NFA wraps up ECC Division I title with 40-7 win over New London
New London — There wasn’t much history left to make in the rivalry between Norwich Free Academy and New London.
But history was indeed made Wednesday night when NFA beat New London 40-7 at Cannamela Field.
It was the first time in the 157 games between the two that was played under the lights. Normally played on Thanksgiving Day, the game was moved up due to the arctic blast expected to hit the area on Thanksgiving morning.
“A lot of credit to our coaches and our players,’’ said NFA coach Jason Bakoulis. “When the change was made it was, let’s go. Let’s play right now.’’
The win also gave NFA the Eastern Connecticut Conference Division I title. NFA leads the series, which started in 1875 and is the oldest high school football rivalry in the country, 78-68-11.
“For our guys to be able to say we are the ECC Division I champions is an accomplishment,’’ said Bakoulis. “When you play a tough schedule every game matters.’’
NFA (6-4, 3-0) broke the game open with three fourth-quarter touchdowns. Sophomore running back Sean Preston's third touchdown run of the game, a one-yard dive on the first play of the fourth quarter gave the Wildcats a 26-7 lead.
NFA quarterback Elijah Parker threw touchdown passes to Jahiem Spruill (48 yards) and Kevin Pomroy (42 yards) to finish off the win.
Preston finished with 116 yards rushing on 23 carries and New London senior running back Jacob Commander finished his career with a 29-carry game and 149 yards rushing.
“You had two tough running backs,’’ said Bakoulis. “No. 30 for New London (Commander) and our No. 32 (Preston) and we’re fortunate we’ve got him for two more years.’’
Preston’s three-yard TD run and the extra point by Shayne Evans gave NFA a 7-0 lead in the first quarter and the Wildcats made it 13-0 on the final play of the half when Pomroy ran seven yards for the score after taking a lateral.
New London (5-5, 1-2) scored on its first possesion of the second half when Owen George, who had missed the last four games with an arm injury, threw a 12-yard touchdown pass to Nazell Hodges. Commander’s kick made it 13-7.
NFA countered with a 64-yard drive that ended with Preston’s five-yard scoring run and Evans’ kick gave NFA a 20-7 lead after three quarters.
The schools first met in 1875 with New London’s Bulkeley School hosting NFA. In 1951 New London High School opened and Bulkeley and Chapman Tech closed, and the two have met every year since. Well, almost every year. The 1951 game at Morgan Park in New London ended with a brawl and the rivalry took two years off, resuming in 1954.
The schools also played twice a year from 1976-80 when they were members of the four-team Southeastern Athletic Conference along with Fitch and St. Bernard. NFA and New London’s Thanksgiving Day matchup began in 2000.
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