Big plays help Windsor hand Farmington first loss; Simsbury outlasts New Britain

Farmington’s Ivan Guadalupe

WINDSOR, Oct. 26 – The Farmington High football team dug themselves too deep a hole to climb out of Friday night against undefeated Windsor as the host Warriors prevailed 34-14. It was the first loss of the year for Farmington (6-1, 3-1 CCC West Division II). Windsor (6-0, 4-0) retained the lead in the CCC West Division II and captured their 20th consecutive regular season game.

Farmington had cut the deficit to 14 points and had a golden opportunity to pull within seven early in the fourth quarter. Farmington’s Jo Fillian blocked an attempted punt by Windsor’s Quinn Fleeting and the Indians recovered the ball on Windsor’s 26-yard line. The snap from the center sailed over Fleeting’s head.

Ivan Guadalupe (114 yards, 21 carries) broke through the line for a 14-yard gain to the eight. Another Guadalupe run moved the ball to the seven-yard line but the Indians went to the air. A pass on third down was deflected and nearly intercepted. On fourth down and goal, QB Kenny Jones went back to pass and was under heavy pressure. Jones threw into double coverage and the ball was intercepted by Terrell Huff on the two-yard line.

Huff began to move upfield, got to about the five and pitched it back to teammate Devonte Dillon, who scampered up the sideline and into open space for a 98-yard interception return to snuff out any Farmington comeback hopes.

Farmington trailed 15-0 after one period, scoring on their first two possessions. They extended the lead to 22-0 on a 69-yard punt return from Ryhieme Moore.

Farmington had more success in the second half. On their first possession, Jones found Anthony Carpenter behind the defense for a 44-yard touchdown pass on Farmington’s first possession of the third quarter to put the Indians on the board. Windsor extended the lead to 28-7 on a 70-yard, 10-play drive capped off by a 10-yard pass to Fabian Bell from Fleeting (14-21, 220 yards, 2 TDs).

The Indians cut the lead to 14 on a one-yard run from Jones with 11:55 left to go in the game. The big play in the drive was a 29-yard completion to Carpenter from Jones on a short screen pass that Carpenter carried down the right sideline.

Windsor 34, Farmington 14
At Windsor
Farmington (6-1)                       0  0  7  7  — 14
Windsor (6-0)                          15  7  6  6  — 34
First quarter
W: Devonte Dillon 1 run (Chris Traore kick)
W: Rashad Ramsey 27 pass from Quinn Fleeting (Jaylen Berry run)
Second quarter
W: Ryhieme Moore 69 punt return (Traore kick)
Third quarter
F: Anthony Carpenter 44 pass from Kenny Jones (Tyler Chaia kick), 8:53
W: Fabian Bell 10 pass from Fleeting (kick blocked), 5:36
Fourth quarter
F: Jones 1 run (Chaia kick), 11:55
W: Dillon 98 interception return (kick failed), 9:27

Simsbury 21, New Britain 12
NEW BRITAIN, Oct. 26 – With some big plays from Blair Zentek and QB Steven Steijn, the Simsbury High football team beat New Britain for just the second time in team history with a solid 21-12 victory over the Hurricanes Friday night at Veteran’s Stadium.

Zentek had a crucial 64-yard run that helped set up Simsbury’s third touchdown and enabled the Trojans to extend its lead to 15 points with 7:42 remaining in the game on Steijn’s three-yard run. Steijn also threw a pair of touchdown passes to Brad Helmkamp.

The win allows Simsbury (5-2, 3-0 CCC West Division I) to keep pace with undefeated Southington (6-0, 2-0 CCC West Div. I) which hosts Hall on Saturday night at Falcon Field in Meriden. Simsbury faces Southington in a showdown for the CCC West lead next Friday night in Simsbury.

Simsbury’s third touchdown drive was superb. The Trojans marched 98 yards on eight plays to extend its lead. Zentek’s run gave Simsbury the ball on the New Britain 5-yard line. The Trojans scored less than a minute later.

The drive began after Simsbury stopped New Britain’s Lamar Bowsky on the one-yard line on a fourth down and goal play from the three yard line. Simsbury has won three of its last four games.

Simsbury 21, New Britain 12
At New Britain
Simsbury (5-2)            0  7  7  7  — 21
New Britain (2-5)         6  0  0  6 – 12
First Quarter
NB: Malique Jones 28 run (kick failed), 4:49
Second Quarter
S: Brad Helmkamp 12 pass from Steven Steijn (Kyle Dougherty kick), 3:17
Third Quarter
S: Helmkamp 15 pass from Steijn (Dougherty kick), 3:42
Fourth Quarter
S: Steijn 3 run (Dougherty kick), 7:42
NB: Juan Usuga 15 pass from Jones (run failed), 3:37