The balance of the West Haven football team has been evident from the start of the season. Each week has been someone different as the Westies have found a variety of ways to an undefeated start.
Zach Conlan was the next man up Saturday evening as the Westies defeated Norwich Free Academy, 42-19, in a non-conference game at Ken Strong Stadium in West Haven.
Conlan scored twice on offense, made several big tackles on defense, and capped his stellar performance with an interception to set up a score as the Westies improved to 6-0 with the win.
“Zach (Conlan) is a little overshadowed by the other two right now,” West Haven coach Rich Boshea said. “He is a very good running back. Kyle (Godfrey) and Chris (Chance) are good, but by no means is Zach the third option. He’s a tough, hard-nosed kid who doesn’t care if he gets the ball or not. He plays hard on both sides of the ball.”
The Westies, who gained 521 yards of offense in the game, were in control from the start and were rewarded in the second half when Shane Clarke blocked a Norwich Free Academy punt, scooped up the ball at the 4-yard line, and ran in for the score and a 42-7 West Haven lead. The touchdown with 2 minutes, 55 seconds gone by in the second half gave the Westies a 35-point lead, setting up a running clock until 4:19 remained in the game.
In what was expected to be a battle of West Haven’s talented running game against a high-octane passing attack of Norwich Free Academy, the Westies set the tone in the first half, accumulating 372 yards of offense alone in the first 24 minutes.
While the Wildcats had 202 yards of their own in the opening half, the Westies took control by scoring on all but one possession in the opening half.
Conlan was the difference-maker in the opening half as he ran for 160 yards and a pair of touchdowns, and also intercepted a pass by Norwich Free Academy’s Shea McManaway.
“I just keep using all the criticism to keep me going,” Conlan said. “I come out here and do exactly what I do. This feels great. It feels great to be with all my friends.”
Conlan gave the Westies a 7-0 lead with a 48-yard touchdown run on West Haven’s second offensive play of the game, then helped the Westies increase the lead to 15-0 with a 60-yard touchdown run with 5:51 to go in the opening quarter.
After Conlan intercepted a McManaway pass and returned the pick to the Wildcats’ 34, Chris Chance ran in from four yards out six plays later for a 22-0 lead with 47 seconds to go in the opening quarter.
“I am just focused,” Conlan said. “I just have tunnel vision the entire time. We are trying to go all the way.”
The Wildcats (2-3) finally got on the scoreboard with 1:08 gone by in the second quarter as a 7-play, 60-yard drive was capped with a McManaway to Kevin Pomroy 17-yard scoring strike.
“They all are playing well,” Boshea said. “We have a good secondary. They all know their coverages. All the guys know where they are supposed to be. We work hard on studying film with the kids. They’re put in the right spot and they stay in the right spot and make the plays when we need them.”
West Haven, which scored on five of its six first half possessions, took a 29-7 lead when Kyle Godfrey raced in from 78 yards out on third down with 2:43 left in the first half. The Westies recovered a fumble on the ensuing kickoff, and Chance hit Jordan Wetmore with a 12-yard scoring strike with 1:31 to go in the half for a 36-7 West Haven lead.
The Wildcats, who amassed 359 yards of offense in the loss, got on the board late in the game when McManaway hit Nolan Molkenthin with a 24-yard scoring strike with 4:19 left in the game.
Conlan finished with 163 yards rushing, while Godfrey ran for 105 yards. McManaway was 19-of-32 for 267 yards in the loss for the Wildcats.