Farmington’s Luke Watson scored four TDs in Friday night’s win over Pomperaug in Southbury as the River Hawks on their second straight game.
SOUTHBURY, Sept. 23, 2022 – Luke Watson ran for 218 yards and three touchdowns as the Farmington High football team won their second straight game with a 39-21 non-league victory over Pomperaug Friday night.
The game was part of the Connecticut Football Alliance series of 90 games first created in 2017 to help schools find contests against teams with similar ability.
Farmington, which snapped a 12-game losing streak with a win over Avon a week ago, won back-to-back games for the first time since 2019 when the River Hawks (2-1) won three in a row in November. Pomperaug (0-3) dropped their 13th straight game and lost for the 21st time in the last 22 games.
Watson had an outstanding night scoring four touchdowns. Along with rushing touchdowns of 73, 65 and six yards, he also had a 40-yard touchdown reception from quarterback Kevin Ives. Watson also had an interception on defense, one on four turnovers created by the River Hawks.
Ives completed 5-of-14 passes for 57 yards and two touchdowns. He also had a 10-yard touchdown pass to Griffin Kiniry.
“We’re playing well. We did some good things,” Farmington High coach Chris Machol said. “We followed rule No. 1, win the turnover battle.”
Thomas Keough, Kiniry and Watson each had interceptions for the River Hawks while Gavin Diver recovered a fumble.
The River Hawks took a 12-0 lead in the first quarter on a 73-yard run from Watson and Kiniry pulling in a 10-yard touchdown pass from Ives. The Panthers scored a touchdown in the second quarter to cut the lead to 12-7 at halftime.
In the third quarter, Farmington extended their lead to 26-7 thanks to a six-yard TD run from Watson and Watson scoring on a 40-yard reception from Ives.
A 65-yard touchdown run from Watson and a six-yard TD run from Ives gave the River Hawks a 39-13 lead late in the fourth quarter.
Defensively, Farmington played well. Robert Giuffria led Farmington with 12 tackles with Bryan LaDuke getting 11 tackles. Cody DeGrandi had 10 tackles with Nick DeBrito making seven tackles and getting a sack. Diver made five tackles and had two tackles for a loss.
Farmington 39, Pomperaug 21
At Southbury
Farmington (2-1) 6 6 14 13 — 39
Pomperaug (0-3) 0 7 7 7 — 21
First quarter
F: Luke Watson 73 run (kick fails)
Second quarter
F: Griffin Kiniry 10 pass from Kevin Ives (pass fails)
P: Johnny Gogas 2 run (No. 46 kick)
Third quarter
F: Watson 6 run (Jacob Skinner kick)
F: Watson 40 pass from Ives (Skinner kick)
P: Gogas 3 run (run fails)
Fourth quarter
F: Watson 65 run (kick blocked)
F: Ives 6 un (Skinner kick)
P: Gogas 5 run (No. 83 pass from Cole Tepedino)
