The North Haven football team achieved the latest two feats of its dream season last week as the Indians’ offense continued to cause nightmares for another opposing squad.

North Haven traveled to Milford to take on division foe Foran on Nov. 13. With a victory, the Indians would capture the SCC Division II East for a seventh-straight year and, even more significantly, seal a spot in the playoffs for the sixth time in nine seasons. Anthony Sagnella’s club wasted little time in pouncing on the Lions by scoring six touchdowns in the first half en route to a 62-29 triumph that continued North Haven’s run of division dominance and cemented its spot in the Class L State Playoffs. Running behind his bruising offensive line, senior captain quarterback Mike Montano rushed for 332 yards and five touchdowns on just nine carries to spearhead another Indians’ offensive onslaught.

With its record of 9-0, North Haven is in the top spot in the Class L rankings. The Indians will try to lock up the program’s first undefeated regular season, plus their first home playoff game, when the team plays at Amity on Thanksgiving morning.

“Having a veteran team and a team that’s been to the playoffs the last two years—that was certainly a goal for all the kids, especially the seniors, and we’re very happy that goal has been achieved,” said Coach Sagnella on reaching the postseason. “We have to get past Thanksgiving and try to get a home game, which is something the kids want very badly.”

Montano ran for two TDs and threw another to fellow senior Nick Ponzio in the first quarter to help North Haven establish a 21-0 lead. Montano first scored on a 3-yard touchdown rush 2:02 into the game and then he found Ponzio on a 20-yard strike midway through the frame for a 14-0 advantage. Three minutes later, Montano booked to the end zone from 52 yards away and, after senior Sabrina Fronte kicked the extra point, it was 21-0 Indians through one.

Montano found the end zone from 62 yards away just 20 seconds into the second quarter, then junior Jack Steinman tossed a 12-yard touchdown to senior Jeremy Imperati a minute after that and the Indians were rolling with a 35-0 command. Foran (6-3) used a short rush to get on the board with three minutes left before halftime, but Montano broke off a 71-yard touchdown run shortly thereafter and North Haven took a 42-6 command to the locker room.

In was certainly an epic night for Montano, who’s scored 21 touchdowns and rushed for 1,332 yards with an average of 15 yards per carry thus far this season. But of course, any quality runner needs a forceful line to help pave the way and Coach Sagnella credited that unit for its performance against Foran. The Indians featured senior Shane O’Connor at center, seniors Mike Masnato and Anthony Valentino at the guards, senior Patrick Casey and junior Paul Murray at the tackle position; Steinman, Imperati, and junior Kyle Melillo at tight end; as well as senior captain David Mikos as the blocking back. Senior Rob Ralston didn’t play in this game, but has been a fixture at tackle throughout the season.

“They are an experienced, veteran group who’ve worked hard; are strong, mobile, and intelligent; and play well together,” said Sagnella of his linemen. “And they are selfless. They don’t want the glory or their names mentioned, but they embrace the challenge every week to try and open holes for our backs and they really enjoy it.”

After Foran scored on another short run early in the third quarter, North Haven’s line again opened a path to paydirt and this time the beneficiary was senior Conner Suraci (7 carries, 72 yards), who scampered in for a 47-yard score. However, the Lions did come back with another rushing touchdown late in the third to make it 49-21 and Coach Sagnella felt his squad could have performed a little better in the quarter.

“Foran had a little more energy and purpose in the second half and we made a couple of mistakes,” he said. “We just couldn’t get the defense off the field. We fumbled an onside kick and fumbled a kickoff return and kept giving the ball back to Foran and they were making the most of their opportunities.”

However, Montano extinguished any chance for a miracle comeback by the Lions when he raced in from 78 yards out for his fifth rushing touchdown of the night just 1:07 into the final quarter. Fronte kicked her eighth extra point and the Indians led 56-21. For good measure, sophomore Mark Montano added a 57-yard TD rush to put North Haven above the 60-point threshold. Foran ran for the game’s final touchdown with 11 seconds left for the 62-29 final.

The Indians’ defense was bolstered by junior Max Sullivan, who had two interceptions; along with Melillo, who grabbed one. Sullivan also had two pass deflections and Mike Montano had three. Senior Paul Brockamer and O’Connor each recorded a sack. For tackles, Mikos made 20, Suraci had 12, Melillo and Brockamer had 10 apiece, Mike Montano made nine, Imperati and sophomore Zach Orth both had seven, plus Sullivan and senior Patrick McKenna each had six.

Now, North Haven turns its attention to the 20th edition of its annual Thanksgiving Day game with Amity, which takes place in Woodbridge at 10 a.m. on Thursday, Nov. 26. Amity is 2-7 and most recently posted a 28-21 win versus Branford. The Indians have defeated the Spartans the last six years and recorded a 40-20 victory that punched their playoff ticket last fall. With a playoff berth already in the bag this season, Sagnella and company can focus on going 10-0 and earning the right to host a Class L quarterfinal contest under the lights on their home turf of Vanacore Field.

“No. 1, we have an opportunity to finish undefeated, which has never happened in school history and is very important to the kids. No. 2, we’re playing on the road on Thanksgiving and there are always challenges that present themselves when you do that. And No. 3, we are now playing for a home playoff game, which would also be the first time, so there are plenty of incentives,” Sagnella said. “I know this group of kids is not going to let that opportunity to compete slip through their fingers and they’ll be ready to play that morning.”

From the Sidelines

North Haven outscored its SCC Division II East opponents 157-29 to claim its seventh-straight crown this fall. In addition to last week’s 62-29 victory versus Foran, the Indians also blanked Sheehan 48-0 and East Haven 47-0.

The Indians came into the week ranked No. 6 in both The Day of New London Top 10 State Coaches Poll and the New Haven Register/GameTimeCT.com State Top 10 Football Poll.

In terms of the Class L State Playoff rankings, North Haven is in the No. 1 spot with Harding at No. 2, New Canaan at No. 3, Windsor at No. 4, Torrington at No. 5, Wethersfield at No. 6, Notre Dame-West Haven at No. 7, and Middletown at No. 8.

The Indians have one playoff win in program history. That came in 2013, when they prevailed at Platt 35-0 in the Class L quarterfinals.