| Branford Seniors |
0 |
0 |
6 |
7 |
- |
13 |
| Cheshire Seniors |
6 |
6 |
7 |
6 |
- |
25 |
433 Photos
It was a muggy overcast day as Branford's Seniors took to the muddy gridiron in
Cheshire today. The Hornets won the toss and elected to receive. A failed drive
and a bad snap on the punt gave Cheshire excellent field position to start, and
they quickly capitalized with a series of rushes out of the shutgun, no huddle
offense they run to take a 6-0 lead. Branford worked a drive deep into
Cheshire's end in the second quarter, but an interception on Cheshire's 2 ended
any hopes for first half Hornet points. Cheshire methodically moved the ball
down the field and with only seconds to play in the 2nd quarter, were given
their first big break of the game. Coach May asked the side linesman if he had
any time outs left, and was told he had 1, so he asked to use that timeout. The head
linesman said there were none left and flagged Branford with a penalty which
not only moved the ball closer to the end zone, but stopped the clock. The
Cheshire QB then lofted a TD into the end zone on the last play of the quarter and
the Rams took a 12-0 lead into half time.
The second half started after Curtis Sutherland came running in from the parking
lot with a doctor's note which the referees wouldn't let him play without since
his hand is in a cast. After stopping Cheshire's first drive, Sutherland got his
first touch by fielding a bounding punt and returning it for 10 quick yards.
The Hornets fed Sutherland the ball several times, and he did not disappoint,
running and slashing the ball down to the Rams 10. DJ Ryan took a snap and busted up the middle
for 8 yards, then Justin Blood took it in on the right side and Branford cut the
Ram lead to 12-6.
In the 3rd quarter, Cheshire put together a long drive to extend their lead to
19-6, but Branford came right back with passes to Andrew Cohen, Nick Linta and Charlie Boyd,
and some nice rushes by Sutherland and Blood pushed the ball deep into Ram territory once
again. Ryan threaded a nice pass on the run to Cohen for a TD and Curtis
Sutherland busted into the end zone for the extra point and Branford was
back close again at 19-13.
In the 4th quarter, each team had drives that ended with a punt,
but when Cheshire had 12 men on the field during their punt, Curtis Sutherland
fielded it, but fumbled it away and Cheshire was set up inside Branford's 30.
The play never should have stood, but the referees missed the call and Cheshire
scored shortly thereafter to close out the scoring and win this one 25-13.
