RELENTLESS...was the ground game of the Ansonia Tigers in a 35-7 victory at Covington.

OCTOBER 16, 2009 - COVINGTON
The Covington Buccaneers have been a nemesis for the Ansonia Tigers over the past decade. The last Ansonia victory over Covington came in 1999 as the Tigers stuffed it's CCC rival inside its own one on fourth down to preserve a 14-7 victory.

Since, Covington has ran off ten straight victories in the series, including a 26-6 playoff win in the regional semi-final in 2000 and a come-from-behind 35-27 victory a year ago.

With the history between the two teams being on Covington's side as of late, Friday's dominating 35-7 victory by Ansonia on the Buccs' home field was even more special. It improved the Tigers to 8-0 on the season and made a statement that this may very well be the year of the Ansonia Tigers in 2009.

What has become a pattern for the Buccs in big games, Covington self destructed in the first quarter by turning the ball over on its first three possessions.

Ansonia took advantage with a four-yard run by Jordan Gilbert to take a 7-0 lead to close out the first quarter.

Covington responded with a 53-yard run by Isaiah Winston to tie the score at 7-7 early in the second quarter, but Ansonia's ground game began taking its toll on the Buccs on the ensuing possession.

The Tigers ran right into the heart of the Buccaneer defensive front, moving the ball across midfield. Once at the Covington 31, the Tigers went to the air, catching the secondary up, as Derek Bubeck connected with Brandon Liette for a 31-yard score and a 14-7 lead at the break.

Ansonia picked up where it left off on the opening possession of the second half by marching to the Buccaneer ten. But the Tigers committed their only mistake of the evening by fumbling the ball over to the Buccs.

Covington returned the favor moments later with its fourth fumble on the night and Ansonia was back in business at the Buccaneer 15. Dusty Holcomb capped the short drive with a three-yard run to push the lead to 21-7.

Fully aware of Covington's two-touchdown comeback in the fourth quarter a year ago, Ansonia turned it up a notch this time.

Pounding the ball with Derek Bubeck, Brandon Liette, Jordan Gilbert and Dusty Holcomb, Ansonia put together two time-consuming scoring drives in the fourth quarter to blow the game open.

It was as dominating a performance any team has had over a Covington defense in years as the Tigers held a 14-3 advantage in first downs in the second half alone.

Ansonia also held a 323 to 219 advantage in rushing yards and ran 60 plays to just 40 for Covington.

The Tigers played nearly mistake free football with the one turnover and just two penalties in 85 plays of action.

And in the process it let everyone else in the CCC know the Ansonia Tigers are for real.

SCORING BY QUARTERS:
Ansonia .........7......7.......7......14 - 35
Covington ......0......7.......0........0 - 7

SCORING SUMMARY:
ANS: Jordan Gilbert 4-yd run (Kick good)
COV: Isaiah Winston 53-yd run (Christian Kick)
ANS: Derek Bubeck 31-yd pass to Brandon Liette (Kick Good)
ANS: Dusty Holcomb 3-yd run (Kick Good)
ANS: Dusty Holcomb 1-yd run (Kick Good)
ANS: Jordan Gilbert 1-yd run (Kick Good)