Housy tops Valley Regional, 26-14, for second win of season

The Housatonic Valley Regional High School Mountaineers beat the Valley Regional Warriors at Richard Blythe Field in Deep River on Friday night 26-14, bringing the Falls Village school’s record to 2-0 for the first time since 1993.

Also on the winning lineup were players from Wamogo Regional High School in Litchfield, who have a co-op team with Housatonic.

Led by Will Kennedy and Jameson Martin, who scored two touchdowns each, and Co-Captain Tom Kennedy, who ground out 110 rushing yards, the Mountaineers took an early lead and never relinquished it.

Will Kennedy scored eight minutes into the first quarter on a 9-yard dash along the right side, and Martin then added two points, punching the ball in up the middle for a 8-0 lead.

After the kickoff, the Warriors responded with a 40-yard run on the first play from scrimage, as quarterback Matt Carl got loose along the left sideline.

But on the following play, a bad snap from center sailed over Carl’s head and was recovered by the Mountaineers on their own 30-yard line.

Housy got down the field quickly, using the single-wing formation, which was made famous back in the 1920s by Knute Rockne and the Four Horsemen of Notre Dame.

"We play the single wing because we feel it maximizes the abilities of our players," Head Coach Deron Bayer stated after the game.

After a pass play from Jameson Martin to Gian Lodevole netted 35 yards, the Mountaineers were once again in the red zone. Tom Kennedy’s rushing, aided by the outstanding run-blocking by the offensive line, moved Housy to the 3-yard line, allowing Martin to plow up the middle for the touchdown. The two-point conversion failed, and the quarter ended with the score of 14-0.

Valley Regional dominated the second quarter in time of possession, but outstanding defensive play by Housy halted two Warrior drives inside the Mountaineer’s red zone — once on the 5-yard line, and once on the 15.

With Housy kicking off to start the third quarter, the defense was once again put to the test. On the Warrior’s first play from scrimmage, Nathan Hougrand ripped off a 60-yard run on a sweep.

And once again, the Mountaineers were up to the task as they stopped the Warriors, who turned the ball over on downs. Housy then took control of the game when Will Kennedy cut through the center of the line, avoiding would-be tacklers, and sauntered into the end zone for a 30-yard touchdown, his second of the day.

One of the more interesting plays of the evening came soon after, when Housy pooch punted on third down, with the intention of catching Valley Regional off-guard, and possibly recovering the football. But the ball came down directly on the crown of an unaware Warrior’s helmet, and bounced right into the arms of teammate Jonathan McCue, who advanced it for a 40-yard gain.

This allowed Valley Regional to get on the scoreboard, with a successful halfback option pass.

With the extra point good, the score stood at 20-7, and the momentum seemed to be shifting to the Warriors.

But on the ensuing kickoff, Jameson Martin returned the ball 65 yards for his second touchdown, cutting across the field while the special team players escorted him with some great blocks. That put Housy back in control at 26-7.

Valley Regional was able to score once more at the end of the third, but in the final quarter the Housy defense put the clamps down, and the offense effectively ran the clock down with some tough between-the-tackles run plays. When time expired, the Mountaineers walked away with a well-deserved victory over a difficult opponent, and a 2-0 start to the season that offers a lot of promise.

After a week off, the Mountaineers will face a strong Tolland team on Friday, Oct. 5, at 6:30 p.m. in Tolland.