Coaches on the Valley Regional/Old Lyme sideline cheer as QB Chris Jean-Pierre moves downfield in Saturday’s state championship game. The Warriors beat Ansonia, 21-20 for their first state title.
NEW BRITAIN, Dec. 13 – The Valley Regional/Old Lyme football team refused to let their dream of a state championship die – even when they fell behind by 13 points with 5:01 remaining in the fourth quarter.
“We kept telling them in the huddle to believe. Believe that they could come back,” Valley Regional/Old Lyme coach Tim King said.
The Warriors (13-0) scored three touchdowns in the final 6:19 and two TDs in the final 3:26 to stun Ansonia, 21-20 and win their first-ever state championship in the Class S Large Division.
Quarterback Chris Jean-Pierre simply won’t let the dream die. He scored two touchdowns including a four-yard run on a fourth down play with 22 seconds remaining to tie the game at 20-20. Jared Roche’s extra point was the difference for Valley Regional/Old Lyme.
“Our kids wouldn’t give up,” King said. “They believed they could come back and it came true.” The Warriors became just the fourth Pequot Conference team to win a state championship and the first since Hyde beat Northwest Catholic in 2009. They are the first co-op team to win a state football title.
“We have a bunch of guys who just won’t give up,” said Valley linebacker Dan Figuenick, who forced a crucial fumble with 3:23 remaining the game. “We had to take it one play at a time. We couldn’t look ahead. We had to go play by play and execute. We knew if there was still time on the clock, we were in the ballgame.”
Justin Cheverier (35) clears the path for Valley Regional/Old Lyme QB Chris Jean-Pierre (4) against Ansonia.
Ansonia, looking for a state record 20th state championship game victory, looked to be command for most of the game. They led 14-0 with 3:22 remaining the third quarter and Valley Regional had shown little outside of its opening drive when they drove to the Charger 10-yard-line before sliding backwards due to a pair of penalties.
With 8:34 remaining in the game, the Warriors took over on their own 13-yard line, trailing by 14 points. Valley’s Evan Smith lost eight yards and Jean-Pierre was sacked for a two-yard loss. Fortunately for Valley, a 10-yard holding penalty on Ansonia moved the ball to the 12-yard line.
“For 40 minutes, we played lights out defense and then we collapsed in the last eight minutes,” lamented Ansonia coach Tom Brockett.
But Jean-Pierre found Andrew Tuscano in stride downfield for a 48-yard completion to the Ansonia 40-yard line. On the next play, Jean-Pierre found Smith for a 40-yard touchdown pass with 7:01 remaining. In two plays, the lead was sliced to seven.
On the kickoff return, Ansonia’s Tajik Bailey stepped out of bounds at the four-yard line to the joy of the Valley faithful. But two plays later, Ansonia’s Jaiquan McKnight broke two tackles and sped 93 yards down the far sideline to put the Chargers ahead, 20-7 with 5:01 remaining. But when Ansonia was penalized for unsportsmanlike conduct following the touchdown, they had to attempt a two-point conversion from the 18-yard line and it failed.
On its next drive, Jean-Pierre completed consecutive passes (7, 12 yards) to Smith giving the Warriors the ball on the Ansonia 23-yard line with 3:47 remaining. Jean-Pierre raced 20 yards to the Ansonia three. After an illegal procedure penalty erased a potential touchdown, Jean-Pierre scored from the eight-yard line with 3:26 left in the game. Roche’s extra point cut the lead to 20-14.
Valley kicked off and Ansonia took over on its own nine after their two kickoff return men collided with each other and hit the ground. On first down, Ansonia’s Tyler Bailey broke through the line for a 21-yard gain but Figuenick stripped the ball and Valley teammate Nick Mardjekay recovered on the Ansonia 41-yard line with 3:11 remaining.
On second down, Jean-Pierre gained 17 yards to the Ansonia 17. One play later, Jean-Pierre ran six yards to give Valley a first-and-goal opportunity on the Charger six-yard line with 1:46 remaining.
On first down, Tuscano gained one yard. On second down, Jean-Pierre was tackled for a two-yard loss by Malcolm Martin and Armani Rivera. On third down, Jean-Pierre ran to the four and the Warriors called timeout with 27 seconds remaining. Jean-Pierre scored from the four with 22 seconds remaining.
“I’m at a loss for words,” Valley Regional’s Justin Cheverier said. “I’m so emotional right now.” He led the Warriors with 11 tackles.
Jean-Pierre ran for 127 yards and two touchdowns on 25 carries. He also completed 5-of-11 passes for 108 yards and a touchdown. Smith caught four passes for 60 yards.
McKnight and Tajik Bagley each ran for 149 yards for the Chargers, who were trying to win a fourth straight state championship. McKnight ran for 149 yards and a touchdown on 11 carries while Bagley ran for 149 yards and two touchdowns on 25 carries.
“You dream of these days,” King told his team afterward. “You never gave up. You never give up. That’s our motto. The whole team believes. That’s why we’re state champions.”
Valley Regional/Old Lyme coach Tim King celebrates with his Warriors after winning the state title over Ansonia.
Valley Regional/OL 21, Ansonia 20
At New Britain
Ansonia (11-2) 0 8 6 6 — 20
Valley Reg/OL (13-0) 0 0 0 21 — 21
Second quarter
A: Tajik Bagley 18 run (Jaiquan McKnight run), 2:58
Third quarter
A: Bagley 13 run (run fails), 3:22
Fourth quarter
V: Evan Smith 40 pass from Chris Jean-Pierre (Jared Roche kick), 6:19
A: McKnight 93 run (pass fails), 5:01
V: Jean-Pierre 8 run (Roche kick), 3:26
V: Jean-Pierre 4 run (Roche kick), 0:22
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