Weston's JD Simons starts the home game against Oxford with the kick off on Saturday Oct. 22, 2011.
Weston's JD Simons starts the home game against Oxford with the kick off on Saturday Oct. 22, 2011.
Photo: Lisa Weir
Oxford's #16 Joe Greco runs to kick the ball while his teammate #18 Alex Miller holds it steady during a game at Weston High School on Saturday Oct. 22, 2011.
Oxford's #16 Joe Greco runs to kick the ball while his teammate #18 Alex Miller holds it steady during a game at Weston High School on Saturday Oct. 22, 2011.
Photo: Lisa Weir
Weston's #4 Tyler Hassett, right, hands the ball off to his teammate #22 Daniel Rogers during a home game against Oxford on Saturday Oct. 22, 2011.
Weston's #4 Tyler Hassett, right, hands the ball off to his teammate #22 Daniel Rogers during a home game against Oxford on Saturday Oct. 22, 2011.
Photo: Lisa Weir
Weston's Tyler Hassett has possession of the ball during a home game against Oxford on Saturday Oct. 22, 2011.
Weston's Tyler Hassett has possession of the ball during a home game against Oxford on Saturday Oct. 22, 2011.
Photo: Lisa Weir
Weston's Tyler Hassett throws the ball while Oxford's #28 tries to stop him during a game at Weston High School on Saturday Oct. 22, 2011.
Weston's Tyler Hassett throws the ball while Oxford's #28 tries to stop him during a game at Weston High School on Saturday Oct. 22, 2011.
Photo: Lisa Weir
Weston's # 83, Matt Keeney tackles Oxford's #18, Alex Miller during a game at Weston High School on Saturday Oct. 22, 2011.
Weston's # 83, Matt Keeney tackles Oxford's #18, Alex Miller during a game at Weston High School on Saturday Oct. 22, 2011.
Photo: Lisa Weir
Weston's #33, Austin Delaney has possession of the ball during a home game against Oxford on Saturday Oct. 22, 2011.
Weston's #33, Austin Delaney has possession of the ball during a home game against Oxford on Saturday Oct. 22, 2011.
Photo: Lisa Weir
Oxford's #1 Chris Hovan has possession of the ball while Weston's #4 Tyler Hassett drags him down during a game at Weston High School on Saturday Oct. 22, 2011.
Oxford's #1 Chris Hovan has possession of the ball while Weston's #4 Tyler Hassett drags him down during a game at Weston High School on Saturday Oct. 22, 2011.
Photo: Lisa Weir
Highlights of boys football action between Weston and Oxford in Weston on Saturday Oct. 22, 2011.
Highlights of boys football action between Weston and Oxford in Weston on Saturday Oct. 22, 2011.
Photo: Lisa Weir
Weston cheerleaders hold a banner on the field for their football team to run through as they enter the field before their home game against Oxford on Saturday Oct. 22, 2011.
Weston cheerleaders hold a banner on the field for their football team to run through as they enter the field before their home game against Oxford on Saturday Oct. 22, 2011.
Photo: Lisa Weir
Highlights of boys football action between Weston and Oxford in Weston on Saturday Oct. 22, 2011.
Highlights of boys football action between Weston and Oxford in Weston on Saturday Oct. 22, 2011.
Photo: Lisa Weir
Highlights of boys football action between Weston and Oxford in Weston on Saturday Oct. 22, 2011.
Highlights of boys football action between Weston and Oxford in Weston on Saturday Oct. 22, 2011.
Photo: Lisa Weir
Highlights of boys football action between Weston and Oxford in Weston on Saturday Oct. 22, 2011.
Highlights of boys football action between Weston and Oxford in Weston on Saturday Oct. 22, 2011.
Photo: Lisa Weir
Oxford's #1 Chris Hovan has possession of the ball during a game in Weston on Saturday Oct. 22, 2011.
Oxford's #1 Chris Hovan has possession of the ball during a game in Weston on Saturday Oct. 22, 2011.
Photo: Lisa Weir
Highlights of boys football action between Weston and Oxford in Weston on Saturday Oct. 22, 2011.
Highlights of boys football action between Weston and Oxford in Weston on Saturday Oct. 22, 2011.
Photo: Lisa Weir
Weston's Alex Miller hands off the ball to his teammate Chris Hovan at a game in Weston on Saturday Oct. 22, 2011.
Weston's Alex Miller hands off the ball to his teammate Chris Hovan at a game in Weston on Saturday Oct. 22, 2011.
Photo: Lisa Weir
Highlights of boys football action between Weston and Oxford in Weston on Saturday Oct. 22, 2011.
Highlights of boys football action between Weston and Oxford in Weston on Saturday Oct. 22, 2011.
Photo: Lisa Weir
Highlights of boys football action between Weston and Oxford in Weston on Saturday Oct. 22, 2011.
Highlights of boys football action between Weston and Oxford in Weston on Saturday Oct. 22, 2011.
Photo: Lisa Weir
Highlights of boys football action between Weston and Oxford in Weston on Saturday Oct. 22, 2011.
Highlights of boys football action between Weston and Oxford in Weston on Saturday Oct. 22, 2011.
Photo: Lisa Weir
Highlights of boys football action between Weston and Oxford in Weston on Saturday Oct. 22, 2011.
Highlights of boys football action between Weston and Oxford in Weston on Saturday Oct. 22, 2011.
Photo: Lisa Weir
Highlights of boys football action between Weston and Oxford in Weston on Saturday Oct. 22, 2011.
Highlights of boys football action between Weston and Oxford in Weston on Saturday Oct. 22, 2011.
Photo: Lisa Weir
Highlights of boys football action between Weston and Oxford in Weston on Saturday Oct. 22, 2011.
Highlights of boys football action between Weston and Oxford in Weston on Saturday Oct. 22, 2011.
Photo: Lisa Weir
Highlights of boys football action between Weston and Oxford in Weston on Saturday Oct. 22, 2011.
Highlights of boys football action between Weston and Oxford in Weston on Saturday Oct. 22, 2011.
Photo: Lisa Weir
Highlights of boys football action between Weston and Oxford in Weston on Saturday Oct. 22, 2011.
Highlights of boys football action between Weston and Oxford in Weston on Saturday Oct. 22, 2011.
Photo: Lisa Weir
Highlights of boys football action between Weston and Oxford in Weston on Saturday Oct. 22, 2011.
Highlights of boys football action between Weston and Oxford in Weston on Saturday Oct. 22, 2011.
Photo: Lisa Weir
Highlights of boys football action between Weston and Oxford in Weston on Saturday Oct. 22, 2011.
Highlights of boys football action between Weston and Oxford in Weston on Saturday Oct. 22, 2011.
Photo: Lisa Weir
Weston beats Oxford on 2-point conversion in final minute
Making strategy decisions in crunch time is one of the toughest things to do as a football coach. Fortunately for Weston football and head Coach Joe Lato, taking a late-game gamble proved the difference between victory and defeat on this day.
Daniel Rogers scored the deciding points -- a two-point conversion with 59 seconds left, to lead the Weston Trojans past visiting Oxford (1-5) 36-35 on Saturday at Weston.
J.D. Simons hauled in a 24-yard touchdown pass from Tyler Hassett for Weston on fourth-and-13 to bring the Trojans within a point. However instead of kicking the extra point to tie the game the Trojans (4-2) rolled the dice and went for two after a penalty on the touchdown play brought the ball for the point after attempt inside the 2-yard line.
"I still don't believe all of this just happened," Lato said.
The play capped an improbable second-half rally by Weston after trailing by 14 at the interval. They didn't force the Wolverines to punt until midway through the third quarter, but their offense kept the team in the game behind the play of Hassett and Simons.
"Tyler did a lot of good things today, he really hung in there," Lato said.
Despite the daring move to go for the win late on, Weston still had to thwart the Wolverines one last time. Oxford quickly drove to the 8-yard line of the Trojans -- well within range for a potential game-winning field goal -- with the clock running out, but Weston sacked Alex Miller on back-to-back plays to end proceedings.
"If we don't get them off of schedule at the end of the game, it's probably a different result," Lato admitted.
The game turned on the only turnover Oxford committed all afternoon. With a late seven point lead and possession of the football, the Wolverines coughed up the ball in their own territory with 3:45 left, giving Weston a short field to possibly tie the game.
Despite the early struggles defensively, the Trojans held Oxford to just seven points in the second half, a feat accomplished by an emotional halftime team talk.
"We made one slight adjustment, and threw out a lot of challenges; we put it on the seniors to go fix it," Lato said.
Weston came out of the break and erased the two-touchdown deficit on back-to-back touchdown drives. The first coming on another connection between Hassett and Simmons, this time on a 4th and 22 from the 28 yard line. Five minutes later, Hassett scrambled for 26 yards which tied the game entering the final quarter.
Although Chris Jovan's third rushing touchdown of the game gave the Wolverines the lead back 11:15 left in the game, Weston capitalized on the last opportunity presented to them to finish the scoring.
Oxford wasted an outstanding performance by Hovan, who rushed for 280 yards and scoring four total touchdowns, 195 of which came before the interval.
"He's a very good tailback, a very good runner and always fights for the extra yards. I thought our offensive line did a good job of opening holes; they are a major reason why we can move the ball on the ground so well," Oxford coach Joe Stochmal said.
A despondent Stochmal was disappointed that the game got away from his team, but gave credit to the opposition for such a hard fought battle.
"Weston is a good team; they made a couple of more plays than we did. We'll have to look at the film and see what adjustments we need to make on defense."
https://www.westport-news.com/news/article/Weston-beats-Oxford-on-2-point-conversion-in-2231449.php
