Through the air, Simsbury beats Conard for second straight win

Simsbury High football coach Dave Masters talks with his team after beating Conard on Friday night. (Photo courtesy Simsbury High football)

SIMSBURY, Oct. 20 – For the second time this season, Simsbury High quarterback Jackson Masters threw for over 300 yards to lead the Trojans to a 42-22 win over Conard in CCC Division I West action at Holden Field on Friday night.

Masters completed 29-of-38 passes for 307 yards and three touchdown passes. Ralph Gilliard caught a school record 13 passes for 104 yards and a touchdown for the Trojans, snapping the old record of 12 receptions that he set in loss to South Windsor earlier this year. Gilliard also scored on a 46-yard fumble return and intercepted two passes.

Jackson Butler pulled in a career-high 12 receptions for 108 yards and a touchdown as Simsbury (3-3, 3-1 CCC Div. I West) won their second straight game. Rafael Nieves ran for 90 yards and a touchdown on 16 carries.

The win clinched second place in CCC Division I West for the Trojans. Southington won the division with a 4-0 record.

Simsbury returns to action on Friday night when they host Enfield (1-5) in a CCC Division I contest at Holden Field beginning at 7 p.m.

Simsbury 42, Conard 22
At Simsbury
Conard (3-3)                        8    8  0  6  — 22
Simsbury (3-3)                   21  14  7  0  — 42
First quarter
S: Jackson Butler 37 pass from Jackson Masters (Kory Zall kick)
S: Ralph Gilliard 16 pass from Masters (Zall kick)
S: Gilliard 46 fumble recovery (Zall kick)
C: Max Main 34 pass from Jack Moore (Ryan Orlowski run)
Second quarter
S: Masters 12 run (Zall kick)
S: Rafael Nieves 20 run (Zall kick)
C: Aidan Stabnick 10 pass from Moore (Jack Barker pass from Moore)
Third quarter
S: Jake Taddio 36 pass from Masters (Zall kick)
Fourth quarter
C: Stabnick 5 pass from Moore (run fails)
Individual statistics
RUSHING: Simsbury – Rafael Nieves 16-90, Jackson Masters 7-28, Ralph Gilliard 1-3
PASSING: Simsbury – Jackson Masters 29-38-0, 307
RECEIVING: Simsbury – Jackson Butler 12-108, Ralph Gilliard 13-104, J. Taddio 3-82, T. Valerio 1-13