Canton’s defense will be challenged by Gilbert/Northwestern on Saturday. Above, Cam Daley (3), Shane Toland (58), Dan Delos (34) and Sebby Gumbs (8) surround Avon’s Stephen Griffin earlier this year.
Two area football teams that haven’t had many chances to win league championships face off in a crucial game on Saturday. Canton hosts Gilbert/Northwestern at 1 p.m. at Canton High with the winner moving into the driver’s seat to capture the first Pequot Conference West Division title.
Canton is 4-1 overall and 3-0 in the Pequot West, including a thrilling 17-14 victory over Avon on the final play of the game. Avon played in the Class L playoffs a year ago and has captured six Pequot Conference division titles in the last eight years.
Gilbert/Northwestern is also 4-1 and 2-0 in the Pequot West. The Yellowjackets haven’t faced Avon, yet but a win over Canton will put Gilbert/NWR into position to play for a league title.
Since Canton resurrected its varsity football program in 2007, they haven’t been close to being in contention for a league championship.
It’s been over 50 years since a Warrior football team had a legitimate shot to win a league championship. In 1958, Canton won the North Central Football League title with a perfect 5-0 season that included a 18-6 win over Gilbert in the season-opening contest.
After this game, the Warriors will have league games remaining against winless Lewis Mills (0-5) and Granby (2-3) on Thanksgiving morning.
Canton is coming off an impressive 42-6 win over Nonnewaug last week. The Warriors scored on six of its first seven possessions and had a total of 478 yards of offense. Dan Delos ran for a game-high 115 yards and three touchdowns on just 10 carries to lead Canton.
It was the second straight game that Delos has run for three TDs. Cam Daley had 12 tackles and an interception against the Chiefs.
Canton QB Eric Scott completed 9-of-11 passes for a career-high 195 yards and a 29-yard touchdown pass to Sebastian Gumbs. Terrance Brophy ran for 83 yards and one touchdown on 11 carries. Gumbs caught five passes for a career-high 151 yards and a touchdown pass.
Gilbert/Northwestern is led by the dynamic senior duo of quarterback John Lippincott and running back Tony Ortiz.
Lippincott has completed 38-of-97 passes for 716 yards and eight touchdowns while also running for 333 yards and four touchdowns. Ortiz is a quick back, who has run for 794 yards and nine touchdowns. He’s also pulled in nine receptions for 146 yards and two TDs.
The Yellowjackets are averaging 260 yards a game rushing and 157 yards passing. They’ve scored 25 touchdowns in five games.
Gilbert/NWR is also seeking to end a long championship drought. Even though the Yellowjackets have put together four straight winning seasons and qualified for the Class M playoffs in 2010, they haven’t won a league championship since 1975 when they captured the Northwest Conference title. It was the end of an era that saw Gilbert win five NWC titles in eight years.
Since 1975, Gilbert has come close to winning a league title twice.
Gilbert was a contender for the Pequot Sassacus title in 1993 but dropped a 27-12 decision to undefeated Putnam to finish second. In 1990, Gilbert could have earned a share of the Pequot Conference title with a win over rival Housatonic on Thanksgiving but dropped a 25-0 decision to finish second.
Gilbert’s co-op program with Northwestern began in 2002.
Friday, Oct. 25
Bristol Central (2-3, 0-2 CCC West Division II) at Farmington (6-0, 2-0 CCC West Division II), 7 p.m.
Outlook: The Indians, who rose to No. 8 in the state coaches poll, look to remain focused as they host the Rams. Farmington faces No. 4 Middletown (6-0) next week but coach Chris Machol wants his Indians to focus on the task at hand. Farmington’s defense was impressive in a 13-7 win over then-No. 7 Windsor last week. Jayson Martin (53 tackles, 3 sacks), Connor Martin (46 tackles), Jack Sucato (46 tackles) and Collin Gratton (46 tackles) lead the FHS defense, who have forced eight turnovers (7 fumbles, 1 interception). Offensively, Farmington is lead by running back Ivan Guadalupe (80-861, 6 TDs), quarterback Jeremy Buck (59-106-4, 678 yards, 8 TD passes) and receiver Kenny Jones (17-219 receiving, 2 TDs).
Series: Began 2009. Farmington leads, 4-0
Saturday, October 26
Simsbury (1-5) at South Windsor (0-6), 1 p.m.
Outlook: It’s been a tough season for the Trojans, who have been outmatched in several games. In other games, such as last week’s loss to New Britain, Simsbury has been right there but has been unable to pick up the win. This week, the Trojans face a South Windsor team that likes to run the ball (averaging 246.2 yards) and has struggled to throw the ball. James Nyarko (743 yards, 8 TDs) leads the Bobcats. QB Ryan McDonald has completed just 11 of 45 passes for 131 yards and 1 TD. Simsbury will be looking to control the game with running back Brad Helmkamp (558 yards, 4 TDs) and QB James Hermsen (57-222, 3 TDs). On the defensive side of the ball, Helmkamp leads the team with 85 tackles and two interceptions. Simsbury has forced 10 turnovers in six games (six recovered fumbles, four interceptions).
Series: Began 1972. Simsbury leads, 15-2
Housatonic/Wamogo at Lewis Mills
Outlook: Due to injuries that have reduced the number of players available to play, the Mountaineers (0-6, 0-3 Pequot West) decided Thursday to forfeit the game. The forfeit gives the Spartans (1-5, 1-3) their first victory of the season. Housatonic hoped to have a good season but the injuries began right away. Jeremy Stiewing, who was going to be counted on to be the focal point of the Mounaineers’ single wing offense, broke his right ankle in the season opening loss to Old Saybrook/Westbrook. That was followed with a 40-point loss in week two to a physically dominant Morgan School squad.
Series: First meeting
Granby (2-3, 1-1 Pequot West) at Avon (4-2, 3-1 Pequot West), 6:30 p.m.
Outlook: A week ago, the Falcons had little trouble with outmatched Housatonic as Noah Hahn threw 3 TD passes and Jimmy Murphy scored 3 TDs, including a 90-yard run. Granby QB Curt Field (59-114-4, 850 yards, 6 TDs) has been throwing the ball well but the Bears are trying to diversify its offensive attack and ran the ball more in a 17-14 win over Lewis Mills last week. Dom Pagano is the leading rusher for Granby with 359 yards and 2 TDs on 77 carries. Big Jake Largay (30 tackles) is solid defensively for the Bears along with linebacker Ian Downey and Logan Strain (team-leading 49 tackles). The Bears can’t afford any mistakes if they hope to upset Avon under portable lights for Spirit Week in Avon.
Series: Began 2010. Avon leads 3-0
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