Brien McMahon takes home Testa Trophy
Senators defeat Norwalk 42-13 behind running back Johnathan Angione
Brien McMahon Head coach Jeff Queiroga hoists the Sam Testa Trophy with his players after Brien McMahon’s 42-13 win over Norwalk during the Thanksgiving Day high school football game at Brien McMahon High School in Norwalk on Thursday. For full coverage of the game,
After absorbing a drubbing against Norwalk on Thanksgiving Day in 2021, Brien McMahon flipped the script in the 2022 edition, with a balanced run and pass attack helping it pull away to a 42-13 win before a big home crowd at Casagrande Field in Norwalk. Brien McMahon improved to 4-6, while Norwalk fell to 1-9. The Bears had won the previous seven Thanksgiving Day games
against Brien McMahon, and retain the edge in the rivalry by a 15-13 margin.
The Senators’ defensive front and linebacker corps were able to bottle up Norwalk quarterback Mason Riina and tailback Andrew Hernandez from breaking free for big plays, while keeping Bears lineman Brendan Gilchrist from dominating the game at the line of scrimmage.
Brien McMahon’s offensive line was able to open up gaps for running back Johnathan Angione who made the Bears pay with his elusiveness, acceleration and ability to drive additional yards after contact.
After the teams traded punts in the early going, Angione began to find daylight. With less than two minutes to go in the first quarter, Angione got a good push from his line to run it in from the 7-yard line for the first of his three touchdowns on the day.
Riina responded, moving Norwalk into scoring range through a mix of sweep runs and screen passes, but
was unable to convert on a fourth-and-goal. After the Senators took over on downs, Angione burst up the left side for a 50-yard gain into Bears territory. Brien McMahon quarterback Callum Letters would find tight end Braden Darling several plays later for a 22-yard score.
“He’s a little muscle hamster,” Senators head coach Jeff Queiroga said of Angione. “He eats, sleeps, lives
in the weight room.”
Both teams had their share of miscues and penalties, including after Norwalk High took possession on the next set of downs. A high snap sailed beyond the reach of Riina and into the end zone, where Brien McMahon linebacker Lucas Silva emerged from a scrum with the defensive score.
Riina and Hernandez would pair on a touchdown completion midway through the second quarter for the Bears’ first score, chipping the deficit to 21-7,
only for Angione scamper for a 43-yard touchdown run off a draw late in the half.
McMahon tight end William Moy would score on a wildcat direct snap midway through the third quarter, and after cornerback Rico Bradley nearly took a Riina interception the length of the field to the house, Angione padded the lead in scoring from 9 yards out. Norwalk scored a touchdown on the final play of the game, with Hernandez moving the chains for much of the drive with runs
through the heart of the McMahon defense.
Alex.Soule@scni.com; @casoulman
MCMAHON 35, NORWALK 13
NORWALK ........................ 0 7 0 6 — 13 BRIEN MCMAHON ........... 7 21 7 7 — 35 B — Johnathan Angione 7-yard run (Alex Letters kick)
B — Braden Darling 22-yard pass from Callum Letters (Alex Letters kick)
B — Errant snap recovered by Lucas Silva (Alex Letters kick)
N — Andrew Hernandez 27-yard pass from Mason Riina (Hernandez kick good)
B — Angione 43-yard run (Alex Letters kick) B — William Moy 5-yard run (Alex Letters kick)
B — Angione 9-yard run (Alex Letters kick) N — Touchdown run 5-yards