NEW BRITAIN, CT — Masuk Head Coach Steve Christy’s No. 6 ranked Panthers faced a heavy favorite in No. 1 seed Windsor in frigid temperatures at Central Connecticut State University’s Arute Field in the 2024 CIAC Class MM Football Championship Friday night, and pulled off a dramatic 24-21 upset to come away with the state title.
Jackson Zylick lined up for a 38-yard field goal attempt with 13 seconds left in the game with the score tied at 21-21. His kick sailed wide left, but the Warriors coach had called a time out before the kick to ice him.
Zylick’s second attempt was right down Broadway, but fell short, just before the crossbar. But Windsor was penalized for running into the kicker, moving the ball to the Warriors’ 10-yard line with 4 seconds left.
This time Zylick left no doubts, nailing the 27 yard field goal to put the Panthers, who never trailed, back on top one final time.
Players on Masuk’s kick off team took care of business moments later, sealing the 24-21 victory. Christy, who is retiring, has ended his Masuk coaching career as a champion, along with his talented players and assistant coaches.
“It feels amazing,” Christy said. “They have the biggest hearts of any team in the state.”
Masuk quarterback, Aaron Champagne, had a hot hand early, hitting 6 of 7 passes on Masuk’s opening drive, culminating in a catch and run for a touchdown by Shane Walker. Masuk led 7-0 with 8:34 left in the first quarter.
On Windsor’s ensuing drive, Shane Walker made a great defensive play, breaking up a pass to make it fourth and 10 from the Masuk 44 yard line.
Then Luke Longo shot into the backfield like a missile, blocking the Warriors’ punt. The Panthers had the ball at Windsor’s 45, but their offense couldn’t capitalize.
Windsor, which is known for its veteran offensive line and star running backs, scored on an 8-yard run with 10:50 left in the second quarter, tying the game at seven.
The Panthers responded.
A 56-yard completion from Champagne to Shane Walker moved the ball to the Windsor 5, setting up first and goal. The 75-yard-drive was capped off by a TD pass from Champagne to Steve Curtin.
Champagne passed for 201 yards and two TDs in the game and Shane Walker led the team in receiving with 149 yards to go with his early score.
Masuk led 14-7 with 7:56 left in the half.
Disaster almost struck when a Warrior broke off a long kickoff return. Longo made a TD saving tackle and, fortunately for Masuk, the big play was called back due to a blocking in the back penalty on Windsor.
The Warriors’ running game moved the ball to the Masuk 47, but a defensive stop made it fourth and three. Then Windsor, which was plagued by delay of game penalties throughout, had another one making it fourth and eight.
Shane Walker returned the punt from the 15 to the 47 of Masuk. Then the Panthers reached the Warriors’ 40.
Champagne threw a bomb down the left sideline and Shane Walker made a leaping catch over a defender, while trying to tap his feet in bounds inside the 10 yard line. He appeared to be in, but the refs believed he was out.
Masuk went on to punt, pinning the Warriors inside their own 5 with 2:48 to go in the first half.
But the Warriors’ passing offense started to make some plays. The drive ended with Windsor receiver Jaden Langford getting behind Masuk’s defensive backs and hauling in a 64-yard TD pass with 59 seconds left.
The Warriors missed the extra point and Masuk led at the half 14-13.
Trading blows
The Panthers started the third quarter off right. The defense got when Billy Alvarado and Nick Fox combined for a sack-fumble and recovery at the 50.
Masuk’s offense featured hard running by Michael Charland early on the ensuing drive. Then Champagne threw a 23-yard completion to Shane Walker, who refused to go down, before tacklers finally corralled him at the 16.
Several plays later, Tariq Al-Hameedi barged into the end zone behind a bunch formation from one yard out to put Masuk up 20-13. Zylick’s extra point made it 21-13 with 6:41 left in the third.
Windsor continued to churn out yardage on the ground, moving the ball to the Masuk 49. Then Fox made a big play, darting into the backfield and taking down the Warriors’ ball carrier for a five-yard loss.
On the next play, Windsor had a delay of game penalty and Longo got great pressure on the quarterback forcing an incompletion on third and nine.
The Panthers had the ball and control of the game, but a costly turnover gave the Warriors possession at the Masuk 10. Star running back John Manning scored on a sweep, closing the gap to 21-19 with 4:53 left in the third.
Then Manning rushed for the two-point conversion, tying the game at 21-21.
Windsor had a chance to go ahead after Masuk went for it on fourth and two at its own 35 and was stopped. But the Panthers’ defense held firm, with Fox making a big tackle. Then the Warriors missed a field goal attempt.
The drive
The teams were deadlocked going into the fourth quarter and, as the night got colder, both offenses struggled to get anything going.
Masuk’s scrappy defense continued to make clutch plays to prevent Windsor from taking the lead.
The Panthers’ winning drive began at their own 45 yard line with 4:40 left in the game.
Abandoning the pass in the cold, Masuk stuck to the ground. Gavin Walker took direct snaps on running plays.
The Panthers made it to Windsor’s 46, and Al-Hameedi got just enough on a carry on fourth and one to keep the sticks moving.
Gavin Walker ran for five yards to the 39, before a 17 yard burst up the middle got the Panthers to the Windsor 22.
Christy called a time out with one minute left, then played for the field goal, setting up the dramatic finish.
“I believe in Jackson and belief is huge,” Christy said of his kicker. He’s got ice in his veins and he pumped it through as we knew he would — and the rest is history.”
Masuk takes the lead with 0:04 seconds left on a Jackson Zylick FG. pic.twitter.com/DN1eeQMsTZ
— Masuk High School (@masukhighschool) December 14, 2024
Andy Hutchison contributed to this story.
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