Panthers pull away from Simsbury in Class L semifinals

SOUTHBURY, Dec. 1, 2009 — Senior quarterback Andrew Clements passed for three touchdowns and ran for another Tuesday to lead the top-seeded Pomperaug High football team to a 41-26 victory over No. 4 seed Simsbury in a Class L state semifinal at Edward Arum Athletic Field in Southbury.

Wade McNamara caught two touchdown passes and Matt Paola caught one for the undefeated Panthers, while Ben Crick added two touchdown runs. Kyle Decker ran for two touchdowns and passed for one to lead Simsbury.

Pomperaug built an early 21-7 lead but Simsbury rallied and pulled within seven points after three quarters, 27-20. Early in the fourth quarter, Pomperaug’s Kevin Foley missed a 31-yard field goal attempt but Simsbury was penalized for roughing the kicker. The Panthers kept the ball and Clements scored on a 8-yard TD on the next play for a back-breaking touchdown.

Pomperaug 41, Simsbury 26
At Southbury
Simsbury (9-2)                   7  7  6   6 – 26
Pomperaug(12-0)             14  7  6 14 – 41
First quarter
S: Kevin Kucinskas 7 run (James Poggio kick)
P: Wade McNamara 23 pass from Andrew Clements (Kevin Foley kick)
P: Ben Crick 1 run (Foley kick)
Second quarter
P: McNamara 15 pass from Clements (Foley kick)
S: Kyle Decker 4 run (Poggio kick)
Third quarter
P: Crick 38 run (kick missed)
S: Decker 9 run (kick missed)
Fourth quarter
P: Clements 8 run (Foley kick)
P: Matt Paola 27 pass from Clements (Foley kick)
S: Poggio 8 pass from Decker (pass failed)
Individual statistics
RUSHING: Simsbury — Kyle Decker, 19 carries, 78 yards; Kevin Kucinskas, 11-66; Edmund Vanderbeck, 6-38; Conley Cummings, 9-59; Pomperaug — Ben Crick, 15-162; Andrew Clements, 15-74; Kevin Maxen, 5-29
PASSING: Simsbury — Kyle Decker, 2-4-1, 44; Pomperaug — Andrew Clements, 7-8-0, 139; Kellen Croce 1-2-0, 5
RECEIVING: Simsbury — Poggi, 2-44; Pomperaug — Wade McNamara, 6 receptions, 87 yards; Matt Paola, 2-52; Clements, 1-5.