New Haven Register (New Haven, CT)
Westies on a roll
West Haven tops Hillhouse for fourth straight win
NEW HAVEN — Since a heartbreaking loss to Hamden, the West Haven WEST HAVEN football team has been on a mission. That Westies are playing as such. Behind three touchdowns for Deven Robinson and two more from Amir Nakome, West Haven defeated Hillhouse 35-13 in a Southern Connecticut Conference Division II contest at Bowen Field in New Haven Friday evening.
West Haven has now won four games in a row and has improved to 5-1 entering next week’s home showdown against Notre Dame-WH.
“We run the ball really well,”
West Haven coach Rich Boshea said. “We would like to pass the ball a little more, but sometimes you have to do what you are good at. (Quarterback) Nick Conlan is a freshman. He throws the ball very well. We do not want to put too much pressure on him. We have all the confidence in the world in him, but we want to put it on the seniors’ and older kids’ shoulders. Whatever he gives us is gravy. We ran very well tonight.”
West Haven has quietly gone about its business since the loss and Friday evening was much of the same. Controlling a large portion of the contest, West Haven rebounded after surrendering a pair of fumble recoveries for Hillhouse scores in the first half.
West Haven, very much alive for a postseason bid, ran for five touchdowns, scored a safety on defense and never allowed Hillhouse to use its speed to hurt the Westies.
“It is a team effort,” Robinson said after running for 156 yards and three touchdowns on 21 carries. “We just follow our blocks. We just run hard, hit the holes and break tackles. We work hard. It shows with all the work we put in at practice.”
West Haven dominated play in the first half, but only went to the intermission ahead 20-13. Boshea had to have mixed emotions with the offense as the Westies outgained Hillhouse 198-48 in the opening half, but fumbled twice to
lead to a pair of Hillhouse fumble returns for touchdowns.
“This is a huge win for us,” Boshea said. “The main thing is everyone stayed together. No one pointed any figures when they scored on the fumbles. We had a good positive attitude and got it right back.”
Ahead 14-0 and looking to blow the game open, West Haven saw the momentum of the game shift to the Academics.
On second down, Hillhouse sacked West Haven freshman quarterback Nick Conlan, forcing a fumble. Hillhouse senior Lee Granger picked up the fumble and raced 41 yards for the score, getting the Academics within 14-7.
The Westies went back to the ground game, but that had a poor ending as well.
The Academics (1-5) forced another fumble and Frank Daniley scooped up the loose ball and returned the fumble 50 yards for the score. West Haven blocked the extra point, retaining a 14-13 lead with 6:26 remaining in the half.
“I am proud of the kids,” Hillhouse coach Reggie Lytle said. “They worked hard. There was a lot of fight in them. We have fought all year and we will continue to fight. I am very proud of how hard they played.”
With all the momentum now on their side, the Academics needed a big stop. That did not happen as West Haven marched 63 yards in nine plays, capped by a 16-yard touchdown run by Nakome with 2:16 left in the half for a 20-13 advantage.
“This is a really good
team we have,” Nakome said after running for a pair of touchdowns and 128 yards on 15 carries. “We have a lot of good talent. We are a strong team. We fought hard to come out with the win. We fought back after they scored. One mistake does not define us. We stay together.”
West Haven controlled the game at the start, outgaining Hillhouse 84-10 in the opening quarter. The Westies made it look easy on their opening drive, marching 51 yards on seven plays, capped by an 11-yard score by Robinson 2:37 in.
After West Haven turned Hillhouse aside later in the opening quarter, the Westies started a drive which ended 2:11 into the second quarter with a 9-yard touchdown run by Nakome. Robinson ran in the conversion for a 14-0 lead,
before Hillhouse cashed in on a pair of West Haven fumbles.
The Westies put the game away in the third quarter when Robinson sandwiched touchdown runs of five and two yards around a safety when a Hillhouse snap went out of the endzone.
PLAYERS OF THE GAME
Deven Robinson and Amir Nakome: The West Haven running tandem accounted for 284 yards and five touchdowns on the ground. Robinson ran for three scores, including two in the third quarter when West Haven pulled away. Nakome ran for a pair of scores in the second quarter to give West Haven a 20-13 halftime lead.
QUOTABLE
“We watch a lot of film. We watch witch coaches and on our own. Some people may not watch film on their own. We find a way. Instead of playing video games, we are watching film. We do what we have to do.” — West Haven’s Amir Nakome
West Haven 35, Hillhouse 13 West Haven .................... 6 14 15 0 — 35 Hillhouse ........................... 0 13 0 0 — 13 First quarter
W - Deven Robinson 11 run (Pass failed) 9:23
Second quarter
W -Amir Nakome 9 run (Deven Robinson run) 9:49
H — Lee Granger 41 fumble return (Devonte Boone kick) 7:28
H — Frank Daniley 50 fumble return (Kick blocked) 6:26
W — Amir Nakome 16 run (Run failed) 2:16 Third quarter
W — Deven Robinson 5 run (Raul Sanchez kick)
W — Safety (Ball snapped out of endzone) 7:36
W — Deven Robinson 2 run (Pass failed) 3:40 Records: WH 5-1; H 1-5