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WESTPORT, Conn. – Jack Massie threw three touchdown passes to James Frusciante, including a 60-yarder on the game’s first play from scrimmage, as Staples High School’s football team topped West Haven, 42-20, in the Class LL quarterfinals Tuesday night in snowy Westport.
Top-seeded Staples (10-0) will play the winner of Tuesday’s contest between Newtown and Norwich Free Academy in the semifinals Sunday. The semifinals were delayed a day because the three other quarterfinal games scheduled for Tuesday were postponed due to the weather. Eighth-seeded West Haven finishes 8-3.
Massie and Frusciante also connected on scoring passes of 48 and 41 yards. Massie finished the game with five completions in six attempts for 152 yards. Frusciante had four receptions for 151 yards.
Staples also scored on its second play from scrimmage on a 92-yard run by Nick Kelly. Joey Zelkowitz had runs of nine and four yards for the other Staples touchdowns.
Staples built a 35-0 halftime lead, scoring on all five of its first-half possessions. West Haven drove to the Staples 8-yard line on its first possession of the game before it turned the ball over on downs. Kelly raced 92 yards for a touchdown on the next play, and the Blue Devils never recovered.
Kelly rushed six times for 123 yards and Zelkowitz had five carries for 83 yards, all in the first half. Kelly suffered a shoulder injury in the second half and did not return. Patrick Lesch had seven carries for 69 yards in the second half for Staples.
Sunday’s semifinals will be played at a site to be announced. The semifinal winners play in the Class LL championship game Dec. 7 or 8 at Rentschler Field in East Hartford.
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