New Haven Register (Sunday) (New Haven, CT)
Naugatuck rolls to win over Woodland
BEACON FALLS — If Naugatuck coach Chris Anderson thought last year’s game vs. Woodland was going to be awkward, it was nothing compared to the jitters he felt in the week leading up to this year’s game at Woodland’s Hawk Hill, the place where he built a championship program not 20 years prior.
“I was so nervous, all week long,” said Anderson, who spent a majority of his adult life at the school as a two-time championship head coach, assistant and a physical education teacher. “I didn’t sleep much and I was super nervous today. This is a really tough place to play and they’re a good team.”
But once Anderson and many of his assistants (including another former head coach in defensive coordinator Chris Moffo) got the tough part out of the way — actually arriving as an opponent — it was all business for the Greyhounds.
Cayden Martin and Mike Deitelbaum combined for five touchdown as Naugatuck built and early, commanding lead and cruised to a 41-0 victory in a secondhalf monsoon Friday night.
“It means a lot to the program in general,” Deitelbaum said. “I know it’s a big game for him and all the coaches. They all have ties here to Woodland. For us players, we knew it was a big game, it’s just a town over and we all know each other.
“Playing Friday night in the Valley. It doesn’t get any better than that.”
The victory was Naugatuck’s fourth-straight since a frustrating 21-19 loss to Holy Cross at midseason. Not only did it secure the rivalry’s fourth-consecutive George Pinho trophy, but it also (unofficially) put Naugatuck into the Class L playoffs for the third time in four seasons.
Meanwhile, Woodland’s six-game win streak, which included last week’s 20-7 victory over Holy Cross, came to a close.
“(Woodland’s) a great team, they had a lot of momentum especially after beating Holy Cross,” Deitelbaum said. “We just had to make sure we executed in every phase of the game.”
Naugatuck’s defense backed Woodland’ s offense up against its own goal line early twice found itself with great field position in the first quarter.
Deitelbaum and Martin both scored on short runs in the first quarter, but the backbreaker was a 68-yard scoop and score by Jaylen Martinez, which came coutresy of a Jacob Sanchez hit that jarred the ball away from Woodland back Mason Mastroprietro.
“Our staff did a great job getting us ready to play in this environment,” said Anderson, whose team posted its fourth shutout overall and third in its last four games. “The players really rose to the occasion.”
Naugatuck led 21-0 after a quarter. Deitelbaum and Martin tacked on two more scores to send Naugatuck into the half up 34-0.
“That was never a game,” said Woodland coach Joe Lato, whose team fell to 7-2 with its first loss in seven games dating back to Sept. 16 (to Ansonia 42-7). “The game can unravel quickly sometimes. They took it to us. They played a great game and that backfield is something else.
“We’ll burn the film, probably, and get back to work.”
Naugatuck (8-1) now turns its focus to playing arch rival and unbeaten Ansonia at home on Thanksgiving morning. Naugatuck, the only NVL team to beat the Chargers over the last 12 years, won last year’s game 14-7.
“This second half of the season, so far, kids have been really locked in,” Anderson said. “We’ve had great practices and attention to detail. We know we’ve got a real tough one coming up on Thanksgiving and hopefully we’ll have another good couple weeks of practice.”