WOODBURY — Robert Metcalfe drilled a dramatic 32-yard game-winning field goal as time expired to send No. 3 Nonnewaug co-op to the Class SS football semifinals with a 38-36 quarterfinal victory over No. 6 New Fairfield on Wednesday night at Nonnewaug High School.
"I'm just glad that we won this game," Metcalfe said. "Even though we might have been ranked higher, everyone was saying we are the underdogs in this game," Metcalfe said. "We were able to come back at the end of the game and win it. And I'm very grateful for everyone on this team."
The Chiefs, who secured their first playoff win in school history, will face No. 2 Daniel Hand in the semifinals Monday at Madison Surf Club at 6:30 p.m. Hand rolled past No. 7 Waterford 43-19 in its quarterfinal matchup.
The game-winning attempt was originally 37 yards for Metcalfe, which he missed, but a running into the kicker penalty was called on the Rebels, moving the ball up five yards to make it a 32-yarder.
Metcalfe, who was 5-for-5 in PATs and also caught a touchdown pass, was given a second chance, and did not waste it.
"In whatever level you're playing, you don't give the kicker a second chance," Nonnewaug head coach Scott Lynch said. "He's got the nerves out now, and now he's just going to drain it."
Minutes earlier, it looked as if the Chiefs' season was going to end in dramatic fashion, as New Fairfield scored a go-ahead touchdown with 45.8 seconds left in the game.
With little time to work with, quarterback Brady Herman led Nonnewaug down the field, starting with 7- and 4-yard gains before connecting on a 24-yard pass to Scott Viveros, who got out of bounds with two seconds remaining to set up the game-winning field goal.
"These kids are champions," Lynch said. "There's no quit in these guys, and that's what's so special about this group. It's 15 seniors on this team that have been through the ringer. They've been through a lot over the four years, and there's just no quit."
Nonnewaug entered the game with emotions running high after finding out Saturday that lineman Jonathan Cheung was diagnosed with leukemia. Cheung, who played in the Chiefs’ season finale last Wednesday, started chemotherapy immediately.
Nonnewaug (11-0) took a 7-0 lead when running back Davion Joe rushed 29 yards for a touchdown with 7:34 left in the first quarter, and Metcalfe converting the extra point. Joe scored again, this time from 3 yards out, with 6:49 left in the second quarter, and the PAT made it 14-0.
New Fairfield (7-4) cut the deficit in half when Michael Traynor scored on a 1-yard sneak with 2:04 left in the first half, making it 14-7.
The Chiefs did not wait long to answer back, however, as Herman threw a 24-yard touchdown pass to Metcalfe for a 21-7 lead with 1:36 left in the half.
The Rebels responded just before halftime, as Jaeyce Rios rushed 1 yard for the score with 20 seconds remaining to make it a 21-14 at the break.
Nonnewaug opened the second half with the ball, marched down the field and extended its lead on a 27-yard touchdown pass from Herman to Derek Chung with 9:51 left in the third quarter, making it 28-14.
New Fairfield scored on its following possession, on fourth-and-15, as Traynor connected with Carter Bowteck for a 17-yard passing touchdown with 5:05 left in the third to cut the defecit to 28-21.
The next drive for the Chiefs would fill up the remainder of the third quarter, and with 11:19 left in the game, Herman again connected with Chung on a touchdown pass, this time for 32 yards, to go up 35-21.
The Rebels answered again, and score on their next possession as Traynor rushed out of the pocket 15 yards for the touchdown with 6:08 left to cut the lead to 35-28 in the game.
Nonnewaug stalled on its following drive and had to punt.
The defensive stand by the Rebels allowed them to take the late lead with a impressive drive, as Rios rushed across the goal line for a 10-yard touchdown with 45.8 seconds left on the clock.
Instead of going for the tie with the extra point attempt, New Fairfield went for a two, and converted, as Traynor threw a pass to Tyler Mango.
Player of the Game
Nonnewaug co-op's Robert Metcalfe: Kicked the game-winning field goal, a 32-yarder, as time expired, to lift Nonnewaug to the dramatic win.
Quotable
"I'm just glad that we won this game. Even though we might have been ranked higher, everyone was saying we are the underdogs in this game," Metcalfe said. "We were able to come back at the end of the game and win it. And I'm very grateful for everyone on this team." — Robert Metcalfe.
Nonnewaug 38, New Fairfield 36
NEW FAIRFIELD 0 14 7 15 — 36NONNEWAUG 7 14 7 10 — 38
N—Davion Joe 29 run (Robert Metcalfe kick)N—Joe 3 run (kick good)NF—Michael Traynor 2 run (kick good)N—Metcalfe 24 pass from Brady Herman (kick good)NF—Jaeyce Rios 1 run (kick good)N—Derek Chung 27 pass from Herman (kick good)NF—Carter Botweck 17 pass from Traynor (kick good)N—Chung 32 pass from Herman (kick good)NF—Traynor 15 run (kick good)NF—Rios 10 run (Tyler Mango pass from Traynor)N—Metcalfe 32 field goalTeam records: Nonnewaug 11-0; New Fairfield 7-4.