#MIDDLEBURY #SOUTHBURY #PHS #GONG!_PANTHERS
Pomperaug No. 35, Mike Murgatroyd, breaks a tackle on his way to a 68-yard touchdown run to score the Panthers’ first touchdown in a 21-12 loss to Stratford Oct. 14 at Edward Arum Field in Southbury. (Ken Morse photo)
By Ken Morse – Special to the Middlebury Bee Intelligencer
The Pomperaug football team was happy to be at home for the first time since the season opener as they faced Stratford Oct. 14 at Edward Arum Field in Southbury. After being on the road for three weeks, the Panthers hoped a change of scenery would turn their fortunes around, especially in front of the home crowd.
Stratford, a team looking for its first win of the season, had other ideas and jumped out to a 14-0 advantage. Pomperaug battled back, but the comeback fell short as the Panthers dropped to 1-4 on the season following a 21-12 defeat to the Red Devils.
“One of these days we are going to get out of our own way,” said Pomperaug head coach James Reed. “The kids know the answer, they know what they need to do and sometimes we just don’t do it fast enough.
“It’s frustrating for them and it’s frustrating for us coaches. Losing the onsides kick to start the game and falling behind on the first play was crucial, and we chased that lead the rest of the game.”
Stratford came out and recovered the onsides kick when Toure Hall raced in and beat the Panthers’ front line to the ball. Then, on the first play from scrimmage, Stratford quarterback Connor Anstis pulled the plug and fired a 41-yard touchdown strike to Alex Pena for a 7-0 lead with just 15 seconds off the clock.
The fire in the Panthers’ belly from being at home didn’t burn as bright for the remainder of the game. Pomperaug battled, but it definitely seemed that first play of the game took something out of them.
On the Red Devils’ second possession, faced with a third-and-10 situation, Anstis completed a short hook pass to Dante Francis 5 yards off the line of scrimmage. Two Pomperaug tacklers made contact but couldn’t complete the job as Francis wriggled loose for a 55-yard gain.
That set up Stratford deep in Panthers territory, and Anstis took it the final 15 yards on a burst straight up the gut to build a 14-0 advantage with five minutes left in the opening quarter.
Credit the Pomperaug defense as they went on to slam the door on the Red Devils and helped the Panthers get back in the game. David Satkowski, Brian Flood, Emmett Reilly and Anthony Tapia began to win the battle in the trenches, forcing Stratford into punting situations for the rest of the half.
“I thought our defensive coaching staff made some good defensive adjustments,” said Reed. “I know they scored late in the game but we were trying to strip the ball, and tackling goes out the window at that point.”
The Panthers got right back in it on the next possession when John Dinsdale, Jacob Gran, Brendan Ciccarella, Reilly and James Hartman began to make room up front. Mike Murgatroyd stepped through a hole in the line and was off to the races, going 68 yards on a touchdown jaunt to close the gap at 14-6.
Right before the end of the half, Alfredo Mondragon-Velazquez booted a Pomperaug punt that pinned Stratford at its own 1-yard line. Five plays later, Mario Lambiase came up with an interception to give the ball back to the Panthers.
With 1:39 left, Pomperaug was at the Stratford 22-yard line poised to tie the game. Cole McGrath broke through the line for a 6-yard gain, but on the next play a Troy Harwell pass was intercepted in the end zone.
“We made a couple of self-inflicted mistakes,” Reed said. “We had an opportunity right before the half, and in the third quarter we held the ball but came up short of the goal line and that could have made it a different game if we had scored in those situations.”
Pomperaug came out and stopped Stratford, forcing a punt. The Panthers then went on a 17-play drive, using up much of the clock in the third quarter. Joe LaCava, Kyle Sheehan, Tom Satkowski and Jake Harwell all carried the ball and made positive yardage gaining five first downs.
Jake Harwell took it 10 yards to set up a first-and-goal but a Pomperaug penalty negated the run and on the fourth-and-six, a fumbled snap ended a promising drive at the doorstep of the end zone.
Stratford wasted no time trying to put an end to the game right as the fourth quarter began. Anstis found Nate Shields all alone in the middle of the field with nothing but the end zone in front of him but the ball slipped though his fingers.
On the next play LaCava stepped in front of a pass and took it 15 yards into the end zone as the Pomperaug sidelines erupted. The two-point conversion failed. The Panthers still trailed 14-12 but were gaining momentum.
Another long pass completion from Anstis to Pena covering 40 yards opened the door as Stratford was deep in Panthers territory. Anstis found Naje Mitchell on a 12-yard touchdown pass to seal the victory 21-12 with six minutes remaining.
“I like our offense but we don’t respond well when we are behind the sticks,” Reed said. “When you fall behind by two scores it’s hard to make that up. This team still showed some life when Joe (LaCava) intercepted the ball and took it to the house.
“That’s Joe being the brains of our defense; that’s just who he is. He’s a great player and he puts guys in the right spot. Until we push through and overcome these mistakes, every game is going to be tough.
“We are not going to avoid that test. The bye week didn’t help us mentally because it took us out of our routine. I understand why they have the bye week, but kids are kids and they need that routine.”
In the last three games Pomperaug has lost, they have been in each game well into the fourth quarter. It comes down to a matter of eliminating the mistakes, especially late in the game, and finding the belief that carried them to victory in the season opener.
The Panthers will be back at it this Friday, Oct. 21, at 6 p.m. when they host 3-2 Weston, who lost to Bunnell last week by a 35-33 final.
You must be logged in to post a comment.