Jacob Commander busts loose for a 36-yard touchdown run in the first quarter of Saturday’s 13-8 victory over Fitch on Homecoming at Cannamela Field in New London, Saturday, Sept. 29, 2018. (Photo Sean Patrick Bowley)
NEW LONDON — A week ago, in New London’s 1-point victory over then-No. 8 Killingly, it was offense that came to the rescue.
On a Saturday, in front of a large homecoming crowd at Cannamela Field, it was time for the defense to take a turn as a hero, especially when the offense gave visiting Fitch — in the words of first-year coach Johnny Burns — “a merry Christmas” gift by throwing the go-ahead interception return touchdown in the third quarter.
Whalers’ defense responded all day by forcing three turnovers, including two interceptions, and held Fitch’s struggling offense scoreless in a 13-8 victory Saturday.
“I can’t say enough about our defense,” Burns said. “We had to make up for the big play that we’d given to those guys.”
The Whalers also got just enough from all-state back Jacob Commander when it need it.
The Week 4 Football Scoreboard
The senior fourth-year starter ran for a 36-yard touchdown on New London’s first possession. Later, just after Fitch took its only lead on Steve Cantres’ 75-yard interception return and 2-point conversion catch (after New London has 12 men on the field) in the third quarter, Commander took his team right back down the field again.
He ripped off a 43-yard run down to the Fitch 20 to set up quarterback Owen George’s eventual winning 1-yard scoring run with 7 minutes, 57 seconds left in the third quarter.
First New London drive ends in an easy Jacob Commander TD on 3rd and 4 from the 36. Rivera’s kick makes it 7-0 New London, 8:29 left 1st #cthsfb pic.twitter.com/CD3bjAEQyk
— Sean Patrick Bowley (@SPBowley) September 29, 2018
Finally, after New London’s defense forced a turnover on downs with 6 minutes remaining, Commander helped the Whalers embark on a methodical, clock-killing drive that ultimately ended the game on the Fitch 15-yard line.
“He’s our workhorse,” Burns said of Commander, who ran for 161 yards. “It’s no secret.”
New London, which was 4-6 last year, improved to 3-1 under their new head coach. They get a bye next week before playing host to winless Hillhouse.
“It makes me feel good. I can’t explain it, but it makes me feel good,” Commander said. “As a 4-6 team (last year), we were always playing around, we weren’t serious, and we’ve just completely changed from that team. We’re in this. We’re focused. Yesterday was a great practice, the best practice we’ve probably had all year.”
Steve Cantres just turned this entire game around. He picks off NL’s Owen George in the flat and goes yard for a Fitch TD.
Then, after NL encroachment, he grabs the 2pt conversion for a 8-7 Fitch lead, 9:14 left 3rd #cthsfb pic.twitter.com/62nZ72ORzV— Sean Patrick Bowley (@SPBowley) September 29, 2018
On Saturday, the New London defense earned the biggest raves. Ronde Ford had an interception at the goal line to stop on Fitch scoring drive in the first quarter. Zeke George had a pick in the second quarter. Richard Henry made a fumble recovery to end the third quarter.
“Defense had a great day today,” Commander said. “And that made me really excited.”
It was less of a thrill for Fitch coach Mike Ellis, who saw another fine defensive performance go by the wayside. Nick Helbig led the way with a couple sacks. In addition to his pick-6, Cantres also recovered a fumble. Noah Charron blocked a punt late in the first half.
Fitch’s offense still couldn’t score. The result is a 2-2 start for the Falcons, who were unbeaten in the regular season last year and now face an uphill fight if they want to return the Class L playoffs.
“When you take a look at us, the defense is playing well, the defense is keeping us in games and the special teams is playing very well,” Ellis said. “It’s the offense.
“We can run the ball, but the problem in games like this is you need to be able to throw the ball, too. And you saw us, every time we threw the ball, it was either ugly-as-can-be or it was an interception and you can’t be a top-notch team if you’re going to do that. So, that’s something we’ve got to work on if we want to get to the next level and get the season going in the right direction.”
New London is far from perfect, too. Burns acknowledged his team, whose only loss was 33-19 at Notre Dame-West Haven in Week 2, has a ways to go. The Whalers constantly hurt themselves with unsportsmanlike penalties, in addition to other blunders.
But Burns knows it’s only a matter of time and patience.
“This was a coaching staff that was put together in May and these are players that, from scratch, had to get started,” said Burns, a New London alumnus who took over for Juan Roman last spring.
“It’s nice to have the clean game, but sometimes we have to overcome ourselves. We do feel that we were better than how we played today, so it was good to get out of there with a win.”
NOTE: The team honored longtime former assistant coach and local Whaler legend Tommie Major, with the ceremonial coin toss and a ceremony after the first quarter. Major retired after a 30-plus year run as a New London football assistant coach after last season.
NEW LONDON 13, FITCH 8
New London 7 0 6 0 — 13
Fitch 0 0 8 0 — 8
NL–Jacob Commander 36 run (Edwin Rivera kick)
F–Steve Cantres 75 interception return (Cantres pass from Tyler Nelli)
NL — Owen George 1 run (pass failed)
Records: Fitch 2-2, New London 3-1
