Junior Arkeel Newsome rushed 23 times for 222 yards and three touchdowns and he added a 25-yard touchdown reception to lead Ansonia, ranked third in the Register Top 10 Poll, to a 56-26 victory over Woodland in the Naugatuck Valley League championship game Thursday at Municipal Stadium in Waterbury.

Newsome, who scored on touchdown runs of 47, 53 and 15 yards, was named the game's MVP.

Sophomore quarterback Jai'Quan McKnight completed 6 of 7 passes for 144 yards and three touchdowns for the Chargers (10-0), who have won 24 straight games.

Senior Andrew Matos caught a touchdown and ran for one, while senior Raeshaun Finney also had a touchdown reception for Ansonia. Hezekiah Duncan returned an interception 35 yards for the Chargers.

Tanner Kingsley completed 14 of 25 passes for 206 yards and two touchdowns for the Hawks (6-3).

Senior Andrew Matos caught two touchdown passes, scored on a 10-yard run and made an interception for the unbeaten Chargers in this NVL Brass Division win Friday over the previously unbeaten Eagles.

Matos caught touchdown passes of 31 and 25 yards from sophomore Jai'Quan McKnight. 

Junior Arkeel Newsome rushed 33 times for 250 yards and three touchdowns for No. 3 Ansonia (8-0).

Saiheed Sanders rushed nine times for 106 yards and three touchdowns for the host Chargers in this NVL Brass Division win Thursday.

Sanders scored on touchdown runs of 6, 31 and 9 yards for Ansonia (5-0), which is ranked No. 4 in the Register Top 10 Poll.

Andrew Matos returned a punt 85 yards for a touchdown for the Chargers after Seymour was forced to punt  on the game's opening drive that lasted nearly six minutes.

Jai'Quan McKnight tossed touchdown passes to Raeshaun Finney and Ryan O'Connor for Ansonia. 

Senior Andrew Matos rushed seven times for 102 yards and two scores and added a 42-yard touchdown reception from Jai'Quan McKnight in this NVL Brass Division contest, the 90th meeting between these rivals.

No. 4 Ansonia (3-0) leads the series 54-28-8.

McKnight (4-of-6 passing for 116 yards) also threw a 14-yard touchdown to Raeshaun Finney for the Chargers, who led 41-0 at halftime. McKnight also rushed for a 8-yard touchdown run, while Arkeel Newsome scored on a 2-yard run.

Newsome, though, missed much of the game aside from the first quarter due to an ankle injury. He carried six times for 34 yards.

Tyrae Small scored on a 77-yard run for the Red Raiders (2-1).

Ansonia sophomore Jai'Quan McKnight was expected to be the second option in the backfield behind Arkeel Newsome this season.

But when Tyler Lester broke his leg over the summer,  McKnight was thrust into the starting quarterback position. Through two games,  McKnight has responded. McKnight has completed 12-of-17 passes for 356 yards and five touchdowns. He's also rushed for two more scores.

"He's been great," Ansonia coach Tom Brockett said. "He's so coachable, which makes a big difference. He's night and day from where he was from even when we came out here the first day in the fall. We didn't lose Tyler until the summer, so right through the spring Tyler was getting the majority of the reps as the quarterback. He (McKnight) is a lot further ahead from what we thought he would be."

McKnight says there was an adjustment period, but it didn't take very long for him to adapt to his new role.

"It was kind of hard in the beginning just getting to know my receivers and how they run their routes," McKnight said. "But everything is about timing. We go out here before practice and get our timing together. I know my receivers, and they know me, like the back of my hand."

McKnight's top target is senior Andrew Matos, who has caught nine passes, including three touchdowns.

"Jai'Quan, he's doing well," Matos said. "He makes the right reads. I can't ask for a better quarterback right now. He's doing great."

Tight end Raeshaun Finney has also contributed.

"Andrew has speed and Finney has the height," McKnight said. "Both are big men; both are physical. If I put the ball anywhere close to them, I know they're going to go up and get it."

I went down to Ken Strong Stadium Friday and checked out the scrimmage between Ansonia and West Haven.

When I left, Ansonia held a 21-0 lead after three quarters. Looked like each teams' B-Unit was about to enter the game.

Final ended up being 28-7.

Some thoughts: 

• Ansonia junior running back Arkeel Newsome, the reigning Register player of the year, scored three times, including one on a long gain. The two other scores came near the goal line, although he did break off another long run to set up the Chargers' first score.

• Senior Andrew Matos caught a few passes from sophomore quarterback Jai'Quan McKnight. McKnight took over the QB duties from expected starter Tyler Lester, who broke his leg in a preseason camp. Lester may return late in the year. McKnight did a decent job directing the offense. McKnight was expected to be the second option after Newsome in the backfield before Lester's injury. McKnight also had an interception on West Haven's first offensive series.

• Ansonia's young and inexperienced offense line is coming along. The Chargers' defense was impressive.

• West Haven's defense was also solid despite surrendering those three scores. The Westies have some big and athletic kids. Senior Bobby Sampson had a solid game at defensive back, making several tackles and swatting away a few pass attempts.

• Offensively, West Haven struggled to get a rhythm. Junior Ervin Philips and senior Eddy Williams had some nice runs, though. Philips was open several times in the flat but quarterback Javon Taylor, a transfer from Wilbur Cross, was unable to make the completion. Taylor, standing around 6-feet-3, has a good arm and should be quite a weapon this season.

Overall, both Ansonia and West Haven looked good, and both should make runs at qualifying for the postseason. Ansonia, the defending Class M champions, move down to Class S. West Haven has a strong shot to qualify in Class LL, although its regular season schedule is again brutal.