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10/18/2014 12:00 AMThe North Haven football family hosted the John Liquori Memorial Football Game on Oct. 17 and all around Vanacore Field people wore purple T-shirts that featured a common saying from the late program alum which read, “Don’t wait for the perfect moment. Take the moment and make it perfect.” With his mother Lisa and brother Joseph in attendance, the Indians honored John Liquori through some touching words that captured his essence and a perfect performance on the football field in a 53-7 victory over Branford.
John started on both sides of the ball as a senior when North Haven made the playoffs in 2011 and graduated the next year, after which he attended Southern Connecticut State University. On July 17 of this year, John passed away at age 20 the day after he was hit by a pick-up truck driven by an alleged drunk driver while jogging on Middletown Avenue.
Shortly thereafter, Melissa Daniele—the mother of former Indians’ athlete Frank Daniele, who was friends with John—decided to “do something for the family to keep John’s memory alive,” and soon both the honorary game and John Liquori Memorial Foundation that will annually award a scholarship to one of the football team’s seniors began taking shape.
North Haven’s current seniors were freshmen during John’s senior season and, following the win against Branford, Coach Anthony Sagnella expressed how proud he was of his players for putting forth an effort that was emblematic of the effort John gave on the gridiron each and every day.
“It was a bittersweet night, but an honor to play for John. Our kids did a great job of honoring John’s life by playing how he played—physical, emotional, and to the last minute,” Sagnella said. “All things considered, we got it done from beginning to end with no lapses.”
John wore No. 41 for the Indians and so it was only fitting that his number was painted on the field instead the usual 40 at the 40-yard lines with John’s initials accompanying each of them. That was one way in which North Haven paid tribute to John and another was by having people who knew him share their thoughts on the person he was. Prior to the game, Athletic Director Todd Petronio read an introductory statement from the press box in which he called John someone who had “a charismatic smile and warm personality.” He then asked for a moment of silence for “a life that was too short, but touched so many.”
At halftime, three people who were close to John expressed their sentiments in assistant coach and program alum Chris Grillo; along with Joe Schwab, who was the Indians’ quarterback and part of John’s senior class; as well as a close family friend. Grillo praised John for being a “tremendously absorbent” football player with “intrinsic values on and off the field.” Schwab called his teammate “a brave and passionate soul” that “strived for success and pushed away complacency.” The family friend thanked everyone who helped the event come to fruition and described John as a person who possessed “positive energy and a contagious laugh.” She then concluded by saying, “Help us gain justice for John.”
North Haven’s athletes didn’t hear these words as they were in the locker room, but the Indians then emerged with the same energy which helped them build a 34-0 halftime lead by starting the second half on Cole Pecora’s 85-yard kickoff return for a touchdown. Pecora, a senior captain who also rushed for a TD and threw another in the opening half, detailed the evening’s emotions.
“We knew we had to play for John and win for John and come out with energy,” Pecora said. “It was definitely emotional early because he’s not with us anymore, but then we had to flip the switch and play the game. It was hard, but we showed our respect.”
Tommy Gallagher is also an Indians’ senior captain and, just like Pecora, he felt honored to play for “a role model” in John Liquori on a night that saw the town of North Haven remember the life of a person whose impact will never be forgotten.
“It’s awesome to see how people in our town care about supporting a good cause,” said Gallagher. “John was a kid who worked hard and was always in the right place and did the right thing. Tonight, we tried to do the right thing by playing hard for him.”
The Indians wasted little time in getting going as they recovered the opening kickoff and then used a 34-yard TD run from Pecora for a 6-0 lead just 12 seconds in. After Jeremy Imperati’s interception, Gallagher plunged in from a yard out and Pecora later threw a 60-yard TD to Nick Ponzio for a 20-0 lead after one. Gallagher and Mike Montano (9 rushes, 85 yards) both had 1-yard touchdown runs in the second for the 34-0 halftime advantage. Following Pecora’s kickoff return to the end zone and Sabrina Fronte’s fifth extra point to start the second half, Branford scored its lone TD and it was 41-7 through three. In the final frame, Jack Steinman threw a 20-yard TD to Kyle Melillo and Max Sullivan booked 62 yards for the game’s final score.
North Haven (5-1) was further led defensively by 10 tackles from both David Mikos and Bowen Brennan, nine tackles with a sack by Paul Brockamer; seven tackles each from Imperati, Gallagher, Connor Suraci, and Hunter Coughlin; six tackles by Pecora and Patrick Vanacore, plus a recovered fumble from Sullivan and an interception by Patrick McKenna.