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09/19/2022 01:08 PMThe Valley Regional-Old Lyme (VR-OL) football team hosted divisional opponent Coginchaug/Hale-Ray/East Hampton for its second game of the 2022 season on Sept. 16. The Warriors delivered a dominating performance on their way to 61-12 victory against the Blue Devils at Blythe Field to improve to 2-0 overall with a record of 2-0 in the Pequot Conference Sassacus Division.
VR-OL held a 21-12 lead over the Blue Devils after the first quarter. The Warriors then outscored the Blue Devils by a 27-0 margin during the second quarter to take a 48-12 lead into the break. VR-OL scored all 13 points in the second half and went on to win the contest by 49.
After the Blue Devils took the early lead, senior Jacob Rand scored on a 24-yard touchdown run and then kicked the extra point to put VR-OL up 7-6. Later in the first quarter, Rand rushed for a 10-yard score and hit another extra point for a 14-6 advantage. The Blue Devils scored on a 35-yard touchdown run to cut the deficit to 14-12, but Rand returned the ensuing kickoff 75 yards to the house for a touchdown and then made the extra point to give the Warriors a 21-12 lead through one.
In the second quarter, junior quarterback Grady Lacourciere connected with senior DiAngelo Jean-Pierre for a 23-yard touchdown pass to increase the Warriors’ lead. Rand’s extra point made the score 28-12. Jean-Pierre scored on a 5-yard TD rush later in the frame. Senior Nick Cox followed by scoring on a 1-yard touchdown run for VR-OL. Rand hit the extra point give the Warriors a 41-12 lead.
Lacourciere went on to throw a 10-yard touchdown pass to Jean-Pierre to finish off the first half. Rand booted the extra point through the uprights, giving the Warriors a commanding 48-12 advantage at halftime.
Sophomore Max Novak scored on a 15-yard touchdown run for VR-OL in the third quarter. Rand’s seventh extra point of the night made it 55-12. Then in the fourth quarter, Jean-Pierre grabbed an interception and returned it 75 yards for a pick-6, giving him his fourth touchdown of the night to finish off the Warriors’ 61-12 victory.
Lacourciere was 5-of-9 passing for 95 yards and 2 touchdowns for the Warriors. Both of Lacourciere’s TDs went to went Jean-Pierre, who finished with 2 catches for 33 yards in the win.
Rand carried the ball 5 times for 58 yards and 2 touchdowns for VR-OL. Novak ran 4 times for 40 yards and a touchdown. Cox had 3 rushes for 27 yards and a touchdown to go with 2 receptions for 57 yards.
Freshman Connor Dickson had 2 carries for 30 yards. Senior Michael Galberth grabbed a 5-yard reception in the game.
Along with his 75-yard kickoff return for a touchdown, Rand also contributed on special teams by booting 7 extra points for the Warriors. Cox reeled off a 70-yard kickoff return in the victory.
Senior Adam Metz recorded 5 pancake blocks on the offensive line for VR-OL. Senior Samuel Bourez and fellow senior Ford Macadam both had 2 pancake blocks, while freshman Reed Schmelzer added 1 pancake blocks for Head Coach Hill Gbunblee’s team.
The Warriors’ defense collected 4 interceptions in the rout. Senior Andrew Yermenson had 2 interceptions, Metz also snagged an interception, and Jean-Pierre had the interception that he took back for a 75-yard score.
Freshman Jackson Pannier had a fumble recovery for the Warriors. Novak and senior Joseph Montazella both recorded 7 tackles in the winning effort. Sophomore Tommy Troy had 5 tackles.
VR-OL is hosting Morgan for another divisional game on Friday, Sept. 23. The Huskies came into the contest with a record of 1-1 after earning a 30-23 win versus Haddam-Killingworth last week. The contest kicks off at 6:30 p.m. in Deep River.