In the last three games this season Connor Finn has thrown for five touchdowns and only one interception.
Marianne Killackey – Register Citizen
Last Friday the Torrington Red Raiders won its first game of the season against Kennedy 21-0. Leading the way for the Red Raiders was sophomore quarterback Connor Finn who went 12-for-20 with 186-yards and one touchdown in the win.
Finn who saw some time as a freshman last season, was named the starting quarterback at the beginning of the season for the Red Raiders and has had his fair share of struggles early on.
In three of Torrington’s first four losses of the season, excluding Ansonia where nothing went right for the Red Raiders or any team that has faced the Chargers this season, Finn completed 45 percent (34-76) of his passes throwing four touchdowns and four interceptions. All four passing touchdowns came in a 52-37 loss to St. Paul.
He was then injured during the Wolcott loss and had to miss the entire Naugatuck game where Torrington lost 33-3.
Finn then returned for the next game against Joel Barlow and ever since that game he has been a completely different quarterback.
In the three games Finn has completed 54 percent (49-90) of his passes, has thrown for five touchdowns and only one interception. The Red Raiders are 1-2 in the last three games and had a chance to be 2-1 when they were down six against Holy Cross but faded late losing 41-21.
The recent success could be because the Red Raiders are now in the soft part of the schedule or it might because Finn is becoming more and more comfortable being the starting quarterback.
“I feel a lot better, I can be myself, I am more calm,” said Finn after the win against the Eagles. “It’s coming together for me the games are slowing down.”
Torrington’s head coach Gaitan Rodriguez has seen Finn grow each and every week in front of everyone’s eyes.
“You are seeing a quarterback who is maturing week by week,” said Rodriguez. “He is just maturing before your eyes.”
With three games left this season against Woodland, Sacred Heart and Watertown the Red Raiders have a chance to finish the season strong and even though they will finish the season under .500, Finn is leading the way of the young Red Raiders team that is ready to bring the program back.
“We’re seeing a maturing as a team,” said Finn. “We’re all comfortable and gaining experience on the varsity level.”
