The senior members of the Seymour football team pose after defeating rival Woodland 55-20 on Wednesday.
BEACON FALLS >> Seymour junior Bobby Melms made sure his seniors got another chance to play in the state playoffs. Needing a win over rival Woodland to secure a playoff berth, Melms rushed 13 times for 195 yards and five touchdowns in a 55-20 win over the Hawks Wednesday.
The Wildcats (8-2) reached the postseason for the second straight season. The Wildcats will find out its seeding for Tuesday’s quarterfinals after all games are completed this week.
Melms rushed 10 times for 160 and four touchdowns in the first half as Seymour lead 42-14 at halftime.
“It feels pretty great to contribute,” Melms said. “We put up a nice number of points tonight, that felt pretty great. To contribute, knowing that we needed this game to get in the playoffs, was pretty big.”
The Wildcats lost to Wolcott and unbeaten season Ansonia earlier in the season to put a return trip to the playoffs in doubt. But Seymour won its last three games, all rather convincingly, and the team believes the ship has been righted.
THE THANKSGIVING DAY CIAC PLAYOFF PICTURE
“We were very motivated (to get back to the playoffs),” Seymour senior quarterback Jaylen Kelley said. “We made it last year, and we had plenty of confidence that we were going to make it again this year. Yea, we slipped up against Wolcott, unfortunately that happens, but we’re just happy to be back in the playoffs again.”
Kelley, as he has been all year, played a big role in leading the Wildcats to this victory. Kelley rushed 13 times for 145 yards and two touchdowns and connected with senior Alex Massie on a 16-yard touchdown pass.
“(Melms and Kelley) they’re our key guys and they’re who we’re able to ride,” Seymour coach Tom Lennon said. “But, it also always starts with the guys up front. If they’re not opening the holes, there’s not much they’re able to do. Jaylen and Bobby did a great job of taking advantage when they did open the holes. We’re excited about that, and we’re excited that we’re going to be playing meaningful football after Thanksgiving.”
Seymour now holds an 8-7 lead in the series against Woodland (1-9).
“It’s good to beat a rival like Woodland,” Kelley said. “They’re a tough team.”
Woodland senior Isaac Negron rushed 21 times for 170 yards and two touchdowns while junior Tom Smith gained 103 yards and one touchdown on 10 carries for Woodland. Senior Cody Doyle recorded a sack while sophomore Carter Amore made an interception for the Hawks.
“The kids played hard,” Woodland first-year coach Chris Moffo said. “They did. They came to work everyday and they played hard. No. 2 (Kelley) and No. 6 (Melms) are very good football players, and they’re a lot to handle back there, but our guys never quit.”
SEYMOUR 55, WOODLAND 20
(at Beacon Falls)
Seymour 21 21 6 7 – 55
Woodland 7 7 6 0- 20
First quarter
Seymour – Jaylen Kelley 3 run (Rocco Vertuccio kick)
Woodland – Isaac Negron 21 run (Mike Farina kick)
Seymour – Bobby Melms 53 run (Vertuccio kick)
Seymour – Melms 15 run (Vertuccio kick)
Second quarter
Seymour – Alex Massie 16 pass from Kelley (Vertuccio kick)
Woodland – Negron 30 run (Farina kick)
Seymour – Melms 4 run (Vertuccio kick)
Seymour – Melms 64 run (Vertuccio kick)
Third quarter
Woodland – Tom Smith 90 run (kick failed)
Seymour – Melms 20 run (kick failed)
Fourth quarter
Seymour – Kelley 3 run (Vertuccio kick)