Waterford Juniors Win Championship Over NL

In a matchup of two rivals, defeated New London, 14-7, to win the junior Southern New England Youth Football Conference championship.

Both New London and Waterford came into Sunday’s game undefeated, with nine wins each. The teams have developed a rivalry over the past few years as they grow up and continue to face each other in competition. The Lancers knocked the Whalers out of contention in the 2009 micros competition, then went on to win the Super Bowl. Last year, against New London in a close match.

This year’s second matchup of the teams started with a scoreless first quarter, though the Lancers had advanced to the Whalers’ six yard line when the first 10 minutes ran out. Chase Speller completed a touchdown early in the second quarter to give Waterford a 6-0 lead, though an extra point attempt (worth two points) was unsuccessful.

New London soon lost possession at their own 33-yard line on a fumble. Waterford was pushed back 10 yards on first down attempt due to a holding penalty, but regained 20 yards on a hook and ladder and continued the march to the end zone. Speller made his second touchdown of the game, and a successful extra point (again worth two points in youth league football) closed the first half with the Lancers up 14-0.

In the third quarter, Waterford maintained possession by recovering a pooch kick and managed to reach New London’s 15 yard line before having to turn over possession. The Whalers made a rapid series of first downs, but lost the ball on a fumble.

In a decisive call soon after, New London regained the ball on a Waterford fumble and Cevon Riley ran it into the end zone. However, holding and unsportsmanlike conduct penalties on New London kept the touchdown off the scoreboard and forced the Whalers too far down the field to capitalize on the possession.

The fourth quarter came down to a series of advances by New London’s Jelani Gilbert, who scored the only Whaler points of the game by making both a touchdown and subsequent additional point. With the score at 14-7, the Lancers made it to midfield before losing the ball on a fumble.

Gilbert brought the ball in close to Waterford’s end zone in the final minutes of the game, opening the possibility that New London could tie or even win the game on a touchdown and extra point play. However, the Lancer defense forced the Whalers to make a fourth-down attempt to run the ball the final five yards to the end zone, and Gilbert fell just short. The Lancers took a knee to run out the remaining 1:15 on the clock to take the win.

Tom Burrows, the Waterford head coach, said his team surpassed his expectations. He said the execution of the plays are what the game comes down to, and said it is the third straight victory for this group of players.

“It’s not all the same kids, but the nucleus is the same kids,” said Burrows.

Burrows said he was also impressed with the tenacity of the New London players.

“They did very good, and we have to step up every time we play them,” he said.

Jose Sanabria, a Whaler coach, said Waterford took New London by surprise and that the second half comeback fell just short.

“Both teams were very good, well-coached teams,” said Sanabria. “The execution was a matter of inches on both sides.”