NO. 1 HAND SURVIVES AGAINST NO. 8 WEST HAVEN

MADISON — Down by one following an Ervin Philips touchdown run, eighth-ranked West Haven decided to attempt a two-point conversion in the closing minutes of its contest with No. 1 Hand.

The call was gutsy, but fitting for the type of performance the Westies delivered on the road Saturday at the Surf Club.

West Haven executed the play exactly as it was drawn up, with senior quarterback Javon Taylor rolling right and two receivers emerging from the backfield and getting open in the flat.

The ball was thrown, hit Philips’ fingertips and fell incomplete.

Hand took over, proceeded to run out the clock and escaped with a thrilling 21-20 Southern Connecticut Conference Division I East victory.

PHOTOS: Check out the action from Hand's one-point win over West Haven.


READ MORE


 BRANFORD has been nominated for the TEAM OF THE WEEK! VOTE!

SATURDAY'S FOOTBALL ROUNDUP: Foran tops ND-West Haven

Quarterback Jake Kasuba completed 20 of 28 passes for 298 yards including two touchdown passes to lead the Foran football team to a 50-35 victory over Notre Dame-West Haven Saturday in a Southern Connecticut Conference interdivision game at Milford.

Nick Weissauer had nine catches for 101 yards and a touchdown and added two touchdown runs for the Lions (4-2). Sean Deegan added four catches for 146 yards and two touchdown receptions and Niko DeRosa had 132 yards on 18 carries, including a 1-yard touchdown run for Foran.

Cameran Tucker led the Green Knights (1-5) with two touchdown runs.

 READ MORE 

 CHESHIRE edges WILBUR CROSS

 FRIDAY'S ROUNDUP 

THURSDAY'S ROUNDUP 

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.