MANCHESTER – Sophomore Nicholas Galatie intercepted a pass in the end zone on the last play of the game as East Catholic held off Tolland 27-20 in a CCC Tier IV football game Thursday night at Cheney Tech.
East Catholic’s defense stopped Tolland (3-1) at the 4-yard line late in the fourth quarter then Galatie made the big play with Tolland on fourth-and-goal at the 10-yard line.
“I wish we didn’t have to be in that situation but that’s what you work for all off-season,” East Catholic coach Tommy Seaver said. “They stepped up not only once but twice.”
Junior Joey Montalvo had four touchdowns, including a pass on a halfback option to senior Andrew DeLaura for the go-ahead score in the third quarter. Montalvo also had an 83-yard kickoff return for a touchdown to end the first half with Tolland leading 20-14 and scored the final touchdown on a 41-yard run at the end of the third quarter.
East Catholic (4-0) scored first on a 12-yard run by Montalvo, also on an option play, but Tolland went ahead 8-7 on a 3-yard pass from Ryan Caminiti to Brayden O’Connor and Evan Johnson ran in the two-point conversion. Tolland went up 20-7 after a pair of Destin Wood touchdown runs, the second with 15.8 seconds left in the first half but Montalvo’s kickoff return into the end zone cut the lead to 20-14.