FAIRFIELD, Conn. The Fairfield Giants Junior Midgets defense kept an explosive New Haven Steelers bottled up for more than 49 minutes in Sunday's season opener at Sullivan Field. With time winding down and a weary unit crumbling because of the heat and a short roster, the Steelers finally solved the Giants defense.
New Haven scored a touchdown with 15.4 seconds left to nip the Giants, 6-0, in a Southern Connecticut Pop Warner game. The touchdown was set up by a bad snap on a punt on fourth down with 1:04 left. New Haven took over on the Giants 24-yard line and four plays later punched home the game's only touchdown on a 7-yard run.
"I think we just ran out of gas,'' said assistant coach Greg Franchuk, one of several coaches who helped fill in when head coach Tim Conway could not make the game. "We were playing 15. I think New Haven had 36 players. They just wore us out."
Fairfield's best scoring opportunity came in the second half. Starting on its own 25, the Giants moved the ball methodically down the field before stalling at the New Haven 22. The drive ate a large chunk of the clock. It also sapped the energy out of the Giants, who had many players out on defense as well as offense. Not getting points on the drive was frustrating. The physical toll on a hot, muggy afternoon proved just as critical.
Jack Hoey, Bruno Borges, Jaylen Jennett and Brennan Black anchored the Giants' defensive line, which never let the quick Steelers' backs find any running room. Matthew King led the linebacking crew with Brendan Beiser and Nicholas Franchuk. Anthony Battaglia had an interception, and Borges and Williams Melbourne had tackles for losses. Hoey also made a nice tackle to stop a Steelers' drive at the Giants 34 late in the first half.
Led by quarterback Thomas Hardiman, Fairfield moved the ball between the tackles most of the game. Spencer Green and Brendan Beiser led the Giants' running attack. Two lost fumbles also proved costly for the Giants. Fairfield returns to action Saturday when it plays at West Haven.
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