NEW BRITAIN -- Time and time again, Ansonia has come out victorious. Saturday at Willow Brook Park in New Britain was no different.
The Chargers (13-0) captured their 20th state championship –a state record –in the Class S finals, besting Rocky Hill, 28-21.
Ansonia was led by running back Markell Dobbs, who finished with 191 yards rushing on 34 carries and two touchdowns, while quarterback Bryson Cafaro added a go-ahead touchdown pass to Jake Butler, and the game winning score –an 8-yard run –with 6:07 left to play in the fourth quarter.
Joseph Catania led the Terriers, rushing for 192 yards and two touchdowns, with included a 93-yard score in the first quarter.
After trailing 14-6 entering the final quarter, Ansonia scored on a 2-yard run by Dobbs to bring the Chargers within striking distance, 14-12.
Ansonia scored again 81 seconds later when Cafaro found Butler from 20-yards out to put the Chargers ahead for good 20-14 before Cafaro put the game on ice with his rushing score to put his squad on top, 28-14.
Rocky Hill quarterback Dan Cavallaro connected with Grant Nieves for a 19-yard score with 2:34 remaining, but that was as close that the Terriers (11-2) would come.
The CIAC crowned three other champions on Saturday, including Hillhouse in Class M (42-21 over St. Joseph), New Canaan in Class L (35-20 over Windsor), and Darien in Class LL (28-7 over Ridgefield).
Mathew Brehon (23 carries, 231 yards, 2 TDs), David Harris (12 carries, 94 yards, 2 TDs) and Shawn Ogarro (8 carries, 49 yards, 1 TD) carried the Academics (12-1) in Class M over the Cadets (10-3), who were led by Jaden Shirden’s three rushing touchdowns.
New Canaan (12-1) won their fourth straight state championship behind Drew Pyne (10-of-13 passing, 137 yards, 2 TDs), Graham Braden (186 rush yards) and Ryan O’Connell (7 catches, 94 receiving yards, 1 TD) while James Freyre (11 tackles) and William Rechtermann (two sacks) led the way defensively. Timothy Gardner notched 124 total yards (105 rushing, 19 receiving) while adding a touchdown catch in the second quarter for Windsor (12-1).
Brian Peters of Darien (13-0) proved difficult to stop for Ridgefield, as the quarterback finished 17-of-31 for 237 yards and three touchdowns, as Timothy Herget hauled in four passes for 91 yards and two scores. Drew Fowler of Ridgefield (10-3) finished 22-of-46 for 277 yards and one score.
