The dream season has ended for the West Haven football team. Coming up one yard short, West Haven fell to Staples, 21-20, in the Class LL championship at Arute Field at Central Connecticut State University.
Nick Conlan was 20-of-28 in the air for 201 yards and a pair of touchdown passes. Conlan also ran in a touchdown, while Camren Kemp ran 27 times for 134 yards.
Trailing, 21-14, West Haven marched on a 9-play, 70-yard drive, capped with Conlan’s 2-yard touchdown pass to Armani Reid on fourth down with 1:15 remaining in the game. The Westies went for the two-point conversion, but Conlan’s pass to Reid was stopped just short of the goal line.
Staples recovered the onsides kick and ran out the clock to deny West Haven its first state championship since 2002.
West Haven seemed to be in control for a major part of the game, but the Westies failed to score on three possessions inside the 25-yard line of Staples. Those three possessions would prove to be the difference in the game.
After stalling at the Staples’ 21 on the opening drive of the game, West Haven took a 6-0 lead as a 14-play, 68-yard drive was capped with a 1-yard touchdown run by Conlan with 8:49 left in the half for a 6-0 lead.
Staples needed just three plays to march 74 yards and take a 7-6 lead as Alex von Seggern Fiala raced 56 yards, before quarterback Caleb Smith scored from seven yards out one play later.
The Westies quickly responded with an 8-play, 50-yard drive as Conlan hit Reid for a 9-yard score, before the pair connected again on the conversion for a 14-7 lead.
Reid had eight receptions for 104 yards in the game.
After an interception by West Haven’s Devin Gardner, the Westies had a golden opportunity to increase the lead before the half, but the drive ended at the Staples 22.
Staples got within 14-13 late in the third quarter, before it appeared West Haven would again answer quickly. West Haven’s drive stalled at the Staples’ 13, allowing the Wreckers to march on a 9-play, 87-yard drive to take a 21-14 lead with 4:59 to go.
The turning point came on third down when Smith avoided a sack and launched a 47-yard completion to Sam Petrosino to the West Haven 40. Instead of punting, Staples needed six plays to take the lead for good when Smith scored from 10 yards out.
The thriller ended in fitting fashion as Conlan marched his team down the field. Conlan connected with Demarco Eady for 13 yards, Reid for 17 and 22, before hitting Eady for a 10-yard completion to the Staples’ five.
Conlan hit Reid for the score on fourth down, but the title dreams ended just short of the goal line on the conversion attempt.
Eady finished with seven receptions for 70 yards in the game.
For all your West Haven sporting news throughout the year, including game articles by Mike Madera, highlights, photos and more, visit www.westieblue.com.