Killingly makes statement with big win over Sheehan

KILLINGLY – During the preseason Killingly coach Chad Neal knew that when Sheehan visited the Quiet Corner in the third week of the 2024 season, the Titans were going to be a big test for his football team: a barometer of where Killingly stood in the Class SS division.

On Friday night, Killingly passed with flying colors.

Killingly junior running back Hayden Allard rushed for 230 yards and scored four touchdowns, senior Everton Brown gained 139 yards with one touchdown, and Killingly rallied from an early 13-point deficit to defeat Sheehan, 32-26, in an ECC-SCC Football Alliance showdown at Morgan Field.

“That was a classic,” Neal said. “Sheehan’s an excellent football team. I have a feeling that if we  both make the playoffs we’re going to see each other again.”

The Titans (2-1) took advantage of two early Killingly turnovers to build a 20-7 lead.

“Give our kids credit,” Neal said. “They kept responding and coming back. The score before the half was key.”

After Sheehan’s Tucker Larson returned an errant pass from Killingly quarterback Quinn Sumner for a 32 yard TD to give Sheehan a two touchdown advantage, Killingly marched 60 yards on 10 plays.

Allard capped the key drive with an 18-yard scoring run with just 1:37 left in the first half and Killingly trailed 20-13 at the break.

The second half belonged to Killingly’s physical and speedy defense.

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"Our message coming into this game was we knew we had to show some physicality and we had to be the stronger team,” Killingly senior linebacker Anthony Oates said. “What helped us was our coaches and us working hard over the offseason. Everybody doubts us and that makes us work that much harder.”

Killingly’s defense flew to the ball and limited Sheehan to four straight three-and-out possessions to start the second half.

“We love making big stops like that and turning the ball over to the offense,” Oates said.

Oates, along with a host of players that included Trevor Galarza, Payton Wallace and Hunter Allard

Joe Gould, Aiden LaMotte, Joe Mackie, Ryan Webster, and Brown, made a number of key tackles and pass deflections.

“Our defense really took it to heart this week that we have to stop their strong run game,” Neal said. “For the past nine years if you look around the state Ansonia, Sheehan and us have been right up there as teams that run the football and I thought we did a good job against them tonight.”

Killingly’s offensive line – Michael Allen, Zachary Glushchenko, Zach Phillips, Devin Moe, Tyler Smith and tight ends Hunter Allard and Webster – paved the way for big nights for Allard and Brown.

“It feels good,” said Brown, whose 9-yard TD run late in the first quarter tied it at 7. “I know I have a line that is playing their hearts out. They want it. Running behind them feels special. They set up the plays for me and I just run.”

Hayden Allard’s electrifying 57-yard touchdown run tied it at 20-20 midway through the third quarter.

Allard added a 2-yard TD plunge at the end of the third and a 4-yard score early in the fourth quarter that gave Killingly a 32-20 cushion.

Sheehan quarterback Jake O’Brien threw a pair of touchdown passes to Jayden Daugherty, including a 34-yard inside screen on third and long that trimmed Killingly’s lead to 32-26 with five minutes remaining.

Killingly improved to 3-0.

“It feels great,” Oates said. “I just love these guys. We work hard every day. We do all of the little things to make nights like this work.”

This article originally appeared on The Bulletin: Killingly makes statement with big win over Sheehan