Hall hosted South Windsor on Friday night in West Hartford, starting their 2025 campaign with a win.

ports reporting is sponsored by Keating Agency Insurance

By Paul Palmer

Quarterback Tommy Hussey and wide receiver Isaiah Gaston put on a show in the first half as Hall scored 27 points en route to a 27-18 win over South Windsor.

“We played a good first half, “ said second-year head coach Steve Markie. Hussey hooked up with Gaston on several big plays, including a dazzling TD toss and catch to get the Titans off to a strong start.

After the defense held the Bobcats to a 3-and-out on their first possession, Hussey helmed a drive that delivered the game’s first score. The Titans were aided by a pass interference call on South Windsor that moved the ball to the 37. On a fourth down, Hussey raced down the sideline to the 2-yard line, and took it in himself on the next play for the 6-0 lead.

Hall returned the favor to South Windsor on the Bobcat’s next possession when a horse collar tackle call moved them deep into Hall territory and South Windsor converted on its own short run for a score to tie it at 6.

On the kickoff, the Bobcats twice kicked it out of bounds, moving them back five yards each time. On the third try, Ben Carlson returned it to midfield to set up the Titans’ next drive. Hussey connected on a 20-yard run and pass with Quinn O’Neill and later on a third-and-3, it was Carlson taking the pitch and rolling down the left sideline for the first down. Hall paid off the drive when Hussey hit Spencer Zazzaro on a low thrown over the middle for the sliding catch in the front of the end zone.

The visitors came right back on their next drive when a pass over the middle was deflected by Ayden Gordon right into the arms of Fahd Faris who raced to the 1 before being caught. Jaden Bridgeforth punched it in from there, but another failed 2-point try left the Bobcats trailing by 1 at 13-12.

It was then time for the Hussey-Gaston combination to light up the field, the scoreboard, and the home crowd. The senior QB found the junior wide receiver in one-on-one coverage in the endzone. Hussey threw it up high and Gaston easily out-jumped the defender to bring it down for the score, giving Hall the 20-12 lead.

“We love to communicate on the field,” Gaston said of the combination. The Hall defense turned in one of its best series on the next possession, led by a big stop in the backfield by Vitor Nagueira. South Windsor was forced to punt and Carlos Nunez fought for a big return, breaking tackles and bringing the ball back to the 43.

On a fourth-and-1, it was Hussey throwing the long ball again to Gaston who made the catch, broke away from his marker and raced to the 1-yard line before he was stopped after a 46-yard play. Hussey punched it in two plays later and with 3:10 to play in the first half, the Titans had a 27-12 lead.

“It’s easy to do my job with an athlete like that,” Hussey said.

Gaston’s performance also helped answer a big question for Hall’s offense. Entering the season, they did not have a returning player who had any catches on offense last season. “Isaiah, Quinn, Spencer, and others had a good half. We have kids that know how to make big plays,” Markie said.

Hussey and Gaston nearly capped off the first half with another highlight play, but Gaston – surrounded by defenders – could not keep control of the ball as it went high again in the back of the end zone as time expired. The Titans held the 27-12 lead at the break.

Neither team could do much on offense in the early part of the third quarter. Add to it that several Hall players went down with leg cramps and it was a slow-played slog for most of the third quarter.

The only score of the second half would belong to South Windsor on a quarterback keeper from the 2. The ensuing on-side kick try was recovered at midfield by Hall’s Solomon Levy.

Hall then began to work the clock, holding the 9-point lead in the fourth by using a series of runs to gain first downs. Carlson had a key running the sweep around the left side for the first down with 5:23 to play. Two minutes later Hussey’s ill-advised throw into the end zone was intercepted by Ryan Laguardia who returned it to the 15. The Bobcats authored a drive that saw them moving the ball downfield, but a holding call nullified a long pass completion taking the wind out of their sails.

As time expired, South Windsor went for the long pass into the end zone that was knocked away by Hall’s defense to secure the win.

“It feels amazing to win this game. We really worked our tails off in the off-season,” Hussey said after the game. He praised his offensive line for their work all game, as well as the defense for playing big when they had to. His coach was also pleased with some of what he saw, mostly how the team played in the opening 24 minutes.

“I am not sure what happened in the second half,” Markie said. We have got to find a way to play a full 48 minutes.”

Hall faces a huge test in its next game as they travel to New Britain – a team that beat the Titans on their home field by 40 points a year ago. “We lost by 40 to them last year,” said Hussey. “It would be nice to go in there and get a win.”

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