POMPERAUG FOOTBALL
NEWS

POMPERAUG PULLS OFF UPSET
Backup quarterback leads Panthers to victory
By Ed Flink
THE NEWS-TIMES
09-29-2001

MONROE — Beating Masuk High is tough enough. Trying to beat the three-time defending league
football champions at hostile Benedict Field with a backup quarterback is practically inconceivable.

But it’s not impossible, as Pomperaug proved Friday night.

“I’ve been waiting four years for this,’’ senior defensive tackle Matt Kielt said in the joyous
aftermath of the Panthers’ stunning 21-14 South-West Conference Colonial Division victory.

“It was such a close game I was about to throw up in the fourth quarter. I can’t even describe it.
It’s just exultation,’’ he added.

While Pomperaug’s players hopped up and down in a midfield circle, celebrating the school’s first
victory over Masuk since 1992, the hosts were coming to grips with a rare loss.

“They hit the big plays and we didn’t,’’ said Masuk coach John Murphy, whose team had won
40 of its previous 45 games. “They did a great job defensively. We couldn’t run the ball in the middle.’’

Said Pomperaug senior halfback James Cangelosi: “We were just trying to play physical football
with them. We just tried to take it to them. When the offense was sputtering a lot the defense
just picked us up.’’

Pomperaug (3-0, 2-0) owned a 14-0 halftime lead before Masuk (2-0, 1-1) awoke from its
slumber and made the visitors sweat.

Tony Guarascio’s 5-yard touchdown run with 2:02 remaining in the third period cut Masuk’s
deficit to 14-6. The hosts had taken over at the Pomperaug 20 after punter Tom Tidgwell was
tackled trying to run with the ball following a high snap from center.

If Pomperaug was going to fold, this was its chance. Instead, it embarked on a 10-play, 80-yard drive.

The key play, on third-and-6 from its 37, was a spectacular 50-yard reception by sophomore
receiver Tim Keegan, who reached down to make a juggling catch of junior Steve Hansen’s pass.

Masuk would stop Pomperaug twice from the 1-yard line before senior halfback James
Cangelosi burrowed his way into the end zone. Keegan’s third extra point put
Pomperaug ahead 21-6 with 9:26 to play.

It took Masuk only three snaps to make it 21-14 as Anthony Wargo’s 25-yard scramble
and 24-yard pass to Mike DeRosa set up DeRosa’s 3-yard scoring run with 8:17 remaining.

Masuk had two more possessions, but managed only one first down. A timely sack by end
Andrew Gollenberg thwarted one series.

“We were getting great pressure and our (line) backers were filling the holes and making
great sticks,’’ Kielt said. “We put them in positions they didn’t want to be in.’’

Pomperaug struck on the last play of the first period when Hansen and Keegan
hooked up on a 77-yard scoring pass.

Hansen was starting again for senior Rob Kulish, who will return next week after sitting
out a two-game suspension for violating team rules.

Early in the second quarter, sophomore fullback Ken Fraser took a quick pitch
on third down, turned the left corner behind excellent blocking and ran 48 yards
for a touchdown to give Pomperaug a 14-0 advantage.

“They have a more complex offense than we do,’’ Kielt said. “But as far as talent goes
we’re pretty much evenly matched and we’re about the same size. We just knew that
the team that played with the greater intensity would come away with the win and I
think we came together as a team.’’

Masuk mustered only three first downs and 70 total yards in the first half. By game’s end,
its vaunted passing attack had produced just five completions in 21 attempts.

“We thought we had a chance,’’ Cangelosi said. “We weren’t scared to play these guys
with a backup quarterback. We just played our hardest. I can’t explain the feeling.
I feel like I’m going to cry.’’

NOTES: Pomperaug’s Tidgwell had a 70-yard first-quarter punt return for a
touchdown nullified by a penalty...

Pomperaug (3-0) 7 7 0 7 — 21

Masuk (2-1) 0 0 6 8 — 14

First quarter

P — Tim Keegan 77 pass from Steve Hansen (Keegan kick), 0:00

Second quarter

P — Ken Fraser 48 run (Keegankick) 9:15

Third quarter

M — Tony Guarascio 5 run (run failed), 2:02

Fourth quarter

P — James Cangelosi 1 run (Keegan kick), 9:26

M — Mike DeRosa 3 run (Keenan Delaney pass from Anthony Wargo), 8:17

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

Rushing

POMPERAUG: Ken Fraser 11-71, Drew Robinson 10-31, James Cangelosi 11-34,
Steve Hansen 3-(minus 6), Tom Tidgwell 1-(minus 7).

MASUK: Anthony Wargo 6-61, Keenan Delaney 11-43, Mike DeRosa 8-42, Corey Walsh 1-5.

Passing

POMPERAUG: Steve Hansen 3-8-0-137.

MASUK: Anthony Wargo 4-18-0-65, Corey Walsh 1-3-0-12.

Receiving

POMPERAUG: Tim Keegan 3-137.

MASUK: Mike DeRosa 2-42, Tony Florio 3-35.