Comeback attempt falls short

By ANDREW LOVELL
Staff Writer

SOUTHINGTON — Connor Butkiewicz threw for 305 yards and four touchdowns and Dylan Danko rushed for 126 yards, but a late Simsbury interception thwarted the Southington football team’s comeback attempt in a 29-26 loss to the Trojans Friday night at Fontana Field.

With his team trailing by three points, Butkiewicz led the Blue Knights down the field late in the fourth quarter on a potential go-ahead drive.

The Blue Knights took over at their own 33-yard line. After an incomplete pass, Danko strung together back-to-back runs of 35 and 16 yards, respectively, moving Southington into Simsbury territory.

Danko was dropped for a one-yard gain on first down and Butkiewicz’s pass to Anthony Florian on second down only picked up three yards.

On third down, Butkiewicz connected with Tyler Dube, but it was only good two yards, bringing up a fourth-and-three at the Simsbury 10-yard line.

With 6:47 left in the game, the Blue Knights opted against a potential game-tying field goal attempt by Danko and instead went again to Butkiewicz.

But on fourth down, Butkiewicz was intercepted on the right sideline by Simsbury’s Kevin Kucinskas, who stepped in front of Dube and made the game-saving interception.

Simsbury held the ball for the next six minutes, moving from their own 25-yard line all the way down to Southington’s nine-yard line.

The Blue Knights were forced to use all three of their timeouts on the series, which ultimately resulted in a turnover on downs when the Blue Knights stuffed fullback Connely Cummings on a fourth-and-one attempt.

On the ensuing possession, however, the Blue Knights shot themselves in the foot, committing a holding penalty that backed them up to the one-yard line.

Butkiewicz connected with Dube on one pass and with Danko on another two to bring the ball out to the Southington 20.

But a sack by Simsbury’s William Amarante forced the Blue Knights to spike the ball with just four seconds remaining.

A hook-and-ladder play on the next snap only resulted in a seven-yard pickup.

The second half only featured six points — a 17-yard touchdown pass from Butkiewicz to Dube — after the first half featured 49 total points and four turnovers within the first four minutes of the opening kickoff.

Danko fumbled and lost the opening kickoff, but Simsbury’s quarterback Decker gave the ball right back on a fumble of his own on the Trojans’ first play from scrimmage.

Three plays later, Danko again lost a fumble, but was only to be outdone by Decker, who lost a fumble on a 12-yard run that was recovered by Tim Sowa in the endzone for a touchback.

Southington finally opened the scoring midway through the first quarter when Butkiewicz connected on a six-yard touchdown pass to Tyler Dube.

Simsbury answered with a nine-play drive that covered 65 yards, culminating in a two-yard touchdown plunge by Connely Cummings.

On the very next play from scrimmage, however, Butkiewicz struck again, this time connecting with Anthony Florian on a 73-yard touchdown strike. Butkiewicz hit Florian on a 25-yard go route over the middle. Florian did the rest, breaking free from a pair of Simsbury safeties and racing untouched to the endzone.

The Trojans dominated play in the second quarter.

After Simsbury’s James Poggio pinned the Blue Knights at their own one-yard line with a beautiful bouncing punt, the Trojans smothered Danko in the endzone on the first play for the safety.

Simsbury then received the free kick from Southington and proceeded to march 48 yards in eight yards, punching it into the end zone on a nine-yard touchdown run by quarterback Kyle Decker.

Another Southington miscue on its next series led to yet another Simsbury score. After a three-and-out on offense, Southington lined up to punt. But the long snap to punter Nick Gothberg was low.

The junior was unable to get a kick off and instead was tackled at Southington’s 25-yard line. Two plays later, Cummings broke free for a 23-yard touchdown run.

On its next possession, Southington answered with a seven-play, 68-yard drive that finished with a 24-yard touchdown pass from Butkiewicz to Mike Rhodd.

But Southington’s defense again couldn’t hold Simsbury’s triple-option offense, as the Trojans only needed four plays and a horse collar penalty to move 54 yards for another Cummings touchdown.

Cummings finished with 127 rushing yards, while Decker led all rushers with 129 yards.

Butkiewicz spread the ball around to five different receivers, all of whom caught at least two passes.

Dube (10 receptions, 103 yards), Florian (five receptions, 99 yards) and Kyle Lentini (three receptions, 40 yards) were the favorites.

Southington drops to 4-3 overall, while Simsbury improves to 6-1.