Naugatuck improved its record to 9-0 after a second-half surge propelled the Greyhounds to a 29-14 victory over Torrington on Friday night, as reported by Yahoo Sports.
Torrington controlled the first half with a ball-control offense, holding the visitors scoreless until the break, according to CT Insider.
Naugatuck coach Chris Anderson noted the team’s resilience after trailing by a touchdown at halftime, stating, “At halftime, we told the kids, ‘Well, you’ve dug yourself a hole, but you’ve been resilient all season.’”
The tide turned when Qwentarvous Lee recovered a fumble and returned it 78 yards for a touchdown, tying the game.
Lee explained his defensive impact by saying, “Coach put me in on defense in the second half. I noticed we weren’t getting to the ball. I was driving to the ball, and all the effort paid off.”
After Torrington reclaimed the lead on a 61-yard run by Nick Coleman, Lee immediately responded with an 80-yard touchdown run to put Naugatuck ahead for good.
Lee attributed his success to his teammates, adding, “I got Llir Mamudov and Logan Washenko, two 300-pound guys, in front of me.”
Brandon Andoh added two late rushing touchdowns to seal the win for the Greyhounds.
Torrington coach Gaitan Rodriguez expressed disappointment after the game, remarking, “The first half, things were going our way. We had the momentum. Coach Anderson gets his guys going. That’s why he’s one of the best coaches in Connecticut.”
The win likely secures a home playoff game for Naugatuck in the Class L state tournament, while Torrington must win its upcoming game against Watertown to keep its postseason hopes alive, per the outlets.