Law captain Lucas Pincus-Coyle received the Mayor's Trophy after the Lawmen defeated Foran 21-14.
Bill Bloxsom / Hearst Connecticut MediaMILFORD — Jonathan Law defeated Foran 21-14 in the 48th meeting between the city rivals.
Law, which finished 6-4, leads the series 24-22. There have been two ties. Foran ended its season at 4-6.
John Neider threw touchdown passes to Anthony Andriolas and Sam Costantini for coach Chris Haley’s Lawmen.
Foran quarterback Jack Cushman hooked up twice with Dean Ross for scores.
Law’s Amadeus Betancourt scooted 11 yards around right end to snap the 14-14 tie at the 11:14 mark of the final period.
“It was a great game between two tough Milford teams that didn’t give an inch,” Haley said. “We played outstanding defense to shut down their running game. Hats off to their defense for slowing us down.”
Defensive units from both teams came up big in this tug-of-war between city rivals.
Joe Gaetano tipped a Neider pass that was intercepted by Anthony Edmond midway through the opening quarter.
Cushman dropped a perfect pass into the arms of a streaking Dean Ross down the sideline for a 33-yard touchdown. Dylan Haig’s conversion kick made it 7-0.
Foran forced a pair of punts. Even after Dom DiFederico recovered a Lion fumble at the Law 46, Jason Cruz, Justin Daniel and James Taylor made plays to get the ball back.
Kushman completed 15-yard passes to Gaetano, who made a tough catch in traffic, and Matt Miller, on a well-executed throwback, to help Foran drive from its 19 to the Law 3, where a 20-yard field goal attempt went wide.
Law put together a 63-yard 10-play drive to end the half. Neider ran for a pair of first downs and hit Matt Hagerty for a 24-yard gain. Neider took the snap with 4.6 remaining and found Andriolas for a 4-yard touchdown as time expired. Jesse Viens’ PAT evened the score at 7-7.
The Lawmen took the second half kickoff and went the length of the field behind Joey Rogers, Louis Sabo, Kyle Chy, Devin Calvin and Evan Nash. Costantini made a spectacular 26-yard catch to keep the drive alive before Neider directed him deep off a roll out and hit the sophomore for a 22-yard score. Viens’ kick made it 14-7 at the 9:54 mark of the period.
Foran, with Barry Held, Brandon Payne, Maguire Casey, Jason Cruz, Justin Daniel and Aiden Grant blocking, answered with an 80-yard march. Edmond moved the chains twice, the first time on a 16-yard run. Gaetano caught an 8-yard pass for another first down before Cushman scrambled deeper into Law territory. Cushman then connected again with Ross, this time from 34 yards out, and Haig’s PAT tied things at 14 with 5:54 on the clock.
Payne broke through on defense to force a turnover on downs when he tackled Neider for a two-yard loss at the Foran 33.
Law’s Jack Sellman, Gary Schulte and Mike Merchant had the stops to force a quick three-and out.
Law put together an 88-yard march that featured five first downs. Nine of the 11 plays went for under eight yards before Neider threw a 19-yard pass to Costantini to the Foran 11. Betancourt scored untouched on the next play for the go-ahead touchdown to break the 14-14 tie.
Foran’s Kyle Pokornowski played his man tough over the middle and came down with an interception at The Lions’ 43 with 8:39 remaining.
Cushman completed a 12-yard pass to Edmond, but the ball came loose on a completed pass to Gaetano and Spencer Hannon recovered for Law at its 25-yard line. Forced to bunt, Neider boomed a kick then pinned Foran inside its 20.
Foran punted with 3:21 left and Law took the remaining time off the clock to win the Mayor’s Trophy for the third consecutive game.
“We put the challenge on our defense to stop John Neider, who I think is one of the best runners in the state,” Foran coach Tom Drew said. “I couldn’t have asked for more. It was a good competitive game. It is what you want from your team in a rivalry game.”
Player of the Game
Law quarterback John Neider threw for two touchdowns. Hemmed in much of the game, the junior was able to run for tough yards in Law’s game-winning drive.
Quotable
“Be happy you live in a two-school towns. I know people tell you if we had one school that who knows. ... I know you wouldn’t be able to play in a game like this. This is what you wait for all year This is a chance to represent your school, represent Milford, in this game.” — Law coach Chris Haley, addressing both teams after game.
LAW 21, FORAN 14
LAW 0 7 7 7—21
FORAN 7 0 7 0—14
- F—Dean Ross 33 pass Jack Cushman (Dylan Haig kick)
- L—Anthony Andreolis 4 pass John Neider (Jesse Veins kick)
- L—Sam Costantini 22 pass Neider (Viens kick)
- F—Ross 34 pass Cushman (Haig kick)
- L—Amadeus Betancourt 11 run (Viens kick)
- Records: Law 6-4; Foran 4-6