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Sophomore Neil Clyne breaks through the East Haven line to make a tackle
The Branford Hornets were hoping to win their traditional Thanksgiving Day game against their long time rival the East Haven Yellowjackets but things didn’t work out for them.
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Zachery Ellison picks off a pass for the Hornets.
First the game couldn’t be played on Thursday because a winter storm the day before caused the playing surface at Frank Crisafi Field to have a coating of ice on it. The game was moved to Saturday.
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Branford’s Luke DiStasio #11 leaps for a pass.
The other reason it didn’t work out is East Haven played well on both sides of the ball and won handily 30 – 0.
The first quarter almost ended 0 – 0 until East Haven’s junior quarterback Trevor Angelo hit receiver Mike Griffith on a 61 yard pass play down the sideline to take a 6 – 0 lead with 2 seconds left. The two teamed up again with 2:09 left in the second quarter on a 39 yard pass to take a 12 – 0 lead into halftime.
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The Branford cheerleaders gathered for a photo op during halftime.
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Sophomore Noah Lordan zeros in on East Haven’s Austin Thornberg
East Haven also dominated the second half scoring 18 unanswered points on an 18 yard touchdown run by Angelo in the third quarter and recovering a Hornet fumble in the end zone on an 11 pass play in the fourth quarter. The Easties ended the season 3 – 8.
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Co- Captain Carl Williams picks up yardage for the Hornets. He had 1003 yards for the season.
Playing well for Branford was senior co-captain Carl Williams (pictured) who picked up 89 yards on 22 carries.
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Quarterback Griffin Lynch chases after the ball after a high snap and recovers for the Hornets.
Sophomore quarterback Griffin Lynch who completed 11 of 22 passes for 115 yards.
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Co-Captain Colin Tracy brings down East Haven’s Austin Thornberg.
Senior co- captain Colin Tracy (pictured) led the defense and was in on a number of stops for the Hornets. Williams ended the year with 1003 yards rushing.
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Coach John Limone (pictured) finished with a 3 – 8 record and still lead the series 37 – 32‑4 going back to
1946.
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L-R are Joe Carbone Head of Buildings and Grounds for Branford Public Schools Tisko Principal Jim O’Connor, Superintendant Hamlet Hernandez, BHS principal Len Panagoulias, Co- athletic director Jake Palluzzi and Tom Webster,Site Supervisor for Branford Athletics.
Faculty, staff and administrators were all on hand to support the team.
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