BEACON FALLS — The Woodland football team had the ball up a touchdown with time running down in the fourth quarter of Wednesday night’s War in the Woods game against Seymour at Woodland Regional High School.
The Hawks called play-action out of their double-wing, and Jack Brunetti hit Evan Mastropietro for a 44-yard touchdown and a two-score lead.
Woodland won the game 28-14 and captured the program’s first Naugatuck Valley League championship since 2005. The last time the Hawks won the NVL was also the last time they hoisted a state championship trophy.
Undefeated Woodland (10-0) will be the top seed in the Class S state playoffs. Seymour (9-1) will be the No. 2 seed. Who the rivals will play will be determined after the Thanksgiving games have concluded.
The series now stands at 12-11 in favor of the Hawks.
Mastropietro was able to get open behind the defense. Brunetti made a good fake to Ean Pringle, then threw the ball to Mastropietro.
“(Head coach Joe Lato) called the play, and I’m like, I’m just going to get open, find some grass and score a touchdown. Nothing much to it,” Mastropietro said. “I had to turn on my wheels, shed one (tackler) there, and I was in the end zone.”
The touchdown, and Hunter Cronk’s fourth PAT without a miss, put the Hawks ahead 28-14 with 4:09 to play in the game.
“I wasn’t going to get too excited. You can’t get too excited at any time,” Mastropietro said about his touchdown. “After I scored, I got right back to it on the kickoff, and we shut them down on defense, made sure they didn’t score.”
Woodland’s defense was spearheaded by junior Justin Pringle, who sacked Seymour quarterback Anthony Cortello (10 of 18 for 93 yards) three times and intercepted him once. The interception came at the Hawks' 5-yard line in the second quarter.
Pringle hauled in a screen on the ensuing drive and turned it into a 62-yard gain. Senior Ean Pringle, Justin’s older brother, scored from 10 yards out — his second rushing touchdown of the half — to give Woodland the lead for good with 1:02 left in the first half.
“They’re a very good football team," Seymour coach Dan Dunaj said. "We knew that coming in, and down the stretch, we made a few mistakes. They made less mistakes, and a lot of times in football, that’s what it comes down to.”
Both teams went scoreless in the third quarter, but a 31-yard reception by Mastropietro had Woodland down to the Seymour 6. Two plays later, Norman Cook dropped a potential touchdown pass from Brunetti. The Hawks and Brunetti went right back to Cook, who snagged a 5-yard touchdown.
Cronk’s extra point put Woodland ahead 21-7 with 11:11 left to play in the game. Brunetti finished 10 of 14 for 198 yards and two touchdowns.
Seymour wasn’t done fighting though, as Cortello used his right arm and his legs to push the ball to the Woodland 1. He scored on a sneak, and Ronan Carboni’s PAT made the score 21-14 with 6:57 to play in the game.
The Wildcats couldn’t get any closer as the Hawks put the game away.
“I’m proud of my boys, I’m proud of my coaching staff. They didn’t give up,” Dunaj said. “We fought, we played hard, we battled injuries and we gave it everything we could.”
Connor Shea ran 17 times for 93 yards, including a 23-yard touchdown in the first quarter.
Player of the Game
Justin Pringle: The Woodland junior came up with a big interception deep in his team’s territory in the second quarter, then turned on the jets on the ensuing drive for a 62-yard gain off a screen pass to help set up the go-ahead touchdown.
Quotable
“It was a great game tonight, and it just showed what they’re all about. Seymour played a great game, but our kids stepped up and made some plays that were the difference in the game. I’m so proud of them.” — Woodland coach Joe Lato talking about his team.
Woodland 28, Seymour 14
SEYMOUR 7 0 0 7—14WOODLAND 7 7 0 14—28
W—Ean Pringle 1 run (Hunter Cronk kick)S—Connor Shea 23 run (Ronan Carboni kick)W—E. Pringle 10 run (Cronk kick)W—Norman Cook 5 pass from Jack Brunetti (Cronk kick)S—Anthony Cortello 1 run (Carboni kick)W—Evan Mastropietro 44 pass from Brunetti (Cronk kick)Records: Woodland 10-0 (9-0 NVL); Seymour 9-1 (8-1 NVL).