Sports
Canton Football Clinches First Victory Against Avon in Last Eight Seconds
With his first Avon varsity football season opener under his belt, head coach James Caouette eyes a conference championship and playoffs qualification for the Falcons this season.
Just before a thunderstorm rolled into Avon Thursday night, something historic happened to make Canton Warriors fans roar.
Canton football defeated Avon for the first time, according to the Collinsville Press.
But for the Warriors, it was was more than the 16-13 win for Canton that made the game monumental. It wasn't long before fans were spreading the word about what transpired in the last eight seconds.
It looked like it was going to be a first victory for Avon in the team's season opener. Senior James Murphy scored the Falcons' first touchdown of the season, according to the Hartford Courant. Murphy was recognized as an All State athlete last season.
But in the last play of the game, with eight seconds remaining, everything would change. Canton's Terrence Brophy received the hand-off from the Warriors' quarterback, Eric Scott around the six yard line, skirted past his Avon opponents and sealed the victory with a dramatic dive into the end zone before the clock expired, according to the Collinsville Press.
Canton coach Paul Philippon told Patch on Friday, "it was like something you see in a movie."
"I think yesterday's game was like a microcosm of why people - for as long as they've existed — have loved competition," he said.
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Philippon credited players on both team for working hard until the end. He also said the victory reinforces that message.
"It's a big win and it just reinforces to the kids what we can accomplish if we work hard and work together."
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Caouette said that Avon has a rebuilding season ahead of it after graduating 19 players, including Gatorade Football Player of the Year Colin Moore. However, he characterizes this year's team as "a physical, tough football team." The team has "some solid leadership" in seniors Murphy, Stephen Griffin (ILB, RB,TE), quarterback Noah Hahn, Nick Zacchio (OL-DL) and Justin Reichler (WR-DL), Caouette said.
Avon has more tough games ahead of it, including North Branford, Cromwell, Haddam-Killingworth and Ellington, according to Caouette.
The Canton game was not only the season opener for the team, but it was also Caouette's debut game as the new Avon varsity football coach. He takes the helm after last year's varsity coach Brett Quinion retired following the close of the football season.
"I am excited to be the new coach at Avon," Caouette wrote in an email to Patch, who said he has big shoes to fill replacing Quinion, praising Quinion's career in Avon.
He added, "I welcome the challenge. When I first got hired Brett was very helpful in terms of providing me with some information to make the transition a bit easier."
What would make Caouette a happy coach? It's not just about the football, he said.
"I want all of our players to be great students and citizens," Caouette said. "That would make me happy. As I mentioned about, we want to compete every week and make others earn it against us. Earning a conference championship and trip to the playoffs would be awesome."
Canton Patch Editor John Fitts contributed to this story.
Did anyone take photos or videos of the game last night? Contact me at Jessie.Sawyer@patch.com if you did or upload them to our open Avon Sports blog.
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