Cheshire Rams hold off Glastonbury with late defensive stand
Two blocked kicks in the final minute secured a 21-20 victory for the No. 8 ranked Rams, capping a contest marked by repeated lead changes.
Cheshire football secured a 21-20 victory over Glastonbury on Friday, 18 September 2026, after a pair of blocked kicks in the final 1:08 preserved the home team’s lead. The result improves the Rams’ season record to 2-0 and maintains their position at No. 8 in the GametimeCT high school football poll.
The contest featured multiple lead changes, with Cheshire establishing a one-touchdown advantage on three separate occasions before Glastonbury responded. Noel Martinez scored a 4-yard touchdown run with 4:33 remaining to give the Rams a seven-point cushion, but the Guardians mounted an 80-yard, seven-play drive to narrow the deficit to a single point with 1:08 on the clock.
Glastonbury, whose quarterback and kicker Matthew Cartwright attempted the conversion, was an extra point away from forcing overtime. Cheshire’s Simon Levine blocked the attempt, preventing the tie. The Guardians subsequently recovered an onside kick at the Cheshire 44-yard line, but a penalty for roughing the passer moved the ball to the Cheshire 24-yard line.
With 10.9 seconds remaining, Glastonbury intentionally spiked a pass to stop the clock, setting up a 29-yard field goal attempt. Cheshire senior linebacker Evan Gonzalez rushed off the edge to block the kick, securing the win for the Rams.
Offensively, Cheshire relied on a balanced running game. Michael Chopak finished with a game-high 103 rushing yards on 16 carries, including an 18-yard touchdown. Martinez contributed 50 yards on five carries and two short touchdowns, including a 25-yard run that set up the decisive score.
According to Yahoo Sports, the defensive performance was pivotal in a back-and-forth match. Levine noted that the team had to give everything in the closing moments, while Gonzalez stated he worked hard to stop the field goal after previous fourth-down stops.
