Deep River — It is a tribute to the quality of Tim King's program that there haven't been many nights like this on Valley Regional/Old Lyme's home field. Or any field. But this was equal parts regrettable and forgettable for the Warriors, who even with two weeks to prepare, got overwhelmed.

Valley/Old Lyme was unable to contain Old Saybrook/Westbrook quarterback Victor Pascoe and succumbed 34-13 before a large crowd on The Hill.

Pascoe ran for 217 yards, three touchdowns and intercepted three passes.

"He's a player," King said of Pascoe, two of whose touchdown runs went for 79 and 57 yards.

OSW remained unbeaten overall and in the Sassacus Division of the Pequot Conference (5-0, 4-0), moving a game ahead of Valley in the standings.

"I'm anxious to see the film," King said. "We had too many turnovers and penalties. We just didn't play well. Everything was off."

It wasn't so bad midway through the second quarter, though. Quarterback Michael Cullina's 25-yard touchdown run — keyed by receiver Jason O'Brien's block — gave Valley a 13-7 lead. But the Warriors never scored again.

Vincent Dyer's first of two touchdown runs gave the Rams a 14-13 lead before Pascoe's 57-yard touchdown run made it 21-13. Valley moved the ball to midfield late in the first half before Pascoe's interception.

Pascoe had two more picks in the second half and his third touchdown run.

"You can't turn it over that many times and have so many penalties," King said. "It felt like all night we were playing behind the sticks."

Cullina finished 15-23 for 169 yards.

Now the Warriors have the task of duplicating last season. They lost a game in October to Cromwell only to use it as motivation for the rest of the season. Valley/Old Lyme made it to the Class M semifinals.

"I know we'll bounce back. We have good athletes," King said. "I have no doubts. We'll watch the film, rip it up and see what we did. The kids will be fine. They'll be OK in 24 hours. But I won't be. I won't be happy until we tell it up at Nonnewaug (next week)."

m.dimauro@theday.com