The Seymour Wildcats opened the 2010 football season Friday looking to put the past behind them after a 1 – 9 season last year.
It didn’t happen.
The Wildcats simply made too many mistakes in a resounding 54 – 6 loss to the Naugatuck Greyhounds.
Seymour was off from the start, with quaterback Luke Grabowski missing on three straight passes that either went through the hands or were dropped by receivers.
Naugatuck fielded the punt after a three and out series and Tyree Williams high stepped it 65 yards down the sidelines for the first score of the game at 11:21 left in the first quarter.
On the second series it was more of the same.
The Greyhounds recovered a fumble on the second play from scrimmage with Mike Schebell coming up with the loose ball.
Five plays later, Erich Broadrick fired a six yard touchdown pass to Dashawn Wingate to open up a 13 – 0 Naugatuck edge.
“We had too many players standing around waiting for someone to make a play,” said Seymour head coach Tom Lennon. “This is not Wildcats football and yes, we are certainly disappointed in our effort. That will change. We will put 11 players out there who will play Wildcat football.”
Seymour appeared to have caught a break when Mike Conlan recovered a fumble after a second Wildcat punt. That momentum was short lived when the drive ended with Williams intercepting a pass to give the ball back to the Hounds.
“We were very undisciplined,” added Lennon. “We did things we are not coached to do. And didn’t execute the things we are coached to do.”
Naugatuck ended up sticking it in the end zone to take a commanding 20 – 0 lead as Jake Yourison pounded ahead for a 25 yard burst. Seymour entered the locker room staring down the barrel of a three touchdown lead.
It didn’t get much better in the second half.
Naugatuck took the opening kick off with Williams going 70 yards to pay dirt. It was suddenly Seymour zip, Naugy 33.
Seymour struck back with Grabowski finding Mike Fraser on a slant pattern for a 38 yard touchdown with 3:12 left in the third quarter.
Naugatuck upped the margin yet again on a 57-yard pass to play from Broadrick to Williams. That made it 40 – 6 entering the final quarter.
“We need to get 11 players on the same page,” Lennon said. “What matters is guys coming to play and we obviously didn’t have that tonight.”
The Greyhounds tacked on two more scores in the fourth quarter to put the finishing touches on coach Rob Plasky’s birthday in the Greyhounds opening season 54 – 6 win.
Next up for Seymour — Watertown, Friday, Sept. 24 at 7 p.m. (away).
