GUILFORD – The victories are certainly not all going to be pretty. Sometimes, football teams need to grind out ugly ones, but they all count the same.
Friday’s 7-6 win over Branford at Kavanaugh Field was in that latter category for the Guilford Grizzlies. But when you are trying to reach the postseason, you take the wins however they turn out.
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“The wins could be scarce if we don’t start playing better, so getting one tonight was definitely important,” Guilford football coach Brian White said.
This was not only an SCC border battle in the inclement, but balmy conditions, but also for spots in the Class M playoffs Guilford controls its own destiny and has a shot at a quarterfinal-round home game. Branford still has an opportunity to get in as well.
“I think it was just grit and determination,” Guilford running back Shane Connelly said. “We came out here, it’s Senior Night. Obviously, it’s wet, but it’s wet for both of us.”
Branford (5-3) had success moving the ball on Guilford (7-1) and was able to hold the Grizzlies’ top tailback, Connelly, to just 61 rushing yards, several of them either for no gain or negative yardage.
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But Connelly still had an impact on Friday’s game. He scored Guilford’s only touchdown in the second quarter, catching a swing pass on third and 12 and went up the sideline for the 81-yard touchdown.
“I was wide open. I don’t think I got touched on that one,” Connelly said.
That touchdown was Guilford’s initial first down of the game. The Grizzlies only got two more on the final possession.
Branford’s touchdown came on its opening possession of the second half. The Hornets went 81 yards in 15 plays, culminated by an Aiden Dupre 20-yard touchdown reception from quarterback Chris McKittrick. The drive took almost the entire third quarter.
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But Aidan Tracy missed the extra point, leaving the score at 7-6 in Guilford’s favor.
Then after six consecutive possessions without even a first down for either team, Branford punted from its end zone and Guilford took possession at Branford’s 30-yard line.
Connelly got loose for a couple of first downs. He had a chance to score, but instead went down on the turf inside Branford’s 5, with under 2 minutes left with the intention of Branford having to use its remaining time outs.
Branford did spend all of its time outs. On third and goal from the 3, Connelly was in the Wildcat formation, but the snap was high and the play lost yardage. Guilford ran a play that went nowhere, giving Branford possession on its own 23 with 7.7 seconds left.
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The Hornets kept using laterals on their final play, but Guilford was able to finally stop the play to secure the win.
“We were trying to at least go forward and the last two plays, bad snaps kind of hurt us,” White said. “Conditions are conditions but we have to make sure we do a beter job and tighten up.”
Player of the Game
Shane Connelly, Guilford: The junior didn’t run for a lot of yardage, but he did have an 81-yard touchdown on a screen pass and was able to get a pair of first downs on Guilford’s final drive to milk the clock.
Quotable
“If it’s not going to go your way, you want it to be because they executed a few more times than you did and I think that’s what happened.”
– Branford coach John Limone
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Guilford 7, Branford 6
(at Guilford)
BRANFORD 0 0 6 0 – 6
GUILFORD 0 7 0 0 – 7
G – Shane Connelly 81 pass from Ryan Lynch (Jack Coyne kick)
B – Aiden Dupree 20 pass from Chris McKittrick (kick failed)
Records: B 5-3; G 7-1.
This article originally published at Guilford football grinds out win against Branford, solidifies position in Class M playoff picture.
Disclaimer : This story is auto aggregated by a computer programme and has not been created or edited by DOWNTHENEWS. Publisher: Sports.yahoo.com
