ON TOP OF THE WORLD...is what the Ansonia Tigers felt like after finishing off a perfect regular season with a 15-7 victory over the defending conference champions, the Miami East Vikings.

Casstown – Last year the Miami East Vikings came to Ansonia escaping with a 20-14 win scoring late in the game to earn an outright Cross County Conference Title.

This year Ansonia was looking to return the favor, a win not only would give them an outright title… but it would cap off a perfect 10-0 regular season something the Tigers had never accomplished in their history, going back to 1949.

Miami East received the opening kick-off and with a good return to the 45-yard line looked to be off and running. But on the second play from scrimmage Tyler Dunivan was stripped of the football and Ansonia recovered.

It didn’t take the Tigers long to take advantage of the miscue as Brandon Liette got to the outside on the left side and raced 36 yards to the end zone for a touchdown. The extra-point attempt was no good and at 9:28 to play Ansonia led 6-0.

After another nice kick-off return of 23 yards by Tyler Dunivan to the 40-yard line Quarterback Dalton Saylor aired out a pass that was picked off by Derek Bubeck. Bubeck returned the ball 29 yards to give the Tigers excellent field position once again on the Vikings 31 yard line.

The opportunistic Tigers weren’t about to let it go to waste as they worked the ball toward the goal line with Jordan Gilbert pounding the ball in from 4 yards out to put the Tigers up 12-0. The two-point conversion pass just sailed over the fingertips of a Tiger player and the score remained 12-0.

Miami East’s third possession went three and out and they were forced to punt. After a nice punt Ansonia took possession for the first time deep in their own territory.

On the first play from scrimmage the Tigers fumbled the football with Dalton Saylor recovering it on the 28-yard line and now it was Miami East turn to try and take advantage of miscue.

Six plays later it would be Quarterback Saylor calling his own number for a one-yard touchdown. A Josh Snyder extra point attempt was good and with minutes to play in the first quarter Miami East was down just 12-7.

Both teams struggled for the remainder of the first half to move the ball and the score remained 12-7 at the half.

What was almost a perfect night for football in the first half turned out to be a very windy and wet start to the second half. Ansonia with the wind to their back marched down the field on their way to what appeared to be a sure score. The Vikings however stiffened and held the Tigers at the 4-yard line taking over on downs.

After a great stand the Vikings offense sputtered and were forced to punt. Punting into the wind turned out to be quite the challenge as Saylor’s punt hung up in the wind and went just 5 yards putting East up against the wall one more time.

The Vikings however held strong again setting up a 26-yard field goal attempt for Brandon Liette. Liette appeared to be having trouble getting his shoe on but was able to beat the clock and step up in time to get the kick-off. With a little boost from the wind his kick sailed through the uprights for a 15-7 Tiger lead.

In what appeared early on to be an offensive battle turned out to be a defensive struggle. Neither team could move the ball the rest of the second half finding precious few first downs trading punts while playing for field position.

With the game winding down in the 4th period Coach Current made the comment, “it’s a real slugfest out there.” Indeed it was and with time running out for Miami East facing a 4th down with 15 to go in their own territory it was desperation time. A pass from Saylor to Dunivan was complete but it was 5 yards short and plenty of Tiger defenders were there to make sure it didn’t go any further.

The Tigers took over on downs with two and half minutes to play. For the large Ansonia crowd in attendance the clock couldn’t tick fast enough. They had waited 16 years to win another Cross County Conference Title and now they reign again.

As the clock ran out… the culmination and realization of what they had just accomplished erupted in jubilation. After a team celebration the student body, cheerleaders and fans joined the celebration in the middle of the field in what was truly a moving moment and what High School Sports is all about.

Just like the big boys in the NCAA and NFL the coach wasn’t spared the infamous Gatorade bath as Coach Hoenig took a direct hit. The veteran coach took it in stride and was all smiles for his team. And why not they just finished with a perfect 10-0 regular season the first in team history going back 60 years to 1949. They also set a record for the most wins in a season with a previous high of 9 wins.

Ansonia finished number one in region 24 for the state playoffs and now will host a first round playoff game next Saturday.

SCORING BY QUARTERS:
Ansonia…………..12……..0…….3……..0 - 15
Miami East..............7……..0……..0……..0 - 7

RUSHING:
Ansonia
Brandon Liette 14-96, 1 TD
Dylan Bubeck 18-68
Dusty Holcomb 14-41
Jordan Gilbert 8-40
Derek Bubeck 8-15
Totals 62-260

Miami East
Tyler Dunivan 23-72
Jared Brown 1-4
Brady McMacken 2-3
Brock Smith 3-(-1)
Dalton Saylor 5-0)
Totals 34-78

PASSING:
Ansonia
Derek Bubeck 3-9, 42 yards
Miami East
Dalton Saylor 3-10, 21 yards, 1 interception

RECEIVING:
Ansonia
Dylan Bubeck 2-26
Reese Walters 1-16
Miami East
Tyler Dunivan 2-14
Brock Smith 1-7