A 9-1 regular season deserves a postseason. That’s what Head Coach Hill Gbunblee and the Valley Regional-Old Lyme (VR-OL) football team felt as they left the field on Nov. 22, just having defeated rival Haddam-Killingworth in the annual Thanksgiving game. Even after the win, a spot in the postseason was not yet solidified, as they would have to hope for a Cromwell/Portland victory over Rocky Hill before focusing on the playoffs.

Regardless of results elsewhere, the Warriors took care of what they could control on the field, winning the game in front of them and securing the Principal’s Cup with a 28-8 victory. VR-OL controlled all aspects of the game, scoring on offense, defense, and special teams.

“Offensively I feel like we are a strong team, perhaps one of the strongest in the state to be perfectly honest,” said Gbunblee. “When we’re able to put all facets together like that it does such a good job of displaying just what these kids are, what they have inside of them. It made me and the rest of the coaching staff very proud.”

Di’Angelo Jean-Pierre was all over the field, a familiar sight for VR-OL. The senior tallied 7 catches for 157 yards and two touchdowns. On defense he added 4 tackles and an interception returned for a touchdown.

A strong blitz from Didi’s fellow senior Nick Cox forced a rushed throw and Didi was there to pick it off, having had a convoy of teammates escort him to the end zone. Coach Gbunblee feels that pick-six showcased just what makes this team special and highlighted exactly how in sync everyone can be.

“These guys have been together forever. It’s very natural,” Gbunblee said. “On the interception return – the thing I love the most about that play, is all components of the team coming in. Good coverage in the secondary, good rush by the defensive line, Nick Cox comes off the edge hot, forces an errant pass, Didi’s right there and gets the interception, and then teammates right there blocking and securing the touchdown…. all facets of the game paid off in that play right there. It really displays what we’re about.”

Gbunblee referred to Nick Cox as the team’s “Swiss Army knife.” Fittingly, Cox contributed to all aspects of the VR-OL attack on Tuesday; rushing 3 times for 15 yards, catching 4 passes for 30 yards, and adding 4 tackles and a sack on defense.

Senior running back Jake Rand similarly had his fingerprints all over Tuesday’s box score. He totaled 13 carries for 46 yards. On defense, he led the team with 8 tackles. On special teams, he served as the VR-OL kicker, converting all four extra points. Rand also blocked a punt.

On the defensive side, sophomore Matt Cooper totaled 8 tackles. Senior Andrew Yermenson snagged another interception and added 6 tackles. Senior Joe Montazella added four tackles of his own. He also blocked a punt and recovered another blocked punt for a touchdown, solidifying VR-OL’s lead in the second half. VR-OL quarterback, junior Grady Lacourciere, threw for 200 yards and two touchdowns.

Watch any of Valley’s touchdowns this season and what stands out after each play is the speed and enthusiasm with which the scorer is reached by his fellow Warriors in celebration. This year’s team loves playing together and do so with a swagger and confidence that is contagious. Coach Gbunblee knows there is nothing his team wouldn’t do for each other and his staff.

“I’ve always been confident in these guys.” Gbunblee said, “I know what they’re willing to do, and basically that’s run through a brick wall — for each other and for us as coaches.”

Regardless of how the late season drama shook out, Coach Gbunblee was happy his team could wrap up the season with a 9-1 record. He feels it was a gratifying reward for the work his team has put in all season.

“It’s nice to have those efforts be acknowledged and rewarded with the record that we put forth,” Coach Gbunblee said. “There’s so much that goes on with a football team in practice, through the day-in day-out, that you don’t get to see, and it’s not always rewarded as such. To have [that record] is very gratifying.”

Even after their Thanksgiving Week win, VR-OL needed a little help from a familiar foe in order to secure their playoff positioning. Due to a forfeit and shifting standings, the Warriors only found themselves safely in the Class SS bracket after Cromwell/Portland defeated Rocky Hill on Wednesday evening. Despite the turbulence in the standings, Coach Gbunblee feels the best teams earned a playoff spot and will make for a very competitive postseason.

“When it’s all said and done I think the best teams are where they need to be,” said Gbunblee. “The playoffs will be entertaining for people to watch. It’s going to be a very good fight…whoever gets a chance to watch it I’d take advantage of it because it’s going to be worth seeing.”

As their reward, VR-OL earned the 6 seed and draws a matchup with 9-1 Foran, the

3 seed in the Class SS Playoffs.

Gbunblee praised the Foran passing game, specifically the complex routes and ability for Jack Cushman, the Foran QB, to avoid pressure and connect with his receivers downfield.

“They are a very dynamic team, they are very well coached, they execute well, and they know what they’re doing, it’s a very sophisticated passing game that they run.”

Gblunblee explains that Foran’s passing attack will be the VR-OL defensive secondary that came away with two interceptions vs H-K. He calls this is one of the Warriors’ biggest strengths and feels their ball-hawking ability can differentiate them from opponents.

“I think the biggest strength for our team is our secondary, we can generate pressure with 4 and our secondary is very athletic and very aggressive, so we’ll go for the ball when it’s in the air. I tell the guys ‘the football doesn’t have a name on it, regardless if its branded by one team or not. That ball leaves the QB’s hand it’s fair game.’”

Coach Gbunblee and his team welcome the challenge Foran will present, and know they have what it takes to compete with any team in the bracket. Their lone loss on the season came vs Cromwell/Portland, the Class SS #1 overall seed. The Warriors led that game at the half and ended up losing by one point.

“I think that’s one of the things our guys are really looking forward to,” Coach said of his team playing Foran. “This is what you want. You want to match up against the best, that’s what you always want. I’d rather walk through a gauntlet than take a stroll on the beach.”