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09/10/2017 12:00 AMFootball
The Old Saybrook-Westbrook football team kicked off the 2017 season by posting a decisive 49-14 road victory against Gilbert-Northwestern on Sept. 8.
The Yellow Jackets got out to an early lead in the first quarter by using a 55-yard touchdown pass to grab a 7-0 lead. However, OS-W quickly struck back with a 60-yard touchdown pass from senior quarterback Victor Pascoe to junior wide receiver Max Thomas that cut it to 7-6. The Rams scored again before the end of the quarter when Pascoe snuck into the end zone, after which senior Vincent Dyer pounded it in for the 2-point conversion to put the Rams up 14-7.
In the second quarter, Pascoe broke free for a pair of 20-yard touchdown runs, with Cooper Pavlovich converting both extra points. The Yellow Jackets followed with their final TD of the game to make it 28-14.
The Rams added three more touchdowns in the second half behind runs from Pascoe and Dyer, coupled with pair of extra points from Pavlovich. Finally, junior Danny Almada broke off a 50-yard run for another touchdown, and Pavlovich converted the kick to make it 49-14.
Pascoe had a huge game for OS-W, throwing for 127 yards with a touchdown on three completions in five attempts—good for a 104.2 QB rating. Pascoe also shined on the ground by scrambling for 121 yards and three touchdowns. On defense, Pascoe made four tackles and snagged an interception.
In the receiving core, in addition to Thomas’s 64-yard touchdown reception, Tanner Selmont hauled in a 40-yard pass for the Rams. On the ground, Dyer rushed for 161 yards and scored two touchdowns. He also had a reception for 23 yards. On defense, Dyer made 13 tackles to go with a sack. Other Rams who had big games on defense were Andrew Naccarato (7 tackles, 1 sack, 1 interception), David McCain, Jr. (10 tackles), and Angus McKay (6 tackles, 1 sack).
This week, the Rams will play their home opener against Nonnewaug at Old Saybrook High School on Saturday, Sept. 16 at noon.
Boys’ Soccer
The defending Shoreline Conference champion Rams secured their first victory of the season by winning their opener on Sept. 9. Old Saybrook squared off against Norwich Free Academy and came away with a convincing 6-0 win over the Wildcats in a non-conference game.
Old Saybrook did most of its damage in the first half by keeping the ball moving and putting it in the back of the net four times before the whistle blew for intermission. Sebastiano Gallitto scored the first goal at the 6:11 mark on an assist from Paddy Ryan. Ryan also assisted on a goal from Justin Phillips at the nine-minute mark. At 24:06, Ryan grabbed a goal of his own and got a little help from his friend Phillips with the assist. Then at 33:17, Austin Hilger got in on the act by scoring a goal that was assisted by Phillips. In the second half, Hilger scored on a penalty kick at 45:58. At the 46:51 juncture, Anthony Karg connected on a corner kick from Hilger for a goal to push the Rams’ command to 6-0.
The Rams took 20 shots on goal to the Wildcats’ nine. Goalkeeper Jonah Nucci stood tall making six saves in net for Old Saybrook.
Following last year’s epic campaign, Head Coach Sam Barnes was happy to see the Rams pick up right where they left off in their 2017 opener.
“I am extremely pleased with our performance today, as well as the dedication [that] this team and the coaching staff has shown,” said Barnes. “We have a deep bench and still have some positioning to work out, but today, we came ready to play.”
Girls’ Soccer
The Rams opened their season on the road at Portland to face off against the Highlanders on Sept. 8. Old Saybrook emerged with a 2-1 victory to get the 2017 season started on the right foot.
Last year, the Rams went 12-5-5 and advanced to the Class S final in their first season with Head Coach Berkeley Cecchini-Bond.