Thomas Runs Wild Over Hawks

The Ansonia Chargers--and in particular Alex Thomas-- showed exactly why they are the top-ranked team in Connecticut in their 62-35 pounding of Woodland on Thursday night at Jarvis Stadium in Ansonia.

The Chargers wasted no time getting started in the game, holding Woodland to two 3-and-out possessions while handing the ball to Alex Thomas on their two possessions, each one resulting in a touchdown. After just 10 minutes, Ansonia led Woodland, 14-0.

The Hawks fought back, though, as Will Volage set up the first Woodland touchdown with a 66-yard return. Cody Kingsley capped off the six-play drive with a 10-yard scramble into the end zone. Brandon Fowler tacked on the PAT to make it a 14-7 game early in the second period.

The ensuing Ansonia possession was a key point in the game. The Hawks forced the Chargers into a 3rd-and-14 in their own territory with 10 minutes to go in the half. Quarterback Ron Bilodeau dropped back to pass for the first time, and threw a ball that went right through the hands of Sidney Sumler, and into the hands of his intended receiver, who managed to stay in bounds. On the following play, Lorenzo Pittman busted out a 37-yard run to make it a 21-7 lead for the home team.

Volage would not let the Hawks lose much momentum, though, as he took the next kickoff 95 yards to the house, and Fowlers extra point made it 21-14. Thomas came right back for Ansonia and scored his third touchdown of the night on a 1-yard run. Travis Torello's PAT was no good, leaving the score at 27-14.

Once again on the ensuing kickoff, Volage and his returning made a big impact. However this time, it was his lost fumble at the Woodland 14-yard-line which set up Thomas's next touchdown run. The fumble was a major turning point in the game, which took all momentum away from the Hawks and put the Chargers up, 34-14.

Woodland would not let the first half end on that note, though. Kingsley and company utilized the class Hawk spread formation to drive down the field with time winding down. On first-and-goal, Volage received Kingsley's handoff, then rolled out to the right and found Rob Carlson in the end zone to cut the halftime lead to 34-21.

Unfortunately for the Hawks, they looked like a completely different team in the second half. Thomas finally started to break the long runs he is known for. On the first play of the half, he broke out a 58-yard dash to continue his dominance. After a Woodland punt, he struck again, this time on a 68-yard run, breaking the game open and running the score to 48-21 with 9:14 left in the third quarter.

After Eric Brown's fumble, the Chargers kept scoring. Bilodeau finally got in on the action for Ansonia, connecting with Tom Pitney on a 23-yard pass for the eighth touchdown of the night.

Volage once again tried to save the Hawks, running back another kickoff for a touchdown, this being a 90-yard score. The return made the score 55-28, but the home team was still dominating.

Things got very sloppy for both teams on the next four possessions. The Chargers kept with their "give it to AT" strategy, but he made his first mistake of the night, fumbling the ball into Chris Valente's arms.

However the Hawks couldn't capitalize, as Kingsley threw an interception to DJ Larkin while looking deep down field. But Thomas slipped up again in the ensuing possession. He appeared to be headed for another long score when Volage punched the ball away from him. Steve Gillette came up with the ball for the Hawks, but again they could not capitalize. Kingsley again erroneously hooked up with Larkin, this time looking over the middle for Eric Alfiere.

After an Ansonia punt, Kingsley threw his third pick, this one to Pitney. Thomas followed it up on the next play with his seventh and final touchdown of the night, a 62-yard scamper to end the Chargers' scoring at 62 points.

Woodland registered the final points of the game when Kingsley hooked up with Volage on a 4th-and-8 play from the Ansonia 42. Volage ran right across the middle and into the end zone to make the final score 62-35.

Most of the keys to the game that Woodland players said that they needed to execute did not go as they scripted. Major points of emphasis were not making mistakes and wrapping up Alex Thomas. The Hawks commited 5 turnovers and allowed Thomas to break tackle after tackle while rushing for--get this--523 yards and 7 touchdowns.

The few bright spots for Woodland came in the forms of Will Volage and Jon Murren. Murren rushed for 104 yards on 8 carries, while Volage had 283 return yards, including 2 touchdowns, on 6 returns.

Woodland will look to rebound as they return to the Woods to take on the Red Raiders of Torrington on Friday, October 4th.

	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	Final
Woodland	0	21	7	7	35
Ansonia	14	20	21	7	62

1st Quarter:
ANS- (7:11) Thomas 15 yard run (Torello kick)
ANS- (1:55) Thomas 5 yard run (Torello kick)
2nd Quarter:
WOOD- (11:25) Kingsley 10 yard run (Fowler kick)
ANS- (9:35) Pittman 37 yard run (Torello kick)
WOOD- (9:22) Volage 95 yard kickoff return (Fowler kick)
ANS- (4:44) Thomas 1 yard run (kick failed)
ANS- (4:34) Volage fumble
ANS- (1:55) Thomas 2 yard run (Torello kick)
WOOD- (0:26) Volage 4 yard pass to Carlson (Fowler kick)
3rd Quarter:
ANS- (11:45) Thomas 58 yard run (Torello kick)
ANS- (9:14) Thomas 68 yard run (Torello kick)
ANS- (7:20) Brown fumble
ANS- (3:50) Bilodeau 23 yard pass to Pitney (Torello kick)
WOOD- (3:41) Volage 90 yard kickoff return (Fowler kick)
WOOD- (2:20) Valente fumble recovery
ANS- (1:40) Kingsley interception to Larkin
WOOD- (1:00) Gillette fumble recovery
4th Quarter:
ANS- (10:20) Kingsley interception to Larkin
ANS- (6:46) Kingsley interception to Pitney
ANS- (6:33) Thomas 62 yard run (Torello kick)
WOOD- (2:11) Kingsley 42 yard pass to Volage (Fowler kick)