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09/13/2015 12:00 AMThe Old Saybrook-Westbrook football team went 0-11 last year and hadn't won a game since defeating Nonnewaug in November of 2013—a streak of 14-consecutive games. However, after just one game this season, the Rams are 1-0 and it feels pretty darn good after they posted a 29-22 victory in a thrilling back-and-forth contest at Haddam-Killingworth on Sept. 12. The game was knotted at 22 before Rams' quarterback Victor Pascoe hit Austin Smith for the go-ahead score on a 58-yard touchdown pass in the fourth quarter.
"It's indescribable. Seeing the elation on these kids faces, the way they reacted to the win, I can't even describe it" said first-year Head Coach Mike Marone after the Pequot Conference South Division win. "This group fought, they worked so hard, and I'm thrilled they got that monkey off their back. Both teams gave it their all and it's a shame someone had to lose, but I'm glad we came out on top."
Following a scoreless opening quarter, Old Saybrook-Westbrook broke through first when senior tailback Dondre Swain ran through the left side of the line and took it 81 yards for the Rams' touchdown. Ryan Bergeron added the extra point for a 7-0 lead. Haddam-Killingworth responded with a 32-yard Chris Lavelle burst to get on the board and took an 8-7 halftime advantage after Lavelle ran in the 2-point conversion.
Both squads traded scores in the second half and OS-W jumped back in front when Swain powered in from a yard out. He then added the 2-point conversion to put Rams up 15-8. Later in the third quarter, Haddam-Killingworth responded when receiver Nate DeRita caught a 46-yard scoring pass from Alex Segaline and the Cougars pulled to within 15-14, although their conversion attempt failed.
Then in the fourth quarter, Old Saybrook-Westbrook added to its slender lead on Clay Duffy's 21-yard grab from Pascoe, after which Bergeron's kick made it 22-14. However, Segaline and DeRita connected again by hooking up with a deep 70-yard TD pass and, when Trevor Mann caught Segaline's 2-point conversion in the back of the end zone, the Cougars and Rams were deadlocked at 22.
Even though Haddam-Killingworth now had the momentum in the final stanza, Marone and his squad simply wouldn't quit in their quest to break the program's lengthy losing streak.
"We stuck together...They played like warriors and pushed themselves to the ultimate limit," Marone said.
OS-W had the ball on its own 42-yard line with six minutes to play in the game. With poise beyond his years and great protection from his offensive line, sophomore QB Pascoe scanned the defense and hit receiver Austin Smith down the seam for a 58-yard touchdown pass to take a 29-22 lead after Bergeron added his third extra point of the game.
Still, Haddam-Killingworth fought back by driving the ball down the field to the Rams' 15 following a long completion. With under a minute to play and hearts pounding in the crowd, Rams' linebacker Sloan True broke on a pass to the left side of the field and undercut the route for the game-sealing interception. The Rams took a knee and ran out the clock for the huge season-opening victory.
"It was incredible. These kids deserve a ton of credit," Coach Marone said. "Dondre [Swain] had a great game, Victor [Pascoe] played like a senior, the line was solid all day with their pass protection giving him time to throw, and I felt like the defense was cracking. They hit hard today and surprised me a little bit with how well they shut down the running game. Austin Smith forced a fumble on a punt and recovered it, [Vincent] Dyer had a big interception for us. They all really stepped up."
Coach Marone came to the Rams with the goal of "winning some games early" to help build the confidence of his young team and change the culture at Old Saybrook-Westbrook. He's out to a great start after his first game, but not without some bumps in the road. What was scheduled to be a home game for the Rams turned into a road contest at the last minute when the new field at Old Saybrook High School wasn't ready for play. Marone shrugged off the setback and had his team focused for the season opener.
"It was a non-factor for us. The field's 100 yards long wherever you play and we played well in scrimmages on the road," he said. "Everybody in town worked hard to get it done—the parents, the administration—but the field wasn't ready in time. The kids didn't miss a beat. They didn't even mention it they were, so focused on getting a win."
Other standouts for OS-W were juniors in linebacker True, who finished with six tackles to go with the big interception; defensive linemen Kevin Morrissey, who had seven tackles, 1.5 sacks and a forced fumble; plus defensive back, Joe Finnegan who notched a sack. Sophomore Vincent Dyer added an interception.
Old Saybrook-Westbrook looks to make it two in a row when it faces another division opponent in Hyde-Career-Whitney Tech at Cross High School. at noon on Saturday, Sept. 19. The Howling Wolves are 1-0 after defeating defending Class S Large Division champion Valley Regional-Old Lyme 13-0.