On November 18th, the South Windsor High School Bobcats and Enfield High School Eagles took the field for their annual Route 5 rivalry game and South Windsor’s Senior Day.
There was a lot on the line for both sides, as the Eagles fought for a higher playoff standing, while the Bobcats fought for a spot in the playoffs.
Following the senior festivities, players got ready for what was sure to be a good game. The Bobcats got the ball first and would drive 95 yards down the field for the opening touchdown on a run by senior running back Logan Sherwood. Junior Josh Gordon buried the extra point to put the ‘Cats up 7-0 early on.
The Eagles would not let this phase them as they were able to drive down the field and tie the game at 7 on a rush by senior Zandell Owens. Enfield would get a big stop on the next South Windsor possession and after getting the ball back, they were able to take a 14-7 lead.
Sherwood received the ensuing kickoff and had a nice return, taking the ball up to around the 50-yard line, giving the Bobcats great starting field position. South Windsor would not waste this great opportunity, as they marched to the redzone where Mitch Chaves, the senior starting quarterback for the ‘Cats, would fire a pass that was tipped by an Enfield defender and looked to be incomplete, until junior Slei Elder magically found the ball in the back of the end zone and dove to make a miraculous catch to knot the game up at 14 apiece.
Before the first half came to a close, South Windsor was able to get a huge stop and gain the ball back. Starting from well inside their own territory, the Bobcats took it down the field for their second 90+ yard drive of the game which was yet again topped off with a touchdown run by Logan Sherwood.
At the start of the second half, the Bobcats held a 21-14 lead. Enfield received the second half kickoff but were unable to score, punting the ball back to South Windsor. Bringing the ball up to near midfield, Chaves rifled a ball to senior tight end Joey Bemis, who lept into the air, came down with the reception, and coasted into the endzone for another Bobcat touchdown, and with another beautiful kick by Gordon, the lead grew to 28-14.
Enfield mounted a string of good drives, with a touchdown rush from senior quarterback Zach Bonini, making it just a one possession game. Following a South Windsor punt, the Eagles were able to enter the redzone, looking ready to punch it in and make it a one possession game, but Bonini fumbled the ball away on a handoff, which was pounced on by South Windsor’s Joey Bemis, preventing Enfield from a game tying touchdown.
South Windsor had a chance to put the game away but were unable to pick up a first down, giving the Eagles a shot to tie up the score with a minute and a half left in the game. After a loss of four on a screen and two incomplete passes, Enfield was left with one final shot on a 4th and 14 with around 30 seconds left on the clock.
Eagles senior quarterback Davon Randolph came in to try and make the game saving play. Randolph rolled right, looked down the field, and rocketed a ball over the middle that was intercepted by Sherwood, clinching the win for the Bobcats.
“We were just motivated to get our trophy back and after we saw Enfield talking smack in our [social media] comments; we knew this game was personal and a must win,” Logan Sherwood told The Prowl.
Despite the details of the Bobcat’s playoff game being unknown, the team is ready for whoever and wherever the game will take place. This team is special, and while expectations were low to start the year, all of the seniors stepped up and returned the ‘Cats to their winning ways.
