Ansonia senior quarterback Nick O’Connor led the Chargers second half dominance turning a 28 – 14 lead into an insurmountable 56 – 14 advantage heading into the final quarter.
The win secures Ansonia a spot in the state playoffs.
O’Connor took the opening kick off in the second half to the house rambling 70 yards on the strength on several down field blocks to spark the Chargers.
Ansonia went on to win its 22nd Thanksgiving Day game in the last 24 tries improving to 64 – 36-10 in the holiday classic by a 56 – 20 final margin.
O’Connor was named the games MVP running for a touchdown, passing for a touchdown and returning a kick off for a score to give him three TD’s on the day.
Ansonia will know take its 8 – 2 record into the state playoffs on Tuesday in a semifinal match up, reportedly no. 1 Northwest Catholic.
“Nick really gave us a spark with that kick off return,” said Ansonia head coach Tom Brockett.
“Naugatuck grabbed a little momentum at the end of the first half and we discussed coming right out and getting a quick score.”
“That took them right out of it and we just excelled from there. The defense came up with some key turnovers that gave us good field position and we took advantage of it.”
Bobby Kinnebrew put the Chargers ahead on a 28 yard blast with 6:41 left in the first quarter. Interceptions by Montrel Dobbs and Jalantae Williams kept Naugatuck off the board and led to an 11 yard touchdown run from Christian Sobin to up the lead to 12 – 0.
The Chargers had four interceptions and two fumble recoveries to put a road block in front of the Naugatuck offense. Michael Hough (interception, fumble) fell on a loose ball and minutes later O’Connor found Marty Lawlor on a 19 yard pass play to up the margin to 19 – 0 with 10:42 to go in the half.
Kinnebrew barreled through the Naugatuck defense on a 70 yard scamper as the Greyhounds were staggering from a 25 – 0 deficit. Naugatuck finally broke the ice and scored its first Thanksgiving Day touchdown in four years when David Wingate went for a 16 yard score at 7:02 before the break.
Michael Palmquist booted a 20 yard field goal to up the advantage at 28 – 7 before Naugatuck gained a little momentum. A controversy over the time left on the clock ended up in the Greyhounds favor as they scored with no time left on a three yard run by Marty DeJesus.
Naugatuck went into the locker room feeling they were very much in this game in spite of all the turnovers.
“We felt if we could hold them to three and out and score we were in this game,” said Naugatuck coach Rob Plasky.
“We never got the chance. When O’Connor returned that kick off it was all down hill after that.”
After O’Connor took the opening kick off all the way back for a score Hough got it right back for the Chargers intercepting a pass at the Naugatuck 16 yard line. O’Connor took it in from three yards out for a commanding 42 – 14 lead.
Tyler Wood intercepted the next Naugatuck possession and Christian Sobin scored his second touchdown of the day on a five yard burst for a 49 – 14 advantage.
Ansonia scored 28 third quarter points to put it away after Tyler Williams recovered a fumble and Jalantae Williams stuck it in the end zone on a five yard carry.
It was all but over with the Chargers out in front 56 – 14 heading into the final quarter. The Greyhounds tallied one last score on an eight yard pass from Tyler Conklin to Matt D’Agnone for the 56 – 20 final margin.
