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By Ron P. Coderre
The days of the 2013 football season are dwindling down quickly. High school teams are preparing for Thanksgiving Day but in the meantime two games were played last week with disappointing results for the two local entries.
Killingly traveled to Stonington and were mauled by the Bears 41-18. Closer to home, Plainfield entertained Jonathan Law from the Southern Connecticut Conference Division II West and suffered a disappointing 36-20 setback.
In years past Killingly had some pretty good football players whose last names were Poirier. Unfortunately for the Redmen this year’s edition of the Stonington Bears has a running back by the name of Zach Poirier. Following Thursday evening’s game, Killingly probably doesn’t want to hear that name ever again.
Poirier ran for four touchdowns on scampers of 5, 61, 72 and 67 yards, while amassing 158 yards on 13 carries. He was the major difference in the outcome. Within the space of approximately four minutes Poirier scored his 61 and 72-yard touchdowns. The second one was the clincher.
Trailing 21-12, the Redmen attempted a squib kick as a way of keeping the ball for Poirier. The kick was so good that it bounced over the first two receiving lines and into the hands of, you guessed it, Poirier who went 72 yards to paydirt. From that point on it was Katie bar the door.
Killingly had some bright spots as Tyler Stucke showed some of his early season form, running for 149 yards on 16 carries, with one of his runs a 58-yard TD tally. Michael Elsey continued to shine, catching a Nick Hewitt 34-yard pass for a score. And the Redmen witnessed the return of freshman quarterback Kyle Derosier, who was 5-10 for 64 6ards and a touchdown toss.
The loss prevents the Redmen from posting a winning record as they stand at 4-6 overall and 2-3 in the ECC Medium Division entering the season finale on Thanksgiving Day.
Plainfield fell behind Jonathan Law 16-6 at halftime because when they had the opportunities in the red-zone they were unable to capitalize. Meanwhile the Lawmen with their Navy-style offense befuddled the Panther defense. The combination of squandered chances and porous defense was Plainfield’s downfall.
Plainfield got touchdowns from Cody Alday (27-yard run), Kade Amster (1-yard run) and Tyler Ballard (39-yard pass from quarterback Steve Jankowski) but it wasn’t enough to put them over the top.
The loss snapped Plainfield’s three-game winning streak and put them at 5-5 entering its Turkey Day contest against archrival Griswold.
Extra Points
Plainfield’s loss to Jonathan Law hurt in more ways than one. The Panthers two premier running backs, Jordan Federer and Cody Alday both left the game with ankle injuries…Panthers quarterback Steve Jankowski had a good night despite the final outcome. He carried the ball 16 times for 84 yards and was 5-14-88 in the air and a touchdown…Killingly welcomed back freshman signal caller Kyle Derosier, who split time under center with Nick Hewitt in the Stonington game…Killingly had an opportunity to play spoiler and keep Stonington from the postseason playoffs. The Redmen will have one more chance to burst a bubble when they face Quinebaug Pride, which is just ahead of the Bears in the CIAC Point Standings…Should the Pride prevail on Thanksgiving Day they should be the final entry in the Class M Postseason picture…This week’s games include Woodstock at Windham on Wednesday evening at 6:30 p.m.; Thanksgiving Day - Plainfield at Griswold (10 a.m.); Quinebaug Pride at Killingly (10:30 a.m.).
Putnam Town Crier Super Standings: Quinebaug Pride – 8-2; Hyde-Woodstock – 6-2; Plainfield – 5-5; Pomfret School – 4-4; Killingly – 4-6; Woodstock Academy – 0-10.