’Cats bust up Crosby

Written by Ken Morse, Correspondent
Tuesday, 03 November 2009 14:51

The Seymour High football team came out of the locker room charged up to celebrate Senior Night and coach Tom Lennon’s Wildcats were determined not to leave DeBarber Field without a victory on Oct. 30.

It’s been a long, hard road for the Wildcats battling injuries, but with senior co-captain Connor Shugrue back in the huddle after spending the last four weeks on the sidelines, Seymour handed Lennon the first victory of his career with a 41-26 decision over Crosby High.

“It certainly wasn’t the way we drew it up at the start of the season,” said a shivering Lennon, after the first water bucket shower of his career.

“But tonight the seniors came together, in fact the whole team stepped up.

“Having Connor back really makes an impact. Outside of the stats he puts up on offense it’s the things he does on the other side of the ball.

“Connor is truly a warrior and we are a much better team with him on the field.”

Shugrue came out sporting a brace to protect the knee that kept him on the sidelines for a month, as the ‘Cats struggled to an 0-6 start on the season.

The quarterback immediately took charge marching the Wildcats down the field on an 11-play drive.

Shugrue (5-of-11 passing, 135 yards) also called his own number four times for 14 yards and two touchdowns.

After Shugrue lowered his head and burst into the end zone he was chest bumping every teammate within an arms length.

Bobby Gombos booted the extra point for a 7-0 lead at 7:45 of the opening quarter.

The difference in this game was that the Wildcats were able to overcome adversity.

They survived two fumbles and two huge penalties that aided the Crosby cause.

With the game hanging in the balance, the defense scored three second-half touchdowns to put the game in the win column.

The Bulldogs (1-6) answered the first Seymour score when they recovered a fumble and took it down the field in five plays.

Seymour was driving when a clipping penalty negated a 30-yard run and forced a punt.

Dion Small took it down the sidelines for a 60-yard touchdown return to put Crosby out in front 12-7 with 7:46 to go in the half.

The ‘Cats responded with an 11-play drive, converting two third downs and one fourth down to keep moving the chains.

Mike Fraser (3 catches for 45 yards) hauled in a fourth-down pass at the Seymour 36-yard line.

Jacob Drozd (9 carries, 40 yards and 2 catches, 90 yards) hauled in a 30-yard pass to convert a third-and-nine.

Chris Sheppard (8 carries, 35 yards) then bulled his way to make it first-and-goal.

Shugrue followed Dylan Sadick, Chris Wilson and Josh Tilton into the end zone on a seven-yard blast with Sheppard providing the two-point conversion run for a 15-12 Seymour lead at the half.

Crosby came out in the third quarter looking to stay in the game, but the front four of James Tyer, Eric Roberts, Kevin Tapia and Justin Guillette had other ideas.

On the third play of the opening series, Jim Farrell intercepted a pass and took it to the house on a 36-yard touchdown return.

It wouldn’t be the last time Crosby heard from Farrell, as he put the final points on the board with a 40-yard interception return with five minutes left in the game.

Seymour held a 21-12 lead heading into the fourth quarter when Drozd caught a fourth-and-three pass form Shugrue and out raced the Crosby defenders into the end zone on a 60-yard touchdown as the ‘Cats sideline erupted.

Small hooked up on a 52-yard pass play from Derrick Cox, as the Bulldogs crawled back in the game trailing 27-18.

Sheppard made a huge stop on the two-point conversion try to keep it a two-possession game with 9:21 remaining.

Seymour ended any notion of a Crosby comeback when Drozd broke through the line and flattened Cox before picking up a fumble and taking it 30 yard into the end zone.

With 7:02 to go it was slipping away from the Bulldogs with Seymour in control holding a 34-18 cushion.

Five plays later, Farrell took off on his second interception return and this game was firmly in the win column for the ‘Cats.

Seymour will travel to Wolcott this week to try and build on turning the season around.