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Guilford Takes 31-27 Defeat Versus Foran

The Guilford football team took a 31-27 home loss to Foran in a back-and-forth SCC Tier 3 matchup on Nov. 1. After winning their first three games of the season, the Indians are now 3-4 after dropping their fourth-straight contest. Foran edged out Guilford by scoring the go-ahead touchdown with just 12 seconds left in the game.

“Our guys were a little down the following morning when we watched film. It was a game we really had a good chance to win. We let it slip away,” Head Coach Anthony Salvati said. “Not that Foran didn’t work to win it. They certainly did. We’re still making big mistakes at crucial times in games. Our kids know it. We need to make some corrections.”

Guilford rallied from a 17-point halftime deficit to give Foran (4-3, 2-2) a run for its money. Senior Charles Walcott scored on a 38-yard touchdown run to close the gap to 17-6 with six minutes to play in the third quarter.

The Indians continued trimming the Lions’ lead when junior quarterback Aedan McDermott connected with senior Shane Burns for a 42-yard scoring strike at the 10:50 mark of the fourth. Walcott ran in the 2-point conversion to make it 17-14.

With 8:40 to play, Guilford took its first lead of the game when senior lineman Jake Bradley picked off a pass and returned it 15 yards for a touchdown to give the Indians a 21-17 advantage.

Foran came back with a touchdown to regain the lead at 24-21, but Guilford responded by going on a drive that culminated with a 6-yard TD run from Walcott for a 27-24 advantage with 1:40 to play. However, the Lions marched down the field on their final drive of the night and scored a TD to go up 31-27 with 12 seconds remaining.

“They can be tough to defend,” Coach Salvati said of Foran. “They run that air-raid, collegiate-style offense and can beat you with quick, short passes. Their quarterback is big, rangy, and he’s got a good arm, probably the best in Tier 3.”

Walcott carried the ball 22 times for 155 yards and two touchdowns in the defeat. McDermott completed 14 of his 20 passes for 142 yards and a score for Coach Salvati’s squad.

“As I said before, our kids are feeling this loss,” Salvati said. “But we have to turn this around.”

Guilford started off its season by earning impressive wins over Branford (20-19), Hartford Public (40-20), and Avon (37-3). The Indians then lost contests against East Haven (34-28), Lyman Hall (20-14), and Masuk (48-0) before playing Foran.

“We were in the East Haven and Lyman Hall games and again last week,” Salvati said. “A few breaks went against us. All three games were within our grasp to win.”

Coach Salvati said the Indians will try to shake off their loss to Foran as they prepare to face Wilbur Cross at Bowen Field on Friday, Nov. 8 at 7 p.m. The Governors have a record of 0-7, but Salvati certainly doesn’t want Guilford to overlook the Governors, who play in SCC Tier 2.

“Just because they haven’t won, it doesn’t mean that they can’t be dangerous,” said Salvati of Cross. “They have their share of players, who, if you don’t make the initial tackle, can break a 5-yarder into a 59-yard TD run. We need to be ready.”

After playing Cross, the Indians have a home game with Bassick and will then close out the regular season by facing Hand.

“We need two wins for a .500 season,” Salvati said. “We can never discount pulling off an upset over Hand. It’s our traditional Thanksgiving game. But we need to beat both Cross and Bassick.”