Sams ties co-op record with 5 TDs in a game in Granby/Canton’s victory

written by Gerry deSimas, Jr., Collinsville Press | October 1, 2026

Granby’s Elijah Sams (6) tied a co-op record with five TDs in a single game in Thursday night’s win over the SMSA co-op in Granby.

GRANBY, Oct. 1, 2026 – Elijah Sams scored five touchdowns on Thursday night to lead the Granby/Canton football team to a 50-22 win over the SMSA co-op in Pequot Conference play.

Sams caught two passes (15, 75 yards) from QB Joe Lewie and scored on TD runs of 11, 16 and 2 yards to tie a co-op record with five touchdowns in a single game. It tied the co-op record set by Will Attianese of five TDs and 30 points set against North Branford in 2023.

The Granby/Canton co-op program dates back seven seasons to 2019.

Sams’ 75-yard touchdown is the second-longest TD pass in co-op history. The record is 76 yards by Vincent Vrabel from Attianese against Ellington in 2023.

Granby/Canton (3-1) took a 21-0 lead in the first quarter and never looked back. Sams had two TDs in the first quarter on a 15-yard pass from Lewie and an 11-yard run. He added his third TD of the day on the 75-yard TD reception.

Sams scored a pair of fourth quarter touchdowns on runs of 16 and two yards.

The 50 points was the most points in a single game since beating the Windsor Locks co-op team 54-0 in 2024.

Granby/Canton 50, SMSA co-op 20
At Granby
SMSA co-op (2-1)                0  14     0  6  — 20
Granby/Canton (3-1)       21  15  14  0  — 50
First quarter
G: Elijan Sams 15 pass from Joe Lewie (Kilty kick)
G: Michael LaPenta 5 run (Kilty kick)
G: Sams 11 run (Kilty kick)
Second quarter
S: Ameer Pitts 2 run (2-point conversion good)
G: Gabriel Mensah 9 run (Kilty kick)
S: Jamiah Shannon 8 pass from Pitts (2 point conversion fails)
G: Sams 75 pass from Lewie (Lewie run)
Third quarter
G: Sams 16 run (Kilty kick)
G: Sams 2 run (Kilty kick)
Fourth quarter
S: No. 14 17 pass from Pitts (Two-point conversion fails)
Of note: Lewie 114 yard rushing, 157 yards passing; Sams 5 TDs (3 rushing, 2 receiving), 121 yards receiving. … SMSA co-op has players from SMSA, Bulkeley, HMTCA and University High. … 75-yards is second longest TD in co-op history (since 2019) and Sams tied the co-op record for most TDs (5) in a single game. The first player to do it was Will Attianese against North Branford in 2023