Northwestern/ Gilbert rebounds to beat Waterbury Career Academy

WATERBURY — After a miserable first half, Gilbert/Northwestern climbed out of a 14-point hole to beat Waterbury Career Academy 29-22 in what Yellowjackets coach Scott Salius called “a great, great high school game” Tuesday night at Waterbury’s Municipal Stadium.

In a first half rife with mistakes on both sides — a fumble and interception for G/N, multiple penalties for the Spartans, the Yellowjackets stopped WCA’s running game, but seemed helpless against Spartan quarterback Matt Torres’ passes and breakout sprints.

A 22-yard pass from Torres to Tyler Glenn put the Spartans on the board in the first quarter. A 12-yard sprint by Torres earned WCA a touchdown in the second.

Meanwhile, the Yellowjackets, relying on their running game thanks to quarterback Brad Lissy’s sore shoulder, couldn’t get untracked. Featured runners Billy Komons and E.J. Claman mustered just 40 and 16 yards,

respectively, in a 14-0 Spartan first half advantage.

Halftime adjustments in attitudes and assignments turned it into a game.

“No one wanted to go out this way,” said Claman.

“We got fired up,” said Komons.

“(WCA linebacker Jaleen Gopie) is a great player, so we moved it away from him and started trap blocking,” said Salius.

So, while Torres’ passing rampage continued into the second half for a monster 336 yards for the game — 237 of them to Jadan Battle — suddenly the Yellowjackets had a running game to match.

Komons, on his way to 138 rushing yards for the game, reached the end zone on an 18-yard sprint six minutes into the third quarter, then tied it with 1:48 left in the period after Claman, who finished with 117 yards, rambled for 41 on the drive.

But with eight seconds left in the quarter, Torres’ arm struck again — 73 yards to Battle for the go-ahead touchdown.

In the final period, behind again 22-14, Zach Horvay-McLellan pulled up the Yellowjackets on a 13-yard run. Sophomore quarterback Chase Sanden came in for one surprise play — a 33-yard pass to Chris Nanni — setting up Lissy for a 1-yard keeper to put the Yellowjackets ahead for the final time.

Even so, Torres added one of the “greats” to Saluis’ enthusiasm with one more passing drive, down to the final seconds, no time outs left and spikes to stop the clock.

He had the Spartans down to the G/N 11-yard line on a 37-yard pass to Justen Rudel before the clock finally ended the game.

Gilbert/Northwestern 29, Waterbury Career Academy 22