By John Torsiello
FVT Correspondent
The Granby Memorial High School football team’s fired up defense shut down a potent Hyde Leadership offense for a regulation game Friday night, but the visitors were able to push across a score in overtime to earn a 6-0 Pequot Conference interdivision win.
Dwayne Hunter-Parker went six yards for the only points of the game and Granby running back Dominic Pagano fumbled the ball on the goal line on Granby’s overtime possession to end the hard-fought contest.
It was particularly disappointing and cruel for Pagano, who had a great game, rushing for 87 yards on 20 carries and making 12 tackles on defense. Jake Brucker, a former lineman, carried the ball times for 55 yards, and Curt Field hit on 8-of-14 passes for 50 yards for the Bears, who fell to 0-3 on the season. The Howling Wolves improved to 2-1.
“The call could have gone either way,” said Granby head coach Rich Gadoury on Pagano’s fumble. “Unfortunately, it went the other way.”
Granby’s defense was rock solid and the head coach said that was not by chance.
“The defense was the focus all week. The coaching staff and I did everything we could to scheme against them and put our players in the right position to make plays. Those boys not only were in the right position they were in the right state of mind and they played with everything they had.”
He added, “Even though we lost the game it was a win for our mentality and we’re moving in the right direction. I tell the boys that I feel bad for the team that we put everything together against. We did it for four quarters last night, now we need to include overtime.”
Granby debuted a new offense and was able to move the ball but couldn’t put points on the board.
“We literally pounded our way down the field,” said Gadoury. “It was very evident with a nine minute and 33 seconds drive in the first quarter. Our youth once again showed however. Still, our football team and program took a step forward in a very positive way. It is going to be fun to watch the rest of this season unfold.”
Granby goes after its first win of the season at Haddam-Killingworth Friday (after press time) at 5 p.m.
Southington’s defense completely shut down Simsbury in a 38-0 win in a Central Connecticut Conference Division I contest. The Trojans were limited to only 52 yards of offense, all on the ground.
After a scoreless first quarter, Southington (3-0) put 14 points on the scoreboard in the second period and added 21 in the third to blow the game wide open. The home team rushed for 177 yards and threw for 314 more, as quarterback Stephen Barmore tossed four touchdown passes.
Pretty much the only offense Simsbury (1-2) was able to muster was on Brad Helmkamp’s running. He rushed for 33 tough yards on 10 carries.
Simsbury hopes to get untracked at Hall Saturday at 2 p.m.
Morgan whacked East Granby/Windsor Locks/Suffield, 43-6.
The locals’ only score came when Percy Harris hauled in a 40-yard touchdown pass from Brennen Colli in the final period.
East Granby/Windsor Locks/Suffield is 2-1 on the season and plays Nonnewaug at Suffield High School Friday at 6:30 p.m.
Granby football looks to rebound after tough loss to Hyde Leadership
