CT high school football score between Notre Dame-West Haven, Law
WEST HAVEN — Notre-Dame senior Cooper Torrey wished to defend a landing lead with simply over two minutes left and was fixated on the eyes of Law quarterback John Neider. Torrey’s learn turned out to be the most important recreation of the 12 months for the Green Knights.
Torrey fell into cowl throughout what seemed to be Neider’s run and intercepted Neider ultimately zone with 1 minute and 56 seconds left as second-placed Notre Dame clinched a 28-14 win over third-placed Jonathan Law within the Class M semifinals at Am Sunday afternoon at Veterans Field in West Haven.
“I saw him (Neider) run, then hesitate, and I saw his friend go for a touchdown, so I knew it was going to be a pop piece,” Torrey mentioned. “I simply knew I had to decide on it. He type of embezzled it, so I needed to do the sport.
With the win, Notre Dame will face high seed Berlin, a 42-7 winner over Rockville, at both Rentschler Field or Central Connecticut on Saturday. Times and areas for every class can be posted this week.
“We heard about their offense, 49 points a game, and nobody said anything about our defense,” Notre Dame coach Joe DeCaprio mentioned after his staff improved to 9-3. “Our protection performed nice all season. We really feel ignored in defence. The child (Neider) is unbelievable. He is unreal. We boxed him in as greatest we may and the protection was nice. Cooper Torrey with the interception and we have now what I believe is the very best participant within the state (Jacob Staton) enjoying for us. He proved that within the fourth quarter.”
Torrey’s recreation got here after Notre Dame quarterback Matthew Piechota discovered Jacob Staton for a 73-yard landing reception to place the Green Knights 21-14 forward with 4:19 remaining within the fourth quarter.
“We performed the play earlier and I was unguarded,” Staton mentioned. “I said we should get back to that and I was wide open.”
Neider, who was liable for 410 of Law’s 423 yards of offense, did not need Law’s magical season to finish simply but. After two misses, Neider ran 12 yards for a primary down after which hit Matt Hagerty 50 yards to Notre Dame’s 7-yard line.
Two video games later, Neider backed off the road after an obvious rush and tried a leap go for the potential game-timing outcome, however Torrey responded with a one-handed seize for an intercept.
“These kids showed what they’re capable of,” mentioned authorized coach Chris Haley after his staff ended the 12 months 10-2. “It was a extremely, actually spectacular efficiency. I assumed we performed unbelievable. I’m actually happy with her. They performed Tier I football with Tier 3 dimension, Tier 3 athleticism, and Tier 3 pace, if that issues. They performed Tier I football at the moment and it was an awesome job.”
The Green Knights ended the sport two video games later when Staton ran from 75 yards for a landing and a 28-14 lead with 1:56 to go.
“In the first half we came out flat and played like trash,” Staton mentioned. “We had been nonetheless within the recreation. We held our heads high. We got here out within the second half and ended up listening to effectively. We talked in regards to the wheel. As you could possibly see it was vast open. It would not work with out my O-Line both. They opened the holes.”
Notre Dame’s two late outcomes, coupled with the Green Knights’ defensive stands, overcame three Green Knights turnovers within the contest.
“In my opinion, our defense has been one of the best defenses in the state all year,” Torrey mentioned. “We have a few dogs out there. He (Neider) is a great quarterback. He’s a great player. We knew we had to get in and stop him. That was the way to slow down their offense.”
Notre Dame regarded prefer it was rolling by means of the primary half with Staton dashing for 125 yards and two touchdowns within the first 24 minutes alone, ending with 247 yards and three factors on the bottom.
Law fought and even went into the half at 14 after two landing passes from Neider.
Although Law allowed 224 yards of offense from Notre Dame within the first half, Law’s protection additionally produced three turnovers from two interceptions and a fumbled restoration that each one obtained into Law territory.
Staton put the Green Knights on the scoreboard with a 13-yard landing run at 6:44 within the opening quarter to complete a 6-play, 79-yard drive.
Law responded by taking simply six performs to maneuver 78 yards. Neider labored his magic within the air, along with his remaining go of the drive scoring a 53-yard connection to Hagerty at 5:00 within the opening quarter. Notre Dame blocked the additional level, protecting the Green Knights forward 7-6.
The Green Knights regarded set for one more shot on the right track, however Law’s Michael Merchant managed Law’s first stoppage of the sport.
“We kept telling them we weren’t going to shut down this team,” Haley mentioned. “The kid (Staton) averages seven yards per carry. We did a great job and made some adjustments in the game. The kids took it and played their tails.”
The Lawmen had a golden alternative to take the lead, however Neider’s go for third sailed over the top of a wide-open Sam Costantini. Law’s protection made it massive once more on the following possession from an interception by Michael Smith, however Law could not gather.
The recreation then noticed a pair of touchdowns within the final 1:33 of the primary half. Staton capped a 54-yard drive with a 12-yard score for a 14-6 lead, however it took Law simply 1:07 to ship the sport into halftime even at 14.
Neider had 20-yard and 13-yard rushes earlier than hitting Charlie Becker with a 29-yard landing go. Neider ran 26.5 seconds into the half within the makeover to stage the sport at 14.
Neider not solely threw 226 yards, but in addition rushed for 184 yards within the loss for Law. Piechota completed 9 of 16 for 168 yards and a landing within the win for Notre Dame.]
participant of the sport
Jacob Staton – Notre Dame Senior rushed for 247 yards and had three touchdowns on the bottom whereas additionally including a 73-yard scoring reception.
Quotable
“We in some way saved it. My quarterback mentioned, hey, let’s strive rolling ’em up on the touchline. I do not just like the play as a result of I like him (Staton) in go safety, however we ran them up and Matt (Piechota), who’s battling the flu himself, beat him. Notre Dame coach Joe DeCaprio on the profitable objective
NOTRE DAME-WEST HAVEN 28, ACT 14
Law 6 8 0 0 – 14 Notre Dame 7 7 0 14 – 28
N – Jacob Staton 13 run (Davin Garamella Kick) 6:44 L – Matt Hagerty 53 go from John Neider (kick blocked) 5:00 N – Jacob Staton 12 run (Davin Garamella Kick) 1:33 L – Charlie Becker 29 Pass by John Neider (John Neider Run) 0:26 N- Jacob Staton 73 Pass by Matthew Piechota (Davin Garamella Kick) 4:19 N – Jacob Staton 75 run (Davin Garamella Kick) 1:56 Records: L: 10-2. N: 9-3