Yellowjackets capture 14th Berkshire Bowl victory, 37-18

FALLS VILLAGE — Gilbert-Northwestern head coach Scott Salius and his improved football program captured their third consecutive Berkshire Bowl victory and the school’s first playoff spot on Thanksgiving morning at Housatonic Valley Regional High School. GN battled in a neck-and-neck first half before breaking away to bring home a 37-18 victory in the 26th annual Berkshire Bowl.

The Mountaineers picked a pass out of the air early and brought it in for a quick first touchdown. The Jacket defense managed to halt the two-point conversion but seemed stunned by the unfortunate opening minutes.

GN’s offense responded just as quickly, combining the rush-and-pass game to drive deep into Mountaineers’ territory. Senior co-captain quarterback Bobby Lippincott brought possession to just outside the goal line with the quarterback keeper and then once again for the Jackets’ touchdown response. The extra point proved no good, evening things up early, 6-6.

The Jacket defense did not seem to have the edge and snarl that was present in their previous shutout performance of offensive juggernaut Avon, which allowed the Mountaineers to keep their drive moving slowly deeper into Yellowjacket territory.

Just as the second quarter began the Mountaineers were gifted a few questionable calls to put them in position to reclaim the lead with another touchdown carry. Yellowjacket Sean Fitzgerald blocked the extra point to cut the gap to just six.

GN’s offense retained all their poise and momentum, as Lippincott drove deep on another long QB keeper and followed it up with a touchdown pass to senior co-captain Drew McCarthy. GN’s John Ambrozaitis tallied the extra point to give the Jackets a very slight 13-12 lead heading into the halftime break.

The Jackets appeared trodden heading into halftime despite maintaining the lead, unquestionably dismayed that the Mountaineers were not simply rolling over, and within reach of putting the Jackets’ potential playoff hopes in calamitous peril.

Out of the half, the Mountaineers continued to find enough room to inch closer to recapturing the lead, but a revived Jacket defense led by steadfast senior co-captain Kyle Jones forced a turnover on downs.

Lippincott found Devon Molway with a quick pass, which he carried through multiple tackles for big yardage, sending a surge through the formerly lifeless GN sideline. Molway went back to work, inching out another first down and onward to bring the Jackets just outside the Mountaineers’ goal line. McCarthy, with the help of a significant push from the entire offensive line, bulldozed his way into the end zone for another GN touchdown. Ambrozaitis added the extra point to extend the lead to 20-12.

The Jacket defense found their vigor and was able to shutdown the Mountaineers through the third. Working off a third-quarter drive, Lippincott opened the fourth with a superb throw to McCarthy for a 65-yard touchdown pass. The Jackets widened the gap further with an interception by Lippincott and a lengthy carry on the Mountaineers next drive — finished with a touchdown run from McCarthy to bring the score to 34-12.

Despite the gap, the Mountaineers continued to battle and added another touchdown late in the fourth. The Jackets answered with a field goal from J.P. Dulac to win the Berkshire Bowl with a final score of 37-18.

Jacket coach Scott Salius commented on his team’s response out of the half.

“We just made a few adjustments,� he said. “They just needed a big stop to know that we could shut them down.�

Salius went on to comment on capturing the school’s first playoff berth.

“We have made incredible advances in the program. We are going places we have never been before.�

GN finished out the regular season with a record of 8-2 and their 14th Berkshire Bowl victory. For news about the team’s playoff win, turn to Page A1.

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