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11/02/2013 12:00 AMThe Hand football squad has taken advantage of many big spots in its last six games, yet it came up short in that category against Xavier.
The Tigers suffered a 28-14 loss to the Falcons at home on Nov. 1 to drop to 6-2 on the season, while ending their six-game winning streak. Tied 7-7 at the break, Hand allowed two big-play scores by Xavier to start the second half and committed four turnovers on the night.
“The mistakes that we have been making all year caught up to us. We didn’t make the big plays that we have been making the last six weeks,” said Head Coach Steve Filippone. “But these kids have been great and work hard. For us to be 6-0 against good teams was magical and everything went out way. I want to emphasize that this game wasn’t a reflection on our kids; they didn’t do anything different and didn’t lose their edge.”
After a scoreless first quarter, the Falcons got on the board first with a rushing touchdown from four yards out before Conor Dowd (12 rushes, 99 yards) then used footwork of his own on a 12-yard rushing score to tie the contest at seven going to halftime.
At the very beginning of the third, Xavier (6-2) struck with a 64-yard touchdown reception on its only passing play of the second half to go ahead, 14-7. The Falcons then broke through on an 85-yard rush to increase their lead to 14 in the third after only two offensives snaps in the half.
“The bottom line is that passes we caught in the last six games we dropped tonight,” said Filippone. “We didn’t make big plays, but the kids are giving great effort. The young kinds of mistakes are still there.”
Later in the frame, though, Nick Van Dell (15-of-32, 205 yards, 3 interceptions) cut the Tigers’ deficit in half with an 8-yard touchdown reception to Tom Wilson, although Xavier would seal Hand’s first home loss since Oct. 30, 2009 on a 2-yard scoring run in the fourth. The final Falcons’ score was set up by a fumbled punt snap that put the ball at Hand’s 16-yard line, which Xavier took into the end zone after a fumble recovery on a 4
th
-and-goal play.
“That was the turning point for us; if not for that touchdown by them, and then who knows down only 21-14,” said Filippone. “They run a read-option offense, and on several occasions when the quarterback [Joe Carbone] ran free, our outside linebacker or defensive end went to the outside and forgot they had to play the quarterback.”
Despite the defeat, Filippone gives credit to his players during the six-game stretch that included strong wins over Hillhouse, North Haven, Cheshire, Fairfield Prep, and Shelton.
“We watched the film already and they know that if they executed the way they were supposed to, they would’ve won the game, but that’s high school football, and we aren’t upset with them,” said Filippone. “We are thankful to be 6-2 and credit to our kids for sticking with it, because we could easily be 2-6. Every game since the North Haven game has been a playoff game in how we have to prepare.”
The Tigers’ second loss drops them to sixth in the Class L playoff rankings with a 113.75 point average. The top eight teams qualify for the postseason.
“Our backs are against the wall to qualify for the playoffs,” said Filippone, whose team next travels to West Haven (7-1) on Friday, Nov. 8. “West Haven has unfathomable athletic ability on offense and has been playing much better defense. If we play our best game, then we will be in it until the end.”