Enfield Gridders Knock Mountaineers From the Unbeaten Ranks

In an exciting game that featured six lead changes, homestanding Enfield took advantage of a fourth-quarter broken play that resulted in a 50-yard scoring pass, pushing the Raiders to a 27-20 victory over previously unbeaten Housatonic/Wamogo in Pequot Conference Uncas Division football action Friday night.

The winning drive was set up by an interception by Enfield's Lukasz Kluk, giving his team the ball at their own 45. Two plays later, Raider quarterback Tony Romano rolled out to his right and was nearly caught in the backfield, but he scrambled away and found Hugh Lindo open down the left sideline. Lindo caught the ball and never broke stride, reaching the end zone and snapping a 20-20 tie with 5:22 to play.

"During the timeout, Hugh said to Tony, 'if you get in trouble, I'll be there for you'," Enfield coach Jay Gaucher said. "I looked at Hugh like he was crazy, the play's going to the right, but then he caught the ball and I thought, 'you've got to be kidding me'."

Neither team scored in the first quarter, which was highlighted by Enfield's T.J. Diggs blocking a Housatonic field goal attempt. Diggs, along with Kluk and Jack Cimino, were defensive standouts the entire game, Gaucher said.

Housatonic broke through for a 6-0 lead on a one-yard scoring run by Jake Sutterlin in the second quarter. Sutterlin was a workhorse in the Mountaineers' Wildcat offense, picking up 186 yards on 36 carries.

Each team lost a fumble in the final six minutes before halftime. Enfield was able to capitalize on its recovery, as Avery Boissy scampered 19 yards for a touchdown with 2:31 left in the half. Anthony Trotta put Enfield in front 7-6 with the extra point kick.

Housatonic began the second half by recovering an onsides kick by Forrest Hayden at the Enfield 47-yard line. The Mountaineers then reclaimed the lead on a 15-yard touchdown run by Jake Foley, who stiff-armed an Enfield defender at the 10 en route to the end zone. Lindo kept the score at 12-7 by tackling Sutterlin on the two-point conversion try.

On the second play after the ensuing kickoff, Boissy took off on a 47-yard touchdown run down the left sideline to push the Raiders back in front, 13-12. Housatonic then chewed up nearly swix minutes with its methodical running attack, moving back in front 20-13 on a two-yard scoring run and two-point conversion run by Sutterlin.

After a scoreless third quarter, Boissy scored his third touchdown on a 15-yard run with 9:30 left in regulation. Trotta's extra point kick tied the score at 20-20.

On the next series, the Mountaineers moved the ball downfield until Kluk's interception set the stage for Romano and Lindo's heroics.

Housatonic had one more possession after Lindo's score, but was unable to move the ball and was forced to punt from deep in its own end. Boissy, who accounted for 206 yards on 24 carries, ran for a pair of first downs that enabled the Raiders to run out the clock and claim their fifth victory in six outings.

Romano connected on eight of nine passes for 119 yards, with Lindo posting six catches for 87 yards.

"I love the way our kids are playing right now, competing every minute and playing 48 minutes of football," Gaucher said.

Foley had 60 yards rushing for the Mountaineers (4-1), who gained 293 yards on the ground.

Enfield hosts Ellington/Somers in another big Pequot Conference Uncas Division matchup Friday, Oct. 28 at 7 p.m. Housatonic/Wamogo hosts Avon Saturday, Oct. 29 at 2 p.m.