CT STATE FINALS: GUILFORD - 12  vs.  RIDGEFIELD - 30

The football season ends harshly for all but one team, and Guilford ran into a powerhouse of 40 big, fast, talented and well-coached players from Ridgefield in the Finals of the Connecticut State playoffs. Before we had unpacked our gear, it seemed, we were down 16 – 0. Guilford didn’t quit though and mounted a nice drive culminating in a touchdown pass in the corner of the endzone to cut the lead to 16 – 6. The game was dominated by Ridgefield’s big lineman on Offense and Defense with fresh back-ups wearing down the Green Team – and Ridgefield scored again before halftime to make it 24 – 6. In the second half, Guilford’s Defense made a couple of tough 4th down stops and slowed the Ridgefield scoring process, making them work hard for a last touchdown and squashing the PAT for a score of 30 – 6. With the 4th Quarter winding down and the game out of reach, it looked like that would be how it would go in the books. However, this Guilford G8 team, which has made us so proud all season with their perseverance and refuse-to-quit attitude, proved their big hearts again. Though many of the Guilford players left standing at the end of the game had played both ways due to a few injuries, they kicked and fought their way down the field against Ridgefield’s Defense and scored the final touchdown of the Game with 0:15 on the clock to make it 30 - 12. The season has come to an end and the sad Guilford faces showed the win/lose reality of live sports and also the competitive spirit that makes it so great. These 20 young men have experienced 3-1/2 months of hard physical work, thorough mental preparation and the success that can result – and are hungry for more of all of it - which should bode well for their High School football careers. It was a season that included a lot of new hardware for the Trophy Case including Grade 8 Shoreline Champions, State Semi-Final Winners plaques and State Final Runners-Up – all good stuff but more important to them was the respect they earned for Guilford Football. This group, few in numbers and with Coaches who are not football geniuses (take our word on this one), had come together as a true Team playing their guts out to not let their teammates down – and achieved success greater than the sum of the parts. On behalf of Guilford G8, we would like to thank everyone for their support. We look forward to a raucous Banquet to put the wraps on a very exciting and successful 2009 Season. Peace, Health and Happiness to all.

MID-CONN. FINALS: GUILFORD - 32  at  SOUTHINGTON - 28

The Guilford G8 team, playing in their first State playoff game ever in Guilford Youth Football history, rode the Team bus to victory literally and figuratively. On a day when many players stepped forward into prominent roles, special accolades go out to KC Horton, Eric Zergiebel and the entire Offensive Line of Hunter Martins, Ford Linell, Jon Paecht, Freddy Trotta, Dane Lawrence and Dave Laurie. Guilford hitched it’s wagon to a strong running game and a ball control scheme to keep the very strong Southington Offense with its potent passing game off the field. Guilford scored first on a sustained drive with David Knapp finally punching the ball in for the TD and early lead 8 – 0. Southington came back quickly to cut the lead to 8 – 7. Guilford then scored again on a nice TD catch by Ryan Hart on an endzone fade pattern throw by Joey Nault. Southington , in a pattern that would repeat itself, came back quickly to cut the lead to 16 -14. Guilford scored again on a 70 yard run by Andrew Meoli but Southington …you know the drill. Guilford took a 24 – 21 lead in at halftime. Early in the second half Guilford ’s key running back sustained a severe ankle injury and Guilford ’s Offense was going to have to adapt without an important cog in the machine. This hardship turned into opportunity for others to step forward – and in the true spirit of what a tight-knit Team does when a brother is down or is having an off day – others fill the void and take over. In this case it was KC Horton zigging and zagging for great runs offset by the power up-the-middle bulldozing by Eric Zergiebel – reminiscent of John Riggins days – that enabled Guilford to add another TD that would become the deciding score. Interceptions on Defense by Zergiebel and Nault slowed the Southington Offense enough to allow Guilford to run out the clock and celebrate in victory against an excellent Southington team. It was a night for everyone to feel good about their effort as never before did we need the entire Team as much as this game. It really reinforced the concept that the Coaches have been preaching about everyone doing their job when called upon for the larger success of the enterprise. The Guilford Group, with their great fans, celebrated with a Pizza Party before facing the hard work ahead to continue in the Playoffs. Guilford again will be road warriors as we travel to Norwalk to play the Candlewood Valley League Champions from Ridgefield on Saturday, November 11th at 1pm to determine who will be the State of Connecticut Champions . Exciting stuff. Go Green!!

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