Senior Matt Walsh scored on a 1-yard run with 5:54 remaining to break a tied game, and then sophomore Tyler Phan booted the successful point after kick, as No. 1 Hand prevailed with a 21-20 SCC Division I East victory over the No.8 Westies Saturday at the Surf Club in Madison.

On the ensuing West Haven possession, Ervin Philips scored on a 1-yard run, but the pass on the 2-point conversion fell short, and the Tigers (6-0) survived.

Walsh carried six times for 51 yards and two scores for Hand. Ian O'Toole had a four-yard touchdown run and Brendan Bilcheck completed 22-of-27 passes for 169 yards.

Philips finished with 86 yards on 17 carries and two scores. Eddy Williams rushed six times for 59 yards and a touchdown for West Haven (5-1).

Hand has won 19 straight games.

NOTES: Hand-Xavier lived up to big billing



On a weekend when several streaks were snapped, the most noteworthy was Hand’s 40-20 victory over Xavier on Friday that ended the Falcons’ 30-game winning streak.

The meeting between Xavier and the Tigers at Palmer Field in Middletown, then ranked No. 1 and No. 3, respectively in the Register Top 10 Poll, certainly lived up to the hype.

It’s not always the case. Sometimes a game billed as a future classic can fall short of expectations. Not this one.

From the crowd — estimated at 4,500 and featuring a raucous student section — two top-notch bands and, of course, the action on the field, the atmosphere was electric.



HAND takes over No. 1 spot in Register Top 10 Poll


CIAC Playoff RATINGS

Who will win Friday's HAND-WEST HAVEN game. VOTE!

WEEK 5 HIGHLIGHTS

OFFENSIVE PLAYERS OF THE WEEK

♦ Cromwell Sr. RB Derrick Villard: Ran for 215 yards and three touchdowns, had a touchdown reception and scored on a kickoff return in a 52-6 win over Nonnewaug on Saturday.

♦ Hamden Hall Jr. QB T.J. Linta: Completed 25 of 38 passes for 408 yards and four touchdowns in a 55-32 loss to Hackley on Saturday.

DEFENSIVE PLAYERS OF THE WEEK

♦ Branford Jr. DB Charlie Boyd: Returned an interception 60 yards for a touchdown in a 47-13 win over Sheehan on Friday.

♦ Hyde Sr. FS Ezekiel Nixon: Returned an interception 73 yards for a touchdown in a 28-13 win over Valley Regional/Old Lyme on Friday.

SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYERS OF THE WEEK

♦ Capital Prep/Classical Magnet/Achievement First Sr. Daquan Clarke: Returned a kickoff 65 yards for a score in a 42-0 win over Whitney Tech on Saturday. Clarke also caught a touchdown reception.

♦ Foran Jr. Zachary White: Scored on a punt return of 70 yards and a kickoff return of 81 yards in a 51-12 victory over Lyman Hall on Friday.

ON THE AIR

♦ West Haven at Hand, Friday, 7 p.m.: 960-WELI, 960WELI.com, iheart radio

GET OUT AND GO

♦ No. 8 West Haven (5-0) at No. 1 Hand (5-0), Friday, 7 p.m.: Westies will try to snap Hand’s 18-game winning streak.

♦ No. 5 Windsor (4-0) at Middletown (5-0), Friday, 7 p.m.: This is a much-anticipated Central Connecticut Conference Division II West showdown.

♦ No. 9 Glastonbury (5-0) at No. 10 Southington (5-0), Saturday, 7 p.m.: Southington has allowed just 28 points, while the Tomahawks have surrendered only 55. This should be a defensive struggle. 

MORE HIGHLIGHTS

MIDDLETOWN - Hand snapped the streak.

The Tigers, behind five touchdowns from UConn-bound senior Matt Walsh, knocked off top-ranked Xavier 40-20 in a Southern Connecticut Conference Division I contest before 4,500 fans Friday at Palmer Field.

The loss ended the Falcons' 30-game winning streak, which began in 2010. 

Xavier led (4-1) led 20-14 at halftime. Kris Luster caught a 32-yard touchdown pass from Tim Boyle, while Boyle and DeAngelo Berry had rushing touchdowns in the first half.

Berry was held to 40 yards on 15 carries. Boyle completed 9-of-22 passes for 137 yards and one interception. 

Walsh scored on touchdown runs of 11, 2, 3, 6 and 1 yards. Caleb Ewald caught a 31-yard touchdown pass from Brendan Bilcheck for Hand (5-0).

MADISON — Most eyes will be on Xavier’s Tim Boyle on Friday night.

The 6-foot-4, 210-pound Boston College-bound quarterback is hard to miss.

He’ll be calling the signals for the Falcons’ offense when top-ranked Xavier faces No. 3 Hand at 7 p.m. at Palmer Field in Middletown.

But on the other side of the field, the Tigers feel they have a pretty good QB of their own in senior Brendan Bilcheck.

 Read more here.

MORE ON THE BIG GAME BETWEEN HAND-XAVIER

CHIP MALAFRONTE: Hand has a puncher's chance against Xavier

Ticket, parking information for Friday's Xavier/Hand tilt

TALE OF THE TAPE: Hand at Xavier

Who will win the Hand-Xavier football game Friday? Cast your vote!

Ian O'Toole rushed 23 times for 102 yards and two touchdowns and Matt Sullivan added 139 yards on 10 carries and one touchdown to lead the visiting Tigers to this SCC interdivision win on Friday afternoon at Bowen Field.

Brendan Bilcheck threw a 63-yard touchdown pass to Kyle Anderson and Bilcheck also scored on a 3-yard run for Hand (2-0), which is ranked third in the Register Top 10 Poll.

Tyler Phan kicked a 24-yard field goal for the Tigers.

Andre Anderson (seven carries, 82 yards) scored twice, while Je'Vaughn Moore had a 66-yard touchdown run for the No. 7 Academics (1-1).