Football Wrap-up

Weatherman

throws 

snowballs on

Thanksgiving

Day games

By Ron P. Coderre

The weatherman did everything in his power to disrupt the traditional Thanksgiving Day football games.  His plan was somehow duped through creative scheduling with the three local contests managing to be played between Tuesday morning and Saturday noon.

As it is with Thanksgiving Day contests, coaches use the final game of the season to motivate their players regardless of how the remainder of the regular schedule has fared.  Calling it the “second season,” the game takes on added significance.  As usual the “second season” worked for some and was a disappointment to others.

Killingly, which entered Thanksgiving Day with a 1-9 log, had to wait until Friday evening to play thanks to field conditions at the St. Marie-Greenhalgh Sports Complex.  Killingly walked away optimistic for next season as they blew past Quinebaug Valley Pride.  The Pride came in to the game at 5-5.

Plainfield probably left the gridiron the most disappointed of all team, losing to Griswold by the narrow margin of eight points.  The game was held off until Saturday at noon.  The loss by the Panthers, the 12th in a row to the Wolverines on Turkey Day, eliminated Plainfield from postseason consideration.

The contest between Woodstock and Windham beat the nasty weather by being played on Tuesday morning at 9:30 a.m.  The outcome of the game was no different than expected by most prognosticators as the Whippets dominated the Centaurs.

Killingly Too Strong for The Pride

The strength of the Killingly High School Eastern Connecticut Conference schedule proved to be what prepared the Redmen for the Thanksgiving Day contest against Quinebaug Valley Pride.   Having faced the iron throughout the season Killingly showed it was ready by completely shutting down The Pride 44-0.  The victory, which was pretty well determined by halftime with Killingly on top 33-0, also exacted a modicum of revenge for last season’s loss at the hands of QVP on Killingly’s home turf.

The victory allowed the Killingly seniors, especially wide receiver Michael Elsey, to close out their high school careers on a high note.  Elsey had five catches for 128 yards.  Three of Elsey’s receptions resulted in touchdowns as he and quarterback Kyle Derosier destroyed any hopes The Pride had of victory.

Derosier, who was 10-of-13 in the air for 223 yards, had touchdown tosses of 25, 23 and 33 yards to Elsey.  He also hooked up for an 8-yard aerial touchdown with Chace Wood.  Sandwiched in between the Derosier air show was a strong ground game featuring Spencer Lockwood and Austin Caffrey.  Lockwood ran for 141 yards on 23 carries.  He closed the Killingly scoring with an 8-yard run to start the second half.  Caffrey carried 12 times for 34 yards and a 1-yard TD burst to open the Killingly scoring floodgates.

The Killingly defense, led by Josh Angel, Connor Lemley, Tyler Lestage, Matt Cavallo and Collin Byrnes, controlled the line of scrimmage and completely bottled up The Pride’s running game.  QVP’s high powered running back Raif Santerre was held to a microscopic 24 yards on 18 carries.  The Pride’s quarterback “Chuckin” Charlie Innes was limited to one completion though the air in seven attempts.

Killingly and coach Chad Neal close the 2014 season at 2-9, while The Pride of coach Joe Asermelly finishes 5-6.

Plainfield Folds in Must-Win Game

The Plainfield Panthers have been led all season by the stellar play of quarterback Steve Jankowski.  In its Thanksgiving Day game against Griswold the Panthers and Jankowski were upstaged by Wolverines signal caller Cole Mileski, as he led his team to an exciting 20-12 win over the Panthers on their home turf.  The loss ends Plainfield’s season on a disappointing note at 9-2 and out of the postseason playoff picture.  Griswold upped its record to 6-4, while posting its 12th consecutive Thanksgiving Day victory over Plainfield.

After Griswold went on top 6-0 in the first period thanks to a Mileski touchdown toss to Jordan Baker, Plainfield responded in the second stanza.  The teams went off at intermission tied 6-6, as a 29-yard Jankowski scoring run bolstered the Panthers hope for victory.

Undaunted, Griswold scored twice in the third period on touchdown tosses by Mileski of 14 yards to Dakota Pedro and 35 yards to Zach Hankins.

Jordan Federer brought Plainfield back to life when he scored from 2 yards out with 2:32 remaining in the game.  After the two-point conversion and an ensuing onside kick failed, the Wolverines ran out the clock for the victory.

Mileski had a banner day completing 10-of-16 passes for 153 yards and three touchdowns.  His counterpart Jankowski was 4-14-91 in the air and 9-75 on the ground with a rushing touchdown.  Federer was Plainfield’s top ground gainer with 84 yards on 12 carries and one touchdown. 

Windham Rolls Past Woodstock

Windham, which had an eye on the postseason and was heavily favored over Woodstock, didn’t disappoint its faithful as it dominated the home team Centaurs 41-8.  The win lifted Windham to 9-1 on the season and into the Class S CIAC postseason playoffs.  Woodstock concludes its season at 1-10.

Woodstock’s only score came in the fourth stanza when the game was out of reach on a Dan Whittenburg 3-yard run.  Trent Appleton, who was the Centaurs’ top ground gainer with 55 yards on seven carries, ran in the two-point conversion to close out the scoring.

Turkey Trimmings: Windham with its win over Woodstock is rewarded with a playoff berth but has to play 10-1 power house Ansonia…The playoffs may be the final games coached by Windham’s Brian Crudden, who may retire after this season…Plainfield’s Steve Jankowski went to the hospital following the game with a rib injury…Griswold quarterback Cole Mileski is the son of former Woodstock basketball coach Rob Mileski…Other teams from Eastern Connecticut in the CIAC playoffs include, Ledyard, Norwich Free Academy and New London…The Commander’s Trophy, presented by VFW Post #1523 of Putnam, now resides for a year at Killingly…Killingly suffered through seven straight losses prior to its Thanksgiving Day win…The four Killingly seniors who go out with a win are Elsey, Ryan Reynolds, Alvin Ballou and Seth Davis…Elsey was named the game’s Most Valuable Player…The QVP vs. Killingly and Plainfield vs. Griswold games were broadcast live on WINY Radio with John Wilbur and “The Coach” Stu Neal providing the commentary…Raif Santerre was named The Pride’s MVP…Killingly’s Spencer Lockwood, who had 141 yards rushing, is only a freshman…Killingly’s win was a factor in allowing (7-3) New London to get into the CIAC playoffs…New London coach Duane Miranda was on hand for the game and congratulated coach Chad Neal following the game.  

Rightfully so…Turkey or crow, the Thanksgiving Day games are a great tradition.

 

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