GNH football wins home opener 21-7 over Kennedy

WINSTED — The Gilbert/Northwestern/Housatonic co-op football team earned its first win of the season against Waterbury’s John F. Kennedy High School with a 21-7 victory under the lights on Friday, Sept. 15.

The GNH Yellowjackets bounced back after opening the season in Ansonia with a tough 45-13 loss. 

Against Kennedy, GNH put on an impressive defensive performance from start to finish and started to gel offensively as the game progressed.

Conditions were crisp at kick-off with temps in the low 60s and a light breeze as the sun set over Winsted. The Gilbert School marching band performed the national anthem, and so began GNH’s home opener.

The Yellowjackets were noticeably out of sync in the first quarter, racking up four false starts and a fumbled hand-off in their first two possessions. 

“Wake up! Let’s go,” shouted GNH Head Coach Scott Salius from the sideline.

GNH got it together and marched down the field on the heels of running back Aiden Avenia. Receiver Brett Maguire finished off the drive with a six-yard rush to put the Yellowjackets up 7-0 early in the second quarter.

GNH’s defense forced Kennedy into their second three-and-out in as many possessions and gave the offense good field position midway through the second quarter. A 30-yard pass set up Avenia for a five-yard rush to the hole, giving GNH a 14-0 lead late in the second.

Kennedy put together a strong drive and scored with just over a minute remaining in the half. The Eagles then stopped the Yellowjackets deep in their own territory and blocked a punt with 34 seconds left. GNH’s defense remained disciplined and forced a turnover on downs near the goal line, then took a knee to bring the clock down to triple zeroes.

GNH held on to a 14-7 lead at halftime. 

The third quarter was a defensive battle with both sides fighting for every inch. Avenia logged a tackle for a loss and a sack in back-to-back plays, stopping a long Kennedy drive in its tracks and firing up the Yellowjackets at the end of the third.

Avenia opened the fourth a 28-yard breakaway down the sideline, breaching Kennedy territory on his longest run of the night. As momentum appeared to be swinging back into GNH’s favor, an interception was thrown, and Kennedy reclaimed possession on their own 16-yard line.

GNH’s defense forced another three-and-out and the offense opted to stick to the run game from there on. When they got back down field, quarterback Nolan Risedorf found daylight and charged 25 yards behind lead blocker Avenia into the endzone. 

Down two touchdowns, Kennedy looked to launch the long ball late in the fourth, but the swarming Yellowjackets ended the final two Eagle drives with interceptions from Ty Devita and Brett Maguire.

GNH won the game 21-7 and advanced to 1-1 on the season while Kennedy fell to 0-2.

Postgame, Risedorf said the disconnect between him and the offensive line in the first half could be attributed to crowd noise and the constant hum of gas-powered field lights.

“The crowd kind of got to them, and all these lights, the offensive line couldn’t hear me. So there was a lot of communication issues. I’m happy we pulled together by halftime and pulled the game out,” said Risedorf.

Looking ahead to their next game, Avenia said the Yellowjackets are expecting a tough match in Torrington.

“We kind of blew them out last year. They’re definitely gonna come ready. They’re gonna want to win, so we have to be ready next week,” said Avenia.

GNH will head to Torrington on Friday, Sept. 22 for a 6 p.m. kickoff.

Housatonic Valley Regional High School sophomore Owen Riemer took down Kennedy’s running back before he could leave the back field. Gilbert/Northwestern/Housatonic co-op displayed defensive dominance in their home opener in Winsted on Sept. 15. Photo by Riley Klein