It’s on WATR.com.
Which gave me the idea to do a running commentary. I’ve got my friend “Beech Head,” photographer Rob Beecher with me. We’re making cookies and food. So, stay tuned if you’re at home. Or, if you’re seeing this now later in the week, it should still be interesting…
So, let’s get to it.
Holy Cross trying to do some crazy stuff… punts. And then Alex Thomas just… takes… over. Has me thinking I didn’t give the Chargers enough credit…. 8-0 Ansonia 7 min to go, Thomas on an 18-yard run.
Then again, here comes HC’s Dan Mulrooney.
TURF, TURF, TURF
WATR’s Bob Sagendorf on Wolcott’s Field Turf, the only one in the NVL.
“Man, the thing about this field is you can REALLY see the lines.”
Amazing. Just more proof that the NVL is, like, 30 years behind the rest of the state.
Field Turf gets novelty treatment, as if this was the late 70s and Turf is a VCR.
Welcome to the 21st Century, NVL.
Mulrooney with a big-time run, whistle gets blown so it’s not as big as it maybe should have been. HC does some things, but has to punt again.
And now, it’s the Alex Thomas show again. He gets dropped for an early loss, and then absolutely goes nuts a few plays later.
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ANSONIA 8, HOLY CROSS 0 (END 1st)
Ansonia leads the total yardage battle, 116-27, according to WATR sidekick and former Conn Post game reporter Steve Gesseck.
Ansonia 4 first downs, HC 3.
Holy Cross starting at the HC 21 after an Ansonia punt.
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5,000? TRY 2,500
Sagendorf reporting that the 5,000 people rumored to be going to the game is actually “50 percent of that,” and then suggests that it could be because of the expected bad weather.
That’s probably true. After all, that’s why I didn’t go. (We’ve got Emmett Spillane in attendance, which is the other reason).
Still, there was no way would they have received 5,000 for this one even on a good night. Heck, most state championship games don’t get 2,000. Attendance figures tend to be overblown a bit at these games, anyway.
But a good crowd nontheless, Sagendorf says.
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FIRST TURNOVER
Kyle Shortell of Ansonia muffs a punt, HC recovers and the WATR guys screaming about “new momentum” for the Crusaders.
Then again, here come Ansonia’s “unsung” defense according to coach Tom Brockett before the game. Mike Flynn, Erik Kuraczea and Co. forcing two third downs and harassing Mike Croce.
He just threw another incompletion (4-10 41 yards according to Gesseck). Fourth down in Ansonia Territory…
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FLYNN INT
…and Mike Flynn just picked Croce off on a screen pass and takes it to midfield. Sheesh. This kid is awesome.
Starting to think I let the incessant Holy Cross buzz get to me. Originally, I picked Ansonia to win in our paper, but changed it just before deadline.
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ANSONIA LINEMEN
…They’re big, they’re bad, they’re dominating up front. Looks like Thomas is going to have a field day. He gets down to the 15, but, I speak too soon. A holding call.
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TELLING COMMENT
Sagendorf: “8-0 Ansonia, but this game has mostly been played on Holy Cross’ side of the field. Holy Cross’ offense has been… well, nonexistent.”
Sagendorf’s fun to listen to. These WATR guys know what they’re doing.
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AWAAD INT
Ansonia just took, like 8 minutes off the clock, time winding down. They’re looking to go up two touchdowns, but Dan Awaad intercepts intended for Dan DeGennaro in the end zone. 1:19 to go in the half.
Croce’s got work to to, but he fires two incompletions and time is stopped. Can Ansonia get the ball back before the half?
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CROCE AWFUL, 8-0 ANSONIA AT HALFTIME
Sagendorf: “I don’t know if its the wind or the field conditions… but Mike Croce is just missing receivers out there.”
If Holy Cross loses, I’ll be sick if I hear that excuse.
Joe Montana won the Cotton Bowl with hypothermia. Now, I know this is a bad analogy, but my point is if Mike Croce is as good as everybody says he is (and he is very good), he should be able to fight through a few wind gusts. And it hasn’t even started raining up there yet, either.
Another astute comment by Sagendorf. The difference between Thomas and Holy Cross’ Dan Mulrooney, who is going to Boston College: “Thomas has the holes to run through, Mulrooney doesn’t.”
Ansonia’s offensive line, my friends. A big shout out to coach Butch Marazzi, who has those guys humming. And they play both ways, doing the job on defense.
Note to Ben Talbott of Birdseyesports.com: Beech Head is over here playing his house music-garbage and bugging me. So he’s kind of busy to bring cookies anywhere.
It feels like Ansonia is up 100-0, doesn’t it?
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HALFTIME SHOW
WATR has coach Rob Plasky of Naugatuck on, talking about how bad the NVL city schools are and that they want to reconfigure the NVL to get some more point-producing games for the league heavyweights by scheduling non-league.
I don’t see that happening, even though they’re now talking about Naugy into the SWC… or forming a league with Derby, Ansonia, Foran or something like that. Don’t see that either, and it doesn’t solve your point problem, does it?
You want tougher teams? Maybe Naugatuck should try going to the SCC, huh? That would be fun, especially seeing how Naugy got spanked by Holy Cross, a Class SS school. (By the way, anyone think Naugy has a chance against Ansonia now?)
The crew should also brush up on their playoff points. The winner goes to the playoffs, the loser watches from the stands. If Naugy loses to Ansonia, they’re out. If Naugy wins, they’re in the Class LL playoffs. If Ansonia wins, they’re in Class S. If they lose, yes they’re out.
Too bad, but that’s what you get in the NVL.
Glad to hear that Sagendorf agrees that the media poll is the industry standard, unlike the people at WFSB who go on and on about the coaches poll like its the AP.
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3RD QUARTER, QUICK THOUGHTS…
Sounds like an ugly game, BTW. How many penalties are these guys going to call? Every time I sit down to write I hear another flag being thrown.
Sagendorf, he’s a riot. When Thomas breaks (yet) another tackle, his voice goes gutteral and he sounds like the guy from those old “MicroMachines” commercials. (It’s an 80s thing).
Now Tristan Roberts and Lorenzo Pittman getting into the act. Just to prove how AWESOME Ansonia’s line is playing.
1st and 10 at the Holy Cross 25, Ansonia’s first drive…
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TOUCHDOWN ANSONIA, 14-0
Alex Thomas just scored his 26th touchdown of the season (Sagendorf says 23, but they don’t have the three he scored last week.
Kick failed. Ansonia 14-0.
Roberts, Pittman with nice runs and then Thomas just dragging Holy Cross players 10 yards down to the HC 1 to set this one up.
Roberts, by the way, is the younger brother of former Bridgeport Central all-state receiver Jermaine Roberts, now at CCSU.
And here comes the rain…and Ansonia linebacker Mike Flynn. HC is in trouble, more incompletions by Croce. Although the elements are having an effect, somewhat (No excuses, though. They DO have Mulrooney.)
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HC ON THE MOVE…
Mulrooney and fullback Adam Zezima getting going, Holy Cross into Ansonia territory for the second time. Though Sagendorf says he couldn’t get past a defender like Thomas does. Ansonia jumps offsides, so Holy Cross is in good shape. 1st and 10 at Ansonia 36.
Now a great run by Mulrooney down to the Ansonia 10. First and Goal at the A10.
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TOUCHDOWN, HOLY CROSS 14-7
Mulrooney bulls in from the 5 with 3:34 remaining in the third quarter. PAT good. Ansonia 14, Holy Cross 7.
This is the turning point. If Holy Cross doesn’t stop Thomas and Co. now, they’re paper tigers in my book.
Here’s hoping Torrey Mack, Octavious McKoy and Stratford gets into the state playoffs to give the Crusaders at least some competition. Otherwise, HC will run, unchallenged in what’s shaping up to be a horrible Class SS field.
Thomas, by the way 21 carries, 150 yards. Yikes.
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HC DEFENSE SHOWS UP
Mulrooney bulls in from the 5 with 3:34 remaining in the third quarter. PAT good. Ansonia 14, Holy Cross 7.
This is the turning point. If Holy Cross doesn’t stop Thomas and Co. now, they’re paper tigers in my book.
Here’s hoping Torrey Mack, Octavious McKoy and Stratford gets into the state playoffs to give the Crusaders at least some competition. Otherwise, HC will run, unchallenged in what’s shaping up to be a horrible Class SS field.
Thomas, by the way 21 carries, 150 yards. Yikes.
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HC IN TROUBLE AGAIN (14-7, END 3)
Mulrooney gets nailed for a loss as the third quarter ends and… well, now they turn around and are forced to go into the wind for the fourth. Maybe that last play would have been good for a pass? Don’t know. Just wondering.
And, as Sagendorf talks about how much the rain and wind are blowing right in Croce’s face…
…his pass into the rain and wind intercepted by Terri Goldson at Ansonia 46, and then Thomas rips off a 20-yard run. 167 yards.
This game, folks, is over. O.V.A, Ova. There are 10 minutes remaining.
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HC STOPPED AGAIN
Sagendorf killing people like me: “A lot of people thought this would be a high-scoring affair.”
8:25 left… Mulrooney being taken off the field… shaken up Sagendorf says. “Holding his left forarm.” But he’s ok, comes back in.
Third and 5 for the Crusaders, make that 4th down, Taylor Jones comes and drops him.
And Here comes Holy Cross, on 4th and three trying to draw Ansonia offsides. They need a break, a big break.. and they don’t get it. That’s trouble, folks. Big trouble.
6:27 left, Ansonia has the ball. HC might have one crack left.
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“NAIL IN THE COFFIN” ANSONIA 21, HC 7
Thomas just capped off a 4-play, 44-yard, 2-minute drive with a 13-yard run and Sagendorf speaks the above words, “barring a miracle comeback.”
With Croce completely taken out of the game, I’d say so. He’s going to have to work some magic.
Ansonia’s Taylor Jones drops Tim Brady on the ensuing kickoff, so it’s pretty much a done deal.
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“AND THE CROWD EMPTYING…”
…and Sagendorf starts talking about the polls, says “Ansonia will probably move to No. 1.”
Gesseck: Greenwich will have something to say about that.
Unfortunately, they really won’t because the two teams don’t play. However, seeing how bad the NVL really is with this game (not that the FCIAC is tremendous, either), but Greenwich, if it runs the table, would be crowned No. 1. That’s just the way it is. Class LL and L will always trump the smaller schools, unless they all lose before the end of the year.
Mulrooney (82 yards) trying to keep HC in it with a few nice runs. But just too much time is ticking away (3 minutes left). And here comes a Holy Cross penalty.
Croce 5-18 passing 53 yards. Yikes, and double Yikes.
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TOUCHDOWN ANSONIA, 27-13
Mulrooney just scored on a 10-yard run with a minute left and the kick is blocked, 21-13. Here comes the onside kick.
…and Ansonia’s Lorenzo Pittman recovers. Peace out Holy Cross. Sagendorf, however, reminiscing about last year’s miracle fin….
Whoops, spoke too soon. Thomas just scored on a 63-yard run. He’s got 280 yards rushing.
What was I talking about? Oh, last year’s NVL miracle finish by Woodland (where Mulrooney fumbled with a minute left, leading to a Woodland TD, and then a win in overtime).
Not gonna happen here.
27-13 Ansonia.
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ANSONIA, NVL CHAMPIONS, 27-13
It’s all over.
And there’s no doubt about it. Ansonia is the best team in the NVL.
There’s no doubt about that offensive line for Ansonia, either. As Sagendorf says, dominating. “Ansonia, all they had to do is run. Over 300 yard total.”
HC defense barely could get a hand on Alex Thomas. He’s just incredible. 280 yards, three touchdowns. “Lightning in a bottle,” Sagendorf says.
And another heartbreaking loss for Holy Cross and its senior class. This group just can’t win a big title. Croce just threw two passes in the second half, both incomplete. Mulrooney might have had 100 yards. But barely. And Ansonia’s defense did enough of a job containing him. And I didn’t hear much about T.J. Campion or the HC defense.
So, there you go. Ansonia NVL champs.
Yeay.
Unfortunately for Ansonia, the real season resumes next week. And if the Chargers don’t beat Naugatuck, they’ll be sitting at home in December polishing that NVL trophy.
What kind of cookies???
Chocolate Chip!!!!