Darryn Horner made two interceptions, including one he returned 97 yards for a touchdown, to lead fourth-seeded Hillhouse to a 34-14 victory over No. 5 St. Joseph in a Class M quarterfinal contest held Tuesday at East Haven High.

Horner's interception return gave the Academics (9-2) a 28-6 lead just before halftime. Horner also intercepted a pass in the fourth quarter that sealed the victory.

Hillhouse will face either No. 1 Wolcott or No. 8 Montville in Sunday's semifinals. That game was postponed and will be held on Wednesday.

Andre Anderson rushed 15 times for 141 yards and two touchdowns for the Academics. Facinete Haderia and Je'Vaughn Moore also had rushing touchdowns in the win. Moore also picked off a pass.

Jason Pelletier scored on a 92-yard kickoff return, and Jordan Vazzano rushed for a 13-yard touchdown for the Cadets (8-3).

Hillhouse hoping to duplicate 2010 run to Class M title

NEW HAVEN — Je’Vaughn Moore hasn’t forgotten how last season ended.

Despite a solid 7-3 season, the Hillhouse football team failed to qualify for the Class M playoffs.

As a result, the Academics were not be able to defend the championship they won in 2010.

In recent years, anything short of a state playoff berth is considered a disappointment at Hillhouse.

“Most of us know that feeling of how it felt when we found out that we missed the playoffs last year,” Moore said. “We just hate that feeling. That feeling, that motivation, just made us want to come out and get back to the playoffs.”

Part one of that mission is complete.

The road to part two — a state championship — begins tonight when the fourth-seeded Academics face No. 5 St. Joseph in the Class M quarterfinals at 6:30 at East Haven High. Both teams are 8-2.

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 PREVIEW CAPSULES

CAPSULES: Class LL 

CAPSULES: Class L

CAPSULES: Class M 

CAPSULES: Class S   

FOOTBALL: Middletown opens playoff campaign tomorrow with Masuk
FOOTBALL: Xavier's road to 3-peat starts with Greenwich

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FRIDAY'S ROUNDUP

 Je'Vaughn Moore had a 99-yard touchdown run, recovered a fumble 36 yards for a touchdown amd Harold Cooper had three touchdowns as Hillhouse routed Lyman Hall 46-0 in a Southern Connecticut Conference Division II game in Wallingford.

Andre Anderson added a 30-yard touchdown of his own for Hillhouse (6-2) in the win over Lyman Hall (0-8).

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SATURDAY'S ROUNDUP

No. 9 West Haven 47, Wilbur Cross 12: Eddy Williams carried 14 times for 177 yards and two touchdowns to lead the host Westies to this SCC Division I East victory.

Ervin Philips scored on an 11-yard run, on a 3-yard run and on a 57-yard pass from Javon Taylor for West Haven (7-1).

Kadialy Toure returned a fumble 34 yards for a touchdown for the Westies.

Marshont Little and Stevie Swinson each had rushing touchdowns for the Governors (1-6).

Valley Regional/Old Lyme 41, Lewis Mills 7: Phil Cohen completed 12-of-14 passes for 148 yards and three touchdowns for the visiting Warriors in this Pequot Conference Sassacus Division win at Muzzy Field in Bristol.

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HOW THE TOP 10 FARED


No. 3 Ansonia wallops Wolcott to win NVL Brass Division

ANSONIA — For a few fleeing moments, the Wolcott football team seemed on the verge of making a contest out of its meeting with fellow unbeaten Ansonia despite being down by two touchdowns.

But the Chargers responded to every rally attempt, led mainly by senior Andrew Matos and junior Arkeel Newsome.

Matos and Newsome each scored three times as Ansonia, ranked third in the Register Top 10 Poll, earned a 41-12 Naugatuck Valley League Brass Division victory Friday at Jarvis Stadium.

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NEW HAVEN — DeAngelo Berry scored on a 1-yard run, and then ran in the successful two-point conversion with 51 seconds remaining, as visiting Xavier, ranked fourth in the Register Poll, rallied for a 50-49 Southern Connecticut Conference interdivision victory Friday afternoon at Bowen Field.

The Falcons (6-1) scored 29 unanswered points in fourth quarter to erase a 28-point deficit. Xavier also trailed by 21 points on three separate occasions in the contest.

Senior quarterback Tim Boyle connected with junior Joe Carbone on a 41-yard touchdown pass with 6:12 left to cut the Hillhouse (5-2) lead to 49-42.

On the ensuing drive, Chidi Broderick recovered a fumble to give the Falcons the ball at the Academics' 27-yard line which set up the winning score.

Berry rushed 17 times for 90 yards and scored three times. Boyle gained 39 yards on six carries and scored twice. Junior Andrew Meoli carried nine times for 106 yards and one score for Xavier.

Junior Harold Cooper rushed 20 times for 198 yards and two touchdowns. Je'Vaughn Moore, James Moore and Andre Anderson also had rushing touchdowns. Je'Vaughn Moore threw a 34-yard touchdown pass to Darryn Horner.

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).

When No. 7 Hillhouse hosts No. 3 Hand Friday in an SCC showdown at Bowen Field (4 p.m.), Hillhouse senior Je'Vaughn Moore will likely play a key role in the action.

Moore's been doing just that in every game since his sophomore year, when he took over under center in the third quarter against Cheshire in Week 2 in 2010. The Academics lost that game, but Hillhouse gained so much more: a steady, consistent and intelligent leader at quarterback.

"He's calm, cool and collected," Hillhouse coach Tom Dyer said. "In the offense we run, we put a lot of pressure on our quarterback to be a good decision maker. We're fortunate to have somebody, not only with Je'Vaughn's athletic ability, but with his mental capabilities, too."

Moore has started every game since taking over against Cheshire. Hillhouse finished the season at 10-3 and won the Class M state championship. The Academics went 7-3 last season but did not qualify for the postseason. With the amount of talent on the Hillhouse roster, another championship is certainly a possibility.

"The only quarterback stat that matters in our program is wins," Dyer said. "You're measured by wins. Je'Vaughn's bought into that the last few years. He's done a great job for us. He's been a great team player over the years."

Moore expects big things from his squad this season, but is fully aware of the type of challenge Hand, the defending Class L champion, presents.

"We just pretty much want to prove to the state that we can win this game, that we're able to win the state championship, God willing, and that we can pretty much compete with anyone," Moore said. "We have to take it one step at a time, of course."