ANSONIA — Naugatuck’s season came to an end on Thanksgiving.
The Greyhounds headed to Ansonia for their latest installment in the century-old rivalry looking to snap a five-game losing streak to the Chargers and secure a playoff berth.
Ansonia seized momentum and control of the game early when Markell Dobbs intercepted a pass from Naugatuck quarterback Mike Plasky three plays into the game. The Chargers never looked back as they scored six touchdowns in the first half to cruise to a 44-0 victory at Nolan Field.
Ansonia (10) used players like Dobbs, Justin Lopez, and Malcolm Martin to pick up five scores on the ground, while the Naugatuck (10-0) defense couldn’t gain any lasting pressure against the Chargers’ offensive line.
Ansonia quarterback Bryson Cafaro added a passing touchdown in the first half along with six extra points.
Offensively, the Greyhounds couldn’t respond with points of their own, as Ansonia’s defense held them to 109 total yards, snagged two interceptions, and scored a first quarter safety that opened the floodgates for the remainder of the half.
By halftime the storm had settled. Ansonia had the game firmly in hand and the Greyhounds’ playoff berth, as well.
While the Greyhounds’ season and playoff chances are over, Naugatuck head coach Craig Bruno acknowledged a different loss that the team will suffer in the offseason.
Naugatuck will be graduating 12 seniors this spring in Tyler Deitelbaum, Dan Oladapo, Brandon Papp, Josh McFarland, Jalen Datil, Devon Biancarelli-Milano, Matt Johnson, Ben Rossi, David Verrilli, Joequan Wright, Edison Sanchez, and Xavier Lewis.
“It’s always a bittersweet day,” Bruno said. “You never want to see the guys leave, but they had fine careers. They came a long way in their career, and I told them in the locker room they don’t have anything to hang their head about. You got to keep your heads up and go back to work. The seniors, we wish them the best. There are a lot of good kids”
While there was an abundance of youth and newcomers on the team to start the year, next season may yield a different look.
Based on this season’s roster, Naugatuck is projected to have eight rising seniors and 19 juniors returning.
Rising-seniors include linebacker Hubet Lutzykowski, who will be a big player for the Greyhounds’ defense, and Plasky, who will be in his third season starting at quarterback.
Lutzykowski established himself early on in the season, recording, sacks, interceptions, and forced fumbles throughout the year.
Plasky recorded over 900 yards passing and accounted for 19 total touchdowns on the season.
“He’s a good player. He had a fine season,” said Bruno about Plasky. “He’s got to continue to get better.”
While Plasky won’t have Datil, Oladapo, Deitelbaum, or Biancarelli in his arsenal next season, he will have rising juniors Jacob Fazekas and Elijah Robinson returning. Both were newcomers on varsity this season, but they instantly became consistent producers for the Greyhounds.
Time will tell where the Greyhounds go next year.
