Mackenzie Hillman – Newington High School (Field Hockey): Hillman scored a pair of goals in Newington's season opener, a 4-0 shutout of E.O. Smith, and then netted a hat trick with three goals in a 5-3 win over Lewis Mills on Sept. 19. The senior leads a deep, experienced team that features nine total seniors. The Nor’easters next home game is scheduled for today (Sept. 22) against Stafford at Clem Lemire Field Turf in Newington, starting at 3:45 p.m.
Olivia Krout – Wethersfield High School (Swimming): Krout won both the 200 yard freestyle and 500 yard freestyle as the Eagles swimming and diving team defeated Middletown 99-76 at Middletown High School on Sept. 13. The senior was also part of a pair of relays teams that won — teaming with Anabella Cartiera, Milena Brodowicz, Sabrina Schuster, and Jilian Pitchell to win the 200 medley relay and Madison Tracy, Sofia Cirinna, and Carolena Parker to win the 200 freestyle relay. MJ Torres - Rocky Hill High School (Football): Torres ran for 131 yards and a touchdown of offense and tied for a team-high with eight tackles on defense as Rocky Hill defeated Northwest Catholic 27-6 on Sept. 17. The senior captain powered an offense that took to both the air and ground as fellow senior captain Frankie Guerrera had 140 yards from scrimmage (72 rush, 70 receiving), catching a touchdown from sophomore quarterback Joey Moats, who threw two — the second going to Amare Barboza. The Terriers (1-1) next travel to Waterford (1-1) on Saturday, Sept. 24 for a 6 p.m. kick. Colin Skene – Middletown High School (Football): Skene threw for 149 yards and a pair of touchdowns as the Blue Dragons won their first game under head coach Josh Rosek, defeating Enfield 25-6 on Sept. 16. The junior quarterback engineered an offense that amassed over 350 total yards. Middletown (1-1) next will celebrated Homecoming by welcoming Hillhouse to MHS for a game on Friday, Sept. 23. It will be the first time that Middletown and Hillhouse play a football game in nearly four decades. Kickoff is 6:30 p.m. Alyssa Dugas – Newington High School (Volleyball): Dugas earned the Player of the Match after serving up 33 assists, averaging a season-high 11 assists per set, as the Nor’easter swept New Britain in three sets on Sept. 16. The junior setter has tallied 30 or more assists in three of the team’s five matches this season, as Newington has won three of their first five games this fall. Newington’s next home game is Thursday, Sept. 29 against Watertown, starting at 5:45 p.m.
0 Comments
Nor’easters quarterback Paddy Brown runs for a first down during the first half of Newington’s 36-33 loss to Conard on Sept. 15
In a game that featured ten touchdowns and countless big plays, Newington football suffered a heartbreaking, 36-33, defeat to Conard in West Hartford on Sept. 15. The Red Wolves used a 13-play drive that drained nearly seven minutes of the clock, scoring the go-ahead touchdown when senior captain Declan McCann plunged over the goal line from a yard out with 40 seconds left in regulation. McCann’s touchdown, which gave Conard their first lead of the game, proved to be the game-winner as Newington mishandled the ensuing kickoff, ending any chance of any late magic from a Nor’easters offense that found the end zone on five previous possessions. “Games like this are tough to swallow. Games like this show what kind of people we are, the kind of people we have in our program,” Newington head coach Jason Pace said about the loss, which dropped his team to 0-2. “If you want to blame anyone, it’s on me. I have to make sure we are prepared to finish games and we weren’t able to do that in the second half.” Early on, Newington looked like the superior squad thanks to an offense that scored touchdowns on their first four drives. On the game’s opening possession, the Nor’easters marched down the field in seven plays before Evan Pigott capped the drive by bursting through the heart of Conard’s defense for a seven-yard touchdown run. After the home team countered with a Julian Schneider to McCann aerial connection from 26 yards out, Newington quarterback Paddy Brown hit Akari Rosemond for a 21-yard gain to put the Nor’easters back into the red zone. On the following play, Luca Corvino scored on a three yard rushing touchdown when he spun to the outside before outrunning a handful of defenders to the left corner of the end zone with 5:14 left in the opening quarter. Following a fumble recovery by Hayden Fish, Newington punctuated the next drive when Brown snuck it past the goal line from a yard out on fourth down. Wide receiver Josiah Ross then caught a screen pass from Brown and broke a tackle before racing 50 yards down the sidelines, putting Newington up 27-7 with 7:32 left in the half. Pace credited the guys up front with powering an offense that looked unstoppable over the first 24 minutes. Senior captains Elijah Smith and Amari Rosemond helped paved the way for the running game and provided ample time for Brown to spread the ball around. Conard’s comeback started late in the first half when Schneider again found McCann, this time from four yards out to narrow the deficit to 27-13 with less than two minutes to play in the half. On the opening possession of the second half, Conard’s Santana Edwards scored on a 15 yard run before kicker Conor Mangini hit what turned out to be a crucial 40-yard extra point––because of a pair of penalties—to trim the deficit to 27-21. Ross then returned the ensuing kickoff 33 yards, setting up Corvino’s second rushing touchdown, this time from 31 yards out. The score remained 33-21 before Edwards again found the end zone in the closing minute of the third quarter when he rumbled in from 20 yards out, narrowing the deficit to 33-28. In the fourth, Newington then used an eight-play drive to reach the Conard 29-yard line before turning it over on downs when Brown and Ross were unable to connect on a fourth down pass with 7:13 remaining in regulation. It would be the last time Newington would touch the ball offensively, as Conard held the ball for the next six minutes and 33 seconds, converting a pair of fourth down—including a 4th and 10 from their own 30-yard line—before McCann took a direct snap out of the Wildcat formation and scored what proved to be the game-winner. McCann punctuated the scoring sequence by also converting the ensuing two-point conversion. Pace said the opportunities to close out the game were missed. “We want to make sure we put teams away when we’re up and be able to convert on fourth down situations,” added Pace. “On the flip side, we need to make sure we get off the field in those situations. When it’s third down or fourth down we need to be able to get off the field.” Pace also credited Conard’s halftime adjustments, adding that the Red Wolves zone running scheme was particularly difficult to stop and allowed the home team to dominate time of possession in the second half. “They came out with a great game plan to keep our offense off the field,” stated Pace. “I need to make sure that we compete and are able to finish games when we’re up a couple of scores.” Despite their struggles in key moments, Newington’s defense did look good at times. Along with his fumble recovery, Fish also made a pair of pass break-ups on screen passes and had a sack. Pigott, Smith, Jayden Williams, Freddie Martinez, and Joel Nazario also made stops in the backfield. Newington will look to turn things around this Friday, Sept. 23 when they welcome Staples (1-1) to Alumni Field. Kickoff is 6:30 p.m. Newington’s #24 Joel Nazario and #54 Jaiden Nunez line up defensively prior to a snap at Conard High School in West Hartford. GHS field hockey head coach Maureen Perkins (right) was inducted into the Connecticut Field Hockey Hall of Fame on Sept. 11. Perkins is pictured with presenter and longtime friend Kris Cofeill, who is the GHS girls’ lacrosse coach.
Glastonbury High School field hockey coach Maureen Perkins was inducted into the Connecticut Field Hockey Hall of Fame on Sept. 11. Perkins, who has been the varsity field hockey head coach at GHS since 1999, was honored in front of friends and colleagues at a ceremony at The Aqua Turf Club in Plantsville. “It is still overwhelming,” Perkins said of the honor. “I still haven’t quite wrapped my head around it.” Perkins was the only coach recognized this year, joining six others inductees. Players Abby Bascetta (Granby High School), Kate Conover Caulfield (Boston University), Jaime Orrico (Pomperaug High School), Ashley Smith (UMASS - Lowell), along with umpire Kelly Lynn Braza and honorary inductee Lori Riley rounded out the Class of 2022. During her tenure at GHS, Perkins has crafted an impeccable resume that includes two state titles (2010, 2014) and 11 conference championships. Coming into the 2022 season, Perkins has amassed 291 wins and could eclipse the 300-win plateau this fall. Perkins was named the Connecticut Field Hockey Coach of the Year in 2008 by the Connecticut High School Coaches Association and is the three-time recipient of the Class L Coach of the Year, presented by the Connecticut Field Hockey Coaches Association. Throughout her over two decades on the sidelines, she has mentored several all-conference and all-state players, many of whom have gone on to play in college. 2020-graduate Caitlin Gallagher, who is currently a sophomore at Bryant University and is a captain of the Bulldogs field hockey team, said there is no one more deserving for the hall of fame than her high school coach. “Coach Perkins has influenced not only my field hockey career, but my life the four years I got the opportunity to be coached by her,” stated Gallagher. “Every day she pushed me to be the best version of myself and taught me skills I have been able to utilize in my first two years of college. I truly believe she prepared me for collegiate field hockey more than anyone.” Perkin’s path to the hall of fame started as a freshman at Stonington High School where she and a group of friends collectively decided to give field hockey a try. “We were looking for something to do. I basically did it because my friends did it,” recalled Perkins. The decision changed the trajectory of her life as she said immediately got hooked on the sport, helping Stonington win a state championship in 1987 and becoming both an all-conference and all-state player in 1988. She credited Stonington’s head coach Janis Ingham for teaching her the skills needed and instilling in her a passion for the game. “Coach Ingham was so incredibly supportive,” recalled Perkins “You wanted to be around her because she loved coaching us and coaching the sport.” Her high school success catapulted her to a college career at the University of Connecticut where she would go on to be a two-time Big East All-Academic Selections (1991, 1992) and helped lead the Huskies to a Big East title in 1992. She would later graduate with a Bachelor of Science in history in 1993 and earn a Masters in Education a year later. Upon graduation, she became a history teacher at GHS and began her coaching career as an assistant field hockey coach at Connecticut College. A few years later, she took over the GHS varsity program and the rest is half-of-fame-history. Friend and longtime colleague Kris Cofeill presented Perkins at the induction ceremony. Cofeill took over the lacrosse program at GHS the same year Perkins took over the field hockey program and the two have served as each other’s assistant coaches throughout the years. Cofeill described Perkins as “humble”, “hardworking” and “thoughtful.” “She makes both her players and her fellow coaches integral to the success. It’s not about what she does, it is what we do collectively as a group,” added Cofeill. “She is a great role model for these girls. She teaches them to honor the game and they learn to play hard and have fun, and to win with grace and lose with grace.” Perkins said that the relationship with her fellow coaches and the supportive environment at GHS have contributed to her longevity. “When you coach with people for an extended period of time it just makes it enjoyable and something you want to keep doing,” said Perkins. “The administration and all the athletics [at GHS] are incredible supportive.” Perkins added that the pair of state champions are certainly near the top of the achievement list, yet when she reflected on her career it was the Lucy Goodridge Sportsmanship Award the team received in 2010 that she is the most proud of. Goodridge was a longtime field hockey official that passed away and Perkins’ squad was the first team to ever be honored with the award. “I want to win; I love to win — I’m super competitive, but the other things are really important for kids to see and understand,” stated Perkins. “At some point you stop playing. There are things that you can take from the game that will stay with you long after you’re done playing. That award reflected that.” Perkins added that she still looks forward to taking on the the challenges that each season brings and has enjoyed seeing the sport of field hockey grow over the years. Frank Cardona’s professional journey has come full circle.
Cardona began his teaching and coaching careers in Portland before making stops in Newington, Hartford, and West Hartford. In July he returned to his small town roots, taking over as the new athletic director at Portland’s high school and middle school. “I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to come back to Portland. It was the perfect job,” said Cardona, also an assistant principal at the school. Cardona graduated from Providence College in 1993 before teaching Spanish at the old middle school in Portland — now Brownstone Intermediate School — and coaching girls’ soccer at Portland High School. Following five years in Portland, Cardona went to teach and coach in Newington before working as an administrator at CREC Greater Hartford Academy of Arts High School in Hartford and Sedgwick Middle School in West Hartford. During that time he had obtained a master’s degree and 6th year from Central Connecticut State University. Cardona credits his time spent at the larger school districts in the Hartford area with helping him expand his horizon, yet Cardona’s passion remained in the quaint communities that shaped him as a person. He was raised in East Hampton after moving with his family to the Belltown from El Salvador when he was nine years old. “Having grown up in East Hampton and being familiar with small towns, there are values that are just part of the community,” said Cardona, who jumped at the opportunity to return to Portland. “I love Portland. It broke my heart to leave here. I needed to see what else was out there, but Portland has always had such a special place in my heart. It is such a great town with great people and the sense of community here is wonderful.” Working at a secondary level and staying around athletics was important to Cardona, who played semi-professional soccer while in Providence. Cardona replaces Jennifer Bell, who served as the school’s Athletic Coordinator last year on top of her normal position as a math teacher at the middle school. Prior to Bell, Chris Serra served as the school’s athletic director for six years. Cardona said he is appreciative of Bell for making his transition to the position a smooth one. “Jen did such a great job at showing me the details and all the ins and outs.” added Cardona. “Last year she took on all the duties of being an athletic director on top of teaching. She worked so hard.” In his role of as athletic director, Cardona will manage all facets of an athletic program, including scheduling, hiring coaches, promoting programs and events, ordering equipment, constructing budgets, and facilitating operations for both the middle and high school in Portland. One of the unintended benefits of coming back to a school district after two decades is that Cardona is now around students that are the sons and daughters of students he coached and taught in Portland during his first stint. Cardona called the family connection one of the “great character traits of a small community” and said that it has allowed him to maintain those connections he made over 20 years ago. “I always pride myself on getting to know as many students as possible. You go into education to build those relationships and I’ve always enjoyed making those connections,” added Cardona. “Towns like Portland give you that opportunity to see that we did create contributing members of society.” Upon taking the position, Cardona reflected on his journey and what he wanted to implement into the athletic programs at both the middle school and high school. He came up with two key components — “effort and grit.” “I believe that both of those traits are something that will help you the rest of your life,” said Cardona, who has shared his message with his coaches, student athletes, and their families. “You always have to give your best effort no matter what you are doing. Grit because life is hard and you have to have the mental and physical strength to face adversity.” He continued, “Sometimes you win, sometimes you don’t, but the fight has to be there. The only way you can get through life is to face challenges and work to overcome them or learn from them.” Senior captain Oren Wilson controls the ball during East Hampton boys’ soccer 7-0 victory over Hale Ray on Sept. 9.
If the opening game is any indication, boys’ soccer at East Hampton has the makings of a team that will make a deep tournament run this fall. Playing under a glaring sun, the Bellringers blanked visiting Hale Ray 7-0 in the season opener at East Hampton High School on Sept. 9, scoring all seven goals in the first half. Ethan Marshall got the scoring party started when he found the back of the net less than a minute into the game. He was one of six different players that scored with Colin Marshall scoring twice, while David Castiblanco, Gavin Ledas, Brennan Johnson, and Parker Gustine each netted one. Castiblanco scored ten minutes into the game after receiving a pass from Ephraim Butson before Ledas scored a point-blank blast eight minutes later. Johnson then nailed a deep range shot from straight away with 11:22 to play in the half and less than a minute later Gustine found the left corner of the net. [Colin] Marshall then scored the final two goals with assists from Finn Piper and Gustine. With the comfortable lead, head coach Rocco Christiana rotated in all 20 of his players in the second half as the team played ball control for the final 40 minutes. “I was able to see what their composure was, how they move, and how they understand the plays we’re supposed to be running,” said Christiana, who believes the team’s depth will be a key this season. “This year we have enough talent from front to back and back again. All 20 of those kids are stars.” Johnson, Butson, and Oren Wilson are Christiana’s senior captains on the field. Johnson is a physical presence, Butson offers an abundance of speed on the outside, and Wilson is a vocal leader that controls the middle Christiana said the three have stepped right into the leadership position and offer a variety of skills, adding, “They are three talented players that I can put anywhere.” Manning the goal is Thomas Fenton, a junior who learned the ropes from senior captain Drew DiStefano a year ago. Christiana called Fenton “one of the most intelligent keepers you’ll find” and a “tremendous student of the game.” Newcomer William Nafis is a player that is primed for a potential breakout season. Nafis, a sophomore who previously played for Oakwood Academy, brings additional experience and athleticism to a roster loaded with versatility. Christiana referred to Nafis as a “game changer” and believes he’s a perfect addition to a team that will attack from the first whistle to the final one. “It’s insane what we have for talent this year. We can come at you from every angle, we’re coming in hot,” added Christiana, who added that the players also have the right mentality. “The kids are very respectful. If you’re going to win every game, do it with class; if you’re going to lose every game, do it with class.” The Bellringers have back-to-back home games coming up, starting with Morgan on Friday, Sept. 23 at 3:45 p.m. On Wednesday, Sept. 28 they play their first game under the lights at EHHS, welcoming Canton at 6 p.m. Here are the Rivereast Standouts of the Week for the week of Sept. 5 – Sept. 10:
Max Nylen - RHAM High School (Football): Trailing 20-0, Nylen ignited an epic comeback with an 80-yard touchdown run as the Raptors rallied for a 23-20 win. The senior also returned a kickoff for a touchdown in the fourth quarter before RHAM took the lead later in the quarter on a scoring run from Michael Marques. Nylen finished with 233 total yards and led a rushing attack that ran for over 250 yards behind an offensive line that featured Jack Smith, Thiago Delacruz, Caden Bellmore, Brody Magnanini, Anthony Wursthorn, and tight end Tommy Puetzer. Lily Tabellione - Portland High School (Cross-Country): Tabellione placed 3rd overall at the Blue Dragon Invitational at Palmer Field in Middletown on Sept 8. The junior’s performance, along with Meaghan McPhee’s 17th place finish, helped the Highlanders placed 4th overall at the invite, which featured 10 schools. Jordan Murphy - East Hampton High School (Volleyball): Murphy tallied a team-high in kills (14) and digs (13) as the Bellringers beat Valley Regional in four sets to open the season with a victory on Sept. 8. The senior captain also severed up three aces as East Hampton lost the first set before rallying to win the final three to capture the victory. Through the team’s first two games, both wins, Murphy has registered the most kills and aces on the team. Audrey Palmer - Bacon Academy High School (Soccer): Palmer scored the game-winning goal as the Bobcats topped East Hampton 2-1 at EHHS on Sept. 10. The sophomore attacker fired off three total shots in the win, which was the team’s second win of the season — following a 3-2 win over Norwich Free Academy at Bacon Academy on Sept 8. Beckham Alderucci – Newington High School (Soccer): Alderucci scored a pair of goals as Newington boys’ soccer opened the season with a 5-1 win over New Britain at NHS on Sept. 8. The senior’s two goals led an offensive charge, which was aided by goals from Colin Alemany, Sebastian Baez, and Jack Stair. The Nor’easters next welcome Middletown to NHS for a conference tilt this Friday, Sept. 16 for a 3:45 game.
Cam Righi – Wethersfield High School (Football): Righi, the Eagles starting quarterback, led Wethersfield to an upset win, 21-20, at Windsor. The sophomore signal caller completed 64% of his passes and threw a touchdown to Ethan Lemos, while also rushing for 108 yards and scoring twice on the ground. All told, the Eagles gashed Windsor with 228 rushing yards, 120 from junior running back Jova’n Hill. Coming into the game, the Warriors of Windsor were one of the top ranked teams in the state in the state and had beaten the Eagles 20-0 a season ago. Next up for Wethersfield is another road test at Manchester on Friday, Sept. 16 at 6:30 p.m. Brayden Bayek - Rocky Hill High School (Cross Country): Bayek won the Blue Dragon Invitational, hosted by Middletown High School, on Sept. 8 at Veteran’s Memorial Park in New Britain. The senior dominated the field –– finishing the race with a blistering time of 15:11 –– ten seconds faster than runner-up Michael Kraszewski of Old Lyme. The Terriers placed 5th overall thanks to the effort of Bayek and Daniel DiTunno, who finished 12th. Olivia Lusitani – Cromwell High School (Soccer): Lusitani, a senior, scored both goals as Cromwell opened the season with a 2-1 home victory over Old Lyme on Sept. 8. Both of the Lusitani’s goals were assisted by junior Cam Hickey. The Panthers have back-to-back home games on the horizon, starting with Morgan this Thursday (3:45 p.m.) and then welcoming Coginchaug to CHS on Monday, Sept. 19 at 3:45 p.m. Marshall Butler – Middletown High School (Soccer): Butler scored two goals and dished out an assist as Middletown opened the season by blanking Bristol Central 3-0 on Sept. 8. The senior captain provided a bulk of the offense for the Blue Dragons, who also got contributions from sophomore Andrew Lazich (goal and an assist) and Nick Edwards (assist). Wethersfield’s #18 Avery Ford competes with Rocky Hill’s #9 Elena Valle and #22 Olivia DiBiases for the ball during the Eagles 1-0 win on Sept. 8.
Wethersfield High School girls’ soccer opened the 2022 season with a 1-0 road victory over Rocky Hill on Sept. 8 at McVicar Field. Following a scoreless first half, the Eagles came out on the attack in the second half and finally found the back of the net when Allie Leahy delivered a perfect lead pass to Kathleen Brush, who finished off the feed by splitting a pair of defenders and sneaking a shot past goalie Emelia Pacheco-Hager into the right hand corner of the net. Brush’s goal in the 55th minute would ultimately prove to be the game’s only points WHS head coach Antonio Leone said he felt his team was hesitant early in the game –– possessing the ball instead of attacking –– before cranking it up in the second half. Early in the second half the visiting Eagles peppered Pacheco-Hager with a barrage of shots, including three in the first two minutes of the half, all of which Pacheco-Hager rejected. Pacheco-Hager finished with 15 saves, keeping the Terriers in the game until the final whistle sounded. “We’re only one game in. Maybe five or six games in we’ll have a little bit of rhythm and I’d like to think two or three of those go in,” added Leone, who praised Pacheco-Hager for her effort. “[Rocky Hill] hung in there and made the game difficult. It’s a good first game to have.” Brush, Leahy, Gabby Cicero, and goalie Vanessa Venditti are Leone’s four senior captains on the field. Venditti, who split time in goal a season ago, made a handful of saves to register the shutout. Leone said the team is a bit inexperienced on the defensive end after graduating some highly-skilled starters and that the team will rely on the players up front and at the midfield to carry the team in the early stages of the season. He pointed to juniors Avery Ford and Kayla Ward as players who have stepped up this season and credited junior Emma Mullarkey with igniting the second half attack from the midfield. Incoming freshman Isabella Destefani has also made an impact early. Leone said he didn’t use a magic formula to change the team’s offensive approach at halftime. Instead it was a more aggressive mindset from the players after the break. “I think it's the first game jitters. Nobody wants to make mistakes. When things aren't going your way the nerves start to build,” added Leone. “We will make mistakes, but hopefully they aren’t the mistakes that will punish you. In the end they will be fine, but they’ll just have to go through the growing pains.” On the other end, Rocky Hill head coach Annmarie Catania is mentoring a young team that will lean heavily on Pacheco-Hager and a stout defense throughout what looks to be a rebuilding year. Catania said she hopes that the team can find an offensive sparkplug as the season develops. “We have a lot of freshmen that are tough and highly skilled. They have come in and contributed, but it's a building year,” said Catania. ”Some of the girls are still a little hesitant and don’t want to make that mistake, but we will work on that confidence.” Seniors Gianna Nanci, Kate Oostendorp, Sofia Scalise, and Sarah Whelan will captain the Terriers. Catania also pointed to sophomores Elena Valle and Kaitlyn Pereau as young players that will fill big roles this season. But this season will ultimately come down to the team’s defense and the play of their standout goalkeeper, who made all-conference as a freshman a year ago. “She worked all summer, she doesn’t take a day off and when you do that your skill level gets higher and higher,” Catania said of Pacheco-Hager. “We’re built from the back. If you have a solid defense, then you can stay in the game.” The Terriers next welcome Manchester to McVicar Field this Friday, Sept. 16 for a 6:00 p.m. start. Catania said she anticipates some ups-and-downs this season, but wants to see the team play more with more confidence and fire, adding, “I want to see them play stronger. I want to see them have that desire.” Wethersfield is in the middle of a three-game road trip before they return to WHS for a three-game home stand, starting with Hartford Public on Tuesday, Sept 22 at 3:30 p.m. Wethersfield’s Allie Schackner controls the ball as Rocky Hill’s Addyson Grant pursues the action at McVivar Field in Rocky Hill. Glastonbury senior Jack Petrone sheds a would-be tackle from Brien McMahon's Jonathan Angione during the Guardians 22-13 win on Sept. 8. Petrone led the offensive attack with 181 yards and a touchdown.
Glastonbury High School used a dominant defensive performance in the first half and prolific running game in the second half to defeat Brien McMahon, 22-13, in the season opener at GHS on Sept. 8. Jack Petrone ran for 181 yards and a key fourth quarter touchdown to lead the Guardians ground game. Jordyn Sams put the game on ice with 2:32 left in regulation when he broke several arm tackles and muscled his way across the goal line from 12 yards out. Head coach Eric Hennessy praised his punishing backfield duo for putting the finishing touches on what turned out to be a satisfying, yet sloppy victory. “We want to wear teams out and Jack and Jordyn did a great job. They were carrying guys,” added Hennessy, whose team amassed 237 total yards on the ground. Leading the way for Petrone and Sams were an unsung offensive line featuring starters Luke Baran, Aaron Lawrence, William Sinnott, Dylan Rohan, and Jake Jackson. Kevin Delbon, Ryan Jackson, and Logan Hilliard also rotated in to keep the line fresh for all four quarters. The offense’s potent rushing attack cemented the game, but the defense set the tone early, scoring the opening points of the season when Delbon and [Jake] Jackson combined to sack quarterback Callum Letters for a safety on the first play of the second quarter. Punter Alexander Hernandez, who also handles the place kicking duties, helped set up the safety when he pinned McMahon inside the 10-yard line on his first punt of the season. With 5:03 left in the first half, the Guardians extended the lead to 9-0 when senior quarterback Jack Anglim rolled to his right before lofting a touch pass to Danny Bowman in the right corner of the end zone from eight yards out. The margin could have been more lopsided, yet three turnovers — including a pair of red zone interceptions on the Guardians’ opening possessions of the first and third quarters — allowed the visiting Senators to stay within striking distance. Hennessy was disappointed in the costly offensive miscues, but credited defensive coordinator Peter Ladas for designing a good game plan against McMahon’s quick strike offense. Ladas’ defense pitched a shutout for the first three quarters before Letters led a late charge for the visitors in a wild fourth quarter. On the first play of the fourth quarter, Letters hit Mel Bynum own the seam for a 34 yard touchdown, cutting the deficit to 9-7. Petrone then set up his score when he tackled the McMahon punter Joshua Fleuriot following a high snap, giving the Guardians possession in the red zone early with 7:47 to play in regulation. Four plays later — all runs by Petrone — the do-it-all senior plunged in from a yard out to extend the lead to 16-7. On the ensuing possession, Letter delivered a deep shot to Bynum and then connected with Pablo Gomez from 19 yards out to narrow the deficit to a single score at the four minute mark. Petrone would not be outdone, ripping off a 46 yard run on the ensuing possession before Sams touchdown finished the scoring. The game-clinching scoring drive, which featured four running plays, was exactly the kind of response that Hennessy wants to see out of his team in crucial moments. “That’s our M-O, we want to line up and grind the clock,” added Hennessy, “We’re not going to dance around, we’re going to turn it into a slugfest and see if we can win it in the fourth quarter.” Trailing by multiple scores late in regulation, McMahon’s last gasp effort was thwarted when Delbon sacked Letters with under a minute to play before Drew Curto intercepted a pass on the following play. Glastonbury ended the night in victory formation as Anglim took a new knee before the school’s student section, The 12th Man, stormed the field to celebrate the team. It was the team’s first time winning a season opener since 2019 and was a perfect start for a rejuvenated team playing in front of the school’s new fieldhouse, which opened Aug. 11. Hennessy said the entire atmosphere surrounding the victory made it even sweeter and now wants to see the team clean up some mistakes. “You could tell it was our first game,” added Hennessy. “There were a lot of opportunities that we didn’t take advantage of and so this week it’s about growth as we head into our first conference game.” The Guardians now take the short trip to East Hartford High School to face the rival Hornets in a Central Connecticut Conference (CCC) clash tonight (Thursday, Sept. 15). Kickoff is 6:30 p.m. Joseph Accurso logged a lot of miles during his four years running for the cross-country and track teams at Glastonbury High School.
After his graduation from GHS in June, Accurso traveled nearly 1,400 miles to join his new running team and pursue a degree at Benedictine College in Kansas. Accurso said a lot of people close to him were surprised when he decided to trade the Northeast for the Midwest, yet he felt a calling to The Sunflower State when he visited the campus twice during his senior year. “Both occasions I got a good feel for the campus and the atmosphere out there. I immediately loved it,” added Accurso. “I was looking at schools that I could succeed at both academically and athletically. When Benedictine came on to my radar, it was the right opportunity for me.” So far, so good for the former Guardian, who has picked up right where he left off in Glastonbury — finishing in 9th place during his first collegiate race this fall. Benedictine finished 2nd overall out of the six schools that competed at the University of St. Mary in Leavenworth, KS. His 26.09 time was second fastest on the team. It was a great debut for someone that spent the last four years running 5ks in high school and was running his first competitive 8k. Accurso and his new team finished behind only the host school of St. Mary, who are currently ranked 5th overall in the National Associations of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA). “It was a really great day for us. It showed us where we were at in the national ranking and I got to see where I was at,” recalled Accurso, who was glad to get his first college race under his belt. “I was nervous, but as soon as the gun goes off you are just running and there are no more nerves. You do what you’ve been training for every day.” Prior to entering GHS, distance running was not a priority for Accurso. He first joined the cross-country team to stay in shape for track season where he wanted to make his mark as a sprinter. He soon realized that he was more of an aerobic athlete than an anaerobic athlete, trading in his running spikes for trail runners. During last fall’s cross-country season, GHS head coach Mark Alexander said that he could see Accurso’s drive from his first days on the trails, adding, “Joseph has worked hard over the last four years. He put in the hours of training over the summers to get where he is today.” At GHS, Accurso’s passion for running grew and his times dipped. As a senior, he won the Harry Geraghty in South Windsor as the Guardians placed first as a team at the invite. He also had strong showings at the conference and state meets. During spring’s outdoor track season, he won a conference championship as a leg in the 4x800 relay and then went on to the New England Championships and New Balance Nationals with the same group. Accurso was just as impressive in the classrooms at GHS. He was a member of a handful of honor societies, and was the recipient of the 2022 Connecticut Association of Schools Male Scholar Athlete at GHS. “I’ve been very fortunate to have such great coaches in Glastonbury, and teammates as well,” said Accurso. “I was able to push myself every day and push my limits, and become a better athlete and better person.” He said has the same affinity for his new coaches and team in Atchison, a northeast city in Kansas. The Ravens are led by Je’Kel Smith and compete in the Heart of America Athletic Conference. Benedictine’s campus is located on the bluffs that overlooks the Missouri River and the Midwest climate offer a vastly different running experience for Accurso, who said the “great hills in South Glastonbury” were ideal training for college running. “We have pretty unique geography,” added Accurso. “You get that really diverse running terrain that makes it really a great place to train.” He added that the college and the surrounding community is even better than he expected, adding, “Everyone is so friendly and welcoming and inviting.” Accurso’s plan is to double major in electrical engineering and computer sciences. |
AuthorSports Editor for the Rare Reminder, Glastonbury Citizen, and Rivereast News Bulletin Archives
April 2024
Categories |