This is a printer-friendly version of an article from Zip06.com.
09/11/2016 12:00 AMFootball
The Old Saybrook-Westbrook (OS-W) football team blew out Pequot Conference South Division rival Haddam-Killingworth by a 41-13 final in the Rams’ season-opening contest at Old Saybrook High School on Sept. 10. The Rams used a powerful running game to wear down the Cougars with senior captain Chase Cook rushing 23 times for 188 yards and two touchdowns. All totaled, OS-W ran for 411 yards and scored all six of its TDs on the ground in the victory.
Junior quarterback Victor Pascoe opened the scoring for the Rams by taking home a keeper from three yards out to put Old Saybrook-Westbrook up 7-0 after the extra point by Cook. HK answered when Alex Segaline caught a short pass and turned it into a 54-yard score to even the game at 7-all. With the Cougars threatening in the second quarter, Rams’ junior linebacker Vincent Dyer picked off a pass near the goal line to end the threat. OS-W then drove the field behind its powerful offensive line and scored the go-ahead TD on Dyer’s 8-yard run to go up 14-7. After a couple of missed opportunities deep in HK territory, the Rams ended the first half ahead by just one score despite dominating the time of possession.
In the third quarter, the Rams took over the game as they pounded HK with methodical drives featuring Cook, who scored twice in the period on touchdown runs of seven and 23 yards to give the Rams a 28-7 advantage. In the fourth quarter, the Rams put the game away with their bruising rushing attack as Dyer scored on a 4-yard run with Pascoe plunging in from a yard out to blow it open at 41-7. HK scored a late TD against the Rams’ backups for the final score of 41-13.
Pascoe finished with 76 yards on 14 carries and two touchdowns, while Dyer had 12 rushes for 60 yards and two scores. Junior Cory Bartlett added 53 yards on seven carries. Cook went 5-for-6 on his extra point attempts.
Following the first game of his second year at the helm of OS-W football, Head Coach Mike Marone was pleased with his team’s performance in the victory.
“We have a pretty good offensive line. That is the strength of our football team this year, so obviously, we took advantage of the running game,” Marone said. “I’ll take [411] yards from the running game any day. We ran the ball and it was working, but we do have a passing game that we can pull out of our pocket. We didn’t do anything fancy today. We just tried to pound it and stay inside with the rushing attack. We went with Chase today a little more, but Vinny Dyer is no slouch either, and Cory Bartlett is a great addition and one of the most coachable kids I’ve been around. It’s always great to get the win on opening day.”
Defensively, junior Austin Parker forced a fumble for OS-W, while senior Joe Finnegan and junior Dan Driscoll both recovered a fumble. Dyer, senior Sloan True, and Bartlett all had interceptions for the Rams, who now get ready to face another divisional foe in Valley Regional-Old Lyme at Old Lyme High School at 1 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 17. Valley-Old Lyme defeated Ellington 14-7 in its first game and beat the Rams by a 27-13 score last season.
Boys’ Soccer
Old Saybrook got out to a nice start in 2016 by defeating Shoreline Conference rival Haddam-Killingworth 3-0 on Sept. 9.
The Rams’ first goal was scored by Justin Phillips on an assist by Austin Hilger. Ashton Reina had the second goal and sophomore Patty Ryan capped the scoring for the Rams.
“I’m very proud of my team. HK played well and gave us a hard time right down to the end, but we got the shutout, and I was very happy with the play of our goalie Jonah Nucci,” said Head Coach Sam Barnes.
Girls’ Soccer
On Sept. 9, Old Saybrook won its season debut in a tight match, 1-0, over Haddam-Killingworth. The Rams’ home victory has them at 1-0 on the year both overall and in the Shoreline Conference standings.