Image courtesy of Dan Heary

By Rob Gullo
NEFJ Correspondent

WINDSOR — Led by 2025 Connecticut Gatorade Player of the Year and CCSU commit Anthony Robinson, No. 1 Windsor punched its ticket to the CIAC Class MM state title championship game for a second-straight year.

Robinson threw for three touchdowns and ran for two in the Warriors’ 42-0 rout over No. 4 Newington. Missoni Brown scored two second-half touchdowns for Windsor.

Robinson – who just broke the Connecticut state record for career touchdowns (116 after Windsor’s quarterfinal win over Plainfield/Quinebaug Valley) – had full faith in his offensive weapons like he’s had all season, and put his body on the line with every rushing attempt.

“I just gotta get the ball to my playmakers, once they get the ball in their hands, I know it’s up from there,” said Robinson. “When I’m running the ball, I run like my life is on the line, I put my body in there and I make a play.”

For Windsor, getting back to the state championship was a goal set in February. First-year head coach Quinn Fleeting took over duties as head coach after his father stepped down from the position in mid-July due to accepting an assistant principal position at the high school.

Even with the change at head coach Windsor has been able to remain almost identical to last year’s squad, which is a high-scoring, dominant CCC team.

“We feel great, we’ve been talking about going back to the championship since February,” said Quinn Fleeting. “The fact that we’re here now with everything going on leading up to this season, with coach Fleet [Robert Fleeting] having to step down, and me coming in and taking over, I think our kids responded very well.”

After fumbling the ball over to Newington on its opening drive, the Warriors scored touchdowns on their next three drives. Robinson accounted for all three first-half touchdowns with two on the ground and a passing touchdown.

Robinson’s first touchdown run came from six-yards out, giving Windsor a 7-0 lead with 2:06 left in the first quarter. On the first play of the Warriors’ next drive, Robinson threw a bomb to Jayden Compton who scored on an 87-yard reception at the beginning of the second quarter.

Windsor’s next score came midway through the quarter as Robinson punched in a 10-yard draw, which was set up by a Brown punt return that was brought back to the Newington 16-yard line.

Newington had a chance to score on its opening drive, getting a fumble recovery and bringing it down to the Windsor two-yard line, but were stopped inside the five.

Robinson threw two quick second half touchdowns, connecting with wide receiver Charlie Lewis on a 73-yard pass across the middle of the field and with Missoni Brown on a 53-yard dime.

The running clock was put into effect as Windsor’s defense continued to stifle Newington’s offense.

The Warriors scored their final touchdown of the game with 10 minutes left when Brown took a direct snap out of the Wildcat formation for a 52-yard TD run.

Windsor will face the No. 3 Bunnell Bulldogs in the Class MM state championship. Bunnell defeated No. 2 Wllton 21-20 on Monday evening. Saturday’s championship game’s location and time is TBD and will be announced by the CIAC Tuesday morning.

“Go all out and win, it’s the final game, this is it and lay it all on the line,” said Fleeting. “Happy for Bunnell and their coaching staff, we know their coaching staff a little bit, so it’ll be a great game.”

Images courtesy of Dan Heary