Lewis Mills co-op squad eyes CIAC playoffs after shutout win over RHAM

Gryf Kobylarz of Lewis Mills/Wolcott Tech runs for a big gain during Saturday’s 34-0 win over RHAM in Burlington. (Photo courtesy Steve Barlow)

By STEVE BARLOW
Special to The Collinsville Press

BURLINGTON, Nov. 7, 2026 – If anyone had been skeptical in preseason of the Lewis Mills/Wolcott Tech co-op’s chances of making the state football playoffs, it was understandable.

After all, the Spartans owned a total of three victories over the past two years and haven’t had a winning record since joining the Central Connecticut Conference eight years ago.

As a bewildered Jim Mora might say: “Playoffs? Don’t talk about – playoffs?!”

Yes, playoffs. In a tremendous turnaround, the Spartans are within sniffing distance of their first-ever postseason appearance after shellacking RHAM, 34-0, on Saturday afternoon for their fourth straight win. They have already clinched their first winning season since 2015.

At 6-2, Mills currently sits seventh in the Class L rankings with two games left to play. And while there may have been preseason doubters, the Spartans believed. They were talking about the playoffs even before the first kickoff.

“We’re strong. We’re finally complete. I knew the playoffs were definitely in the picture,” said running back Mason Scanlon.

“We believed in each other, and we knew that our strengths could overcome every team we play,” wide receiver Gryf Kobylarz added.

They certainly had too much firepower for the visiting Raptors (1-7). Scanlon rushed for 96 yards and a touchdown on 13 carries, Jayce McDonald completed nine passes for 127 yards and three TDs, and Kobylarz caught two of those scoring strikes.

Meanwhile, the Spartans’ defense held RHAM to 114 yards on the ground, with 43 of those coming on the game’s final play, and 49 in the air while pitching its second shutout in three weeks.

“Our goal coming in was to make sure all three phases were clicking and kind of make a statement as far as how far we’ve come the last three years,” said Spartans coach Jay Pace.

Mills made a statement on its opening possession as Scanlon carried four straight times, covered 50 yards and scored on an 8-yard run only a minute and a half into the game.

“I have one of the best O-lines I could have,” Scanlon noted. “They’re big up front, powerful. Everybody is above 220, 210. I love it.”

The play of the day belonged to Kobylarz. Only 17 seconds into the second quarter, he jousted with RHAM’s Jackson Paragone to make a leaping, one-handed, 19-yard touchdown catch reminiscent of Odell Beckham for a 14-0 lead.

“It’s just about focus,” Kobylarz explained, as if it was that easy.

“Every week, he does something that makes you go, ‘Wow!’ And then he does something again the next week,” Pace remarked.

On the next possession, McDonald connected with Grady Clark for an 18-yard scoring pass. It was set up by Bret Hemingway’s 42-yard reception. When RHAM’s best drive of the day ran out of time at the 12, Mills led, 20-0, at halftime.

In the second half, Kobylarz caught a 4-yard TD pass and Jackson Henry finished the scoring with a 1-yard plunge.

“We’ve built on the expectations. The way we prepare, the way we practice, the way we do the little things the last two, three years – now the seniors who’ve been part of that process are our leaders,” Pace said. “They are so determined to make this season one of the best we’ve had.”

The final two games are against a pair of 4-4 teams, Northwest Catholic and Avon/St. Paul. They are both winnable for Mills, but the Spartans can’t afford to stub their toe in the highly competitive Class L division. A loss could scuttle those playoff dreams.

“We know we have to win both games to be able to get in, most likely,” Pace said. “But we’re in a good spot right now.”

“We’ve got to keep rolling,” Scanlon said. “We’re going to go after it and get it done.”

The Lewis Mills/Wolcott Tech football team rolled over RHAM on Saturday to clinch its first winning season since 2015. The Spartans wore special uniforms provided by the Connecticut National Guard in honor of Veterans Day, which is Wednesday. (Photo courtesy Steve Barlow)

Lewis Mills/Wolcott Tech 34, RHAM 0
At Burlington
RHAM (1-7)                                 0    0     0  0 – 0
Lewis Mills/OWTS (6-2)        7  13  14  0 – 34
First quarter
LM: Mason Scanlon 8 run (Jacob Dinh kick)
Second quarter
LM: Gryf Kobylarz 19 pass from Jayce McDonald (Dinh kick)
LM: Clark Grady 18 pass from McDonald (kick failed)
Third quarter
LM: Kobylarz 4 pass from McDonald (Dinh kick)
LM: Jackson Henry 1 run (Dinh kick)
Individual results
RUSHING: LM – Mason Scanlon 13-96, Gryf Kobylarz 2-19, Jackson Henry 3-9, Jayce McDonald 15, Wyatt Norris 3-8. R – Hudson Burkhardt 13-101, Justin Lisboa 7-14
PASSING: LM – McDonald 9-13-127-0. R – Noah Renouf 3-4-13-0, Shawn Daley 1-1-36-0.
RECEIVING: LM – Grady Clark 2-32, Kobylarz 2-23, Bret Hemingway 1-42, Curtis Gilbert 1-14, Steven Madore 1-13. R – Jackson Paragone 1-36, Justin Lisboa 2-14.