“Eighteen. Eighteen. Eighteen,” chanted the Ansonia cheerleaders after the Class S football championship game.
The cheerleaders repeatedly shouted that number to celebrate the Ansonia football team’s 18th state title after the top-seeded Chargers ran over third-seeded North Branford, 59 – 26 Saturday at Rentschler Field (UConn’s home field) in East Hartford.
With the win, Ansonia finished the season at 13 – 0 and extended its record to 18 – 8 in state championship games.
“All of the championships feel very good,” said Chargers coach Tom Brockett, who won his fourth title and is now 4 – 2 in the pinnacle game. “We get the kids to believe in themselves, and they work very hard.”
North Branford, which finished the season at 12 – 1, didn’t make it easy for Ansonia.
Thunderbirds senior quarterback Brandan Basil (22 – 43 for 398 yards) gave the Chargers fits, and on the first possession of the game, threw the first of four touchdown passes when he connected with classmate Joe DeLucia for a 75-yard score with 10:59 remaining in the first quarter.
Ansonia junior Saiheed Sanders blocked the extra point, and North Branford led, 6 – 0.
Photos below by Josalee Thrift. Article continues after the gallery.
Both offenses were explosive and hit many big plays.
The Chargers had 595 net yards, doing most of their damage on the ground, while the Thunderbirds had 495 yards, accumulating 80 percent of their production through the air.
Once Ansonia got it going on offense on its second possession, it became virtually unstoppable.
Junior Arkeel Newsome, who set the career record for most touchdowns in the state last week, did all the work on the drive, rushing for 70 yards on five carries.
Newsome (28 carries for 237 yards and four touchdowns) broke multiple tackles for a 41-yard gain to give Ansonia a first-and-goal on North Branford’s 3‑yard line, and followed up with a 3‑yard touchdown run with 5:09 left to make it 6 – 6.
“I had to run hard and made sure I wasn’t caught from behind,” Newsome said.
Although the Chargers had 413 yards rushing on 46 carries, they were also proficient in the air as well. Sophomore quarterback Jaiquan McKnight (3 – 8 for 182 yards) may have aired it out only eight times, but he made his completions count.
Because of McKnight’s prowess, Ansonia needed only one play on its next drive to take the lead for good. The sophomore quarterback threw a pass over a Thunderbird defensive back and into the hands of Charger senior captain Raeshaun Finney’s hands. Finney (two catches for 107 yards) hauled it in and found daylight for a 75-yard touchdown reception with 1:20 left.
“McKnight put it in the air, and I knew I had to grab it,” Finney said.
Newsome then ran it in for the 2‑point conversion to make it 14 – 6.
Following the score, Ansonia showed its resiliency in two instances. First, Sanders forced a fumble, which Finney recovered on North Branford’s 7, but the play was ruled dead because of an inadvertent whistle, thus the Thunderbirds had the ball.
After Ansonia forced a punt, North Branford was presented a golden opportunity when Newsome fumbled the kick, which the Thunderbirds recovered on the Charger 29. However, Ansonia’s defense stopped North Branford on a fourth-and-five from the 7.
On the ensuing drive, McKnight’s screen pass to senior captain Andrew Matos on a third-and-four produced a 75-yard touchdown pass with 8:21 remaining in the half.
“Andrew is a great receiver, and goes to the spot where I put the ball,” McKnight said.
Matos said, “I knew the ball was tipped, I concentrated on catching the ball, and went full speed. Honestly, I think it got us going.”
McKnight ran it in for two points to make it 22 – 6.
Matos (seven carries for 53 yards and two touchdowns) added a 9‑yard rushing touchdown before the half to make it 28 – 6 at the break.
Basil connected with DeLucia (nine catches for 204 yards) for a 63-yard touchdown pass and Gary Falanga for the 2‑point conversion to pull North Branford within 14, 28 – 14.
The Thunderbirds had a chance to make it a one-possession game, but their drive stalled at Ansonia’s 14, courtesy of the defensive play of senior captain Jh’mel Trammell, classmate Ephraim Collins and Sanders.
The Chargers then scored the next 16 points to put the game away with Newsome scoring on a 2‑yard run and a 64-yard run. Newsome ran it in for the first 2‑point conversion, and McKnight hit Finney for the second conversion.
McKnight (seven carries for 109 yards) kept the first drive alive with a 27-yard run on a third-and-eight from his 16. He made it 52 – 20 with a 56-yard run.
“Their ends were aggressive, so I ran a bootleg and took it to the house,” Newsome said.
Matos ran it home for the 2‑point conversion after McKnight’s score and closed out the scoring with a 5‑yard run with 2:01 left. Junior Arthur Kwaskiewicz kicked the extra point.
“It feels incredible,” Trammell said. “I’m happy to close out my career with two straight titles. I’m proud of my team for what we accomplished, and I’m glad to be a part of it.”
