The Monroe Lions eight-graders faced a tough Guilford football team, searing heat and a 28-12 deficit Sunday, but showed determination and grit while battling back to within two points. However, a 2-point-conversion to tie the score failed and Guilford hung on for a 28-26 victory.
Guilford appeared to have broke the game open with a 38 yard touchdown run with 25 seconds left in the third quarter to increase their lead to 28-12, after Lions running back Jason Champagne’s 40 yard scamper had narrowed the gap to 20-12.
Lions Head Coach Joseph Kobza and his staff worked to keep their players hydrated in 85-degree heat throughout the game, on a day when a referee had to take himself out of the game due to dehydration. The Lions also weathered several injuries.
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Down by 16 points at the start of the fourth quarter, the Lions offense ignited a stirring comeback.
Quarterback Rob Klein completed a 30 yard pass to Trey Migliarese to Guilford’s nine yard line. Then Jack Sisson ripped off a seven yard run to the two, before Champagne barged in for the score.
Lions kicker, Matt Zeppieri, nailed the two point conversion and the Lions pulled to within 28-20.
The Lions recovered an onside kick and suddenly had a chance to tie the score.
On their very first play, Klein threw a screen pass to Champagne, who followed key blocks from the offensive line to breakaway for a 49 yard touchdown. The score was 28-26, but the 2-point conversion failed.
A seesaw battle
The lead changed hands early on during the thrilling football game.
The Lions jumped out front on their offense’s opening drive when Klein threw a 10 yard touchdown pass to Colin Hope early in the first quarter. The kick after failed, but Monroe led 6-0.
Guilford answered on its next possession with a five yard touchdown run and a two point kick for an 8-6 lead they would take into halftime.
Before the Lions’ exciting comeback, Guilford had a four yard touchdown run five minutes and 55 seconds into the third quarter, but the kick failed. Guilford was up 14-6 at that point.
Other Lions action
In other Lions games from last weekend, the seventh graders blanked Southington 35-0, the sixth-graders fell to Shelton 33-0, the fifth-graders dominated East Haven in a 31-0 win; the fourth-graders ran into a tough North Haven squad losing 20-0, and the third-graders outscored Newington in a 26-16 win.