you’re playing without your quarterback so you are kind of playing one-armed because you don’t have that part of your offense that was so critical all season,” Goumas said.

“We still really didn’t think we were going to lose,” said Debish who played every snap of the game as he also took over punting and kicking duties. “We had pretty much a powerhouse team.”

That power shown through on defense as the Chargers held Naugatuck to 43 yards of total offense. This was a Greyhounds team that boasted a quarterback in Jay Carter who had thrown for 1,358 yards and 12 touchdowns while completing 58 percent of his passes. Naugy was a balanced team, too, as the Greyhounds had a running back, Dave Cronen, who rushed for 1,351 yards and 27 touchdowns.

“We had an unbelievably solid defense,” Debish said. “It was probably one of the best defenses ever in Ansonia in terms of points against and stuff like that.”

Cronen was held to 36 yards on 30 carries while the Chargers picked off Carter three times and limited him to 13 yards on 2-for-11 passing.

“It was very, very physical and defensive oriented,” Goumas said. “I think Naugatuck crossed midfield only once or maybe twice the whole game.”

George Hokanson led the defense with an interception and a fumble recovery, but he received plenty of outstanding help from guys like Dave Goggins, Curtis Antrum, Vin Holcomb, Albert Sokol and Jack Shepherd.

“Rusty Hokanson also had a really good pass rush all game,” Goumas said. “He said their quarterback, Jay Carter, a couple times and as a team we sacked him like seven or eight times. They also had a very good running back, Dave Cronen, who had a chance to break the school record for touchdowns, but we shut him down.”

The win was impressive enough to move Ansonia from No. 3 in the state poll to No. 1, but mysteriously after beating Stamford Catholic, 20-7, the next week in the Class S state championship game, the Chargers were dropped to No. 2 behind Class LL champ Trumbull.

“Trumbull beat Stamford Catholic during the regular season I think, 9-8, but they still jumped us,” Goumas said. “So there was a lot of bitterness at the very end but we were proud of the way we played against Naugatuck and carried it over into the state title game.”

BY ROGER CLEAVELAND

NAUGATUCK – In the midst of forging an identity for his football team as one of the elite programs in the state in the early 1980s, Naugatuck head coach Craig Peters displayed enough foresight and confidence in his team that he made a drastic change heading into the Greyhounds’ biggest game of the season.

Despite the fact that Naugatuck was undefeated and playing incredibly well heading into its Thanksgiving rivalry game against Ansonia, Peters installed a new defense.

“We actually did something very unorthodox for the time,” Peters said. “We rushed only three defenders (noseguard Bobby Oris and ends Ted Sanford and Rich Zavednak), and that allowed us to drop eight into coverage. You always used to cover with six and rush five or whatever, and nobody ever dropped eight, but that is what we did that day.”

“To be able to take a knee and have everybody pile on you … the guys that we played behind from the previous years – Terry Palmer, Dave Cronen, Mickey Pascale and all those guys – they all felt the win, too, because this game is part of Naugatuck. You pass it down from generation to generation for everyone.”

Naugy QB Kevin Moreland

Of course, it would have been foolish to make such a change against an incredibly talented and undefeated Ansonia team without testing it against quality competition first. So Peters called Holy Cross coach Jim Shove and asked him to scrimmage the Greyhounds.

“We were very, very concerned about Ansonia’s passing game,” Peters said. “We knew we couldn’t stop it with our regular defense. So we had a very good practice with Holy Cross. We had (Crusader quarterback Jim) Crocicchia throw against our secondary. He threw against us and threw against us, and we kind of straightened out our pass defense that day.”

They honed it into a disruptive unit that not only slowed down the Chargers but played a huge role in the Greyhounds’ 24-20 win, in only the second game ever between Ansonia and Naugatuck in which both teams were unbeaten.

“We had never played as good a pass defense all year as we did that game on Thanksgiving,” Peters said. “We straightened it out. We made some corrections on technique and for one of our kids, Jimmy Einik, and he ended up with three interceptions and winning the Fortin Trophy.”

In all, Naugy finished with five interceptions of Ansonia quarterback Joe Shea as Rich Becchetti and Ricky Ruest picked off one pass apiece. The Greyhounds also had a fumble recovery by Remie Ferreira.

“Give all the credit to Naugatuck,” said Ansonia assistant coach John Sponheimer, currently in his 45th season. “They played an extremely well-thought out game against us that day. That was a very well-coached, well-disciplined game by Naugatuck.”

Naugy was good enough to become the first team in 65 regular season games to beat Ansonia, snapping the Chargers’47-game Naugatuck Valley League win streak in the process.

“It was hard not to understand how significant the game was,” Naugy QB Kevin Moreland said. “As freshmen some of us suited up and were on the field sideline freezing while Sandy Osiecki ran a sneak into the end zone at the end to win. Three years later, our 1981 game was Craig’s first win over Ansonia. There was no social media in those days, but everybody knew what was going on and how important it was.”

Naugy posted its first unbeaten regular season in nine years, which it needed to advance to the Class LL state title game where it beat Xavier convincingly to finish No. 1 in the state poll. Among those in the crowd of 12,000 was the entire undefeated New Britain team and its marching band, all rooting for Ansonia, because the Hurricanes would have played for the state title if Naugy lost.

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The win didn’t come without difficulty. Shea threw a 25-yard touchdown pass to Gordy Hotchkiss for an early 6-0 lead and finished the game with 223 yards passing. He tossed two more TD throws, one to Hotchkiss and one to Mickey Debish, both of six yards.

“They had so much talent, they could have won by 3-4 scores if we weren’t sitting there in that coverage,” Moreland said.

Debish finished with seven catches for 93 yards, but it wasn’t enough to overcome Naugy’s key defensive plays and a solid Greyhounds’ offense run by Moreland.

“Most of the yards I gained were on a QB sneak over the right or the left guards (Oris, Ricky Vandyne) because of a defensive alignment for Ansonia that we saw we could take advantage of,” Moreland said. “When they were in it, I would check down to the sneak, and I was getting 5-6 yards per run. We were pretty happy, because we were grinding out yards and chewing the clock up to leave less time for Joe Shea, David Lee, Mickey Debish and those guys to be on the field for Ansonia.”

Moreland led the Garnet in rushing with 64 yards on 18 carries and also completed seven of 10 passes for 55 yards. He scored the first touchdown for Naugatuck on a four-yard run and also had three conversion kicks and a fourth-quarter 26-yard field goal.

He had good offensive complements as Darryl White and Ted Douty scored rushing touchdowns for Naugy, which scored 21 straight points in the first half after falling behind, 6-0.

Still, it was tense at the end.

“We had the ball and had to get a first down to run the clock out,” Moreland said. “We ran a play-action pass that I had run for four years, but at that time that is big play to throw a pass in the fourth against them still on our side of the field, and I completed a pass to our tight end Steve Croce for a first down.”

Gilbert-Northwestern (4-5) at Waterbury Career Academy (3-6)

When: Tuesday, 6 p.m.

Where: Municipal Stadium, Ray Snyder Sr. Field

Recent games: SMSA 24, Gilbert-Northwestern 19; Naugatuck 38, WCA 0

Last year’s meeting: Gilbert 29, WCA 6 (first meeting between schools)

Key players: G-N – Billy Komons, RB-CB, Sr.; Brad Lissy, QB-OLB, Sr.; Sam Mussen, WR-CB, Sr.; E.J. Claman, RB-SS, Sr.; Alex Smith, OL-DL, Jr.; WCA – Justen Ruden, WR-CB, Sr.,Jadan Battle, WR-FS, Sr.; Nedrion Payne, FB-MLB, Sr.; Jessah Doctor, TE-DL, Sr.; Christian Calle, WR-SS, Sr.

Mark Jaffee’s take: After plentry of lofty aspirations in the preseason and a sure contender by midseason, the Yellowjackets took themselves out of a potential playoff position having lost three out of their last four. They’re still a team capable of finishing really strong. They have a very strong running game, featuring Billy Komons (731 rushing yards, 7 TDs; 2,765 career yards, 28 TDs), E.J. Claman (477 rushing yards, 7 TDs) and QB Brad Lissy (3 rushing TDs). Komond also can catch the ball out of the backfield and leads the team with seven receptions for 181 yards and two TDs. The Spartans are a team that continues to battle growing pains. The second-year varsity program beat Kennedy 28-20 in overtime and edged Sacred Heart-Kaynor Tech, 16-14. But also narrowly dropped three games to Holy Cross (20-14, WCA led 14-12 until final minute), Derby (30-22) and Watertown (30-14, Indians scored two late fourth-quarter TDs). The Spartans would like to play well on home turf and put aside last year’s rough loss to the Yellowjackets on Thanksgiving Day in Winsted. For them to contend, they must convert opportunities into points and move the chains. In the games that they have struggled offensively, penalties and forced turnovers were critical. In games they held leads, they were unable to sustain it because of an inability to get first downs and keep the clock moving.

Jaffman’s prediction: Gilbert-Northwestern 27, WCA 18 (A lot closer than last year’s contest)

2016 recap

Gilbert-Northwestern 29, Waterbury Career 6: In Winsted, junior Billy Komons ran the ball 29 times for 128 yards, including an 8-yard touchdown on the first play of the third quarter, for the Yellowjackets (8-2), which narorwly failed to qualify for the state playoffs despite the win. Jake Roth recorded 10 tackles for the Yellowjackets and G-N running back E.J. Claman caught a 65-yard TD pass from Brad Lissy.

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By Mark Jaffee

For the second year, the Watertown-Torrington Thanksgiving rivalry brings even more significance with a charity fundraising battle.

Each school has giant water jugs at each cafeteria and are trying to fill it with coins. This year, the money raised goes to a Watertown family whose young child is going through treatment for an illness known as Wegener’s granulomatosis, a rare disease in which blood vessels become inflamed.

Over the next two days leading up to the Thursday morning game, beginning at 10 a.m. at Watertown High, students and members of the community may donate. A table in front of the Watertown gate will also be available on game-day.

Last year, $564.80 was raised by both schools combined and the day of the game, another $260.85 was raised, giving a total of $825.55, according to Tara Curry of the Torrington Football Parents Club.

Last year’s money was donated to the Children’s Heart Foundation based in Illinois in honor of Parker Therriault, the son of Red Raiders’ assistant coach Andy Therriault and his wife Cheryl, a Watertown native, who was born with a congenital heart defect known as Shone’s syndrome.

Each year, the home team chooses the charity of its choice.

Reach Mark Jaffee at mjaffee@rep-am.com or follow him on Twitter@TheRealJaffman

BY ROGER CLEAVELAND

ANSONIA – As the home fans from the crowd of 12,000 that packed Boots Jarvis Stadium rushed onto Nolan Field to celebrate what many have called the most epic game in the 117-year history of the state’s most storied rivalry, shocked Naugatuck quarterback Joey Edmonds made a quick exit to the team bus.

On a 4th-and-goal play from the six-yard line in overtime, Edmonds was chased down by Ansonia defensive end Jason Dziubina, who him as he was running a bootleg left and trying to throw the ball to Jahmal Francis in the end zone. The ball never came close to Francis, and Ansonia won, 28-21.

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“Right after I fell to the ground and the game was over, people were rushing onto the field,” Edmonds said. “Coach was like, ‘Everybody get back to the bus,’ because it was getting crazy. I was the first one back to the bus, because I was devastated. I could have sworn we were going to win that game. You play your whole life for that game, and we lost.”

Bitterly disappointed and stunned as he waited for his teammates, he received one last shock that will stick with him the rest of his life, a poignant reminder that there is much more to this intense rivalry than simply winning and losing.

“I am sitting there by myself, and the next person to come onto the bus was (Ansonia) Coach (Jack) Hunt, and I couldn’t believe it,” Edmonds said. “He shook my hand and told me what a pleasure it was watching me play during my career and in that game.”

“I thought to myself, ‘Wow, this is one of the greatest high school coaches ever, everybody is celebrating their win, and he takes the time to walk down to our bus to talk to me. When he passed away on Thanksgiving morning (2012), I might have been the only kid from Naugatuck who stood in line out in the freezing cold for an hour and a half to pay my respects at his wake. That is how much that gesture meant to me.”

That 1994 game has meant a lot to this series. It’s provided proof that despite the fact that Ansonia has won 27 of the last 30 games in this rivalry, indelible memories can be created and classic games can be played that leave both of these blue collar valley towns in awe.

“It was one of the greatest, if not the greatest, regular-season victory I have ever been involved with in Ansonia,” said Chargers assistant coach John Sponheimer, now in his 45th season. “What sticks out for me is the crowd, the intensity, the great players on both teams starting with Joey Edmonds, Dan Conklin and Jahmal Francis from Naugatuck and Steven Coughlin, Phil Mrazik and Ronald Tate for us.”

Tate rushed for 125 yards and three touchdowns, including the six-yard game winner one 2nd-and-goal in overtime. He also gave Ansonia the lead, 14-13, on the Chargers’ first drive of the second half. Appearing to be stopped on a 4th-and-goal from the one, he surged forward with second effort just enough to extend the ball over the goal line.

The most memorable plays, however, were turned in by Edmonds, Dzuibina and Ansonia receiver/defensive back Mrazik.

Ansonia trailed by six at the half but scored on its first two possessions of the second half to take a 21-13 lead with 12 seconds left in the third quarter on a 26-yard touchdown pass from Coughlin to Mrazik.

Sponheimer said the Chargers thought they had the game in hand given their momentum and the fact their first-team defense hadn’t allowed a point all season prior to the game. Even the very confident Edmonds began to doubt.

“I did get down with about four minutes left after I threw a pass that I think Mrazik picked off,” Edmonds said. “I sat on the bench by myself and I thought, ‘We might lose this game.’ Then the defense stepped up and we got the ball back. Coach called the play, we scored to tie it, and we were like, ‘Alright, we got this. We are going to win this game.’”

The play was a criss-cross pitchback that covered 70 yards in total with Edmonds going the final 55 yards for the score.

“I handed it off to Marlon (Fernandez) as he is coming across, and then he hands it off to Josh Sanford on the inside,” Edmonds said. “Once I handed it to Marlon, I peeled off to the outside because I knew Josh was coming on the inside to run the option. When the corner came up, Josh was a heady kid and he pitched it to me.”

Edmonds then had only one player to beat.

“I gave Phil (Mrazik) a quick jab step to the outside, and when I was running after that it was probably the fastest I have ever run in my life. I kid you not,” Edmonds said. “I didn’t hear anything and the only thing I saw was that goal line.”

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Naugy still trailed, 21-19, but Conklin scored on a two-point conversion run to tie the game.

“Then we get the ball again for 3-4 plays and they just rolled over us,” Sponheimer said. “It looked like momentum had swung 100 percent in Naugatuck’s favor. It looked like we were really in trouble going into the overtime. But we scored on just two plays in the overtime with an unbalanced line offensive coordinator Jim Dellavolpe hadn’t shown yet.”

Despite the epic nature of the game, of course there were still regrets. The highly-competitive Conklin, who ran effectively all season, still wishes he got a chance to make a play in overtime. The loss still bothers him to this day.

“Umm… yeah. It is tough to swallow,” he said. “It took years to actually look back and realize we played in a real special game. At the time you are just playing a game and you want to win it more than anything. Years down the road you realize how special it really was.”

DYLAN MCCALL
Lewis Mills boys soccer
Nickname: DJ
Class: Junior
Jersey number: 8
His week: 2 goals, game-winner with 10 seconds left, in Lewis Mills’ 3-2 win over Suffield in Class M final.

Q&A
Funniest sports moment: Seeing Joe Neary whip the ball in preseason.
Worst sports injury: Pulled hamstring.
Superstition: Wear sweatpants to every game no matter how hot it is.
Dream college: UConn.
Career ambition: Physical therapist.
Coveted dinner companion: Jake Cosentino.
Biggest wish: Have my dog live forever.
Biggest fear: Drowning.
Principal for a day: No more homework.
10 years from now: Hopefully in a stable job.
Most overused phrase: Atta girl.
Pet peeve: People who walk slowly in front of me.
People would be surprised to know: I can solve a Rubik’s Cube.
Describe yourself in one word: Decent.
Deserted island necessities: Knife, socks, blanket.
Foreign country you’d most like to visit: Spain.
Go-to karaoke song: I Want It That Way, by the Backstreet Boys.
Family athletic background: Mom did track, brother is a power lifter.
Cellphone brand: Apple.
Beef, chicken or fish?: Beef.
Starbucks or Dunkin’ Donuts?: Dunkin’ Donuts.
Shoutout: To Joe Neary for helping to be my motivation.

FAVORITES
Opposing player: Mergim Kutlovci (Thomaston).
Sports team: Steelers.
Class subject: Math.
City: Boston.
Celebrity: Post Malone.
Actor: David Schwimmer.
Concert: Chance the Rapper.
Athlete: Robert Lewandowksi.
TV show: The Office.
Movie: Billy Madison.
Book: The Lightning Thief, by Rick Riordan.
Song: 1984, by Bowling for Soup.
Animal: Dog.
App: Snapchat.
Website: Google.
Music artist: Post Malone.
Sporting event: Soccer games.
Meal: Pasta.
Store: Target.
Restaurant: Bertucci’s.
Pizza topping: Chicken and bacon.
Dessert: Chocolate cake.
Junk food: Popcorn.
Car: Honda CRV.
Childhood memory: Getting my dog, Apollo.
Video game: FIFA.
Sports memory: Winning states.
Music genre: Rap.
Song lyrics: I miss the old Kanye.
Quote: Confidence is key.
Vacation spot: Cape Cod.
Ice cream flavor: Cookie dough.
Breakfast food: Chocolate Chip pancakes.

ELIZABETH BOYER
Cheshire girls swimming
Nickname: Liz
Class: Senior
Her week: Won 200 IM (202.86) and 100 breaststroke (1:02.35) at Class L final; won 100 breaststroke (1:03.15) at State Open.

Q&A
Worst sports injury: Broken finger.
Superstition: Paint my nails blue.
Dream college: Harvard.
Career ambition: Medical doctor.
Biggest fear: Heights (Can’t be a diver).
10 years from now: Finished with medical school.
Describe yourself in one word: Happy.
Foreign country you’d most like to visit: Greece
Family athletic background: My dad played hockey and mom was a runner.
Cellphone: iPhone.
Beef, chicken or fish?: Chicken.
Starbucks or Dunkin’ Donuts?: Dunkin’ Donuts.

FAVORITES
Class subject: Creative writing.
City: Boston.
Actor: Heath Ledger.
Concert: Cheap Trick.
TV show: Stranger Things.
Movie: Dark Knight.
Book: Harry Potter series.
Animal: Dog.
Sporting event: Marathons.
Meal: Grilled cheese.
Store: Staples.
Pizza topping: Eggplant.
Dessert: Cannoli.
Junk food: Goldfish.
Sports memory: Winning Class L with the team.
Vacation spot: Cape Cod
Ice cream: Peppermint Stick.
Breakfast food: Bagels.

Crosby (5-4) at Kennedy (3-6)

When: Thursday, 10 a.m.

Where: Ray Synder Sr. Field at Municipal Stadium

Recent games: Crosby 32, Sacred Heart/Kaynor 6; Woodland 49, Kennedy 14

Last year’s meeting: Kennedy 61, Crosby 42

Key players

Crosby: Alberim Klenja, QB, Sr.; Bernardo Mbaya, OL-DL, Sr.; Davonte Howard, WR-DB, Sr.; Isaac Burgos, RB-LB, Jr.; Marquel Jackson Smith, WR-DB, Jr.

Kennedy: Marquise Blagmon, WR-LB, Jr.; Elijah Nelson, QB-DB, Jr.; Marc Soto, OL-DL, Sr.; Edmund Edgehill, RB-LBZyair Allen, RB-LB, Sr.

Mark Jaffee’s take: The Bulldogs can assure themselves of an above an above .500 record for the first time with a win since 2008 when Crosby went 9-2 and also beat Ansonia and Naugatuck. QB Alberim Klenja has had a terrific season, despite having only nine career starts, all this season. The Eagles can win the Brass Division with a win over the Bulldogs, considering they won a forfeit over Holy Cross (4-1) on opening day. If the Bulldogs win, the Crusaders get the Brass title with the head-to-head win at midseason.

Jaffman’s prediction: Crosby 28, Kennedy 20 (Bulldogs wanted a winning season at outset and now will get it.)

2016 recap — Kennedy 61, Crosby 42: The Eagles won the Brass Division with a big win over Crosby led by RB Marc-Anthony Telusma who rushed for 287 yards and five touchdowns on just 10 carries. He scored on TD runs of 32, 8, 84, 43 and 71 yards. Jacob Colon added 122 yards rushing and two TDs with scoring runs of 47 and 50 yards. Crosby was led by QB Mike Marshall (26-for-43, 320 yards, three TDs) and Eli Mbaya (eight catches, 134 yards, 2 TDs).

Nonnewaug (1-9) at Lewis Mills (1-9)

When: Thursday, 10 a.m.

Where: Lewis Mills, Burlington

Recent games: Valley Regional/OLd Lyme 35, Lewis Mills 3; Cromwell/Portland 56, Nonnewaug 14

Last year’s meeting: Lewis Mills 42, Nonnewaug 6

Key players

Lewis Mills: Chris Romano, WR-SS, Sr.; Grayson LaBerge, QB, Jr.; Thomas Langer, OL-DL, Sr.; Hunter Cowger, FB-LB, Sr.

Nonnewaug: Jarrett Michaels, QB, Jr.; Justin Southard, RB-LB, Jr.; Brian Viveros, RB-LB, Sr.; Aiden Leonard, WR-S, Sr.; Kurtis Krizan, WR-LB, Sr.

Jaffee’s take: Chris Romano has been Mr. Versatility for the Spartan. He has rushed for 441 yards and three TDs and added 354 receiving yards and four TDs for the Spartans and also has a team-leading 50 tackles. Grayson LaBerge has passed for 656 yards … Nonnewaug QB Jarrett Michaels has thrown for 1,278 yards and 10 TDs and rushed for 528 yards and nine TDs.

Jaffman’s prediction: Lewis Mills 20, Nonnewaug 16 (Spartans take advantage of home-field edge.)

2016 recap … Lewis Mills 42, Nonnewaug 6: Lewis Mills won to finish the season 4-6. Nonnewaug was led by Sam Cotter with 10 tackles and by Zach Mauro with a TD pass from Jarrett Michaels.

Derby (3-6) at Shelton (9-1)

When: Thursday, 10:30 a.m.

Where: Shelton High

Recent games: Shelton 40, Notre Dame-WH 6; Seymour 63, Derby 13

Last year’s meeting: Shelton 44, Derby 8

Key players

Derby: Tom Abel, RB-DB, Jr.; Anthony Slowik, OL-DL, Sr.; Ja’kwan Hale, WR-DB, Jr.

Shelton: Michael Casinelli, TE-DE, Sr.; Jaryd Witkowski, OL-DL, Sr.; Jake Roberts, QB, Jr.; Jack Carr, RB-LB, Jr.

Of note: Shelton has won 14 in a row in the series, the last Derby wins came in 1996, 22-7, and in 2002, 13-12. In 1998, the game played to a 7-7 tie in regulation with no overtime in the books.

Mark Jaffee’s take: The Gaels have reeled off eight straight wins since a season-opening loss to Cheshire, 28-10. Quarterback Jake Roberts has passed for 1,535 yardsand 12 TDs and also rushed for eight TDs, maknig him among the SCC’s most versatile signal-callers. The Red Raiders have had a roller-coaster ride this season, losing first three games, then winning three close games in a row to Holy Cross (34-32), Oxford (32-26) and WCA (30-22) before dropping three in a row to Ansonia Watertown and Seymour allowing a combined 167 points.

Jaffman’s prediction: Shelton 30, Derby 12 (Gaels are currently in third in the Class LL playoffs rankings and would host a first-round game Tuesday with a win).

Holy Cross (6-3) at Wolcott (5-4)

When: Thursday, 10 a.m.

Where: Joe Monroe Field, Wolcott High

Recent games: Wolcott 88, Torrington 22; Ansonia 50, Holy Cross 6

Last year’s meeting: Wolcott 47, Holy Cross 28

Key players

Holy Cross: Alex Ward, FB-DE, Jr.; Corey Fappiano, QB, Jr.; Vincent Graziano, WR-DB-PK, Jr.; DeAndre Wallace, WR-S, Sr.; Albert Nieves, OL-MLB, Sr.; Wyatt Brennan, OL-DL, Sr.

Wolcott: Michael Polzella, QB-DB, Sr.; Anthony Ligi, RB-DB, Jr.; Nick Longo, WR-DB, Sr.; Mike Ciarlo, WR-DB, Sr.; Santino Ciarlo, FB-WR-LB, Sr.; Colin Pawlak, WR-DB, Sr.

Mark Jaffee’s take: Over the years, we have seen some fantastic finishes with Wolcott winning at home on the final play in 2001 on a Pat Weed 82-yard pick-6 and Holy Cross grabbing the victory in 2013, stunning the Eagles on the Joe Kalosky Hail Mary deflected pass to Gerron Pendarvis. Anything is possible this time around with two very capable and different type of quarterbacks. Wolcott’s Michael Polzella does everything he can with his feet, and arm to keep the Eagles in games. Anthony Ligi enters his senior in 2018 as one of the more versatile and exciting players to watch in the NVL. Cross’ Corey Fappiano has a few fourth-quarter rallies to his credit, and especially uin midseason with a last-minute, fourth-down TD pass to DeAndre Wallace.

With Wallace and Vincent Graziano, along with a pretty good ground game by the Crusaders, they have a chance to score points. The key will be to have sustained drives and virtually not penalties and or turnovers. The Crusaders can’t allow the Eagles’ no huddle, fast-paced offense to score rapidly and often. Special attention to be made on kick returns because you never know when a potential onside kick is coming their way, like Wolcott did against Torrington. Field position will be a difference maker for the Eagles. If the Crusaders’ defense, anchored by Albert Nieves, is up to the task, can stop them on downs like Naugatuck did a few weeks ago, the Eagles will end the season at an unexpected .500 mark.

If the Crusaders can force the Eagles into turnovers, they can win. But if the Eagles get a lead, the question will be whether they can keep it, unlike against Seynmour, Watertown and against the Greyhounds, three games that put them in a precariously spot.

Jaffman’s prediction: Holy Cross 32, Wolcott 30 (If anyone thinks that the Crusaders can’t win this game, that’s just too bad. They will, though, have to play their best game in three seasons).

2016 recap — Wolcott, 47, Holy Cross 28: Ray Iorio rushed for 266 yards and three touchdowns to lead Wolcott to a big win over the Crusaders. The Eagles also got TD runs of 10 and 39 yards as well as a 14-yard TD pass from QB Michael Polzella. Holy Cross was led by DeAndre Wallace who caught a 31-yard touchdown pass from Corey Fappiano and also returned a kickoff 75 yards for a score. Fappiano, who also threw a 62-yard TD pass to Adam Razza, also scored a rushing TD.

BY MARK JAFFEE

Woodland junior running back Edit Krivca has quietly rushed for more than 1,200 yards and 19 touchdowns this season for the surging Hawks’ football team.

Krivca helped them asks to a 5-4 record, a year removed from a 1-9 mark in 2016.

“Edit’s work ethic is above and beyond some others,” said Woodland second-year head coach Chris Moffo. “He shows that by how he produces every day. Before he came here as a freshman he had never played football before. He’s a great leader on the field, in the weight room and in the classroom for his teammates and classmates.”

Woodland plays at Seymour Wednesday night at 6.

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In good company

Pomperaug senior captain Cole McGrath has the distinction of scoring an offensive rushing touchdown and a defensive TD on a 45-yard interception return in the same against Bethel earlier this year. The Panthers won, 19-6.

“According to one of my coaches, Andrew Reel (a former Panthers’ standout), I am one of seven Pomperaug players to do that feat in the same game,” said McGrath, who has scored eight TDs this year. “The interception return was cool.”

Despite the disappointing 2-7 mark, McGrath believes that the Panthers will finish strong Thanksgiving at Notre Dame of Fairfield.

“Winning that last game is really important to all of us,” said McGrath. “That’s all we have talked about since our last game (a 20-7 loss at Stratford).”

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Prelude to the playoffs

Watertown (7-2) has already qualified for the Class M playoffs and host Torrington Thursday at 10 a.m. The Indians lost to St. Paul (46-32) and to Naugatuck (27-13).

When the preseason began back in August, Watertown senior captain Adam Alenckis had an inkling that the Indians would potentially have a season to remember, coming off a 4-6 mark in 2016.

“We practiced really hard and came in with so much energy and desire,” said Alenckis. “We knew that we had something special. Our success is not about one person. Everyone contributes to the cause.”

Brotherly love

Senior captain Christian Calle of Waterbury Career Academy was the baby sitter for his three siblings recently when his parents were out of town on Oct. 27 when the Spartans played Derby at Shelton High. The Red Raiders won, 30-22.

“Christian had to take his three little brothers to the game with us,” said WCA coach Peter Flammia. “He is a great role model for his brothers and for his teammates. He’s part of the National Honor Society, so his grades are amazing. Christian has done everything that we have asked of him for the last three years, playing so many different positions. He’s played hurt, sick or anything else, he’s always there. Christian is very even-keel. He represents himself and his family as well as WCA and the football program and his teammates with the upmost respect, passion, hard work and responsibility.”

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The Gilbert-Northwestern football team downed WCA, 29-22, in their holiday game at Municipal Stadium Tuesday night.

Here are some highlights:

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BY RICK WILSON
Republican-American
THOMASTON — By his own admission, it just came down to a “better offer” and with that, Bob McMahon resigned as Thomaston High baseball coach Tuesday.
“I got a better offer, which was to coach a bunch of little kids that don’t know which way to run it, but can hit it,” said McMahon.
Included in that group of Little League kids are 11-year-old Mike and 9-year-old twins Sean and Molly. All of whom call McMahon dad. It was time for him to be with kids — his own kids.
The 46-year-old McMahon met with his players after school to notify them of his decision, ending 10 years as head coach.
No determination as to McMahon’s successor has been reached at these early stages.
The highly successful two-sport coach, a fifth-grade teacher in the Thomaston school system, will continue as the Golden Bears girls basketball coach, where he has turned Thomaston into a state power with two Class S state titles, five straight appearances in the Class S title game at Mohegan Sun and six straight Berkshire League titles and BL tournament titles.
During McMahon’s decade at the helm of the baseball team, the Bears became a force to reckon with on both the state and BL stage. In his first season in 2008, Thomaston won its only Class S state title, defeating St. Bernard. The Bears also reached the state championship game in 2014, losing to Portland.
Along the way, there were six quarterfinal appearances, and only once did the Bears not qualify for the tournament. And there were back-to-back BL titles in 2014 and 2015.
McMahon posted a career mark of 147-73 (.670 winning percentage).
McMahon looked forward with anticipation and backward with wistful appreciation.
“I was a freshman in high school when home plate at our field was where right field is now,” he remembered. “I’ve been around the program ever since. I’d thought I would coach until they dragged me off the field feet first. But it is time to watch my kids grow.”

BY MARK JAFFEE
REPUBLICAN-AMERICAN
WATERBURY — The comeback, according to Gilbert-Northwestern football coach Scott Salius, was “one we’ll all remember for the rest of our lives.”
The Yellowjackets pulled off a fourth-quarter comeback and held off a last-second bid to tie the game by Waterbury Career Academy in a 29-22 Pequot Conference/ Naugatuck Valley League thriller at Municipal Stadium’s Ray Snyder Sr. Field on Tuesday night.
Not once, but twice, the Yellowjackets faced deficits — 14-0 at halftime and 22-14 early in the fourth quarter.
“It was a real hard-fought game,” said Yellowjackets senior E.J. Claman. “We just kept believing in ourselves and in each other. That was the difference.”
G-N junior Zachary Horvay-McLellan scored on a 13-yard run and he followed with a two-point conversion run, tying the game at 22-22 with 9:40 left in regulation.
“It felt really good to be able to contribute and help the team,” said Horvay-McLellan.
“Zachary’s touchdown was huge for us,” said G-N senior tailback Billy Komons, who also praised Claman, who had a 40-yard TD run in the third quarter to get the Yellowjackets back into the game, cutting the deficit to 14-13.
“All of the time, it’s E.J. who comes up with something left in the tank,” said Komons. “On this team, everyone contributes every day. It’s all about hard work and hustle.”
With the game tied at 22-22, G-N forced a punt and senior quarterback Brad Lissy engineered the go-ahead drive, culminating with a 2-yard TD run. Chris Nanni’s PAT kick made it 29-22 with 5:40 left.
Komons rushed for 142 yards on 24 carries and two touchdowns and Claman added 117 rushing yards on 17 carries.
“What a good way to go out for the seniors,” said Salius, whose team ended the season at 5-5. “We were never done, never quit. They deserve this win. I hope this was an example for the underclassmen that we are never down and out in a game. This is what we need to get the program back to where it was before. The second half of this game showed that.”
To which junior lineman Alex Smith added, “This win is nothing compared to what we will do next year.”
Senior Tyler Glenn caught a 22-yard TD pass and senior Jadan Battle had a 72-yard touchdown reception from junior quarterback Matt Torres for the Spartans (3-7), who are only in their second year as a varsity program.
Torres also had a 12-yard TD run in the second quarter and connected with Battle for the two-point conversion for a 14-0 lead with 31 second left in the first half.
Battle also had an interception, his third interception in past two games and eighth of the season.
Reach Mark Jaffee at mjaffee@rep-am.com or follow him on Twitter@TheRealJaffman

BY MARK JAFFEE
REPUBLICAN-AMERICAN
Woodland junior running back Edit Krivca has quietly rushed for more than 1,200 yards and 19 touchdowns this season for the surging Hawks football team, which is 5-4 just one season after going 1-9.
“Edit’s work ethic is above and beyond some others,” said second-year Woodland head coach Chris Moffo. “He shows that by how he produces every day. Before he came here as a freshman, he had never played football. He’s a great leader on the field, in the weight room and in the classroom for his teammates and classmates.”
Woodland plays at Seymour tonight at 6.
In good company: Pomperaug senior captain Cole McGrath has the distinction of scoring an offensive rushing touchdown and a defensive TD on a 45-yard interception return in the same game against Bethel earlier this year.
The Panthers won, 19-6.
“According to one of my coaches, Andrew Reel (a former Panthers’ standout), I am one of seven Pomperaug players to do that in the same game,” said McGrath, who has scored eight TDs this year. “The interception return was cool.”
Despite the Panthers’ disappointing 2-7 mark, McGrath believes they will finish strong on Thanksgiving at Notre Dame-Fairfield.
“Winning that last game is really important to all of us,” said McGrath. “That’s all we have talked about since our last game (a 20-7 loss at Stratford).”
Prelude to the playoffs: Watertown (7-2) has already qualified for the Class M playoffs and hosts Torrington on Thursday at 10 a.m.
The Indians lost to St. Paul (46-32) and to Naugatuck (27-13) this season.
When the preseason began back in August, Watertown senior captain Adam Alenckis had an inkling that the Indians would potentially have a season to remember, coming off a 4-6 mark in 2016.
“We practiced really hard and came in with so much energy and desire,” said Alenckis. “We knew that we had something special. Our success is not about one person. Everyone contributes to the cause.”
Brotherly love: Senior captain Christian Calle of Waterbury Career Academy was the babysitter for his three siblings recently when his parents were out of town on Oct. 27, when the Spartans played Derby at Shelton High.
The Raiders won, 30-22.
“Christian had to take his three little brothers to the game with us,” said WCA coach Peter Flammia. “He is a great role model for his brothers and for his teammates. He’s part of the National Honor Society, so his grades are amazing. Christian has done everything that we have asked of him for the last three years, playing so many different positions. He’s played hurt, sick or anything else, he’s always there. Christian is very even-keel. He represents himself and his family as well as WCA and the football program and his teammates with the utmost respect, passion, hard work and responsibility.”

When Torrington visits Watertown or their annual holiday clash, the Raiders have upset on their minds and the Indians are looking to gain some momentum ahead of the state playoffs next week.

In any event, here are the players the head coaches told us would be starting:

When Watertown has the ball

When Torrington has the ball

Ansonia (9-0) at Naugatuck (9-0)

When: Thursday, 10 a.m.

Where: Veterans Field

Radio: WATR-AM (1320), beginning at 9:50 a.m.

Recent games: Naugatuck 38, Waterbury Career Academy 0; Ansonia 50, Holy Cross 6

Last year’s meeting: Ansonia 44, Naugatuck 0

Key players

Naugatuck: Mike Plasky, QB-P, Sr.; Zack Koslosky, WR-S-PK, Jr.; Malachi Gatison, RB-LB, Jr.; Doreon Chapman, RB-DB, Jr.; Jiram Lopez, OL-DL, Sr.; Jayden Anderson, DE, Sr.; Michael Natkiel, LB, Sr.; Efena Onakpoma, FB-DE, Sr.

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Ansonia: Markell Dobbs, RB-DB, Sr.; Michael LaRovera, OL-DE, Sr.; Justin Lopez, QB, Sr.; Cody Teodosio, TE-OLB, Sr.; Taveius Winder, RB-LB, Sr.; Colby Ortiz, OL-DE, Sr.; Kevin Rascoe, OL-DL, Sr.

Mark Jaffee’s take: If the Greyhounds reduce the amount of penalties – a real Achilles heel in the first half of the season — and also grab some takeaways – they have several in every game this season – they have a real chance to be in this game at the end. The Greyhounds have a multitude of players who can score. Mike Plasky, with the exception of the recent WCA game, where he threw two interceptions, has managed and controlled the offense exceptionally well. Doreon Chapman, Nick Airall, and Efena Onakpoma, especially of late, have been effective in moving the ball on the ground, thanks to a strong offense line. Perhaps the most versatile player in the NVL, Zack Koslosky, is the player who could make an impact, not only on offense and defesme, but with his left foot, as a kickoff specialist field goal and PAT kicker.

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The Chargers’ QB, Justin Lopez, is probably the most underrated player, moving into the starting role this season, and effectively led the Chargers to the most potent offense in the league. Markell Dobbs is clearly among the best running backs that the Chargers has had in recent memory, and there have been many. The key will be whether others, like tight end Cody Teodosio and running back Taveius Winder, can help carry the load because you know that the Greyhounds will be keying on Dobbs. What makes Dobbs even more effective is his elusive style, and the fact that the offensive line, anchored by LaRovera, all rally around him.

Jaffman’s prediction: Naugatuck 27, Ansonia 24 (Special teams wins it for the Greyhounds).