There were a lot of people involved with the Notre Dame and Cheshire football programs who had a good weekend, but it's probably safe to say no one had a better one than the Bowman family. Ring a bell? Steve Bowman, Phil Bowman? (There was also Mike, Joe, Pete, and John in that immediate family) Both Steve and Phil played big parts in Cheshire state titles in the mid 90s.
But cousin Rob decided to break from tradition and attend Notre Dame in 2006. He had gone to St. Bridget in Cheshire and decided he want to continue in Catholic school, even though his dad and six uncles all played football for Cheshire High.
Well, three years later, on a snowy Saturday afternoon in Shelton, a now 6-foot-5, 275 pound Bowman was able to raise a state championship trophy for the Green and Gold when ND stopped Pomperaug, 28-21.
A day later, Bowman and his letterman jacket were on the Ken Strong Stadium turf celebrating again even though his green and gold didn't match red, as the Bowman tradition continued. Rob's cousin Shaun is a sophomore for Cheshire, and when they prevailed by the same 28-21 score (it was in overtime, though) over previously unbeaten Staples, the Bowman family had a new twist in a long line of football success: two championships in the same weekend.
Even better, Ed Bowman - now in his 80s - was there to see both of his grandsons win titles. When asked about the nasty weather Saturday, Ed said, "I go to every game, doesn't matter what the weather is."
He added: "I've been to too many games to count, and not just football, softball, too, and other sports. This was a really good weekend."
It was a really good weekend for the SCC as well, which broke a three-year run of not winning a state title. Since 2001, Notre Dame and Cheshire became the seventh and eighth conference teams to win a state championship (Hillhouse, Branford, Hand, West Haven, Xavier, and Shelton are the others) - three more than any other conference. How did they get there? Let's find out, running diary style, of course:
Saturday
1:15 p.m. - On a raw and just nasty December afternoon at Finn Stadium, I arrive to a cramped press box. The state finals brings people who don't usually deal with high school sports and Register columnist Dave Solomon can't understand why there is no seat for him and is telling Shelton AD John Niski so, even though the CSTN crew (led by pals Don Boyle and Steve Kirck) take up half the downstairs with PA announcer Steve Arena (filling in for the injured Nick Aprea, and whose youngest daughter plays for my club soccer team) and the WAVZ crew (with legendary George Demaio and his son Matt) have most of the upstairs. One of the great things about covering high school sports is being so close to the action, and today it looks like I'm going to have to suck it up and stand on the ND sidelines. Actually, wouldn't want it any other way, notes and extremities be damned.
1:25 - Feel bad for Niski, not sure Shelton was the CIAC's first, second, or fifth choice, but at least they stepped up to the plate. Shame on SCSU for not hosting games. I call Sean Patrick Bowley of the Post over in West Haven, and he's got his feet up in their well-heated press box and people delivering him food (presumably caviar). The seats are filling fairly fast, though, despite the weather.
1:40 - Snow flurries in the air already. Great.
2:08 - Notre Dame is not exactly owning the line of scrimmage, but puts together a pretty good drive, until it stalls. There will be a little defense in this game, at least.
2:15 - It looks like the ND defense will hold, but on 4th-and-long (can't read the frozen, wet page) Andrew Clements finds Wade McNamara for a 25-yard gain and a first down. Three plays later, Kevin Maxen is in from 2 yards out and it's 7-0 Pomperaug after a quarter.
2:23 - Not going well for the Knights. Sean Goldrich is pummeled by Nick Fiore, and the Panthers appear to be going in again until ...
2:25 - The play of the game, really. Out of the single wing from the ND 7, Pomperaug tries to fool the Knights with a pass, but it backfires in a big way. Clements underthrows it out in the flat, and when Tirrell Young-Williams grabs it, there is nothing but green turf in front of him. Young-Williams is a speedster anyway, but it's a game-changing 93-yard "pick six" and ND has tied the game at 7-7.
2:27 - Clements is a big kid and is also on the kick return team. Unfortunately for him, he has to line up right in front of the ND student section, who brings out its hockey best, "It's all your fault, it's all your fault". The kick comes right to an angry Clements, who doesn't bother to try to break any tackles, but runs through a few would-be tacklers before going down on the 38.
2:28 - Clements can feel better now, because Ben Crick - anonymous up to now - just ran 62 yards on the first play for a touchdown. 14-7 Pomperaug midway through the second quarter.
2:32 - Here are the offensive fireworks. Off play-action, Goldrich's pass is underthrown, but Young-Williams has so much of a cushion, it doesn't matter, and he speeds away for a 71-yard touchdown reception and a 14-14 tie.
2:35 - I'm tired from going up and down on the sidelines, and Young-Williams tries to catch a break as he sits alone on the ND bench. But his break might be short-lived, as Crick returns the ensuing kickoff all the way down the Notre Dame 18. Where did those defenses go?
2:40 - But just as I say it, the ND defense makes a big stand, combined with penalties and the Panthers are forced to punt on 4th-and-30 at the 38. Ouch.
2:44 - The Panthers defense contines to control the line of scrimmage and forces a punt with 2 minutes left in the half, but - inexplicably - they don't try to field it and it rolls all the way to their own 30-yard line. Things continue to spiral downward for Pomperaug when they try a screen pass, but Clements overthrows his intended target and Thomas Perry makes a diving interception to set his team up.
2:51 - Six plays later, Goldrich sneaks in from a yard out and ND has its first lead, 21-14 at the half, despite being outgained. But turnovers are killers, and Pomperaug had two real killers.
3:01 - To the press box for some warmth. Somehow Solomon is still there, must have won his argument. Kirck asks, "How are we winning this game?" and I remind him that you had a 93 yard interception return for a touchdown. That can cure plenty of ills. I'd like to call him a worry wart, but about a month ago he sent me a 21-part plan that could see ND finish as the No. 1 team in the state. The plan is six quarters from coming to fruition.
3:22 - But still a half to play, and anything can happen. The third quarter features the defense, especially Pomperaug's as the large ND line appears to have finally met its match.
3:38 - ND has 4th-and-7 from midfield, but punter Phillip Bentley takes off, and he's got acres of space in front of him, a 28-yard run and a first down. Tom Marcucci called a fake punt? I'm stunned. And it was a perfect call.
3:40 - But Goldrich fumbles a snap, and Pomperaug recovers for ND's first turnover of the day. Oh, well.
3:45 - Pete Eyler, who has been the equipment manager for Notre Dame forever, is having a tough day, with the cold and wet and trying to keep balls and himself dry. He's borrowed a jacket from assistant cheerleading coach Stephanie Redding - who also moonlights as New Haven's Assistant Police Chief - and is ordered to get a dry ball for a 4th-and-8 at the Pomperaug 25 to open the fourth quarter. Eyler might be the unsung hero for ND, they'd be lost without him, he does about 62 jobs, and yes that included driving the bus on occasion.
3:47 - The new ball doesn't help Goldrich much, and we've got controversy. Goldrich's pass is woefully underthrown and Crick picks it off and runs it back to the 25-yard line. But there was a flag on the field, pass interference on Pomperaug. I thought it was for an illegal block after the interception, but my opinion is it was so underthrown that it threw off everyone: players, officials, everyone. Will be interesting to see the film later, but it's a break for ND.
3:52 - And they take advantage, four plays later David Rose is in from a yard out and the Knights lead 28-14. They can taste their first title in eight years.
3:55 - The snow is starting to stick to the turf, and I feel for some of the guys in short sleeves, but they are football players, I guess, and they're running around a lot more than me.
3:59 - Pomperaug marches right down the field, but at the ND 15, it's a fum-ble and third turnover of the game. A botched snap rolled around on the ground too long, and the Knights pounce. It's all over but the shouting...
4:05 - Or is it? The Panthers hold, and their offense is clicking on all cylinders now. Clements hits McNamara on a 10-yard pass and with 3:56 still to go, the lead is just 28-21.
4:07 - Pomperaug tries a tricky left-footed onside kick, but the ball goes out of bounds.
4:12 - The Panthers hold, they'll get one more shot at it.
4:14 - Interesting clock management from Pomperaug, who is quickly running out of time. Reminded of Herb Brooks in "Miracle" when the Soviets forget to pull the goalie. Pomperaug hasn't had too many close games, "He doesn't know what to do."
4:17 - With 10 seconds left, Conor Keniry picks off Clements to seal it. Fitting that it would be Keniry, the team's emotional leader.
4:19 - A surreal scene as the ND fans and players storm the field as the snow falls. Does it get any more perfect?
4:21 - Quotes, frozen ones, Marcucci: "You guys started on August 18th in 97-degree weather at Veterans Field, and here we are in December in the snow, and all that hard work paid it. You guys earned everything you got. Enjoy it."
4:26 - Finally catch up with Keniry and apologize for spelling his name wrong for two years. Keniry will go to Wake Forest to play baseball next year, so this was it for his football career. Not a bad way to go out: "I brought that up at halftime. I said, 'I don't know about you guys, but these are the last two quarters I'll ever play, so we're going out on top. This is something I dreamed about, and I can't believe it actually came true. What a great group we have. Everyone fought together, and here we are."
4:41 - In the final analysis, it just clicked for Notre Dame this season. Whatever "it" was, they had "it".
4:44 - Escape from Shelton complete, wasn't too icy and traffic could have been worse. Hopefully I'll be thawed out by the Cheshire game tomorrow.
SUNDAY
1:30 - A 38-degree day feels balmy at Ken Strong Stadium with the sun. Peek my head into the the nice, comfy press box which is actually overflowed with only the Class M game going on today. The Staples student radio crew has been banished to the stands. Solomon, of course, has a seat, though. (in his defense, he did write a nice column on ND: http://nhregister.com/articles/2009/12/06/sports/6-solomon.txt but, of course, he could probably read his notes, too).
1:45 - Cheshire is in white, which seems rare to me. Both kickers are booming balls in warm-ups. Wind is pretty stiff, but mild by West Haven standards.
1:56 - Members of the ND team take their place on the Cheshire side, the Knights stand to be ranked No. 1 if Cheshire wins. They look pretty intimidating over there, but cold.
2:10 - Staples puts together an impressive 15-play, 9-minute drive that included two fourth-down conversions and is finished by a Matt Kelly 3-yard run. 7-0 Staples and a statement of intent, for sure.
2:16 - Cheshire responds with a few first downs but the drive stalls at the Wreckers' 37. Kyle Pulek's rugby-style punt does pin Staples at the 7. We're flying through this game, but at some point, these teams have to throw a little, don't they?
2:22 - The turning point, just like with ND, it's a turnover. Keith Gelman, who has done a tremendous job since an injury to starter Brandon Pacilio is whacked from behind, the ball flies out, and Craig Thorne jumps on it and runs it back to the Staples 15.
2:26 - On 3rd-and-goal from the 8, time for a pass and Greg Palmer finds Brian Havlicek who falls into the end zone to tie the game with 5:06 to go in the half.
2:35 - Staples gets out to their own 44, but it's Thorne again with the sack.
2:38 - After a shanked punt, Palmer goes 37 yards to the Staples 18 and runs it in from 10 yards out two plays later and suddenly Cheshire has the lead, momentum, and everything else. 14-7 Cheshire with 51 seconds left in the half. Golf claps from the ND team in the Staples section.
2:42 - Staples does not take a knee. As Gelman raises his arm to throw, Staples coach Marce Petroccio yells, "Nooo" and it slows down like a bad movie. The pass is intercepted by Havlicek who runs it to the 6. On the next play, Palmer is in the end zone, and Cheshire will unbelievably take a 21-7 lead to the locker room (That pass was Gelman's only non-completion of the half, he was 7-for-8). Soviet style stand up cheering from the ND squad, who obviously doesn't want to make a scene, classy until the end.
2:51 - I guess Cheshire isn't going to the locker room, they stay out on the field. Little cold for that, but at least they're in the sun.
3:08 - Staples lets Cheshire stay in the cold, coming out just before the time is up. Guess they would have had a lot to talk about. Talk in the press box (where I'm getting warm) turns to the last time no one went undefeated in the state. If only the BCS had such problems. (turns out it was 2001, when Notre Dame beat undefeated Fitch, although New Britain got No. 1 that season).
3:35 - The third quarter belonged to the defenses, with no one putting together a big threat. As the quarter ends, Cheshire is winning the battle of punts and gets as far as the Staples 14.
3:37 - But Palmer is intercepted by Tyler Jacobs in the end zone on the first play of the fourth quarter.
3:40 - Staples takes over at the 20, on second down, the ball appears to be resting on the 30, but the chains say they're an inch short. OK. On the next play, Ryan Burke is buried in the backfield by Evan Gaudio and the Wreckers have to punt.
3:48 - The Wreckers get the ball back on their own 32 with 7:55 left trailing 21-7 and decide it's time to throw. Good call.
3:55 - On 3rd-and-15 from the Cheshire 16, Brendan Rankowitz makes a catch along the sidelines and sneaks into the end zone. Could Cheshire rue a chance to finish Staples off? It's 21-14 with 4:44 left.
3:59 - Cheshire's offense appears to be done for the day. They've gone more than a quarter without a first down, and punt it right back....
4:05 - To the fired up Wreckers. Gelman looks like Drew Brees and blue shirts are open everywhere. Two passes to Rankowitz combine for 42 yards and eventually Gelman sneaks it in from 1 yard out and the game is tied at 21-21 with 1:44 left. What a comeback and Cheshire appears to be in trouble.
4:10 - The Rams go nowhere on three plays and are forced to punt with 38 seconds left. Cheshire gets a break, though, when Pulek's punt bounces over Kelly's head and goes to the Staples 25.
4:12 - With 28 seconds to go, the wind at their back, and an All-State kicker in Santiago Cuartas (he's even got his own exercise bike), does Staples take a shot? I think they should, but they do what me and fellow Syracuse alum Bowley of the Post would call Pasqualonied it, (named after former Syracuse coach Paul Pasqualoni, who would always seem to be playing conservatively when they had a chance to finish teams off), fitting because both Petroccio and Cheshire coach Mark Ecke learned under Pasqualoni. Anyway, two tame runs later, and we're headed to overtime.
4:20 - It's a real reprieve for Cheshire and they take advantage. A pass to Dan Sweeney puts the ball to the 2, and Michael Skibicki - in his only carry of the game - scores to put Cheshire ahead.
4:23 - Kelly carries to the 6 on first down for Staples, gets to the 3 on second down - but Cheshire's Luke Scinto has the ball. Was it a fumble? It was, Cheshire wins, and red helmets fly everywhere as Cheshire is back on top for the first time since 1997.
4:25 - Scinto is giving interviews, but he's not giving up the ball, he might still be holding it as we speak. The WHHS staff is much more strict than the staff at Shelton, but the ND team makes it onto the field, as does the Bowman family, obviously.
4:26 - You have to feel bad for Kelly, who doesn't want to get up after the fumble. But Petroccio, a class act, pats his player on the head, and reminds him they wouldn't be here without him.
4:34 - Everyone poses for pictures, and Ecke - who was nearly run out of the job a few years back after a couple of losing seasons - is back on top. With his son on the roster, too: "It means a little more now. Last year, I talked about how great a ride it was making it to the finals, but this year we were more business-like. I think that helped our preparation for this game."
4:41 - As the sun sets both at West Haven High and on the 2009 football season, the SCC is back on top, winning both Class LL and Class L, and should claim the top two spots in the final state writers' poll when it is released. I happen to walk out the same time as Rob Bowman, like many of the players I've met this season, is as impressive off the field as he is on the field. I tell him it must feel good to be on top with Cheshire and his family.
"Absolutely."
