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11/15/2014 11:00 PMThe Valley Regional/Old Lyme football team defeated Hyde 37-14 at home on Nov. 14 and achieved two big-time feats in the process. The Warriors not only clinched a share of the Pequot Sassacus Division title to repeat as division champions, but they also unofficially sealed a spot in the Class S Playoffs—marking the fourth time in the last five years that Tim King’s squad has reached the postseason. Valley/Old Lyme is 8-0 in the division and can wrap up the crown outright with a win against Haddam-Killingworth or a North Branford loss to Hyde on Thanksgiving Eve. Overall, the Warriors’ have a record of 10-0, are in the top spot in Class S, and will most certainly have their playoff spot cemented by the CIAC after the regular season for all teams throughout the state is completed on Thanksgiving.
“The kids were pretty excited. Winning the division is one of our first goals and getting into the playoffs is always a big thing for us because they want to get to a state championship game,” said Coach King. “We’re excited, but still not satisfied because our job is not done yet and we have a long way to go.”
Senior captains Justin Cheverier and Chris Jean-Pierre both had monster nights against division foe Hyde (5-5, 5-3) with Cheverier scoring three total touchdowns to go with 125 yards on 21 rushes and Jean-Pierre running 12 times for 119 yards, along with completing seven passes for 60 yards and a pair of scores.
Jean-Pierre threw a 22-yard touchdown strike to senior Hunter Linfesty just over three minutes into the game and then found Cheverier from 14 yards away for a 13-0 lead after one quarter following Jared Roche’s extra point kick.
The Howling Wolves cut it to 13-7 early in the second quarter on a 4-yard TD rush by Dwayne Hunter-Parker. Roche then booted a 22-yard field goal as time expired in the first half and the Warriors took a 16-7 lead to the locker room.
Hyde made it 16-14 when Ronnie Freeman scored from three yards away with 7:22 to play in the third quarter, but it was all Valley from that point on as the Warriors scored the game’s last three TDs to blow it open. First, Jean-Pierre scored on a 23-yard TD run to extend the advantage to 23-14 after three quarters.
Cheverier then played a drive at the quarterback spot when Jean-Pierre cramped up and he scored on a 2-yard TD plunge to make it 30-14 just 34 seconds into the fourth quarter. For good measure, Cheverier brought home a 44-yard punt return just two minutes later and, after Roche’s fourth extra point kick, the damage was done at 37-14.
“Chris made some great plays in the game and then we ran the Wildcat with Justin and he did a great job of keeping the clock moving by running for about 60 to 70 yards on that drive,” said King. “Also, our defensive coordinator Paul Ginter made a halftime adjustment. Hyde has a massive offensive line and they were mauling us up front, but then he pinched the tackles and slanted the nose and we shut them down after they scored their second TD.”
Valley/Old Lyme’s defense was led by 21 tackles, including three for a loss, from Cheverier with brother and fellow senior Tyler Cheverier making 13 that included five for losses. Other top tackle grabbers were senior Dan Figuenick (10 with 2 for a loss), senior Justin Burgess (9 with 2 for a loss), senior Tajhay Marhshall (8 with 2 for loss), Jean-Pierre (7 with 2 for loss), junior Matt Robertson (7), senior Andrew Tuscano (6), and junior Will Visgilio (6). Each of the Cheverier siblings and Marshall reeled in a sack, Tuscano had an interception, Burgess and Justin Cheverier forced fumbles, and senior Evan Smith and Robertson both had a fumble recovery.
The Warriors now get ready to cap the regular season by hosting Haddam-Killingworth (4-6, 3-5) in the annual Thanksgiving Eve game for the Principal’s Cup at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 26. Valley/Old Lyme has won the game the past two seasons.
“It’s always a battle and a challenge. Each year, you throw the records out. They’ll come ready to play,” King said. “Keeping the Principal’s Cup at Valley is something our kids want to do.”