Warriors dominate on the road

Chris Idieu and then a 16yard reception by Burt Lauterbach left Warde with a first and goal at the one. From there, Gulbin snuck over for a touchdown with 1:54 left in the second quarter.

It was, however, the Mustangs’ highwater mark.

Wilton stuffed the twopoint conversion attempt, leaving the Warriors ahead 146. Although Warde forced a punt, DiRocco launched a long kick that was fumbled, with Trevor Martines recovering for Wilton at the Mustangs’ 1yard line.

DiRocco then crashed over for the touchdown and Parker Woodring added the extra point (he was 6for6 on the night), putting the Warriors ahead 216 with 31 seconds left in the half.

Wilton (31) had built a 140 lead on Drew Phillips’ 32yard touchdown run and an explosive 51yard catchandrun pass play over the middle from quarterback Jimmy O’Brien to wide receiver Kyle Hyzy.

After playing well in the first half, Wilton’s defense turned up the heat in the final two quarters. On Warde’s opening possession of the third period, defensive end Kyle Jordan sacked Gulbin for a 12yard loss, leading to a punt.

The Warriors took over at their 34, and four plays later it was O’Brien to Hyzy again, this time for a 60yard touchdown on the identical play over the middle that had resulted in their previous TD connection. Woodring’s PAT made it 286 with 8:26 left in the third.

Early in the fourth quarter, Wilton’s nineplay, 67yard scoring drive effectively put the game out of reach. Consecutive receptions by Wooder Thoby — the first for five yards, the second for 40 yards on a beautifully thrown and caught 40yard bomb — put the ball at the Warde 12. One play later, Phillips went into the end zone on a slashing sixyard run, and Woodring’s PAT made it 356 margin with 9:12 to play.

In desperation mode, Warde (14) went for a first down on a fourthandthree from its own 22. DiRocco blew up the attempt with a 10yard sack, then ran for a 12yard touchdown on the very next play.

Ahead 426 with seven minutes left, DiNunzio was able to let his reserves close out the victory.