Rocky Hill Football Season Ends, But Not Without a Fight

Rocky Hill senior tight end Tommy Seaver hauls in a TD

The final whistle sounded and the Rocky Hill faithful in attendance stood in ovation as the teams lined up to shake hands at the end of the game. The ovation wasn’t to celebrate a victory, but rather to celebrate the greatest high school football season in the town’s history.
 
The Terriers had just been handed a 49-27 defeat at the hands of the Ansonia Chargers in the semi-finals of the Class S football playoffs. The loss ended Rocky Hill’s memorable season and, even in defeat, the Terriers showed the fight and determination that allowed them to win eleven of the thirteen games they played in 2013.
 
It was a bitter cold afternoon on Saturday, but that didn’t stop the towns of Rocky Hill and Ansonia from filling the stadium at Sheehan High School in Wallingford for the battle of the two powerhouses. Ansonia, who was undefeated, received the opening kickoff and marched down the field to take a quick 7-0 lead. The drive culminated on a 1-yard touchdown plunge from running back Arkeel Newsome, who took a direct snap from the wildcat formation and dove over the goal line. Rocky Hill countered of their first offensive possession when Chris Young took a reverse trap handoff and burst through the Ansonia defense on his way to a 29-yard touchdown run. The scoreboard at John J Riccitelli Field was not working properly, but the capacity crowd didn’t need the scoreboard to know they were in for an afternoon filled with plenty of offensive fireworks.
 
After the teams trading touchdowns on the games’ first two possessions, Ansonia used a combination of direct snaps to Newsome and deep passes from quarterback Jai’Quan McKnight to score the next 27 points and take a 34-7 lead into halftime.
 
It looked like the Chargers were well on their way to a blowout victory, but the Terriers came out of the halftime locker room with a renewed sense of pride. Rocky Hill received the opening kickoff of the second half and drove 54 yards in eight plays, which ended with a 16-yard scoring scamper from Young. The touchdown reenergized the Rocky Hill sideline and the crowd erupted when the Terriers recovered an onside kick on the ensuing kickoff. Two plays later, quarterback Andrew Jenkelunas connected with Tommy Seaver on a seam route for a 34-yard scoring strike, which cut the deficit to 34-21. Following Seaver’s touchdown and looking to capitalize on the momentum, Rocky Hill head coach David Coyne elected to attempt another onside kick, but this time Ansonia came up with the awkwardly bouncing ball. The Chargers took advantage of the good field position and Newsome scored his fifth and final touchdown, late in the third quarter, to thwart any chance of a Rocky Hill comeback.
 
The teams traded fourth quarter touchdowns as the sun began to set on the stadium and on Rocky Hill’s season.
 
Rocky Hill’s defense had a nearly impossible task of stopping Newsome, who finished with 269 yards on 35 carries, but they did have several players step up and have big afternoons defensively. Seniors Jamison O’Connell and Ello Nalbani anchored a defensive line that held up well against Ansonia‘s massive offensive line. O’Connell and Nalbani both made three solo tackles on the elusive Newsome and fellow senior Greg Marzilli finished with two tackles behind the line of scrimmage.
 
The loss not only ended Rocky Hill’s season, but it also ended the high school careers of several sensational seniors, including Young. Young finished his immaculate 2013 campaign with 2001 rushing yards and 35 touchdowns. The extraordinary tailback handled the loss with humility and great reflection.         
 
 “It’s disappointing to end the season this way, but we went further than any team in school history,” Young said, “We’re proud of that.”
 
The game was also they last for Coyne, who will retire. He has been the head coach at Rocky Hill since the inception of their football program in 2000. He led the Terriers to five playoff appearances and retires after guiding them to their best finish in school history.
 
The story of the 2013 Rocky Hill football season may not have had a fairytale ending, but Coyne and the exiting seniors have set the bar for future Terrier teams to reach for.
 
“It’s been fun to compete with these guys every week,” Young said, as he exited the field one last time with his Terrier teammates, “We made a lot of good memories.”
 
High School Football Round-Up
 
Middletown Falls Short of Title Shot
 
The Middletown Blue Dragons avenged their only regular season loss by steamrolling the New London Whalers, 49-14, to win their first round Class L playoff game last Tuesday. Dario Highsmith, who received Connecticut Gatorade Player of the Year honors, finished the game with 206 rushing yards and totaled four touchdowns (three rushing and one passing).
 
After the opening round victory, Middletown had a chance to earn a spot in the Class L championship, but lost to the Darien Blue Wave on Saturday. The Blue Wave held the normally potent Blue Dragon’s offense in check and ruined Middletown’s hopes of a state title, 13-7.
 
 Connecticut High School Football Championship Schedule
 
Class LL
 
Southington Blue Knights vs. Fairfield Prep Jesuits
Saturday 12/14 @ 6:05 p.m.
Arute Field on the campus of Central Connecticut State University
 
Class L
 
Darien Blue Wave vs. New Canaan Rams
Saturday 12/14 @ 2:05 p.m.
Arute Field on the campus of Central Connecticut State University
 
Class M
 
Brookfield Bobcats vs. St. Joseph Cadets
Saturday 12/14 @ 10:05 a.m.
Arute Field on the campus of Central Connecticut State University
 
Class S
 
Ansonia Chargers vs. Woodland Regional Hawks
Friday 12/13 @ 7:05 p.m.
Arute Field on the campus of Central Connecticut State University
 
​

---