New Britain - Justin Cheverier finished his final high school football game Saturday as the state's all-time leader in tackles with 673.

"He's a tackle hog," Valley Regional/Old Lyme coach Tim King said with a laugh.

So it would only stand to reason that the ball, in the game's most important moment, found its way into Cheverier's arms late in the Class S-Large division championship game against Ansonia at Willow Brook Park.

Teammate Dan Figuenick stripped the ball from Ansonia's Tyler Bailey with Ansonia clinging to a six-point lead and the ball flew in the air straight to Cheverier, a linebacker who tries to make every play on defense whether it's near the linebacker spot or not.

Valley's first state championship in program history, 21-20 over 19-time champion Ansonia, came by virtue of Cheverier being in the right place at the right time the way he's been all of his career, with the fumble recovery setting up teammate Chris Jean-Pierre for the game-winning touchdown with 22 seconds to play.

The tears streamed down Cheverier's face, obliterating his eye black, as he spoke of everything the day meant to him, including his relationship with defensive coordinator Paul Ginter, also leaving the program this season after 17 years to move with his wife to Martha's Vineyard.

"As a freshman, he saw something in me that I didn't even see in myself," Cheverier said. "Coach Ginter, he knew I could be great and he started pushing me. He saw something in me, what he thought I could be. I mean who would start a freshman that's 5-foot-9, 180 pounds? He knew what I could come out to be.

"He's like a father to me. My father passed away when I was 7. I've had Mr. Figuenick; he's also helped me out. But Ginter has been a great father figure, all four years. He helped me through life, 'how's school?' not just football."

Ty Cheverier, Justin's dad, died of cancer in 2005 at the age of 34. He left his wife Rhonda and three children, two of whom won a state championship Saturday afternoon at Willow Brook Park. Justin finished with 11 tackles, giving him 194 for the season. His twin brother Tyler, a defensive end, had four tackles, including a sack.

Justin, a Valley Regional student from Chester, said he's looking to pursue football in college, perhaps at Trinity in Hartford.

His single-game career-high for tackles is 26. What's his secret?

"It's mostly instinct," Cheverier said. "I sort of have a motto. 'If you're not there first, you're there last.' If you're not getting to the ball, no one's going to make the tackle. … We just play."

"Coach Ginter gives out a black shirt award (every week) for whoever gets the most tackles," King said. "(Cheverier) gets upset if he doesn't get it."

Cheverier had six tackles in the first half against Ansonia, with Ansonia leading 8-0. On the Chargers' second series, Cheverier had back-to-back tackles early, then broke up a pass from quarterback Jai'Quan McKnight on third-and-18. Cheverier also had four carries for 37 yards.

Ginter became choked up when told that Cheverier considered him a second dad.

"Coach King talks about it and it's the same for me. I don't have kids either and neither does he," Ginter said. "All these kids are our kids.

"Again today, he was in the right place at the right time. Big players make big plays. He's all over the place."

As for what Ginter saw from a skinny freshman four years ago?

"I saw a football player," Ginter said.

v.fulkerson@theday.com

Twitter: @vickieattheday