The Haddam-Killingworth football team had a 17-point lead at halftime when it faced Valley Regional-Old Lyme (VR-OL) in the battle for the Principal’s Cup last week. However, the Warriors rallied for three touchdowns during the second half and went on to get a 22-17 victory versus the Cougars at Valley Regional High School on Nov. 23.

Seniors Ryan Duncanson and Nick Glynn scored touchdowns for H-K in its matchup against the rival Warriors. Senior Kevin Cavrell kicked a field goal for the Cougars, who finished with an overall record of 2-8 and went 1-6 in the Pequot Conference Sassacus Division in their first season with Head Coach Tyler Wilcox.

“The kids did a great job executing the game-plan in the first half, but we couldn’t extend it into the second half,” Wilcox said. “It was frustrating, but they played hard all year.”

H-K took an early lead over VR-OL when junior Ryan Phipps threw a 25-yard touchdown pass to Duncanson in the first quarter. Cavrell kicked the extra point to put the Cougars up 7-0.

Later in the frame, Glynn found the end zone on a 1-yard TD rush for H-K. Another extra point from Cavrell gave the Cougars a 14-0 lead after one.

H-K scored the only point of the second quarter when Cavrell booted a 23-yard field goal through the uprights. The Cougars took a 17-0 advantage into the locker room at halftime.

The Warriors started mounting their comeback when senior James Marsden threw a 14-yard touchdown pass to senior Sam Mullaney in the third quarter. Marsden ran in the 2-point conversion to cut the deficit to 17-8 heading into the fourth.

VR-OL made it 17-14 when Marsden connected with junior DiAngelo Jean-Pierre on a 45-yard touchdown pass during the fourth quarter. Marsden followed by running home another 2-point try, trimming H-K’s lead to 17-16.

Marsden put the Warriors up 22-17 when he scored on a 1-yard touchdown run later in the fourth. VR-OL kept the Cougars off the board the rest of the way and hung on for the win.

While it was a tough loss to end the season, Coach Wilcox appreciates how his players, especially his seniors, gave it everything they had throughout the 2021 campaign.

“I’m going to miss the seniors,” said Wilcox. “They’ve made the most of their last chance to play high school football after missing last year’s season. They’re just a great group of young men.”