New London — Johnny Burns was a proud coach Friday night, addressing his team in victory, pretty well summarizing how New London High School won the season opener in a few words:

"Sometimes," he said, "you have to fight to the end. And y'all took that to the end."

The kids laughed because they knew their coach wasn't kidding. The Whalers needed a goal line stand in the closing seconds — highlighted by two textbook open-field tackles from senior Josiah Williams — to defeat Guilford 13-6 at Cannamela Field.

Williams' two tackles came inside the 5-yard line in the final 30 seconds.

"Josiah is a difference maker," Burns said. "He's in that stratosphere of guys who can do different things on the field."

Williams, however, was more interested in talking about teammate Mustafa Dannett, who lined up opposite Guilford receiver Erick Dolmus, a senior cited by GameTime CT as one of the top 25 players in the state. Dolmus caught three passes — only one with Dannett defending him.

"Everybody was hyping him up," Williams said of Dolmus, who has received an offer from Central Connecticut, "but we knew what Moose could do. He kept telling everybody he's Jalen Ramsey."

Dannett: "I wanted to show everybody what a real D-I (player) looks like."

Burns did not have Dannett guarding Dolmus on Guilford's first possession.

"We were going with a normal set. I didn't like what I saw," Burns said. "I saw that (Dolmus) had the potential to hurt us. Moose said 'Coach, put me on him.'"

New London overcame an early 6-0 deficit and took the lead late in the first quarter on Jonathon Mercado's 10-yard touchdown run. The Whalers kept the lead thanks to a stout defense and the punting of Lio Griffin Hill, who flipped field position with punts of 47, 43 and 48 yards.

New London extended the lead with 6:33 left when Williams went 13 yards for a score. The drive appeared doomed until quarterback Roddy Pratts hit Rhodia Perry with a 25-yard completion on third and 25.

Guilford's final possession began at the New London 46. The Grizzlies got as close as the two before Williams made two gave-saving plays.

Williams also led the Whalers with 77 rushing yards.

"Adversity," Williams said. "You've just got to come out as a team and do your job. My job at the end was to protect the edge."

m.dimauro@theday.com

New London football gallery

For more photos from the New London Guilford football game click here.