New Haven Register (Sunday) (New Haven, CT)
Hernandez, SMSA prove to be too much for North Branford
NORTH BRANFORD – It was very simple.
North Branford couldn’t stop Daniel Hernandez.
The SMSA Co-op senior quarterback rushed 35 times for 290 yards and three touchdowns and added another 133 yards passing, including a touchdown pass as the Tigerhawks downed North Branford 34-12 in a Pequot League football game at Colafati Field.
“I’m very tired, but our coach keeps us in condition,” Hernandez said afterwards. “We knew North Branford could come out fighting, but we played well. We have a lot of hunger and the end goal is to get to the state championship.”
SMSA remained unbeaten at 5-0 with the victory and the Tigerhawks are off to the best start in program history. They are currently ranked second in the CIAC Class MM football rankings.
“It’s great for the kids,” SMSA coach Kevin Quinn said. “They work so hard and they have a lot of challenges as a Hartford magnet school. They come from all over and to bring these kids together to experience this is really remarkable.”
Despite the lopsided score, the game may have been decided early in the second quarter.
After Hernandez scored from 44 yards out in the first quarter and added the two-point conversion to give SMSA an 8-0 lead, the teams exchanged possessions.
The host Thunderbirds drove downfield early in the second quarter and had a 1st-and-goal at the SMSA 8-yard line. However, the Tigerhawks defense stiffened and didn’t allow North Branford to get in. On fourth down, the Thunderbirds tried a double reverse and then a pass, but couldn’t connect on it.
“That was a huge play and our outside linebacker (Mauammer Cooke) smacked it down,” Quinn said. “It’s a different game if they get in there.”
Before the play, North Branford coach Mark Basil debated a field goal attempt.
“I was going to settle for three points, but our kicker has struggled on that hash, so we had to go for it,” Basil said. “That would have set something up a little bit different.”
And SMSA made the Thunderbirds pay quickly, going 94 yards on just six plays with Hernandez hitting a wide open Zankeer Kerr for a 54-yard touchdown pass to make it 14-0.
The Tigerhawks scored again before halftime on another Hernandez run, this time from four yards out to make it 21-0 at the break.
North Branford finally got on the scoreboard with 2:53 remaining in the third quarter when Mason Provencher (12-for-29 for 249 yards passing) connected with Eric Izzo over the middle for a 16-yard touchdown pass.
Kyen Henderson’s 16yard touchdown run early in the fourth quarter iced things for SMSA.
Jack Meehan and Hernandez each scored touchdowns late in the fourth quarter to complete the scoring.
With the loss, North Branford fell to 2-3.
“I thought on film these guys were as good as anyone we’ve faced so far,” Basil said. “It’s a good time for us to have the bye and get some guys healthy. We missed Tommy (Hansen) and we’re hoping to win the last five and end up 7-3.”