Masuk Head Football Coach Steve Christy’s Panthers regained their health for the postseason and are now clicking on all cylinders, steamrolling opponents on their way to the CIAC Class MM State Championship game.
After dismantling Torrington in the snow for a 41-0 quarterfinal win on the road, No. 6 seed Masuk avenged a regular season loss to No. 7 Bunnell with a 41-13 romp on Sunday. It was the last home game of Christy’s Masuk coaching career. He will retire at the end of the season.
The CIAC Class MM State Championship game will be played on Friday, Dec. 13, at Central Connecticut State University at 6:30 p.m., when Masuk takes on No. 1 ranked Windsor, who is coming off a 50-0 rout of Newington.
The Panthers gathered together and took a knee on the field after the game, when their fired up coach spoke to them.
“We’ll attack Windsor Monday, but today you’ll love this day,” Christy said. “This is the greatest day of your life. You feel that rarified air that we’re breathing. It’s rarified air baby! We’re goin’ to the state championship.”
The players cheered.
“We need that chip. We need that ring,” Christy said. “We need it baby. We need that ring!”
Masuk quarterback Aaron Champagne threw three TD passes against Bunnell, one to Shane Walker, one to Steve Curtin, and one to Gavin Walker, who also rushed for about 161 yards with three more scores on the ground.
Panthers strike first
Masuk’s defense forced a fumble and took over at their own 38 yard line to start the Panthers’ first scoring drive.
Three plays later, quarterback Aaron Champagne completed a pass to Shane Walker, who raced down the field for 27 yards to the Bulldogs’ 33 yard line.
Moments later, Walker’s brother, Gavin, took a handoff and ran to his right for an 11 yard touchdown to cap off the drive. Kicker Jackson Zylick’s extra point was good and the Panthers led 7-0 with 6:02 left in the first quarter.
Masuk’s defense forced a three-and-out and their offense took over at their own 39 after a punt.
The Panthers scored their second TD on a 50-yard bomb from Champagne to Shane Walker with 2:24 left in the quarter.
Aidan Diaz got good pressure on Bunnell quarterback Steven Mendoza to force an incomplete pass on third down, leading to a Bulldogs’ punt.
Masuk’s 14-0 lead held up going into the second quarter.
It looked like Masuk would give the ball back to Bunnell early in the second quarter, but Masuk punter Steven Curtin ran to his right on a fake for 16 yards to pick up a first down at the Panthers’ 48 on 4th and 9.
The Panthers’ offense moved the ball into Bunnell territory, but then Bulldogs’ defensive back Roderick “Roddy” Ricketts Jr. made a big play, reading a slant pass for an interception and returning it 55 yards for a score.
Suddenly, Masuk’s lead was cut in half — 14-7 with 10:11 to go in the first half.
The Panthers responded on their next drive, ending with a 55-yard TD bomb from Champagne to Gavin Walker. The extra point was wide to the left, but Masuk had increased its lead to 20-7 with 8:15 left.
Masuk’s defense held Bunnell on downs and the Panthers took over at their own 47.
Bunnell defensive end Rickie Miller sacked Champagne to make it third and 18 from the Panthers’ 39, setting the stage for running back Gavin Walker’s heroics.
Champagne dumped off a short pass to Walker, who ran down the right sideline and hurdled a tackler en route to an 19 yard gain to the Bulldogs’ 42.
The drive ended with a 25 yard TD pass. Champagne lofted the ball over the shoulder of Curtin, who reeled it in for a score in the right corner of the end zone against tight coverage.
Champagne had already thrown for over 200 yards and it was 27-7 Panthers with 2:09 left in the half.
A roughing the passer call against Masuk kept the Bulldogs’ ensuing drive alive and Bunnell’s offense advanced the ball deep into Panther territory. But Masuk defenders swarmed to the ball, tackling a Bunnell ball carrier at the three-yard-line as time expired.
Bunnell’s offense made a big play on their first possession of the second half when Mendoza threw to wide receiver Keyshon Zimmerman for a 58-yard catch and run. Masuk’s defensive backs made him fumble, but the ball rolled out of bounds.
The Bulldogs had a first and goal at the Panther 9, but as they have done all postseason, after giving up a big play, Masuk’s defense bowed up.
On 4th and goal from the six, Diaz sacked Bunnell’s quarterback for an 11 yard loss and a turnover on downs.
Taking over at their own 17, Masuk’s offense looked to put the game out of reach. Their ensuing 83-yard-scoring drive ended with a 55 yard TD run by Gavin Walker to put the Panthers ahead 34-7 with four minutes left in the third.
Bunnell responded by driving to the Masuk six yard line. Two offsides penalties got the ball inside the Masuk 1, but Masuk forced a fumble and recovered it.
The Panthers’ offense played in a tight running formation for the rest of the game. Backed up inside the one, Tariq Al-Hameedi took a direct snap on second down and broke free to the Masuk 43.
The Panthers stuck to their ground attack and Gavin Walker took a hand off up the middle and bounced outside, racing down the left sideline for 57 yards and his fourth TD of the day.
Zylick’s kick put Masuk on top 41-7 with 7:22 left.
Pass interference and unsportsmanlike conduct penalties against the Panthers helped Bunnell score its only offensive touchdown of the day, a seven yard pass to Zimmerman in the left corner of the end zone.
Shane Walker tipped the ball, but Zimmerman caught it behind him and managed to keep his feet inbounds along the end line.
The Bulldogs’ two-point-conversion failed and the final score was 41-13.
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