NW Catholic breaks open game in fourth quarter, heading to Class S final

The Lions celebrate after scoring their first touchdown of the game in Monday night’s 21-0 win over Ansonia to earn a spot in the Class S title game on Saturday.

NEW BRITAIN, Dec. 8, 2025 – It hasn’t been an easy road in the CIAC playoffs for Northwest Catholic. Gone are the warm, fall evenings and big victories where the six of Lions’ nine victories were by 25 points or more.

There was a hard-fought win over Cromwell/Portland nearly a week ago at Pierson Park in Cromwell on a cold December evening that saw the Lions put together two impressive second half drives to win their first CIAC playoff game since 2011, 31-21.

On Monday night, it was even colder at Willowbrook Park. It was 21 degrees at kickoff with a slight breeze going through the park.

But No. 6 seed Northwest Catholic forced two turnovers and earned a fifth shutout of the season with a 21-0 win over No. 7 Ansonia to earn a spot in Saturday’s Class S championship game against Sheehan High from Wallingford.

It will be just the second state championship appearance for the Lions (11-1) and the first since they lost to New Haven-based Hyde Leadership in 2009 in the Class S final.

The frosty conditions didn’t slow the Lions according to quarterback Vincent Burbank. “We didn’t feel it was that cold,” he said. “We’re young and we warmed up. We can play through anything.”

This wasn’t a blowout contest at all. It was a scoreless game until Burbank, who starts at quarterback, punts, kicks extra points and field goals and plays defensive back, connected with Patrick Knorr with a one-yard touchdown pass with 8:54 left in the game.

The Lions scored three touchdowns in the last 8:54 but it was a hard-fought game with each team just a play away from breaking it open.

Ansonia (8-4), the defending Class S champions, used up more than 10 minutes in the second quarter with a 13-play drive that got as far as the NW Catholic 20-yard line late in the first quarter.

A 19-yard run by Ansonia’s Tymir Taylor (78 yards on 24 carries) got the Chargers to the one-yard line for a second. But a holding call and a 10-yard penalty wiped out big run.

That is as close as the Chargers would get to the end zone.

“We had fire in our hearts for Ansonia,” Burbank said. “We wanted to beat them bad.” Burbank had a potential 76-yard run for a touchdown in the first quarter wiped out due to a holding penalty.

“It’s the right mix of guys. They love each other. They play together. There isn’t a lot of egos on this team. They play for each other and you can see that on the field,” Northwest Catholic head coach Michael Lenz said.

Caiden Reese recovered a fumble and had a big 11-yard sack in the second half of Ansonia QB Javier Figuroa. Knorr had a fourth quarter interception and returned it 32 yards, setting up Northwest Catholic’s second touchdown.

Ansonia’s Ethan Blackwell had three sacks for 26 yards in the first half for the Chargers, who were trying to return to the championship for the third time in the last four years.

Tied at 0-0, the Lions began the fourth quarter with the ball on their own 49-yard line. An 11-yard completion from Burbank to Kayden Davis began the drive and Burbank followed with an 11-yard run to the Ansonia 40-yard line.

Two completions from Burbank to Ayden Ayala moved the ball to the Charger 11 and a personal foul penalty moved the ball to the six-yard line.

Three plays later, it was fourth down and goal on the one-yard line. Burbank found Knorr in the left corner of the end zone for the touchdown and a 7-0 lead with 8:54 remaining in the game.

Northwest Catholic didn’t give up a yard to Ansonia on their next series and the Chargers punted. A 15-yard personal foul penalty moved the ball to the Charger 35-yard line. Two plays later, Burbank completed a short pass to Davis, who weaved his way through the defense for a 29-yard touchdown reception and a 14-0 lead with 6:38 remaining.

Burbank 14 of 29 passes with three touchdowns while Davis caught six passes for 63 yards (both game highs) and a touchdown.

Knorr’s fourth quarter interception set up a one-yard TD run from Bryce Jones with 4:55 remaining in the game and a 21-0 lead.

Northwest Catholic 21, Ansonia 0
At New Britain
Ansonia (8-4)               0  0  0  0  — 0
NW Catholic (11-1)      0  0  0  21 – 0
Fourth quarter
NW: Patrick Knorr 1 pass from Vincent Burbank (Burbank kick), 8:54
NW: Kayden Davis 29 pass from Burbank (Burbank kick), 6:38
NW: Bryce Jones 2 run (Burbank kick), 4:55
Individual statistics
RUSHING: Ansonia – Chrishon Fogle 10-33, Tymir Taylor 24-78, Javier Figuroa 2-minus 9, Daniel Ayala 1-2; NW Catholic – Vincent Burbank 11-5, Kaedean Stewart 5-18, Bryce Jones 1-2, Kayden Davis 1-1
PASSING: Ansonia – Javier Figueroa 3-7-1, 16; NW Catholic – Vincent Burbank 14-25-0, 114
RECEIVING: Ansonia — Jahzari Lawson 2-7, Daniel Ayala 1-9; NW Catholic – Kayden Davis 6-63, Kaedean Stewart 2-17, Chase Henry 1-9, Ayden Ayala 3-22, Marc Cheney 1-5, Patrick Knorr 1-7

Kaydrean Stewart holds tightly onto the ball on a cold Monday night in the Class S semifinals.

Class S semifinals
Sheehan 41, Woodland Regional 20
NW Catholic 21, Ansonia 0
Class LL semifinals
Southington 42, NFA 7
Greenwich 31, Fairfield Prep 10
Class L semifinals
New Canaan 43, Weaver co-op 6
Cheshire 32, Ridgefield 0
Class MM semifinals
Windsor 42, Newington 0
Bunnell 21, Wilton 20
Class M semifinals
Brookfield 6, St. Joseph 3
Berlin 49, Holy Cross 7
Class SS semifinals
Killingly 44, Ledyard 15
Hand 42, Nonnewaug co-op 0