By Ron P. Coderre

When the high school football season started, predictions for the Killingly High School Redmen had coach Chad Neal’s team poised for a good season.  After losing its first game of the season to underdog Griswold, Redmen fans were left scratching their collective heads.

On Oct. 10 Killingly dispelled all the negative feelings when they dominated previously undefeated Bacon Academy 40-7 in a game played in Colchester.  The win stretched the Redmen’s winning streak to three games.

In other action, the Quinebaug Valley Pride, Woodstock Academy and Pomfret School all fell into the loss column.  The Pride let opportunity slip through their fingers as it lost to Prince Tech at home.  Woodstock Academy and Pomfret School, both winless, were dropped.  The Acads lost to a very good Windham team and Pomfret lost to Berkshire Academy in Massachusetts.

Plainfield and Hyde-Woodstock were both idle last weekend.

Caffrey Cooks Up Bacon at High Noon

Killingly fell behind 7-0 to Bacon early in its unusual noon time start against the undefeated Bobcats but responded with a vengeance.  The Redmen, led byAustin Caffrey, dominated the remainder of the contest, scoring 40 unanswered points on their way to a convincing 40-7 victory.  Caffrey was as blazing as the noon sun on this glorious day for Killingly.

Caffrey, who carried the pigskin 29 times, ran wild for a career high 359 yards and five touchdowns.  In four games he now has 873 yards and 13 touchdowns.  Caffrey had touchdown runs of 65, 29, 23, 47 and 20 yards.  His running mate, Spencer Lockwood had a day that most runners dream of, scoring a touchdown on a 15-yard run and amassing 120 yards on 23 carries.  With Lockwood and Caffrey dominating the offense Killingly had little reason to go to the air on this day of days for the Redmen.

The one-two punch of Caffrey and Lockwood were thankful for the men up front in the trenches – Collin Byrnes, Justin Lasher, Alex Fontaine and Josh Angel – who receive very little recognition  but open the holes that allow Caffrey and Lockwood to run free.

The Killingly defense was stalwart, holding the previously explosive Bacon offense in check.  Chace Wood and Vasileios Politis spearheadded the Killingly D, coming up with key interceptions. 

Killingly raises its record to 3-1 and 3-1 in the Eastern Connecticut Conference Small Division.  The Redmen now prepare for a key encounter as they travel to another undefeated team, the Windham Whippets.  They face off against 4-0 Windham on Friday in a 6:30 p.m. contest under the arcs in the Thread City. 

Pride Loses - Squanders Lead

Leading 19-7 early in the game against visiting Prince Tech, the Quinebaug Valley Pride appeared helpless as they watched the Falcons run off 42 straight points on their way to a 49-19 victory.

Playing in front of an enthusiastic crowd at a wet St. Marier-Greenhalgh Sports Complex, the Pride capitalized on early Prince Tech fumbles, scoring 19 first quarter points to take a19-13 lead at the end of one period.  The remaining three quarters posed nothing but frustration for coach Joe Asermelly’s troops as they were shutout by the visitors.

The first two fumbles resulted in the Pride’s hard charging running back Jeremee Perez touchdowns.  The initial score came on a three-yard plunge and the second was a 10-yard run. Perez was successful with point-after kicks following each score.

Following a Prince Tech touchdown, QVP responded when quarterback Chuckin’ Charlie Innes completed a 33-yard pass to Kyle Loomis.  After that touchdown the lights went out on the Pride offense.  The fact that workhorse Perez aggravated a bruise on his hamstring didn’t help matters for the home team.  Following the injury Perez only saw limited action on defense and as a punter.

The loss drops the Pride to 3-2 on the season and in the Constitution State Conference.  This week the team gets a chance to heal its wounds as they enjoy a bye prior to returning to action on Saturday, October 24 against Three Rivers in a game scheduled at East Lyme High School at 1 p.m.

Woodstock Still 

in Search of First Win

Woodstock Academy entertained the undefeated Windham Whippets in a late start – 3:30 p.m. – contest on Saturday, October 10.  Looking for its first victory of the season, Woodstock faced an opponent that was too much for them as it lost for the fourth consecutive time.  Windham walked away with a 47-13 victory.

The Centaurs are on the road to Constitution State Conference foe Vinal Tech/East Hampton/Goodwin Tech in a 6 p.m. contest on Friday.

Pomfret Falls in 

Western Mass. Contest

Despite a Herculean effort by running back Papa Sekeyre Pomfret School fell to its third straight loss on the young season.  The Golden Griffins traveled to Sheffield, Mass., where they were beaten 41-14 by the Berkshire School.

Sekeyre was a workhorswe for Pomfret carrying the football 25 times and totaling 249 yards.  He was responsible for both Pomfret scores as he tallied on runs of 60 and 94 yards.  In falling to 0-3 the Griffs put up 328 yards of offense on the ground.

 

..