Simsbury wins share of CCC Div. I title with thrilling win in OT

GLASTONBURY, Nov. 14, 2009 – Simsbury’s defense made the play of its season Saturday, stopping a two-point conversion run in overtime to stun defending Class LL champion Glastonbury, 34-33 and win a share of the CCC Division I championship. The host Tomahawks scored two touchdowns in the final six minutes and had a chance to win with 47 seconds left but missed an extra point (wide right) to send the game into overtime tied at 27-27.

Simsbury scored first in OT when Kevin Kucinskas scored on a fourth down run from the one and James Poggio added the extra point for a 34-27 lead. The Tomahawks answered on Sean McQuillian’s 1-yard run. On the extra point try, Simsbury blocked Glastonbury’s attempt for an extra point but someone on the SImsbury sideline called timeout. With another chance, Glastonbury went for the win with McQuillian trying to run in a two-point conversion. Simsbury stopped him just inches shy of the goal line for the thrilling victory.

Simsbury finishes the regular season 9-1 and 6-1 in the CCC Division I with a share of its first championship since 1994. Glastonbury (9-1, 6-1) had a 22-game winning streak snapped. McQuillan scored four TDs. Simsbury remains alive for a berth in the CIAC Class L tournament for the second straight year.

Glastonbury took the early lead but after a fumble, the Trojans marched 75 yards with Kucinskas scoring from the two. McQuillan’s 1-yard TD run with 26 seconds left in the quarter gave Glastonbury a 14-7 lead at halftime.

In the second half, Simsbury took a 27-14 lead with three unanswered TDs. Conely Cummings scored on a 1-yard run, Poggio pulled in a 33-yard pass from Kyle Decker and Decker scampered in from 10 yards out with 6:04 left in the game. But after Decker’s TD, Poggio’s extra point attempt was blocked leaving the lead at 13 points.

Glastonbury cut the lead to six when Ryan McCarthy pulled in a six-yard pass from McQuillian with 3:32 remaining. Simsbury got the ball back but Glastonbury made a big stop on fourth-and-1 at the Trojan 45-yard line with 1:27 left in the game.

Kuchinskas led the Trojan attack with 185 yards while Cummings added 96 yards. Simsbury ran for 365 yards on 56 carries.

Simsbury 34, Glastonbury 33, OT
At Glastonbury
Simsbury (9-1)        0  7   7 13  7 – 34
Glastonbury (9-1)   0 14  0 13  6 – 33
Second quarter
G: Sean McQuillan 1 yard run (Bob Solecki kick), 9:22
S: Kevin Kucinskas 2 run (James Poggio kick), 3:23
G: McQuillan 1 run (Solecki kick), 0:26
Third quarter
S: Conely Cummings 1 run (Poggio kick), 6:58
Fourth quarter
S: Poggio 33 pass from Kyle Decker (Poggio kick), 11:50
S: Decker 10 run (kick failed), 6:04
G: Ryan McCarthy 6 pass from McQuillan (Solecki kick), 3:32
G: McQuillan 1 run (kick failed), 0:47
Overtime
S: Kucinskas 1 run (Poggio kick)
G: McQuillan 1 run (run failed)

Simsbury’s playoff chances examined
Connecticut Post sports writer Sean Patrick Bowley has spent way too much time figuring out who can qualify for the CIAC playoffs. Follow the link for Sean’s in depth analysis of Simsbury’s chances.

In short, it will likely come down to Simsbury and Notre Dame-West Haven for the No. 4 spot, unless ND-WH loses to Hamden. If ND-WH gets the win, Simsbury would be helped by Southington beating Cheshire, Berlin beating New Britain and Windsor topping Bloomfield.