Thompson’s TD lifts North Haven past Wilton
NORTH HAVEN — Camren Thompson doesn’t get a ton of opportunities to carry the ball, but he made the mst of one of them on Sunday afternoon.It was fourth down and goal, a tie game in the fourth quarter with a berth in the Class MM state championship game on the line.
The stakes were indeed high.
Thompson was able to just get over the goal line for the go-ahead touchdown.
“We punched it in for the touchdown to win the game,” Thompson said.
No. 5 seed North Haven was able to come up with sacks on its final two defensive possessions to hang on to defeat No. 8 Wilton 14-7 Sunday afternoon in its semifinal-round home game.
“We worked our butts off the entire season, happy the outcome came out like that,” said North Haven senior Chayse Mangino, who had one of those key sacks to force a Wilton punt late in the fourth quarter.
North Haven (10-2) will face No. 3 Killingly in the Class MM final on Saturday at either Rentschler Field or Central Connecticut State University.
“Next week, we’re totally going to prove them wrong. We’re going to win this championship,” Thompson said.
Wilton (8-4) was attempting to reach its first state championship game since 1995.
“Part of the battle was having them believe that they belonged here, a young team,” Wilton coach E.J. DiNuzio said. “North Haven is a great football team and a great program, We know how tough that offense is that they run and we had three days to prepare for it, but my kids were tough, they played hard, they were resilient.”
Wilton trailed 7-0 at halftime, but the Warriors were able to score to start the third quarter.
Wilton went 63 yards in 11 plays, capped by Michael Wall’s 6-yard touchdown run. He also kicked the extra point to tie the game.
The Warriors were able to stay close with backup quarterback Francis Hagerty going most of the way. Dinuzio said senior starter Andrew Acosta-Rua hurt his ankle in the first quarter.
Wilton continued to ave success on defense, stopping North Haven on its next two possessions. But the Nighthawks came up with interceptions of backup Wilton quarterback Francis Hagerty on consecutive possessions by Jake McCreven and Connor Rapuano, respectively.
The second interception set up the Nighthawks at Wilton’s 30-yard line. It took 10 plays before Thompson scored. He converted one of two fourth downs on the scoring drive.
“He went up in the air and I’ve got to be honest, I think we stopped him, but his momentum, his second effort the kid pushed it over, It was a helluva play, an effort play,” DiNuzio said.
Wilton was able to stop North Haven one final time and then force a shaky punt. The Warriors had the ball on North Haven’s 32-yard line with 49.3 seconds left and no timeouts.
But the Warriors dropped a couple of passes before Ryan was able to end it by sacking Hagerty on fourth down.
PLAYER OF THE GAME
Camren Thompson, North Haven: He only gained about a half-yard, but it was the most important half-yard the junior ever gained: on fourth down and goal for the deciding touchdown.