Gilbert-Northwestern-Housatonic football outslugs Derby in NVL shootout
Quarterback Trevor Campbell directed seven scoring drives to lead GNH to its first victory.
In a fierce Naugatuck Valley League matchup, Gilbert-Northwestern-Housatonic (GNH) and Derby each finished the game with a record of 0-4. Despite both squads boasting thin rosters, with GNH fielding 30 players and Derby only 20, the game proved to be an intense shootout at DeFilippo Field. GNH secured a 50-36 triumph in a closely contested contest that saw both teams exceeding expectations given their limited manpower.
Trevor Campbell, a junior quarterback for GNH, delivered a spectacular 72-yard touchdown pass to Airyn Berube on the opening play, setting the tone for the Red Raiders' dominant performance. Campbell went on to orchestrate six more scoring drives, cementing his impact with two more touchdown runs of 2 and 32 yards. Derby's senior quarterback, Abner Barillas-Rivera, matched Campbell's intensity, tossing three long scoring passes to Vincent Nuzzo (48 and 71 yards), Angel Figueroa (58), and even breaking free for a 59-yard touchdown run.
With just three minutes remaining in the fourth quarter, Barillas-Rivera's two-point run after a 39-yard cutback by Jayson Williams extended Derby's lead to 28-27. However, GNH responded decisively, capitalizing on a fourth-and-long stop at midfield and an interception by Greg Harris to secure three consecutive touchdowns, icing the game with a final score of 50-36.
The game illustrated the remarkable resilience and talent of both teams despite their limited personnel, with GNH's Trevor Campbell emerging as the standout performer of the night.
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