Ledyard’s Daggett getting more chances to punish his opponents
Howdy, Ledyard senior Tannor Daggett typically lines up at nose tackle, making his presence felt by stuffing the run and taking on multiple blockers.
Daggett, in the last few weeks though, has been getting regular reps as a fullback in Ledyard’s double wing offense, leading the way for tailbacks Manny Deshields-Sanabria, Justin Carter and Luke Saccone.
Friday night, his number was called when the Colonels had a firstand-goal from the 1. Daggett, who is 5-foot-10 and 285-pounds, barreled into the end zone for his first career touchdown. Afterward, he sounded like someone who had been running the ball his whole life and led the league in scoring.
“My line blocked very well on that play,” he said. “I just saw an opening and I hit it and kept my feet going.”
In fact, getting the opportunity to get into the end zone isn’t even what he likes best about playing fullback.
“Scoring is fine,” he said, “but the kick-out blocks, getting to hit people, getting to be physical, that’s what I like. That’s what’s fun.”
•••• Fitch senior fullback-linebacker Parker Gibson trudged off the field during a timeout late in Friday’s 15-6 loss to Killingly and was immediately hugged by head coach Mike Ellis Jr.
“That last series, (Killingly) was diving (with the run) right at him,” Ellis Jr. said. “He was stuffing that play, and what they ended up having to do is have the quarterback (Kyle Derosier) keep it and run around the edge to get the first down. But Parker rose to the challenge on that last series, and he was not letting them run that play anymore. Being that tired in the fourth quarter, I thought it was a heroic job what he did out there.” Killingly was well aware of Gibson. “He’s a tough player on both sides of the ball,” Killingly head coach Chad Neal said. “He was crashing hard off the edge. He was a tough kid to block. We saw it on film. We knew he was the guy; he was the man that you want to stay away from.”
•••• Tyler Valdez was buried on the East Lyme depth chart, a sophomore running back who coach Rudy Bagos said was “really a JV player.”
But in the last few weeks, Valdez has shown Bagos enough to get more looks in varsity competition, and Friday night Bagos really took notice Friday night.
Valdez had a couple of nice runs for the Vikings and showed tremendous hustle by chasing down a Colonels player who looked destined for the end zone late in the game.
“He’s a 140-pound sophomore, and he gives you everything he’s got,” Bagos said. “I was glad to see him score and glad to see him run that kid down. That’s a kid who’s willing to fight to the end. That’s the kind of mentality that we’re trying to build here.”
Bacon Academy’s season will be
remembered historically for its team accomplishments — defeating New London, Ledyard, Fitch and NFA to date — and for at least two individual plays from junior Paul Chasse.
Two weeks earlier, Chasse caught a 24-yard touchdown pass with a minute left, helping Bacon rally past Fitch 34-33.
Friday night, his 78-yard interception return after NFA faked a field goal, gave the Bobcats the lead.
Asked which play was bigger, Chasse grinned and said, “Oh, man. That’s hard to say. Both were pretty big, though.”
•••• Correction — New London’s Gio Lopez was not credited with catching eight passes for 68 yards in Friday’s football roundup.
•• • • Thanks to Mike DiMauro for the note from the Bacon Academy-NFA game and Steve Nalbandian for providing notes from Friday's East Lyme-Ledyard game.
•••• Thanks for reading. More later Monday night or Tuesday morning.
Vaya con dios. n.griffen@theday.com Twitter: @MetalNED