To go for the tie or the win. That was the dilemma facing Woodstock Academy football coach Sean Saucier Sept. 1 in a 21-20 loss to Norwich Free Academy.
With 46 seconds left, quarterback Ethan Davis hit Carter Saracina with a 14-yard pass to pull the Centaurs (1-1) within a point of the Wildcats.
Saucier elected to take the democratic route. “(The team) wanted to go for two (points), they all wanted to go for two. That’s what we do. We live and die by it together,” Saucier said.
A 5-yard penalty for an illegal substitution didn’t help as it backed up the Centaurs to the 8-yard line. So the Centaurs opened up their bag of tricks. Saracina took the handoff from Davis going from right to left across the formation. He flipped it to Braiden Saucier going in the opposite direction and Saucier passed it back to Davis.
The senior was stopped inside the 1-yard line, just inches from the goal line.
The game wasn’t over.
Woodstock was sitting on a roughing the passer penalty that occurred on the touchdown pass and it meant the Centaurs kicked off from the NFA 45-yard line.
Jackson Goetz attempted the bouncing onside kick and it was successful with Jacob Lizotte pouncing on the loose ball at the NFA 32.
But Woodstock moved 1 yard in reverse and on third down with time running out, Saucier elected to send running back Payton Barna (10 carries, 53 yards) up the middle to keep the ball in the middle of the field. Barna gained seven yards and Goetz came on to attempt a 42-yard field goal.
The attempt was blocked and NFA (1-1) was able to celebrate.
Woodstock took the early lead on a pretty daring play. Facing fourth and 14 on the 50-yard line, the Centaurs elected to run a play rather than punt. It worked to perfection.
Davis (22-for-30, 265 yards) heaved the ball downfield to Braiden Saucier. He caught it and fell into the end zone for the 7-0 lead.
NFA tied it up when quarterback Jayden Desilus (16-for-23, 172 yards) found Hunter Stadnicki for a 14-yard score.
But the Centaurs would go into the locker room with the 14-7 lead after Davis hit Saracina (11 catches, 153 yards) with a 44-yard bomb down the sidelines to the NFA 15-yard line.
Another pass to Jackson Goetz (9 catches, 62 yards) took the ball down to the three.
Saracina was thrown for a 1-yard loss on a jet sweep but it meant Davis (15 carries, 77 yards) just had to run four yards instead of three to give the Centaurs the 14-7 halftime lead.
A Woodstock turnover on its own 19 helped NFA pull within a point early in the third quarter. Four plays after the lost fumble, Desilus hit Jeremiah Capps with a 6-yard touchdown pass. The Wildcats took the lead for the first time in the game when Desilus capped a 10-play, 73-yard drive with a 5-yard pass to running back Jake Kenney. It was the 2-point conversion pass to Maxson Pierre Louis that proved to be the game-winning play.
Marc Allard
Director of Sports Information
The Woodstock Academy
.
Tourney a success
PUTNAM — The recent 37th Annual Day Kimball Hospital Centreville Bank Golf Classic was a great success. Winners include:
1st Place (53) - Roger Noll, Sean Vigue, Pat Kozelka, Scott Vose; 2nd Place (57) - Jim Dandeneau, Deb Dandeneau, Ryan Dandeneau, Brad Rabitor; 3rd Place (59) - Eric Whittenburg, Steve Bibek, Bob Tetreault, Dave McNally
USGA Matching Cards Lower Back 9 Score (28)
2021 Closest to the Pin: Closest to Pin #4 – Pat Kozelka (19 feet 1 inch); Closest to Pin #7 – Bill Bailey (2 feet 10 inches); Closest to Pin #9 – Peter Hoey (2 feet 10 inches); Closest to Pin #11 – Chris Landis (3 feet 11 inches); Closest to Pin #15 – Ed Desaulnier (Hole in one)
Skins:
Hole in One on 15 - Ed Desaulnier, Luke Desaulnier, Ron Jones, Dick Baribeau.
.
caption:
The Putnam Science Academy girls' team, left, and boys' team, above, in the "open gym." Courtesy photos.
Both the boys' and girls' basketball programs have been on the court for open gyms at Putnam Science Academy for close to two weeks, and one thing is jumping out to the players.
“My first impression was the amount of talent we have,” said Bulgaria native Ines Goryanova, one of Devin Hill’s top newcomers. “So many people can contribute to the team and that’s what makes us better.”
“These first couple of weeks, I think they passed my expectations because I didn’t know the (open gyms) were going to be as competitive and as challenging as they are,” said Duane Thompson, who at 16-years-old is one of the youngest and most impressive players in the early going on the boys’ side. “Everyone out here is good at doing something on the court, and we have a few players who can really do it all.”
The open gyms are part of the lure of PSA, which has the reputation and networking with college coaches, who are able to come out and watch during this recruiting period that started on Sept. 9. There were 23 colleges represented on the first day of the boys’ run, and close to two dozen have been out for the girls.
“The first weeks of practice were great,” said Genevive Wedemeyer, from Hamburg, Germany, who is another of Hill’s top additions. “The atmosphere in the gym is crazy. We’ve only got good vibes while practicing and that’s great.
“Each person got her strengthen and weaknesses, but everyone is standing out in their own showing what they can do and how they can help our team to achieve our goal as a team. We all are talented girls with big dream we are trying to achieve, so everyone is putting in the work.”
Darryl Simmons, back to run point for Tom Espinosa’s prep team, is one of three returnees (along with Mohamed Dioubate and Miles Rose) and has been impressed with a lot of the newcomers. He mentioned Thompson, Desmond Claude, Barry Evans, Arturo Dean, and Lee Hubbard among those who have caught his eye.
“Those guys have stood out to me a lot,” he said, “just with the way they have been scoring at all three levels and how they have tons of energy on the floor to make other players on the team better.”
Goryanova has enjoyed watching new teammate Molly Moffit, a member of the Class of ’22 who holds a handful of offers already.
“Molly is an amazing player and knows what to do and when to do it,” Goryanova said, “and is always supporting her team even if they are losing, which is what a great teammate would do. She is a great leader and I’m super glad to be able to have the opportunity to play with her.”
As the players continue to bond off the court, which they are, the chemistry will continue to grow on it.
“Everyone is playing hard, working our tails off, and just competing at the highest level,” Simmons said. “We’ve got a long way to go but the work has begun.”
By Stephen Nalbandian
Sports Information Director
Putnam Science Academy
.
Thomas P. Laskey Sr.
WOODSTOCK — Thomas Penrose Laskey, 90, of Woodstock, died Sept. 11, 2021 in Dayville.
Born in 1931 in Old Town, Maine, Tom was the son of the late Samuel and Grace (Wickett) Laskey. One of nine children, Tom had many fond childhood memories and remained close to his siblings his entire life. Tom visited Maine often, especially “Letter G Camp” and was an integral part of his large loving family.
Tom graduated from University of Maine in 1953 and began his work as an engineer at Pratt and Whitney Aircraft where he met Jack Swigert, astronaut of Apollo 13. Jack became a good friend of Tom’s and served as a groomsman in Tom’s wedding to Jean Duncanson in 1959. Tom went on to work for Pearse-Pearson Co. as a manufacturer’s representative.
Because of his New England territory, he and Jean chose to settle in Woodstock. In the later 1960s, Tom switched careers and pursued his passion for real estate development. He is known for the development of Woodstock Meadows, Cornfield Point and The Country Manor Apartments in Woodstock, as well as building and restoring private residences.
A man of many projects, Tom was responsible for the American flag banners hung throughout his town of Woodstock and took pride in his political work. He served on the staff for Senator Lowell Weicker, was a convention delegate and stayed active in politics.
Tom kept track of all important information on Post-it notes, enjoyed ice cream, lobster rolls, fried clams, hunting, fishing, skiing and the game of cribbage. He was always impeccably dressed in khakis, neatly pressed oxfords and always carried a white handkerchief. Additionally, he took pride in his flower gardens and restored barn in which he hosted many celebrations, most notably his annual Octoberfest.
He leaves his daughter, Katherine (Matthias) Laskey-Bolling; two sons, Thomas P. Laskey Jr. (Betsy), Gregory E. Laskey (Liz); three brothers, Henry, Harold “Buzz” (Donna), Douglas (Iris); two sisters, Sylvia, Shirley (Steve); was “Gepaw” seven grandsons, Jack (Hillary), Peter (Karla), Liam, Aidan, Jude, Raymond, Paul; two granddaughters, Hannah and Anna (who he lovingly referred to as “my girlfriends”); and his treasured friend, Frank Sandberg; his former wife Jean Duncanson Laskey. He was predeceased by son, Peter D. Laskey; brother, Samuel (infant); and sisters, Mae and Sandra; sister-in-law Doris and brother-in-law Robert. He was the partner of Carol Perkins, whom he met in 2002 and who predeceased him by six months. He and Carol enjoyed traveling and sharing a vacation home in Camden, Maine.
A Celebration of Life for Tom is being planned. A private graveside service will be held for immediate family. Donations: The Woodstock Academy Foundation (memo: Peter D. Laskey Scholarship) and mailed to The Woodstock Academy, 57 Academy Rd. Woodstock, CT 06281; or to Woodstock Volunteer Fire Department, PO Box 222, Woodstock, CT 06281. Gilman and Valade Funeral Homes and Crematory, 104 Church St., Putnam.
Helen E. (Rice) Miner
PUTNAM — Helen (Rice) Miner, 93, of Putnam, died Sept. 14, 2021. She was the wife of John Henry Miner, who died Dec. 30, 2013. Born in 1928 in Holyoke, Mass., she was the daughter of James and Jennie (Hodak) Rice. She attended school at St. Joseph’s and Tourtellotte Memorial High School in Thompson and moved to Putnam after marrying John Henry. They were married for over 62 years.
Helen worked in banking for many years. After her career in banking, she went on to help families with home childcare. During her career, she was a member of the National Secretary Association. She was also a member of the Girl Scouts Association and served as a Girl Scout leader when her daughters were young.
Helen was an avid reader, enjoying murder mystery books. She also loved watching her favorite soap opera, General Hospital, every day at 2 pm. She loved to strike up conversations with anyone she came across and would always remember their name.
She leaves two daughters, JoAnn Hall of Thompson, Sharon Miner-Taylor (John) of Manchester; grandsons Brandon and Noel Hall of Thompson; granddaughter, Jacqueline Taylor of Enfield; two brothers, James Rice Jr. and John Rice (Betsy) of Thompson; three sisters, Mary Babbitt of Thompson, Jenny Beaudry of Southbridge, and Jane Nichols of Brookfield, Mass.; nieces and nephews; longtime friend Madeline Gastonguay of Spring Hill, Fla. Services were private. Gilman and Valade Funeral Homes and Crematory, 104 Church St., Putnam.
.