Asked about his team’s 80-74 score in a win over East Hartford Saturday, Conard football coach Matt Cersosimo responded, “Oh, you mean our basketball game?
“That was unbelievable. I’ve never witnessed anything like that.”
The point total (154 combined) was the highest total score in Connecticut state high school football history. The previous record (pre-1930) was 130, set in 1902 by NFA and Bulkeley-New London and the post-1930 record was 108, set in 1965 by Marianapolis Prep and Windham Tech.
The stats were impressive: Conard had 664 total yards, third most in school history. Quarterback Brady Cersosimo had 415 total yards and seven touchdowns. His 251 rushing yards were a career high and school record for a quarterback.
East Hartford’s passing stats were equally impressive: quarterback Anthony Caravallo completed 16 of 28 attempts for 368 yards and scored nine touchdowns while receiver Isaiah Tripp had five receptions for 200 yards and four touchdowns.
“Not a great day for defense – coaches, players, enthusiasts – it was a track meet offensively,” Matt Cersosimo said. “Their athletes were superb. We couldn’t stop them in the pass game, they couldn’t stop us in the run game. It was back and forth, back and forth.
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“There were a lot of one-play drives. We were scoring on one play, they were scoring on one play, they ran a couple kicks back for touchdowns. Those plays took no time off the clock.”
East Hartford led the game early and took a 32-29 lead into the second quarter. But Conard scored on a safety then added a touchdown pass from Cersosimo to Justin Nanayakarra to give Conard a 38-32 lead with 17 seconds left in the half.
Conard managed to stay ahead in the third and fourth quarter but East Hartford didn’t go away and cut the lead to 80-74 on an Amin Dijbo 70 yard kickoff return with 1:55 left. Conard had the ball and fumbled but managed to recover, get a first down and run out the clock.
“It was whatever we needed to do to help our team win – it wasn’t our defense’s day but it was our offense’s day,” Cersosimo said. “Our offense had to go above and beyond to make sure we got a win.
“We were lucky to get the win. We could have been on the other side.”
Northwest Catholic still unbeaten
Two years ago, Northwest Catholic was starting a group of sophomores. Now they are seniors and quarterback Vincent Burbank has already thrown for over 1,000 yards and 13 touchdown passes in four games and Kayden Davis has 615 receiving yards and nine touchdowns and Northwest Catholic is 4-0 after a 20-13 win over Plainville Friday.
“A few of these guys were starting as freshmen so we’ve been kind of building toward this,” Northwest Catholic coach Mike Lenz said. “They have some pretty high expectations and they’re putting in the work.”
On defense, senior linebacker Bryce Jones leads the team in tackles and had the game-clinching interception Friday against Plainville, and senior Blaise Hannigan and junior Jacob Krause are key pieces of the offensive and defensive lines.
Plainville was the first close game of the season for the Lions.
“I think in the second quarter they were maybe throwing it downfield too much,” Lenz said. “But in the third and fourth quarter they settled down and had some good drives.”
More highlights from Week 4
Jacoby Roman threw three touchdown passes, including one with 38 seconds left in the game to Ben Beaulieu for the game-winner in Southington’s 36-30 win over Hall Saturday. Roman also had a 1-yard TD run with no time left on the clock in the third quarter and was 14 for 23 for 156 yards passing for the game. Hall’s Tommy Hussey completed 14 of 27 passes for 180 yards and three touchdowns. … Ryan Faux ran for 110 yards and two touchdowns and Jalil Montgomery had 10 carries for 108 yds and one TD in South Windsor’s 43-14 win over Simsbury Saturday. … Joseph Lewie had two touchdown passes and two TD runs in Granby/Canton’s 41-0 victory over the Windsor Locks co-op. … Parker Barnes had 11 tackles and a 20-yard interception return for a touchdown and Theo Perkins made nine tackles in East Catholic’s 36-16 win over Tolland Friday. … Jake O’Brien completed 6 of 11 passes for 190 yards and had two touchdowns and Josh Durant rushed for 115 yards and three touchdowns in Sheehan’s 35-13 victory over Amity Friday. … Cody Puzio rushed for 187 yards and three TDs in Berlin’s 28-7 win over Wethersfield Friday. … Will J Davis rushed for 222 yards and four touchdowns in Rockville’s 69-6 win over SMSA Friday. … Jayden Allen had four touchdown runs, including an 81-yarder, New Britain’s 50-15 win over Enfield Friday.
Games to Watch
Southington (2-2) at New Britain (3-1), Friday, 6 p.m., Willow Brook Park: Southington picked up a much needed win over Hall last week; New Britain bounced back from a close loss to Fairfield Prep to beat Enfield.
Cromwell/Portland (4-0) vs. Weaver/Hartford Public/Classical (2-2), Friday, 6 p.m. at Hartford Public: A good test for the Hartford co-op vs. unbeaten Cromwell/Portland.
Valley Regional/Old Lyme (3-0) at North Branford (3-1), Friday, 6:30 p.m.: Valley Regional/Old Lyme looking to stay unbeaten; North Branford’s only loss came to Cromwell, 39-31 during Week 2.
