Farmington’s Anthony Carpenter (9), Ivan Guadalupe and Kenny Jones (10) after beating Windsor earlier this fall.
PLAINVILLE, Nov. 28 – After two years of just missing the CIAC’s Class L football tournament, the Farmington High football team has secured its invitation.
The Indians (9-2) clinched a spot in the playoffs with a dominant 34-0 win over Plainville on Thanksgiving morning. Farmington forced four turnovers (two interceptions, two fumbles) and blocked a Blue Devil punt.
Farmington had finished ranked No. 9 in Class L for the past two seasons with records of 9-1 and 8-2, respectively, just missing the playoffs that include the top eight teams. This year, Farmington earned the No. 6 seed and will face New Canaan on Tuesday, Dec. 3, at 6:30 p.m. at Dunning Field in New Canaan in the Class L quarterfinals. It’s Farmington’s first playoff berth since 1999.
New Canaan was stunned by Darien on Thanksgiving, 28-24 as the Blue Wave scored with 58 seconds left in regulation. New Canaan (11-1), which beat St. Joseph’s last Saturday to win the FCIAC championship, was the No. 1 ranked team in the state’s high school football coaches and sportswriters polls.
Farmington took command immediately against Plainville (4-6). Kenny Jones scored on Farmington’s first offensive play, racing 55 yards for a touchdown. The extra point failed and the Indians had a 6-0 lead.
As the first half was coming to close, it looked it could be a one score game. But Farmington’s Colin Gratton intercepted a Jeff Ziegenhagen pass deep in Farmington territory about two minutes left in the first half.
The Indians marched down the field and scored with no time left on the clock as Anthony Carpenter caught a 29-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Jeremy Buck. Ivan Guadalupe scored on a two-point conversion run for a 14-0 lead. It was Buck’s 14th touchdown pass of the season.
In the third quarter, Plainville got the ball first and was forced to punt. Gratton blocked the punt that was recovered by teammate Jayson Martin on the two-yard line. Lineman Vincent Stevens got the carry for a two-yard TD run and his first varsity touchdown run, giving Farmington a commanding 20-0 lead.
Guadalupe and Colin Gratton added touchdown runs in the fourth quarter to finish out the scoring for Farmington. The win gives Farmington possession of the Olde Canal Cup trophy for the third straight year. The Thanksgiving rivalry game between the two schools began in 2011. Farmington takes a 25-24-1 lead in the overall series, which dates back to 1930.
Farmington 34, Plainville 0
|At Plainville
Farmington (9-2) 6 8 6 14 – 34
Plainville (4-6) 0 0 0 0 — 0
First quarter
F: Kenny Jones 55 run (kick failed), 11:40
Second quarter
F: Andrew Carpenter 29 pass from Jeremy Buck (Ivan Guadalupe run), 0:00
Third quarter
F: Vincent Stevens 2 run (pass failed), 7:12
Fourth quarter
F: Guadalupe 2 run (kick failed), 8:24
F: Colin Gratton 16 run (Jones run), 6:24
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