Cheshire — David Summers threw five touchdown passes, including the game-winner to Jared Mallozzi with 5 minutes, 55 seconds remaining, as second-seeded St. Joseph rallied from a 21-point deficit to defeat No. 1 Ansonia 42-36 in the CIAC Class S football championship Monday night at Cheshire High School.

It capped a wild comeback and fourth quarter for the Cadets (12-1), who won their 13th CIAC state title. Only Ansonia has won more (20).

Ansonia (12-1) likely would have finished No. 1 in The Day's final state coaches' poll, which will be announced Tuesday night, but Class LL champion Darien will now be the favorite to repeat as the state's top-ranked team, although Class M champion Killingly (13-0) was the only state school to finish with a perfect record.

St. Joseph trailed 28-7 in the third quarter before scoring 28 unanswered points to take a 35-28 lead with 6:47 left on a 58-yard touchdown run by Jake Shirden. It became the first of three touchdowns during a 52-second span.

Ansonia's Markell Dobbs broke free for a 75-yard touchdown run 31 seconds later and ran for the two-point conversion to give the Chargers a 36-35 lead.

Summers hooked up with Mallozzi on the next play from scrimmage for a 56-yard touchdown to give St. Joseph the lead for good.

Ace Luzetti's second interception with 2:12 iced the game for the Cadets.

Summers completed 14 of 26 passes for 246 yards and ran nine times for 32 yards for St. Joseph. Philip Pasmeg had three catches for 110 yards and two touchdowns, and Mallozzi had three catches for 75 yards.

Dobbs ran 38 times for 239 yards and three touchdowns and ran for three two-point conversions for the Chargers. Justin Lopez added seven carries for 129 yards and a touchdown, and Darwin Amaya ran seven times for 23 yards and a touchdown and had two receptions for 61 yards.

In another state final:

• Second-seeded Hand spotted No. 5 Masuk an early 7-0 lead before roaring back for a convincing 35-21 win over the Panthers in the Class L final at Trumbull High School.

Masuk (11-2) took a 7-0 lead just 17 seconds into the game when Mike Zuk returned an interception 22 yards for a touchdown on the first play from scrimmage.

The Tigers (12-1) scored 35 unanswered points to take command.

Quarterback Phoenix Billings overcame that early interception to have a big night for Hand. He threw touchdown passes to Matt Maxwell (6 yards) and Chris Iannuzzi (21) and ran for a pair of scores, including a 55-yarder with 1:55 left in the first half to extend Hand's lead to 35-7.

Billings completed 14 of 26 passes for 180 yards and ran 10 times for 97 yards.

Hand took the lead for good on a defensive touchdown when Ryan Coady returned a fumble 25 yards for a score in the first quarter to give the Tigers a 14-7 lead.

Masuk’s Matt Hersch completed 17 of 33 passes for 191 yards, including a 25-yard touchdown pass to Nick Lorusso. Jack Roberge also scored on a 2-yard run.

Men's basketball

• D.J. Mitchell scored 19 points as St. Thomas More rolled to a 93-69 win over Coastal Academy. Adam Hess added 14 points for the Chancellors (5-4) while Everrette Hammond had 11 points and six assists, Adrien Nunez had 11 points and six rebounds, Jared Garcia had 10 points and six rebounds and K.K. Curry had 10 points.

Girls' basketball

• Briana Beverly scored 12 points and St. Bernard defeated Tourtellotte 34-19 on opening night of girls' basketball season. The teams both compete in Division III of the Eastern Connecticut Conference. Emily Nelson added 11 points and Lindsay Clement nine for St. Bernard.

• Alexah Potter scored 11 points as Cheney Tech defeated Norwich Tech 35-23 in the Connecticut Technical Conference. Taylor Plante led Norwich Tech with eight points.

Softball Hall of Fame

• David Murray of New London was inducted in the Connecticut ASA Hall of Fame earlier this fall. He began his long and distinguished fast pitch softball career in the early 1960s and spent 11 years playing for the East Hartford Dovelettes. He was known for his defensive prowess at shortstop, leadership and compiled a lifetime batting average of .305 with nine home runs.

After his playing days ended, Murray coached on the youth level, being involved with the East Lyme Little League, East Lyme Babe Ruth League and East Lyme Parks and Recreation basketball. He lives in New London with his wife of 53 years, Carol.