By Barth Keck
(November 5, 2024) — A 64-yard touchdown pass from Cameron Szymasek to Jack Nolan in the fourth quarter proved the difference in the come-from-behind win over Haddam Killingworth High School for the Co-Op of Cromwell/Portland (6-1) in a game played in Higganum on November 1, 2024. Tyler Napierkowski led HKHS (5-2) with three rushing touchdowns.
The game was a back-and-forth affair, with Cromwell leading 19-7 early in the second quarter only to have HK take a 28-19 lead in the third quarter. Even as the Panthers scored on Nolan’s go-ahead touchdown in the fourth quarter, the Cougars drove the ball from their own 25 to their opponents’ 20-yard line with under four minutes to play. HK’s final drive ended with an incomplete, fourth-down pass with a minute left.
“The outcome was disappointing, but the effort was not,” said HKHS Coach Tyler Wilcox after the game. “We fell behind by two scores early, and the kids could have packed it in that point, but they didn’t. They fought hard to the end against one of the best teams in the conference and came up just a bit short. We’ve got more football to play this season, so I’m confident they’ll rebound.”
HKHS next plays Windsor Locks at Suffield High School on Saturday, November 9, 2024. Kickoff is 6:30 p.m.
GAME SUMMARY:
C/P (6-1) – 13 6 7 8 34
HK (5-2) – 7 15 6 0 28
1Q:
HK – Tyler Napierkowski 2 yard run (John Moyher kick)
C/P – Matt Gish 40 yard pass from Cameron Szymasek (Jack Nolan kick)
C/P – Szymasek 1 yard run (kick failed)
2Q:
C/P – Gish 22 yard run (pass failed)
HK – Gunnar Howes 2 yard run (Moyher kick)
HK – Napierkowski 1 yard run (Napierkowski run)
3Q:
HK – Tyler Napierkowski 64 yard run (run failed)
C/P – Jayden Augustin 4 yard fumble return (Nolan kick)
4Q:
C/P – Nolan 64 yard pass from Szymasek (Mason Stachura pass from Szymasek)
