Naugy stumbles

0
52
Naugatuck's Michael Plasky (8) throws a screen pass against Wolcott Oct. 2 at Naugatuck High School. –REPUBLICAN-AMERICAN
Naugatuck’s Michael Plasky (8) throws a screen pass against Wolcott Oct. 2 at Naugatuck High School. –REPUBLICAN-AMERICAN

NAUGATUCK — The dank weather last Friday may have served as a foreboding sign for the Greyhounds as they took the field to face undefeated Wolcott under the lights, and rain.

After suffering their first loss of the season against Torrington Sept. 25, coach Craig Bruno and the Greyhounds were looking to bounce back against the Eagles. Naugatuck could not get the job done as Wolcott served them defeat number two, 34-8.

Special teams continue to do no favors for the Garnett and Grey. Much like the game versus the Red Raiders, two of the biggest plays against Wolcott came during kickoffs.

The Eagles got the jump on Naugatuck after recovering an onside kick on the opening kickoff.

Wolcott turned to senior Nate Filippone, who carried the ball three times for 51 yards on the drive and capped it with a 27-yard touchdown run to give the Eagles (4-0) an early 7-0 lead.

The Greyhounds (2-2) responded with a touchdown drive of their own. Antoine Sistrunk gave Naugy an 8-7 after scoring from 24 yards out and tacking on the two-point conversion.

The Eagles struck yet again on the following kickoff. After finding an opening in the kick coverage, Filippone sprinted 76 yards to increase Wolcott’s lead to 14-8 with 6:15 left the first quarter.

The score remained 14-8 until Wolcott’s Rocky Griffin lobbed an 11-yard touchdown pass to Jacob Ramos with 42 seconds left in the half to give the Eagles a 21-8 lead at the break.

Naugy had a difficult time picking up steam from there, according to Greyhound lineman and defensive captain Logan Bond.

“We needed the momentum and we couldn’t get it,” Bond said. “They had a good D-Line, and our O-Line needed to hold them like a second more.”

The Eagles kept rolling in the second half, scoring two more times while keeping the Greyhounds out of the end zone. Overall, the Eagles forced three Naugy turnovers on the night.

Wolcott added two more touchdowns in the fourth by Michael Pastore. First, the junior quarterback found Justin Fernandes with 15-yard touchdown pass. Then Pastore returned an interception 27 yards for the final score of the night with 4:08 left in the game.

There was no lack of effort on the ‘Hounds part however, as Naugy nearly doubled Wolcott’s total rushing yards, 207 to 122. Sistrunk led the way with 138 yards on 30 carries.

The weather certainly played a factor as Naugatuck’s pass game struggled to get on track. Mike Plasky was 1-for-6 for 12 yards.

“I think the weather had a little something to do with it tonight,” Bruno said. “It was hard to throw the ball, but it was two hard-nosed teams. It was a physical game for sure. They were able to make some more plays than we did.”

Naugatuck had trouble picking up steam throughout the game. In the few times that the Greyhounds made into Wolcott’s territory, they couldn’t capitalize.

Overall it just wasn’t the ‘Hounds night, according to defensive coach Patrick O’Rourke.

“Sometimes things don’t go your way,” O’Rourke said. “We played a good football team, and our guys gave it one hell of a shot, but you just can’t overcome some of the mistakes.”

Naugatuck will face Derby (2-2) Thursday at 6 p.m. at home as the Greyhounds looked to get back over .500.