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Methuen's Buco runs back TD in win

WALLINGFORD, Conn. – T.J. Hickey ran for 75 yards and Jason Buco took a fourth-quarter kickoff 87 yards for a touchdown as Phillips Academy earned its first win of the fall yesterday with a 21-18 cliffhanger, at Choate.

Quarterback Tom Shannon threw for 179 yards (12 for 29) and gave Phillips the lead in the second quarter with an eight-yard run.

“This was a good win for us — when things went bad, we never lost our composure,” said Phillips head coach Leon Modeste. “They (Choate) are a tough physical team and we were able to answer them every time.”

Phillips held a 7-6 lead in the fourth quarter when each team started a back-and-forth scoring battle.

Hickey’s two-yard run put the Big Blue up 14-6 but Choate responded with a 68-yard pass play for a touchdown.  But the two-point conversion failed so Phillips held the two-point lead.

Phillips increased its lead to a two-score advantage when, on the ensuing kickoff, Jason Buco went 87 yards for a touchdown.

Choate responded late and had the ball back in the final seconds, but could not convert.

“We started to go no-huddle and wore their guys out,” said Modeste. “And our kids started to gain confidence.”

Tom Szymanski had a great game on both sides of the football, catching four passes for 62 yards while, on defense, he had 12 tackles.

Besides quarterbacking the team, Shannon had a fine defensive game, too, including a game-clinching interception in the final minute.

Joey Kruy had 13 tackles and a blocked punt.  The Big Blue hosts Cushing Academy Saturday (6:30 p.m.).