The Valley Regional/Old Lyme football squad made history on Dec. 6, when the Warriors notched a 34-0 shutout of Bullard Havens Tech in semifinals the Class S Large Division State Playoffs—a victory that sent Tim King’s club to its first state final in program history. Now, Valley looks to conclude its storybook season with an exciting final chapter by bringing home its initial state crown when the Warriors take on Ansonia in the championship clash. The game will take place at Willow Brook Park in New Britain at 10 a.m. on Saturday, Dec. 13.

The Warriors controlled the line of scrimmage on both sides of the ball in upending Bullard Havens amidst the raindrops in Deep River, scoring a touchdown in the first quarter, posting a safety in the second, and then blowing it open with 19 points in the third en route to reaching the title bout.

“It means everything. It’s the accumulation of 20-years’-plus of coaching at Valley and all the kids we’ve seen in the past. From the teams that were 1-9 all the way to last year’s team that had their hearts ripped out in the Brookfield game [a loss in the state semis], this is for them,” Coach King said. “Our 2014 team is the one on the field, but all our teams over the years have something to do with it.”

Valley is the top seed in the Class S Large bracket with a record of 12-0 and No. 2 seed Ansonia improved to 11-1 with its 35-14 victory versus Windham in its semi. The Chargers will be making their 28

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appearance in a state final and have won 19 championships, including in each of the past three seasons.

“With Ansonia’s 19 state championships, it’s kind of like David and Goliath,” said King, who was recently named the Pequot Conference Sassacus Division Coach of the Year. “We know they’re rich in tradition with great athletes and are well-coached, but to be the best, you have to beat the best, and there’s nothing more you want to do than to go out and play for the state title against a traditional team.”

Facing No. 4 seed Bullard Havens (9-3) from Bridgeport, Warriors’ senior captain quarterback Chris Jean-Pierre had his typical great game by rushing for 153 yards and two touchdowns on 18 carries go to with one score passing and now has more than 1,000 yards via the ground and the air this season. Meanwhile, senior Andrew Tuscano—who’s typically a tight end/wide receiver—got an opportunity to carry the ball from the backfield and capitalized on his nine carries by gaining 175 yards with two TDs, along with catching a 43-yard touchdown pass from Jean-Pierre.

Jean-Pierre and Tuscano connected on that strike for the game’s first touchdown toward the end of the opening quarter. After the Warriors had a touchdown called back due to a holding penalty, they faced a 3

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-down-and-20 from the Bullard Havens’ 43-yard line. Offensive coordinator Kevin Woods called for a screen pass that went to Tuscano, who raced home for a score that resulted in a 7-0 lead with 3:21 left in the first.

Valley then had another TD brought back due to holding in the second quarter, although Jean-Pierre booted a nice pooch punt that pinned the Tigers at their own 4. Two plays later, senior captain defensive end Tyler Cheverier tackled Bullard Havens’ ball carrier as he recovered a fumbled snap and it went in the books as a safety that gave the Warriors a 9-0 lead with 8:18 to go before halftime. Valley’s nine-point advantage held up at the break.

“The safety was huge. It may not seem like much, but the field conditions were horrendous and it was a quagmire with the rain coming down and so to go into halftime up nine was big because it gave us a little breathing room,” said Coach King. “Then in the locker room, we talked about making a statement by scoring on our first series of the second half and we scored on the first play.”

That score was a 75-yard touchdown rush by Tuscano just 18 seconds into the latter half and Tuscano took one home from 50 yards out about six minutes later to put the Warriors ahead 21-0. Jean-Pierre then rushed for a 63-yard touchdown run with 2:21 remaining in the third quarter and, following junior Jared Roche’s second extra point kick, the Warriors were in control with a 28-0 lead entering the final frame.

Jean-Pierre’s 6-yard TD run with 4:24 to play in the contest sealed the victory at 34-0.

Coach King was thrilled to see Tuscano get in on the act and also credited his offensive line for creating the space that Tuscano, Jean-Pierre, and senior captain Justin Cheverier (10 carries, 74 yards) needed to do so. Valley/Old Lyme’s offensive line was anchored by senior captain center Dan Figuenick; guards Tyler Cheverier, senior Tajhay Marshall, and sophomore Mitch Conard; plus junior tackles Matt Robertson and Will Visgilio.

“Tuscano just runs so hard, sees the field so well, and reads his blocks well. He gets a little alley, squares up his shoulders, and runs downhill. He’s tough to bring down and makes you pay for it if you do,” Coach King said. “Our offensive line really started clicking in the second half. We really got back to power running and I give a lot of credit to our offensive line. A lot of people say we’re a finesse team, but we went at them, the offensive line got physical, and I give them a lot of credit.”

Of course, Tuscano gave his offensive line plenty of credit, as well as the Warriors’ defense, in what he called a true team victory versus Bullard Havens. Tuscano is surely happy that Valley/Old Lyme tamed the Tigers to make the state final, but he’s also well aware that the job is far from finished for the Warriors.

“All the history will be great to look back on, but what we’re concentrating on now is working hard and winning the game,” Tuscano said.

Jean-Pierre feels the same way and has confidence that his squad is up for the challenge of taking on the perennial powerhouse that is Ansonia.

“There is no doubt that we are ready,” Jean-Pierre said. “We have to have a good mental state of mind this week and go hard and challenge each other to be the best we possibly can be.”

In addition to their robust offensive numbers versus Bullad Havens, Tuscano and Jean-Pierre also contributed defensively. Tuscano recorded an interception with Jean-Pierre making two tackles for a loss. Tyler Cheverier made 12 tackles, including seven for losses, and also forced a fumble to go with his safety. Justin Cheverier had a sack and 11 tackles that included four for a loss and now has 662 career tackles—the most in Connecticut high school football history. Additionally, Christian Marroquin picked off a pass, Visgilio had a sack, and Robertson made two tackles that went for a loss.

On top of everything else that the Warriors have achieved, several players were recently chosen to the All-Pequot Conference squad. Those athletes are Jean-Pierre at quarterback, senior wide receiver Evan Smith, Figuenick at center, Roche as a kicker, Tyler Cheverier at defensive end, Justin Cheverier at linebacker, senior captain nose tackle Jack Giaconia, Marshall at linebacker, and Tuscano as a defensive back. Robertson gained Honorable Mention for his contributions on the offensive line.