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11/07/2014 11:00 PMIt seems like every year the North Haven football team faces Foran with the SCC Division II East title on the line and, just like in past seasons, it was the Indians who again captured the crown by earning a 27-0 shutout of the Lions in Milford on Nov. 7. North Haven held a slim one-touchdown advantage at halftime, but capitalized on a crucial turnover to score its second TD in the third quarter, followed by a pair of scores in the fourth.
The victory sealed North Haven’s division record at 4-0, improved Anthony Sagnella’s squad to 8-1 overall, and kept the Indians in the eighth spot in the Class L Playoff rankings. The top eight teams make the postseason.
“It’s important for our kids to play well at this point in the season and if that means beating a good Foran team on the road and win the division, then that’s what has to happen,” Coach Sagnella said. “That’s what our kids set out to do and I’m proud of them for that.”
North Haven controlled the ground game in upending Foran (4-5, 3-1) by totaling 343 yards on 48 carries. Senior captain quarterback Cole Pecora put together a huge game in which he rushed for 162 yards on 15 carries and three touchdowns. Jake Kastenhuber ran nine times for 95 yards and fellow junior Mike Montano added 60 yards on 12 carries with a score.
“It was an intense game and a hard-fought game and we needed to control the line of scrimmage. We had a few lapses, penalties, and missed opportunities, but ultimately, the offensive line took over and Cole did a tremendous job,” said Sagnella. “Cole is a very good runner in space and, if we get bodies on bodies, Cole can do the rest. He had a tremendous night and Kastenhuber and Montano gave us some diversity as far as who carried the ball.”
After Kastenhuber forced a fumble that North Haven recovered, Pecora scored the game’s first touchdown with 3:50 left in the opening quarter by taking home a 39-yard run. Junior Sabrina Fronte kicked the extra point and the Indians had their 7-0 lead which held up at halftime.
Following a fumbled punt by the Lions that was scooped up by North Haven, Montano scored on a 5-yard touchdown rush with 4:06 left in the third quarter and the Indians were now up 13-0 after the extra point kick was blocked.
Pecora then notched a pair of touchdowns to ice it in the fourth. He first scored on a 56-yard TD scamper that was followed by Montano’s two point conversion run for a 21-0 advantage with 8:16 to play in the game. An interception by Kastenhuber set up that drive. Pecora posted the contest’s last score by taking one in from 12 yards away with 2:41 remaining and North Haven left Milford with a 27-0 victory and its sixth straight division championship.
On defense, junior David Mikos reeled in 12 tackles for the Indians. Junior Connor Suraci made nine tackles and had an interception, senior captain Tommy Gallagher had six tackles that included two for losses and also recovered a fumble, Kastenhuber had six tackles with the pick and forced fumble, and Paul Brockamer and Colin Ciszewski each had a sack with Ciszewski also recovering a fumble. All totaled, North Haven caused Foran to cough it up four times in the game.
“We were flying around on defense. The defense has played well all season and we get a lot of turnovers because the kids create them,” said Sagnella. “We get pressure on quarterbacks that causes them to throw into coverage, our kids make plays by jarring the ball loose, and we take advantage of those opportunities. We have some tough, athletic kids who are playing good football right now.”
North Haven’s next game is a huge one at 8-0 Darien at 1 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 15. Darien is 8-0 and ranked third in Class L. The Blue Wave defeated North Haven 36-27 last season.
“It’s shaping up for all the eggs to be in the basket for this one,” said Sagnella. “If we win, we probably have secured our spot in the postseason and, if we don’t, we’re probably on the outside looking in and so it has a lot of meaning.”