Naugatuck football rode Brandon Andoh’s five touchdowns to a 51-35 win over Notre Dame-West Haven in a Connecticut High School Football Alliance game Friday night at Craig Peters Field. The Greyhounds controlled the pace of the game with their ground attack, then sealed the victory with a defensive adjustment that turned an interception into a decisive score.
Andoh carried the ball 34 times for 248 yards and five touchdowns, while senior Qwentarvous Lee added 204 rushing yards and a touchdown on 16 attempts despite missing time in the second quarter after getting hurt. Naugatuck improved to 2-0 with the win.
The teams traded touchdowns throughout the first half, with each possession ending in a score for nearly the entire game. The Greyhounds held a 28-21 lead at halftime after Andoh’s eight-yard run gave them the lead with 34 seconds left in the first half. Notre Dame quarterback Wyatt Verrillo tied the game 28-28 just 1:01 into the second half with a 77-yard touchdown run.
Seven Touchdowns In The First Half
The first seven possessions ended in seven touchdowns, a pace that suggested the team with the ball last would likely win. Instead, Naugatuck responded to every Notre Dame strike with one of its own.
Andoh’s scoring runs came from:
- 6 yards out
- 50 yards out
- 2 yards out
- 8 yards out
- 1 yard out
His four first-half touchdowns included a 50-yarder, a two-yarder, an eight-yarder and his final touchdown from a yard out with 4:07 left in the third quarter. Bello added the extra point on each of his kicks, going 7-of-7 on the day.
Lee’s workload grew heavier after his injury, and Andoh took over as the primary ball carrier. Coach Chris Anderson described the shift during his postgame comments.
“Coach (Chris) Moffo, our defensive coordinator, made a great adjustment at halftime,” Anderson said. “They were really hurting us with the bubble screen early in the game, and we were like caught in between, playing the quarterback and the bubble screen, which wasn’t feasible. We made a rotation in coverage.”
Lee’s 77-Yard Run
Lee’s toughness became the story of the game. After getting hurt in the second quarter, he was cleared to return and finished with a 77-yard touchdown run.
“He went down, we were nervous, but he’s tough as nails, that kid,” Anderson said. “He needed to regroup a little bit, he got cleared to go back in there, and that was the result.”
Lee’s return run came after Naugatuck had already built a comfortable lead. The Greyhounds punted on their next drive, then Lee broke loose down the sideline.
Harriot’s Interception Return
Eric Harriot put the game away with a 33-yard interception return for a touchdown on the first play of Notre Dame’s possession. The play came after coach Chris Moffo’s halftime adjustment, which helped shut down the bubble screen.
Harriot jumped the short route and ran untouched into the end zone. The Green Knights punted on their next drive, then Lee ran for the 77-yard touchdown.
Notre Dame’s Tahir Bennett ran the ball from a yard out after the second string players came in to finish the scoring.
The Line’s Role
Senior offensive tackle Llir Mamudov credited the offensive line for setting the tone all night. The Greyhounds’ front controlled the line of scrimmage, allowing Andoh and Lee to find running room consistently.
“We as a team play with tremendous grit,” Mamudov said. “We do not stop, we have that no fall back mentality, that net play mentality, that don’t blink mentality. If we mess up and let up a TFL (tackle for loss), we’re going right for it, go right back to get a bigger gain. We are very good at not blinking and persevering through.”
Mamudov also praised the unit’s physicality up front. “Our offensive line is huge. We’re so strong up front,” he said. “We impose our will on everyone.”
The Decisive Turnaround
The game’s turning point came at halftime. Anderson’s decision to rotate coverage shut down the bubble screen that had been Notre Dame’s most effective weapon early in the contest.
The adjustment worked immediately. On the first play of the second half, Harriot jumped the short route and returned the interception for a touchdown, giving Naugatuck a 35-28 lead. The Greyhounds then added a 27-yard field goal from Bello with 9:51 left in the fourth quarter for a 38-28 lead.
Notre Dame punted on its next drive, and Lee’s 77-yard touchdown run sealed the win. The final score was 51-35.
Next Week’s Schedule
Naugatuck faces Woodland (2-0) next Friday night at 6:30. Notre Dame (1-0) is at Cheshire (2-0) for a 7 p.m. kickoff.
The Greyhounds enter their next game with momentum from a complete team performance. Naugatuck’s offense moved the ball at will, and its defense adjusted at halftime to shut down Notre Dame’s primary weapon.
Anderson’s halftime adjustment deserves credit for turning a potential tie into a decisive win. The Greyhounds now have two wins to build on, while Notre Dame heads into its next game with a loss.
Naugatuck’s schedule sets up a difficult stretch, with Woodland next on the slate. The Greyhounds will need to maintain their physical approach and adjust quickly if they face similar challenges.
The win was a complete team effort, but Andoh’s individual performance stood out. His five touchdowns and 248 yards on 34 carries were the difference in a game that could have gone either way.
Naugatuck football rides Brandon Andoh’s five touchdowns past Notre Dame-West Haven. The Greyhounds showed grit, perseverance and the ability to adjust under pressure, and they came away with a win.
Source material: “Naugatuck football rides Brandon Andoh's five touchdowns past Notre Dame-West Haven,” Yahoo Sports.
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