GameTime CT

Connecticut's premier high school sports website

  • GIRLS SPORTS
    • Basketball
    • Cross Country
    • Field Hockey
    • Golf
    • Gymnastics
    • Hockey
    • Indoor Track
    • Lacrosse
    • Soccer
    • Softball
    • Swimming
    • Tennis
    • Volleyball
    • Track & Field
  • BOYS SPORTS
    • Baseball
    • Basketball
    • Cross Country
    • Football
    • Golf
    • Hockey
    • Indoor Track
    • Lacrosse
    • Soccer
    • Swimming
    • Tennis
    • Track & Field
    • Volleyball
    • Wrestling
  • Schools
  • Newspapers
    • CT Post
    • The Danbury News-Times
    • Greenwich Time
    • The Middletown Press
    • New Haven Register
    • The Norwalk Hour
    • The Register Citizen
    • The Stamford Advocate
  • Polls
    • Baseball Top 10
    • Boys Basketball Top 10
    • Girls Basketball Top 10
    • Football Top 10
    • Hockey Top 10
    • Boys Lacrosse Top 10
    • Softball Top 10
    • Other Polls
  • Scores & Stats
Football

Curry, Harding handle Hillhouse, get back to .500

Dave Phillips | October 11, 2019

26
New Haven, Connecticut - Friday, October 11, 2019: Hillhouse H.S. football of New Haven vs. Harding H.S. of Bridgeport Friday at Bowen Field in New Haven. Harding H.S. defeated Hillhouse H.S. 36-12.
1of26

New Haven, Connecticut - Friday, October 11, 2019: Hillhouse H.S. football of New Haven vs. Harding H.S. of Bridgeport Friday at Bowen Field in New Haven. Harding H.S. defeated Hillhouse H.S. 36-12.

Peter Hvizdak / Hearst Connecticut MediaShow MoreShow Less
New Haven, Connecticut - Friday, October 11, 2019: Hillhouse H.S. football of New Haven vs. Harding H.S. of Bridgeport Friday at Bowen Field in New Haven. Harding H.S. defeated Hillhouse H.S. 36-12.
2of26

New Haven, Connecticut - Friday, October 11, 2019: Hillhouse H.S. football of New Haven vs. Harding H.S. of Bridgeport Friday at Bowen Field in New Haven. Harding H.S. defeated Hillhouse H.S. 36-12.

Peter Hvizdak / Hearst Connecticut MediaShow MoreShow Less
3of26
New Haven, Connecticut - Friday, October 11, 2019: Hillhouse H.S. football of New Haven vs. Harding H.S. of Bridgeport Friday at Bowen Field in New Haven. Harding H.S. defeated Hillhouse H.S. 36-12.
4of26

New Haven, Connecticut - Friday, October 11, 2019: Hillhouse H.S. football of New Haven vs. Harding H.S. of Bridgeport Friday at Bowen Field in New Haven. Harding H.S. defeated Hillhouse H.S. 36-12.

Peter Hvizdak / Hearst Connecticut MediaShow MoreShow Less
New Haven, Connecticut - Friday, October 11, 2019: Hillhouse H.S. football of New Haven vs. Harding H.S. of Bridgeport Friday at Bowen Field in New Haven. Harding H.S. defeated Hillhouse H.S. 36-12.
5of26

New Haven, Connecticut - Friday, October 11, 2019: Hillhouse H.S. football of New Haven vs. Harding H.S. of Bridgeport Friday at Bowen Field in New Haven. Harding H.S. defeated Hillhouse H.S. 36-12.

Peter Hvizdak / Hearst Connecticut MediaShow MoreShow Less
6of26
New Haven, Connecticut - Friday, October 11, 2019: Hillhouse H.S. football of New Haven vs. Harding H.S. of Bridgeport Friday at Bowen Field in New Haven. Harding H.S. defeated Hillhouse H.S. 36-12.
7of26

New Haven, Connecticut - Friday, October 11, 2019: Hillhouse H.S. football of New Haven vs. Harding H.S. of Bridgeport Friday at Bowen Field in New Haven. Harding H.S. defeated Hillhouse H.S. 36-12.

Peter Hvizdak / Hearst Connecticut MediaShow MoreShow Less
Hillhouse's Demelle Turner, left, and teammate Tre ronn Bryant tackle Harding's Nassier Gibbs during Friday's contest.
8of26

Hillhouse’s Demelle Turner, left, and teammate Tre ronn Bryant tackle Harding’s Nassier Gibbs during Friday’s contest.

Peter Hvizdak / Hearst Connecticut MediaShow MoreShow Less
9of26
New Haven, Connecticut - Friday, October 11, 2019: Hillhouse H.S. football of New Haven vs. Harding H.S. of Bridgeport Friday at Bowen Field in New Haven. Harding H.S. defeated Hillhouse H.S. 36-12.
10of26

New Haven, Connecticut - Friday, October 11, 2019: Hillhouse H.S. football of New Haven vs. Harding H.S. of Bridgeport Friday at Bowen Field in New Haven. Harding H.S. defeated Hillhouse H.S. 36-12.

Peter Hvizdak / Hearst Connecticut MediaShow MoreShow Less
Harding quarterback Najzar Curry, left, is caught in the grasp of Hillhouse's Gianni Bethea during Friday's contest.
11of26

Harding quarterback Najzar Curry, left, is caught in the grasp of Hillhouse’s Gianni Bethea during Friday’s contest.

Peter Hvizdak / Hearst Connecticut MediaShow MoreShow Less
12of26
New Haven, Connecticut - Friday, October 11, 2019: Hillhouse H.S. football of New Haven vs. Harding H.S. of Bridgeport Friday at Bowen Field in New Haven. Harding H.S. defeated Hillhouse H.S. 36-12.
13of26

New Haven, Connecticut - Friday, October 11, 2019: Hillhouse H.S. football of New Haven vs. Harding H.S. of Bridgeport Friday at Bowen Field in New Haven. Harding H.S. defeated Hillhouse H.S. 36-12.

Peter Hvizdak / Hearst Connecticut MediaShow MoreShow Less
New Haven, Connecticut - Friday, October 11, 2019: Hillhouse H.S. football of New Haven vs. Harding H.S. of Bridgeport Friday at Bowen Field in New Haven. Harding H.S. defeated Hillhouse H.S. 36-12.
14of26

New Haven, Connecticut - Friday, October 11, 2019: Hillhouse H.S. football of New Haven vs. Harding H.S. of Bridgeport Friday at Bowen Field in New Haven. Harding H.S. defeated Hillhouse H.S. 36-12.

Peter Hvizdak / Hearst Connecticut MediaShow MoreShow Less
15of26
New Haven, Connecticut - Friday, October 11, 2019: Hillhouse H.S. football of New Haven vs. Harding H.S. of Bridgeport Friday at Bowen Field in New Haven. Harding H.S. defeated Hillhouse H.S. 36-12.
16of26

New Haven, Connecticut - Friday, October 11, 2019: Hillhouse H.S. football of New Haven vs. Harding H.S. of Bridgeport Friday at Bowen Field in New Haven. Harding H.S. defeated Hillhouse H.S. 36-12.

Peter Hvizdak / Hearst Connecticut MediaShow MoreShow Less
Hillhouse's Marquis Reshard, left, defends a pass against Harding's Nassier Gibbs during Friday's contest at Bowen Field in New Haven.
17of26

Hillhouse’s Marquis Reshard, left, defends a pass against Harding’s Nassier Gibbs during Friday’s contest at Bowen Field in New Haven.

Peter Hvizdak / Hearst Connecticut MediaShow MoreShow Less
18of26
New Haven, Connecticut - Friday, October 11, 2019: Hillhouse H.S. football of New Haven vs. Harding H.S. of Bridgeport Friday at Bowen Field in New Haven. Harding H.S. defeated Hillhouse H.S. 36-12.
19of26

New Haven, Connecticut - Friday, October 11, 2019: Hillhouse H.S. football of New Haven vs. Harding H.S. of Bridgeport Friday at Bowen Field in New Haven. Harding H.S. defeated Hillhouse H.S. 36-12.

Peter Hvizdak / Hearst Connecticut MediaShow MoreShow Less
New Haven, Connecticut - Friday, October 11, 2019: Hillhouse H.S. football of New Haven vs. Harding H.S. of Bridgeport Friday at Bowen Field in New Haven. Harding H.S. defeated Hillhouse H.S. 36-12.
20of26

New Haven, Connecticut - Friday, October 11, 2019: Hillhouse H.S. football of New Haven vs. Harding H.S. of Bridgeport Friday at Bowen Field in New Haven. Harding H.S. defeated Hillhouse H.S. 36-12.

Peter Hvizdak / Hearst Connecticut MediaShow MoreShow Less
21of26
New Haven, Connecticut - Friday, October 11, 2019: Hillhouse H.S. football of New Haven vs. Harding H.S. of Bridgeport Friday at Bowen Field in New Haven. Harding H.S. defeated Hillhouse H.S. 36-12.
22of26

New Haven, Connecticut - Friday, October 11, 2019: Hillhouse H.S. football of New Haven vs. Harding H.S. of Bridgeport Friday at Bowen Field in New Haven. Harding H.S. defeated Hillhouse H.S. 36-12.

Peter Hvizdak / Hearst Connecticut MediaShow MoreShow Less
New Haven, Connecticut - Friday, October 11, 2019: Hillhouse H.S. football of New Haven vs. Harding H.S. of Bridgeport Friday at Bowen Field in New Haven. Harding H.S. defeated Hillhouse H.S. 36-12.
23of26

New Haven, Connecticut - Friday, October 11, 2019: Hillhouse H.S. football of New Haven vs. Harding H.S. of Bridgeport Friday at Bowen Field in New Haven. Harding H.S. defeated Hillhouse H.S. 36-12.

Peter Hvizdak / Hearst Connecticut MediaShow MoreShow Less
24of26
New Haven, Connecticut - Friday, October 11, 2019: Hillhouse H.S. football of New Haven vs. Harding H.S. of Bridgeport Friday at Bowen Field in New Haven. Harding H.S. defeated Hillhouse H.S. 36-12.
25of26

New Haven, Connecticut - Friday, October 11, 2019: Hillhouse H.S. football of New Haven vs. Harding H.S. of Bridgeport Friday at Bowen Field in New Haven. Harding H.S. defeated Hillhouse H.S. 36-12.

Peter Hvizdak / Hearst Connecticut MediaShow MoreShow Less
26of26

NEW HAVEN — Harding had never won a Southern Connecticut Conference football game at Bowen Field.

Until Friday afternoon.

The Presidents, in just their third year as a member of the SCC, dominated Hillhouse, 36-12, for their second win in three seasons against Academics.

“This was a huge win for us since we were 1-2 coming in,” Harding coach Eddie Santiago said. “It shows we can play SCC football and we’re proud of that.”

WEEK 5 FOOTBALL SCOREBOARD / SCHEDULE

The Presidents took advantage of a number of Hillhouse mistakes throughout the afternoon with the first one helping Harding score early.

After Hillhouse stopped a Harding drive deep in Academics’ territory, a bad snap on a fourth down punt situation gave the Presidents the ball at the 6-yard line. Two plays later, Darnell Benoit scooted into the end zone. A pass from Nazjhir Curry (8-for-16 passing for 172 yards) to Orville Heron Jr. made it 8-0.

After Hillhouse couldn’t convert in the red zone a couple of times, two passes from Curry to big 6-foot-3 receiver Marcell Robinson were the key plays as Curry hit Robinson with a 28-yard touchdown pass with 7 minutes remaining in the second quarter.

Curry converted the two-point conversion with a two-yard run to make it 16-0.

“We knew we wanted to put ball in the air,” Santiago said. “We wanted to get Robinson going today with the fade ball and posts and get on the scoreboard early.”

Hillhouse finally got on the board with just 47 seconds to go in the opening half when Tre ronn Bryant bulldozed in from a yard out to close it to 16-6.

Harding, however, got a great kick return from Nasir Gibbs to the Hillhouse 26. On the final play of the first half, Curry ran a yard for the touchdown. Curry then added the Presidents’ third successful two-point conversion of the first half to make it 24-6 at the break.

Hillhouse closed it to 24-12 halfway through the third quarter as quarterback Demelle Turner (7-for-14 for 73 yards) connected with Turone Kelley in the left corner of the end zone to pull the Academics as close as they would get the rest of the afternoon.

Curry hit Dante Nunez with a 22-yard touchdown pass in the left corner and Gibbs rushed nine yards for a touchdown in the fourth quarter to close out the scoring.

“We were able to push the ball on offense and usually we have a hard time doing that,” Robinson said. “This is the best game we had throwing the ball.”

Meanwhile, Hillhouse fell to 0-4.

Part of it came thanks to a brutal early season schedule where its first three opponents had compiled an 11-1 mark, including unbeatens sixth-ranked Bloomfield and Weston plus one-loss Cheshire.

But the Academics continued their season long struggle to score, especially in the red zone.

“We came out flat and Harding just jumped on us,” Hillhouse coach Reggie Lytle said. “We never got it together. We’d get in the red zone and get stuck, which has been our story all season.”

PLAYER OF THE GAME

Nazjhir Curry: Harding quarterback threw for two touchdowns and rushed for another. He also had a pair of two-point conversion runs.

QUOTABLE

“This was big for our program. We have to keep pushing forward to try and get to the playoffs.”

— Harding wide receiver Marcell Robinson.

About Dave Phillips

Slam Dunk 2

Newsletter Signup

Don't strike out on CT high school sports news. Sign up for The Whistle newsletter from GametimeCT

You agree to our Terms of Use. Your information will be used as described in our Privacy Policy.

TeamPlayer Scores and Stats search

Scores and Stats

Video

Podcasts

Winter 2021 Preview Links

Winter Sports 2021 Links

BOYS BASKETBALL
PRESEASON TOP 10
25 CIAC PLAYERS TO WATCH
5 STORY LINES TO WATCH
CONFERENCE OUTLOOKS
GIRLS BASKETBALL
PRESEASON TOP 10
25 PLAYERS TO WATCH
5 STORY LINES TO WATCH
CONFERENCE OUTLOOKS
BOYS HOCKEY
PRESEASON TOP 10
25 PLAYERS TO WATCH
STORY LINES TO WATCH
CONFERENCE OUTLOOKS
GIRLS HOCKEY
15 PLAYERS TO WATCH
STORY LINES TO WATCH
CONFERENCE OUTLOOKS
BOYS SWIMMING
25 SWIMMERS TO WATCH
GYMNASTICS
15 GYMNASTS TO WATCH

Fall Sports Quick Links

Fall Sports Quick Links

2021 FOOTBALL COLLEGE RECRUITING LIST
2020 GAMETIMECT ALL-STATE TEAMS
BOYS SOCCER
GIRLS SOCCER
FIELD HOCKEY
GIRLS VOLLEYBALL
BOYS CROSS COUNTRY
GIRLS CROSS COUNTRY
2020 LEAGUE PLAYOFFS:
Central Connecticut
Fairfield County
Shoreline Conference
Southern Connecticut
South-West Conference

Twitter

Tweets

Polls

Who has the best helmets?

Loading ... Loading ...
Follow Us
© Copyright 2017 Hearst Media Services Connecticut, LLC