Wethersfield senior Ajani Sampson, #74, and his family on Senior Night, Nov. 6.
Wethersfield Football Sensational on Senior Night
WETHERSFIELD - On Oct. 30, the Wethersfield High School football team walked off Cottone Field following a heartbreaking defeat to Windsor. It was the team’s first loss in its last 24 regular season games.

       The Eagles took the same field seven days later and played their most complete game of the season, destroying conference-rival Maloney 44-0 on an usually warm November evening on the team’s Senior Night.

       â€"I was really proud of our guys and the way they were able to respond,” said Wethersfield head coach John Campanello. â€"They could have easily hung their heads after the tough loss to Windsor last week, but this group is very resilient. They came back and had a great week of practice and they transferred that into a very good game today.”

       From the first whistle it was clear that the home team was ready to play.

       Senior Jae-Quan Brown returned the opening kickoff 72 yards for a touchdown, ending any lingering effects from the previous week.

       Brown’s kickoff electrified the crowd, but it was his brilliant work in the defensive backfield that helped the Eagles shut out their third opponent this season.

       Brown, along with fellow cornerback Elijah Young, helped shutdown Maloney’s normally potent passing attack. The Spartans offense entered the contest averaging 35 points per game, but talented quarterback Chris Dingwell had trouble finding open receivers and was sacked seven times.

       â€"I think we have the best defense and the best coaches in the state,” said senior Jamal Bagley. â€"We were mad after the loss last week. It was disappointing to not come out with the W, but this week we showed that we can regroup and refocus.”

       Bagley was all over the field defensively from his linebacker position, but he also starred on offense, rushing for 82 yards on only eight carries. He tallied the game’s second touchdown when he knifed through the heart of the Spartans defense, scoring from 27 yards out, extending the lead to 14 with six minutes left in the first quarter.

       The running back, who wears number 13, also helped set a physical tone earlier in the scoring drive when he channeled his inner-Maurice Clarett (from his Ohio State days) by plowing over would-be tacklers and carrying several other Maloney defenders for a first down on an 18-yard rumble.

       The pair of runs by Bagley ignited the Eagles offense and quarterback Devon Smith caught fire, throwing four touchdowns over the next two quarters of action.

       Smith, who also intercepted a pass defensively, connected with his favorite target Kyle Klavins on three of those scores (20, 51 and 41). The quarterback and wide receiver have unbelievable chemistry on the field, knowing what the other is doing at all times. On two of the scoring strikes, Smith rolled from the pocket and Klavins made a double-move, allowing him to get open. The third came when Smith fooled the defense with a masterful pump fake before hitting Klavins over the middle, allowing the receiver to outrace the defense to pay dirt.

       Klavins finished the evening with five catches for 143 yards and the three scores, upping his season total to a dozen touchdown receptions.

       The senior signal caller’s other touchdown toss went to Richard Williams, who hauled in a 22-yarder on a wheel-route.

       Williams, who does a little of everything for the Eagles, was anxious to get back of the field after the loss to Windsor.

       â€"I was hungry to get on the field. I’m always hungry to get on the field, especially defensively,” said Williams, who had two quarterback sacks. â€"The coaches told us that we can’t think about the past and that we have to focus on what’s in front of us. I think we did that tonight.”

       Williams and his Eagle teammates left little doubt that they are still serious contenders in the highly competitive Class L division. The team has a steady hand at the tiller in Campanello, who reminded the team after the loss last week that the goals have not changed.

       â€"It was disappointing last week to lose to a very good team, but every one of our goals are still intact. The motivation has always been there, like trying to win the district and trying to make states,” Campanello added. â€"We lost the game, but our goals didn’t change. The team got refocused last Saturday and we didn’t even look at the Windsor tape.”

       Maloney was unfortunate to have an angry Wethersfield team on its schedule. The loss was the Spartans’ second of the season and they had very few bright spot on the evening. It was the third-straight season that Wethersfield defeated Maloney, winning 41-0 a season ago and 53-8 in 2013.

       The Eagles (7-1) control their own destiny and will win the CCC-II West if they win out. They have two more regular season games remaining, starting with a road date at Manchester High School this Friday night at 6:30 p.m. The Indians of Manchester have struggled this season, losing six of eight games, but they do have a physical defense led by Jordan Fletcher and Rashaud Conway.
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