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The sixth-seeded Crusaders from Stamford finish the season 8-3. No. 3 North Branford (11-0) advances to the semifinals Sunday against seventh-seeded Woodland.
The Thunderbirds scored two touchdowns in the last 4:22 to break open a tight game. The Crusaders were led by Sean Brown, who rushed for a career-high 250 yards and four touchdowns. But penalties nullified two touchdowns by Trinity.
Trinity led 21-20 at halftime, after Brown scored on runs of 14, 17 and 59 yards. But the game turned dramatically in the third quarter. North Branford regained the lead on its opening drive on a 7-yard touchdown pass from Brandan Basil to Joe DeLucia.
Trinity seemed to answer when Randy Polonia raced 60 yards for an apparent touchdown on its next drive, but the play was called back on a questionable illegal procedure penalty. Three plays later, North Branford’s Gary Falanga returned an interception 37 yards for a score to make it 34-21.
The Crusaders weren’t done yet. Brown scored on a 58-yard run with 6.3 seconds left in the third quarter, and then Trinity stopped North Branford on its next possession.
But North Branford recovered a Polonia fumble with 6:34 remaining and marched 61 yards for an insurance score. Dale Hausman’s 20-yard run capped the drive. Hausman added a 7-yard touchdown run with 1:22 remaining.
The loss ended Trinity’s best season since it won the state title in 1993.
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