Masuk Free Press

When Masuk head coach, Steve Christy, spoke about their week one opener all the way back in September, he made it clear that this ending was the expected finale. Everything that the Masuk Panthers had wanted, came to be. 

“It’s happened hasn’t it?” said Christy. “The kids have really come together, it’s been magic.”. 

Masuk overcame so much adversity and climbed through the rankings. The Panthers got hot at the right time, as they were able to obliterate their previous playoff opponents, Torrington and Bunnell. They outscored these two teams a combined 82-13, in addition shutting out Torrington completely. 

“We don’t listen to what other people say, we just do what we have to do and play football,” said senior Jayden Cassese.

Entering Friday, Dec. 13 at Central Connecticut State University’s Arute Field, the entire stadium knew the upcoming competition would be a good one. Windsor was one of the best teams in the state, but that did not phase the Panthers at all.

“We [have] never been scared to play no team, so I know we can win this,” said junior Nathaniel Leslie.

Masuk came out swinging, as the sophomore standout quarterback Aaron Champagne connected with senior Shane Walker, for a 26-yard touchdown. Windsor was held to a donut on the scoreboard through the first quarter. The Masuk defense proved tough just as they had all season. Huge plays, including a key pass deflection by Walker and a blocked punt by senior Luke Longo, kept Windsor out of the endzone for the entire quarter. 

In quarter number two, Windsor’s John Manning opened up the scoring for Windsor. He was able to run one in from eight yards out after Windsor drove down the field, attempting to wear down Masuk’s defense. The game was now tied at seven points apiece. Masuk then got the ball back, and after Champagne chucked a huge deep ball to Walker to put the Panther’s in a goal-to-go scenario, Champagne then connected with Steven Curtin for five yards and an additional touchdown. This gave Masuk their second lead of the game. Windsor then returned the favor, as their player Jaden Langford got free in the secondary and caught a long ball from AJ Manning that went for 64 yards, as well as a touchdown. However, the routine extra point failed and Masuk still grasped on to a one point lead, 14-13. 

The second half then began with Windsor fumbling the football. Masuk was able to recover, and they drove down the field, eventually ending their drive with a Tariq Al-Hameedi one-yard rushing touchdown, giving Masuk a 21-13 lead. After some drives with no offensive production from both teams, it took Champagne to throw an interception to Windsor, giving Windsor the ball. They immediately capitalized, and Manning ran in a 10-yard touchdown.  Windsor also attempted and completed a two-point conversion, tying the game up at 21. Champagne then threw another interception, in which Windsor was able to power down the field, close enough to attempt a field goal. However, the Panther’s special teams unit blocked the attempt, keeping the score right where it was. Little did everyone know, some foreshadowing had just occurred. With time running down in the fourth quarter, in below freezing temperatures, with everyone watching, the Panther’s had a chance to do something unforgettable. 

Masuk began driving down the field, pounding Windsor’s defense. They just kept on moving. Eventually, there were seven seconds on the clock, and Masuk’s special team unit, led by the soon-to-be hero kicker, Jackson Zylick, trotted out onto the field. Masuk was setting up to attempt a game-winning field goal. On the first kick, Windsor called a timeout in an attempt to “ice” the kicker (a technique used to make the kicker feel more nervous, or think about the kick more). A penalty for roughing the kicker was then issued to Wilton. Zylick was then set up for a 27-yard field goal, state championship on the line. The kick bolted through the uprights. Celebrations followed suit, as Windsor failed to make a miracle happen with seconds left on the clock. The Masuk Panthers completed what would have been a Cinderella story, if it wasn’t an expectation all along, in a thrilling 24-21 class MM state championship game that gave the Masuk Panther’s their first state title since 2010.