MONROE: Brady Simpson ran for two touchdowns and kicked four extra points
to lead the Masuk High football team to a 28-13 victory over Pomperaug last night.

At first, it appeared that the game would be a slugfest with both teams scoring at will.
The score was 14-7 at the end of the first quarter with Pomperaug having a fourth
and goal at the Masuk 1-yard line.

But Pomperaug's failure to punch the ball in, or to take advantage of excellent field
position on its next possession, marked the difference in the game.

Pomperaug's first score came on a masterful eight-play drive on the game's opening series.
It gave them a 7-0 lead, but it was never as easy as that the rest of the contest.

The key play on the drive was a 37-yard pass from quarterback Joe Pugh to Rob Kulish
that carried Pomperaug from its own 48 to the Masuk 15. Bryan Shalvoy and Kevin Fraser
took turns carrying the ball to the 4, where Shalvoy took over and ran the
ball in on a power slant.

Masuk came right back and tied the game up on a six-play, 60-yard drive,
capped by quarterback Mike Malandra high-stepping his way into the endzone from the 6.

Masuk scored again less than three minutes later on a 37-yard run by Simpson to give
the defending South-West Conference champions a lead they never surrendered.

The key series of downs in the game ended in a masterful goal-line stand by
Masuk after Pomperaug marched 69 yards in nine plays. On the 10th, the Masuk
defense refused to yield one more yard, and took over on downs to end the Pomperaug
threat at the 1-yard line.

Pomperaug started the drive on its own 30 with Pugh lofting an arcing, 50-yard pass
that Kevin Fraser pulled in at the Masuk 20. A penalty cost Pomperaug five yards,
but Shalvoy and Cangelosi erased the deficit with 19 yards on the next three carries
to move the ball to the 7.

At this point, the Masuk defense adjusted and anticipated, stopping the visitors cold.

Taking over on downs, Masuk failed to get past its own 5 and punted. The ball was
caught at the Masuk 30, giving Pomperaug another chance at the endzone. On the third
play of the series, Pugh fumbled in the backfield and Matt Wargo recovered the ball at
the Masuk 40 to end the threat.

"We got what we expected," Masuk coach John Murphy said. "It was a tough,
physical game. I think it's a credit to the character of the kids who played."

Murphy agreed that the game was won at the goal line at the end of the first period.

"I think we matched up evenly," Pomperaug coach Chuck Drury said. "But I think
that Brady (Simpson) stepped up tonight and showed why he's one of the better backs in the league.

Pomperaug (2-1, 1-1)7-0-6-0--13

Masuk (3-0, 2-0)14-7-0-7-- 28

FIRST QUARTER

P - James Cangelosi 1 run (Drew Robinson kick) 8:56.

M - Mike Malandra 6 run (Brady Simpson kick) 6:27.

M - Brady Simpson 31 run (Simpson kick) 3:37.

SECOND QUARTER

M - Simpson 6 run (Simpson kick) 7:58.

THIRD QUARTER

P - Kevin Fraser 60 pass from Pugh (pass failed) 7:16.

FOURTH QUARTER

M - Malandra 9 run (Simpson kick) 5:48.

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

Rushing

Pomperaug: Bryan Shalvoy 21-82; James Cangelosi 9-19; Kevin Fraser 5-23; Joe Pugh 7-47

Masuk: Simpson 10-105; Mike Lozada 8-30; Malandra 3-19; Mike DeRosa 5-83; Brian Kiraly 2-19.

Passing

Pomperaug: Pugh 3-6-147, 1 touchdown, 1 interception, 2 sacks for minus 18.

Masuk: Kiraly 7-11-148; Malandra 2-8-22.

Receiving

Pomperaug: Fraser 2-110; Kulish 1-37.

Masuk: Brian Cavanaugh 1-50; Simpson 2-30; Scott Krasko 2-22; Jordan Cutler 1-54; Gary Heid 1-13.