Bacon relies on run to upset NL

Bobcats score late touchdown to overtake struggling Whalers

New London — Juan Roman realizes nobody wants to hear excuses.

And after Friday night's 18-13 loss to Bacon Academy the New London coach didn't make any.

“You can't expect to win games. You've got to want to win games,'' said Roman. “I have to give credit to Bacon Academy for doing what they had to do.''

And what Bacon (1-2) had to do was run the ball. Then run the ball some more. The Bobcats rushed for 146 yards, using the tandem of JonMike Murray (48 yards) and Quame Piper (68 yards) very effectively. Bacon only attempted four passes.

“Our running game was very good tonight,'' said Bacon coach Dave Mason. “We've got a lot of work to do but this was a good win.''

Bacon led 9-0 after one quarter and 12-7 at halftime before New London sophomore quarterback Owen George hooked up with senior receiver Gio Lopez for their second scoring play of the night, a 7-yard touchdown pass with 9:10 left in the third quarter. It gave the Whalers (1-2) their first lead of the night at 13-12.

Bacon rebounded on its first drive of the fourth quarter, taking 6:22 off the clock while going 39 yards on 12 plays for the game winner. Jake Cavallo ran four yards up the middle for a touchdown and an 18-13 lead with 3:28 left.

New London went four-and-out on its next

possession but got the ball back for a final time on its own 21 with 1:18 left. George hit Zehki Burgis for 17-yards to Bacon's 25 as the horn went off. Bacon's Cole Brackett wrapped up Burgis to end the game.

Piper's 1-yard TD run and Ryan King's extra point gave Bacon a 7-0 lead and Bacon's George Tsakiris tackled Lopez in the end zone for a safety to up the lead to 9-0. King's 25-yard field goal midway through the second quarter made it 12-0.

Lopez caught an 8-yard touchdown pass from George on New London's first possession of the second half and Charles Zeigler's extra point got the Whalers to within 12-7.

Bacon's defense held New London to 16 yards rushing. George completed 17-of-29 passing for 184 yards, but Bacon pressured him into 4-for12 in the fourth quarter.

The Whalers were without all-ECC running back Jacob Commander (leg) and all-state defensive back Monty Johnson (discipline).

“This is New London,'' said Roman. “We want to win games all the time no matter who's playing.'' d.davis@theday.com