Ansonia’s Montrell Dobbs scored five touchdowns and rushed for 270 yards on 33 carries Thursday, powering the Chargers to a 47 – 23 win over Watertown.
The win on the road raises Ansonia’s record to 6 – 0.
“We’ve had six games and won all of them. There’s no better feeling than that,” Dobbs said.
“It feels real good. I felt like I just couldn’t be stopped. It felt like it was going to be a good game to me,” Dobbs said.
The Indians (3 – 3) and their star quarterback, Matt Quatrano, would not back down. Quatrano fumbled the shotgun snap, rolled-out to his right, and threw up a prayer that landed in the end zone — in wide receiver Tony Simpson’s hands.
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Simpson made an outstanding grab by out-jumping the Ansonia defense for the TD reception. The PAT sailed through the uprights and the Indians took the lead, 7 – 6 at the 4:48 mark of the first quarter.
But Watertown went three-and-out on its next possession.
Dobbs and Ansonia countered with a 29-yard TD run, putting the Chargers ahead 12 – 7 early in quarter no. 2.
Quatrano (5 – 15 passing for 64 yards – 13 carries, 95 yards) and company marched 70 yards on their
ensuing drive to once again regain the lead.
Quatrano scampered into the end zone on a QB draw from 25 yards out and also ran the 2‑point attempt in to give his Indians a 15 – 12 advantage over the visiting Chargers.
“Playing against a great player like that, hats off to him. He made some unbelievable plays,” Chargers’ head coach Tom Brockett said.
Ansonia scored its final touchdown of the first half on a one-yard TD run by Dobbs just before halftime. Ansonia regained the lead, 19 – 15, going into the half.
“In the third quarter, I think we really exploded to put the game out-of-reach,” Brockett said.
Ansonia sure came out of the break firing on all cylinders, putting up a 21-spot in the third quarter to terminate Watertown’s comeback dreams.
It took five plays for the Chargers to strike yet again.
Ansonia obtained great field position due to two late-hit penalties by the Indians. Chargers’ sophomore Andrew Matos set-up Dobbs’ fourth touchdown with a 27-yard run – taking the ball inside of the Indians’ ten yard line. Two plays later, Dobbs ran to the left and dove over the pylon from four yards out for the score. After a Tyler Lester PAT, Ansonia took a 26 – 15 advantage.
Ansonia’s Jake LaRovera, Dylan Vano, and Ryan O’Connor all made defensive stops on Watertown’s next offensive series. That’s when Ansonia freshman, Arkeel Newsome, intercepted a Quatrano pass at the Ansonia 30-yard line. Three plays later, the freshman hit pay dirt, breaking three Watertown tackles and sprinting 69 yards down the Ansonia sideline for the touchdown.
Lester made the PAT to give the Chargers a 33 – 15 lead midway through the third.
“Arkeel always makes something happen,” Dobbs said. “[Newsome’s TD run] was real big. The defense is always looking for me to get the ball or a big pass play, but he took it to the house on the run. It was real big.”
O’Connor made another fantastic play for Big Blue by putting a solid hit on Quatrano, forcing him to fumble the rock. Ansonia junior defensive end, Matt Hall, recovered the fumble for Ansonia at the Watertown 11 yard line. This proved to be crucial for the Indians because three plays later, Ansonia junior quarterback Elliot Chudwick fired a 9‑yard strike to Andrew Matos in the end zone to extend the lead to 40 – 15.
Quatrano hooked-up with Simpson early in the fourth quarter to trim Ansonia’s lead down to 40- 23. Watertown made an effort to get back into the game by attempting to recover an on-side kick.
However, the Chargers recovered at midfield and Dobbs scored just two plays later – on a 45 yard run through the right side of the Watertown defense to give Ansonia a 47 – 23 lead and, eventually, the win.
Dobbs also intercepted a pass for Ansonia.
The Chargers (6 – 0, 4 – 0) will host the visiting Derby Red Raiders at 7 p.m., Friday, October 29 at Jarvis Stadium in Ansonia.
