I have to admit, I was a little off my game Thursday night. First, a funeral for a friend. Then about a half-dozen little things to write for Friday’s paper, which I didn’t finish until 5:20.
Oh, and the Ansonia vs. Woodland game was at 6. Though I lived a mere 20 minutes away, rush hour and game traffic made it 40 minutes.
So I got there late and missed just a few plays from scrimmage, which screwed my stats up. Plus, the Ansonia clock operators refused to post the correct down and distance on the scoreboard, further screwing me up as I tried to catch up.
(Figures. I mean this is a town whose new Superintendent directs all inquiries on a relatively simple suspension matter to her office, and then fails to return two simple phone calls seeking facts and comment. But I digress).
Luckily for me, my colleagues from all of the other players were there to help me out.
On this night, it turns out we needed to gather together a consensus because, well, Alex Thomas was on his game.
He just had the greatest night a Connecticut running back has ever had.
518 yards. Seven Touchdowns.
Let that sink in for a second.
518 yards on 44 carries.
Seven touchdowns.
In one game.
It broke school, league and state record for most yards in a game. More important for Alex, he broke his brother Ryan’s school record for career touchdowns. Ryan finished his great career with 78. Alex has 80.
Every time this kid touched the ball, you felt like he was going to score. It was that kind of night. One nobody will forget.
I mean, the two long touchdown runs Thomas scored to start the second half were two of the best touchdown runs you’ll ever see in a football game. And they came on his first two carries of the second half, after Woodland had closed the gap to within 34-21 at halftime.
He was simply amazing. He followed his great blockers, he sidestepped tacklers, he danced in and out of trouble, he found his hole and he was gone. Every time.
I mean, 518 yards?
518.
That’s more than half a season for most kids.
And, trust me, this was legit.
Thomas did all of it in prime time, not garbage time, against one of the best teams in the league and a state playoff contender in Class SS.
Woodland was great, led awesome receiver in Will Volage who returned two kickoffs for touchdowns. And they were a threat to get back in the game every time he touched the ball.
Thomas, though, just wouldn’t let them. Even while trying to run out the clock, Thomas would bust loose for another touchdown. It was simply incredible.
The worst part is, I was so off my game I got absolutely no good video. Which really upsets me since Alex ran right by me on both of those backbreaking touchdown runs.
No matter, if you want to see what Thomas did, there were about 100 cameras there since this was the only game on Thursday night. I’m sure Birdseyesports will have some great ones later.
EDIT: Birdseye Sports‘ Ben Talbott was also on his game this morning because here are the highlights:
Here’s my story and then the Birdseye Sports video of the Thomas interview after the game.
After Mark Jaffe from the Republican American gets a couple of questions in, that goofy voice with the flabbergasted and rambling questions is me. Finally, Mike Pucci from the New Haven Register gets in a better one at the end.
Yes, Thomas’ answers can be boring. But he is what he is. A humble, softspoken boy who just happens to be one of the greatest backs in Connecticut history.
And Ansonia is the best team.
Fortunately, I was able to be at this game. Some points and observations – Woodland is a legitimate team and will make noise in the “SS” – big, strong, fast and disciplined. Second, believe it or not, Alex Thomas has improved from last year. Not only is he the most patient running back on the field (with plenty of speed), but now – once he’s in stride, there is no taking him down. He broke “would be” ankle and leg tackles like they were non-existent. Third – Ansonia’s line is spectacular from tackle to tackle. These kids are all 250 to 300 lbs., well conditioned and relentless. They just drive block you to death. Fourth – the Ansonia linebackers are fast, strong and nasty. Flynn is deserving of all state and he’s one of the best middle linebackers I’ve seen. Lastly -for all those doubters out there – Ansonia did play a very good team last evening and passed the test. For anyone to say that this team is undeserving of its #1 ranking or that some other team should be rated higher – they are dead wrong.
I am a third generation Ansonia native and have watched AHS football games for 45 years. I love “valley” football and have mixed feelings many nights as I have ties to many communities.
I could proudly say I was there to see what Alex and his team accomplished against a very good well coached Woodland team. The Woodland players left it on the field and fought to the last second.I am a Woodland fan as well and proudly support their team.
However……I am embarassed to watch the Ansonia coaches NOT shake one hand of the players from Woodland last night.These are young teens and need to be supported win or lose. These coaches are outstanding at what they do but c’mon guys
you need to get the entire program in line. To not acknowledge any player win or lose is dead wrong and you guys need to set the right examples to all of these kids despite the rivalry. It is simply common sense and the right thing to do.
I WITNESSED A PERFORMANCE FOR HIGH SCHOOL HISTORY THURSDAY NITE.IT WAS INCREDIBLE.EVEN AFTER FIGHTING THRU BIG ADVERSITY WITH THE DISMISSAL OF ONE OF ITS BETTER PLAYERS-ANSONIA WAS POWERFUL-I DONT WANNA TAKE NOTHING AWAY FROM WOODLANDS WILL VOLAGE HES A GOOD ONE-BUT TAKE AWAY THE RETURNS AND THIS WAS A BLOWOUT-ANSONIA COULD HAVE SCORED A 100.
i went to the game last night and was NOT impressed. Woodland was horrible!!!!!!!!! I thought i was going to see two good teams and came away disappointed.ansonia was ok but woodland couldnt beat a pop warner team.
Coaches are supposed to shake the hands of all opposing players after the game? Since when? And more importantly, why?
If a coach feels the need to recognize an outstanding effort, he should do so. But players do not need and should not expect “ackowledgement” from opposing coaches after every game.
Players line up and shake hands, and that is plenty.
Alex Thomas: obviously great.
Ansonia in 2007: obviously VERY GOOD, but sorry, not certifiably “great” due to justifiable doubts about its level of week-to-week competition.
And as matter of personal preference, give me a 21-14 FCIAC slugfest versus a no-defense track meet anytime.
Well what can you say about Alex Thomas. What a great kid that runs the ball harder than any back i have ever seen in the state. It must be so frustrating knowing what ansonia is going to do and you just can’t stop it. That fact alone i feel makes them the elite team in the state. Now i have to be the bad cop for a few things. Special teams plays by the chagers did not look up to par. Kickoff coverage was very mediocre and the loss of tristan roberts obviously shows on punt return because after the frst punt no one was there to return i assume in fear of a possible muff. Tonight is an interesting night around the state but league wise seymour vs naugatuck will show ansonia’s last possible test in league. I am guessing seymour after they fell apart last year against the greyhounds a little revenge will be in the air. Also spb do you have an attendance for last nights game i won the 50/50 only 200 bucks i thought the crowd was decent i guess the media doesn’t buy raffle tickets.
Yeah, I guess I could win a few 50/50s since I go to games for a living. But, and I’m no genius at math, I think my overall returns wouldn’t match the money I save by staying away.
Now, give me a good concession stand and I’ll more than make up for my free price of admission.
I’m a sucker for good concessions.
SPB
WOODLAND WAS HORRIBLE? I HOPE THIS COMMENTOR WASN’T FROM WILTON OR BRIDGEPORT OR STAMFORD OR FAIRFIELD OR TRUMBULL OR NORWALK——GET THE MESSAGE?
Someone uses a big Ansonia win as a reason to take shots at the NVL – what a shock.
Does this ever get old?
And in a game where AT breaks the state record for yards no less (sidenote – if Yale doesn’t sign him, shame on them, smaller backs than he have gone on to D1 schools and they should be grateful to take him)
Do all the Waterbury teams stink besides Holy Cross?
Yes
Are Watertown, Wolcott, and Torrington consistently under-achievers?
Yes
But we all need to stop pretending that other leagues are loaded top to bottom because they simply are not. Each league in the state has 1 or 2 quality teams and the rest range from mediocre to poor.
And really, what is the difference if a good team plays a mediocre team or plays a flat out bad team? Either way, squads like Ansonia and Greenwich will dominate them equally. And because of the 50 point rule, the final scores all look almost identical.
My point is this – arguing that the weakest FCIAC teams are better than the weakest NVL teams is a waste of time. Who cares who is better? They are all bad compared to the truly good teams who they have zero chance of beating.
If anyone thinks that Ansonia would be tested by anyone in the FCIAC besides Greenwich and Staples, they are not paying attention.
iam from trumbull. at least they dont play patty cake in the fciac and try to tackle someone. how many teams in the top 10 do we have every year. have fun beatin up on chumps!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
woodlands who r they? never heard of them. i’ve left 10 years ago but never heard of the school especially in football. ansonia has a good program but how bout playing shelton, cheshire, amity, or some fciac teams bfore saying their great. 500 yards my 4-year old cousin can do that against kids from the woods
If you don’t know who they are, research it before you comment. For the record, Ansonia plays Amity and Shelton in the preseason and handled them both. Also, these teams play in leagues, you can’t just schedule whoever you feel like. Some leagues, like the NVL (Ansonia), prohibit them from scheduling out of conference games. Do your homework, then post.
i dont know about ur 4 year dog ….doing 500 yards….i seen AT ball and watched ansonia i still cant beleive it…its like he ran up in down the field and 44 carries is unheard of….AT is a well condition athlete to be able to carry the ball 44 times its like WOW…. im more impressed with the conditon of AT than anything if i were to ever to get the ball 44 times i would be crying not to get the ball because i’ll be so winded