Cavs Open Season with Exciting Comeback Win

The Harvey Cavaliers opened the 2022 football season with an exciting 30-24 comeback victory on the road in Eastern Connecticut Saturday, Sept. 23, against the Pomfret School Griffins.

The hosts won the toss and elected to kick, and almost regretted it when, from the first play from scrimmage, senior captain James Miller took a handoff and raced 35 yards to the Griffins' 4-yard line. A few plays later Miller appeared to score but the referees claimed he fumbled before entering the end zone, turning the ball over to the Griffins. The hosts were stymied on their first possession and were forced to punt. The Cavs moved the ball quickly down the field as sophomore quarterback Jackson Saccomanno hit junior Jared Effinger with an 18-yard pass and followed it up with a 9-yard-pass to senior captain Dan Gasch on a fourth-and-5 play. Finally, Miller popped the ball in on a 4-yard run to put the Cavs up 6-0.  After exchanging fumbles, the Griffins took five minutes off the clock and on fourth-and-1 they scored to tie the game. The 2-point conversion was good and the Griffins went up 8-6, but their lead wouldn't last long, 

On the ensuing kickoff, Effinger caught the kick on his own 18-yard line, and then scampered up the sideline 62-yards outracing everyone for a scintillating TD. Miller ran in the 2-point conversion putting the Cavs up 14-8 as the quarter ended.

At the start of the second quarter, the Griffins took the kickoff and started another long drive that took five minutes off the clock and culminated with a 35-yard TD pass. The 2-point conversion was good and Pomfret took back the lead, 16-14. 

The host team got the ball back late in the quarter and drove to the Harvey 25-yard line, but a hard hit by junior linebacker Pete Sorio caused a Pomfret fumble and Effinger scooped up the loose ball and raced 65-yards for a TD, but the play was called back on a Cavs’ penalty. The half ended with the Griffins up 16-14, but it was obvious both teams were in a dogfight.

The second half opened with Pomfret receiving the ball and driving down to the Harvey 25-yard line, but senior captain safety Brad Lederer ended it with an interception. On the next set of plays, the Cavs moved the ball well as Saccomanno hit Gasch on a 28-yard pass and Miller had runs of 11 and 9 yards, respectively, but penalties killed the drive. The Griffins then had their best drive of the day, moving the ball at will and confusing the Cavs’ defense.  It ended with a 17- yard TD pass to the halfback and the 2-point conversion was good, putting the Griffins up 24-14 with 12 minutes left to play,

When Cavs opened the fourth quarter, they answered with their best drive of the day. Saccomanno hit Gasch with passes of 17 and 10 yards, respectively, and Miller had another 11-yard run and gained 8-yards on a critical third-and-1 to keep the drive alive. Saccomanno then hit Gasch for a 26-yard TD and then hit him again for 3-yards for the 2-point conversion and the Cavs were back in it down by just two, 24-22.

After two three and outs for both teams, the Griffins got the ball back with 4:32 left and tried to run the clock out but on fourth-and-3, Lederer stopped the Griffins' halfback one yard short and the ball turned over on downs.

Meanwhile, QB Saccomanno was forced from the game with an injured shoulder and was replaced by senior Sam Levine who got off to an inauspicious start as he was immediately sacked and had to throw another ball away in an earlier drive.  But on second-20 Levine dropped back and coolly hit Gasch for a 39-yard TD pass with 1:43 left in the game. Miller ran in the 2-point conversion to put the Cavs on top, 30-24. 

With Harvey now in the lead and with just 107 seconds left, the Griffins still had time to tie or go ahead, but another interception by Lederer on the Cavs’ 23-yard line sealed the victory.

QB Saccomanno played well, completing 11 of 14 passes for 110 yards and a TD before leaving with the injury. Levine went 2 of 3 for 51 yards and the game-winning TD.  The Cavs rushed for 99 yards led by Miller with 82 yards on 17 carries and a TD and Effinger who gained 13 on five carries. Wide receiver Gasch played well, catching nine balls for 138 yards and two TDs while Effinger caught three balls for 21 yards and added 119 return yards and a TD.

Mike Sorio led the Cavs’ defense with 12 tackles and recovered a fumble, Pete Sorio added 11 and forced a key fumble, Lederer had eight tackles and two big interceptions, including the game-saver. Danny Gittleman added six tackles, and freshman Wyatt Bland, making his debut at cornerback, chipped in with five.

Head coach Kyle Delaney was pleased to see his team get a win against the formidable Griffins. "It's a great win for our boys, especially after how Pomfret beat up on us the past two seasons," Coach Delaney said. Assistant coach Matt Eccher added, "The boys played with poise and were steadfast even when we went down 10 points.  They wanted this game."

The 1-0 Cavs have a bye week before they host the Millbrook Mustangs Saturday, Oct. 8 in the home opener.