By Ron P. Coderre

Killingly entered the CIAC Class M Football Playoff semifinals against Hillhouse with high hopes of victory and a shot at the Championship in mind this year.  They left New Haven with their aspirations squelched by the Academics 49-28.  The contest was much closer than the final outcome.  The Hillhouse speed and size wore the Redmen down in the second half as it moved on to the title game against St. Joseph.

The world of sports is filled with clichés.  For Killingly this game and its aborted run to the championship can be characterized by numerous clichés.

“So near and yet so far.”  For the second year in a row Killingly advanced to the semifinals with the Class M title in sight only to lose.  And for second successive year it’s “Close, but no cigar.”

So like the familiar Red Sox and Brooklyn Dodgers familiar slogan, it’s now “Wait ’til next year” for coach Chad Neal and his valiant Redmen.

Demonstrating its speed early in the contest, Hillhouse raced off to a first quarter 14-0 advantage on a pair of running touchdowns.  But undaunted, Killingly responded with a demonstration of a strong ground game of its own in the second stanza.

Junior running back Spencer Lockwood, who’s been one of the premier runners in Connecticut all fall responded to the Academics by scoring three touchdowns on his own.  Lockwood brought Killingly to 14-7 when he bolted over for a 3-yard touchdown for his first score.

The scoring then became a checkers match as Hillhouse came back with a score only to see the indomitable Redmen tally once again.  Lockwood’s second score came on a 1-yard burst.  But as if scripted in Hollywood, Hillhouse responded with yet another touchdown.

Again, along came Mr. Lockwood, as he was attempting to do everything he could to lead his mates to victory.  For the third time in the quarter he scored, this time on another one-yard burst.  The half ended with Killingly down by a touchdown 28-21 and very much in the game.

Utilizing its big offensive and defensive linemen to the max in the second half, the Academics wore down the smaller and thinner Redmen.  The hosts from New Haven outscored Killingly 21-7 in the final two quarters.  

Killingly’s final score came late in the contest when senior quarterback Kyle Derosier, playing in his final high school game, found tight end Jake Gauthier on a 42-yard touchdown pass.  Luke Desaulnier, who was a perfect 4-for-4 on point-after-touchdown kicks, closed out the scoring for Killingly.

Lockwood showed everyone in attendance why he’s one of the best running backs in the state as he racked up 227 yards on 40 carries.  He concludes this all star season with 2,456 yards and 29 touchdowns in 12 games.  

Quarterback Derosier concluded his high school career in stellar fashion, completing 7-of-16 passes for 134 yards and one touchdown.  His favorite targets were Gauthier with three catches for 66 yards and Zack Burgess, who also had three catches for 71 yards.

Killingly, which finishes another outstanding season at 10-2, learned that “speed kills.” Yet another one of those sports clichés.  

Two years in a row to the semifinals, Killingly is determined to come back for another run at the title next year.  They want to prove that the cliché, “Always a bridesmaid never a bride” won’t apply to them.

 

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