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Manchester makes the big plays in season-opening victory over Simsbury

Simsbury's Evan Rabinowitz (54, left) and Cole Mangiafico (26) close in on Manchester's Jakai Westberry in Friday night's CCC contest in Simsbury.

Simsbury’s Evan Rabinowitz (54, left) and Cole Mangiafico (26) close in on Manchester’s Jakai Westberry (20) in Friday night’s CCC contest in Simsbury.

SIMSBURY, Sept. 9 – There were some plays that made fans of the Simsbury High football team smile Friday night in the season opener against Manchester.

Senior Sean Penney ran for a game-high 126 yards including a run of 30 yards in the second quarter and a fourth quarter run of 33 yards. Penney intercepted a pass while Ralph Gillard caught a career-high 11 passes for 92 yards.

But visiting Manchester had more big plays. Senior quarterback Edison Galan completed 13 passes for a career-high 329 yards and four touchdowns – each to junior Jevin Frett – to lead the Indians to a 32-13 Central Connecticut Conference victory at Holden Field.

Frett caught five passes for a career-high 230 yards. He had touchdown receptions of 45, 55, 56 and 69 yards. Galen completed 13-of-21 passes for a career-high 329 yards, four TDs and one interception. “Jevin is one of the best players in the state,” Manchester coach Roy Roberts said. “He goes full speed all the time and he showcased himself tonight.”

“Their athletes beat our athletes five times (for big plays),” Simsbury coach Dave Masters said.

Simsbury (0-1) forced three Manchester turnovers, recovering a pair of fumbles and intercepting a pass. There were numerous penalties on both sides of the ball. Simsbury had one touchdown called back to a block in the back penalty.

“I’ll take an ugly win on any day of the week,” Roberts said. “I love my guys. I wouldn’t trade them for anybody. We’ll keep working. It wasn’t a perfect night.”

Manchester's Rafael Rios wrestles an interception away from Simsbury receiver Ralph Gilliard.

Manchester’s Rafael Rios wrestles an interception away from Simsbury receiver Ralph Gilliard.

Simsbury lost to Manchester for the sixth time in the last seven meetings. Masters, beginning his second season, saw some good things on the bright, new Holden Field turf. “We have to get better at execution and stepping up and making plays when we have the chance,” he said.

SImsbury also debuted their new home uniforms — grey shirts with blue and gold trim and grey pants.

Manchester took command early. Running back Elijah Ford ran for 76 yards on the opening drive, including a 53-yard run on the Indians’ first play from scrimmage. Ford scored on an 11-yard run to give Manchester an early 8-0 lead with 8:19 left in the first quarter.

Manchester extended its lead to 14-0 with 1:49 left in the first quarter when Galan found a wide-open Frett all alone down the right sideline for a 56-yard touchdown pass.

Simsbury didn’t fade away. In the second quarter, Penney rambled 30 yards to the Manchester 24-yard line. A pass from QB Riley Shanley to Gillard put the ball on the Manchester three. But, penalties by Manchester and Simsbury negated the play and the drive stalled.

Manchester got the ball back and on its second play, Frett caught a short pass from Galan, escaped a diving Simsbury defender and raced down the right sideline with a 69-yard touchdown pass and a 20-0 lead with 50 seconds left in the half.

The Trojans did stop three of four Manchester’s two-point conversions attempts in the game.

Fireworks from the nearby Septemberfest fill the sky during a timeout in Friday night's game.

Fireworks from the nearby Septemberfest fill the sky during a timeout in Friday night’s game.

Manchester extended its lead to 26-0 on the third play of the third quarter when Frett was able to get behind a Simsbury defender and caught a high, arcing pass from Galen for a 45-yard touchdown reception with 43 seconds gone in the second half.

Simsbury, which alternated with Shanley and junior Jackson Masters at quarterback, marched 47 yards on 11 plays to get on the scoreboard with a four-yard TD run from Penney. Shanley scambled five yards on a fourth down and two play at the Manchester 36 to keep the drive alive.

Simsbury cut the lead to 13 points early in the fourth quarter, 26-13, when Shanley scored from the one yard line with 11:56 left in the game. Simsbury linebacker Cole Hermsen stripped the ball from Manchester receiver Jakai Westberry and the Trojans recovered the ball on the 14-yard line.

But Manchester responded almost immediately. Four plays later, Frett caught a short pass, spun around a Simsbury defender, broke a tackle and sped down the sideline with a 55-yard touchdown reception to extend the lead to 32-13 with 10:01 left.

Galen also helped keep the Manchester offense moving by rushing for 64 yards, including a nice 24-yard scramble in the third quarter. Ford ran for a team-high 96 yards for Manchester. The Indians batted down several passes, including two potential touchdown passes for Simsbury in the end zone.

Shanley completed 13-of-25 passes for 87 yards and one interception. Masters completed 10-of-17 passes for 71 yards. Shanley ran for 59 yards on 18 carries scored a touchdown.

“We have to play perfect games against the athletes we will be playing against. It comes down to executing (our plays),” Masters said.

Simsbury continues a three-game homestand to open the season when they host No. 4 Southington (1-0) next Friday night at Holden Field at 7 p.m. The Blue Knights throttled Enfield, 53-0 on Friday. Simsbury hosts Hall on Sept. 23, also at 7 p.m.

Manchester's  Jakai Westberry turns the corner to get away from Simsbury's Alex Haggerty and score the game's first touchdown.

Manchester’s Jakai Westberry turns the corner to get away from Simsbury’s Alex Haggerty and score the game’s first touchdown.

NOTES: Simsbury leads the all-time series with Manchester, 14-8-1 but the Indians have won six of the last seven games. It was the third matchup between the two schools on opening day and the first win for Manchester in that situation. The schools last played on opening day in 2003 with the Trojans earning a 41-27 victory. … Gillard’s 11 receptions in a single game is probably among the best in Simsbury football history. In the last 15 years, the most receptions in a game by a Simsbury player is believed to be eight by Alex Haggerty in 2015 vs. Hartford Public and by Dan Riodan against Bloomfield in 2006. Information about record-breaking single game performances for Simsbury are incomplete, although research continues annually.

Manchester 32, Simsbury 13
At Simsbury
Manchester (1-0)           14  6  6  6  — 32
Simsbury (0-1)                 0  0  6  7  — 13
First quarter
M: Jakai Westberry 11 run (Westberry run), 8:14
M: Jevin Frett 56 pass from Edison Galan (run fails), 1:49
Second quarter
M: Frett 69 pass from Galan (run fails), 0:50
Third quarter
M: Frett 45 pass from Galan (pass fails), 11:17
S: Sean Penney 4 run (kick fails), 8:11
Fourth quarter
S: Riley Shanley 1 run (Spencer Meace kick), 11:56
M: Frett 55 pass from Galan (run fails), 10:01
Individual statistics
RUSHING: Manchester – Edison Galan 8-64, Elijah Ford 3-2, Marion Wesley Allison 9-49, Jakai Westberry 11-96; Simsbury – Riley Shanley 18-59, Jackson Masters 2-10, Sean Penney 21-126
PASSING: Manchester – Edison Galan 13-21-1, 329; Simsbury – Riley Shanley 13-25-1, 87; Jackson Masters 10-17-1, 71
RECEIVING: Manchester – Philip Buccheri 2-16, Jevin Frett 5-230, Joseph Colon 2-34, Yamil Valdes 3-35, Westberry 1-14; Simsbury – Jake Taddio 2-13, Alex Haggerty 2-1, Ralph Gilliard 11-92, Jackson Butler 6-43, Sean Penney 2-9
RETURNS: Frett 3-56 (kickoffs), Jackson Butler 1-10 (KO), Nil Anderson 1-18 (KO), Jake Taddio 2-41 (KO)
INTERCEPTIONS: Rafeal Rios (M) 1, Yamil Valdes (M), Sean Penney (S); FUMBLE RECOVERY: Simsbury (team), Cole Hermsen (S)

Gerry deSimas, Jr., is the editor and founder of The Collinsville Press. He is an award-winning writer and has been covering sports in Connecticut and New England for more than 30 years.

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