HIGHsmith’s Heroics Helps Cromwell/Portland Remain Undefeated

Senior Dianta Highsmith ended up with the football in his hands on the three most pivotal plays of the game as Cromwell/Portland improved to 6-0, defeating previously unbeaten Old Saybrook/Westbrook 12-6 last Friday night at Pierson Park.
 
Highsmith caught two first-half touchdowns, including the go-ahead score with only 17 seconds remaining in the second quarter.
 
Both touchdowns came courtesy of the rocket right arm of Bryce Karstetter, who performed a Houdini act early in the second quarter when he escape a would-be sack before launching a 43-yard scoring strike to Highsmith for the first points of the contest.
 
“My receiver coach, coach {Bobby} Lorenti, always tells me to find the open ground and Bryce threw a perfect ball and I just made a play,” Highsmith said of the broken play turned touchdown.
 
A scoreless, field position battle broke out in the second half and the visiting Rams threatened to tie or take the lead late in the fourth quarter, but senior captain Jack Shauck forced a fumble and Highsmith recovered at the CP 15-yard line.
 
“I saw Victor Pascoe cut and then I saw the ball on the ground. I knew I had to go get it,” recalled Highsmith.
 
Pascoe’s fumble was the second red zone turnover for the Rams, who also turned it over on downs at the 14-yard line in the first quarter
 
The Panthers offensive line sealed the victory, paving the way for running back Brent Robbins and company to bleed the final four minutes off the clock.
 
Robbins finished the night with 96 rushing yards and also blocked an extra point.  
 
Despite the late fumble, Pascoe kept OSW in the game until the final whistle, rushing for 107 yards and scoring the team’s only touchdown on a 17-yard quarterback keeper in the second quarter. 
 
The six-point win was the closest margin of victory this season for the Panthers, who entered the contest having beaten their previous five opponents by an average of 35 points per game.
 
Next up for Cromwell/Portland is another home game on Friday, Oct 27 against Valley Regional/Old Lyme, whose only loss this season is to OSW.
 
The Rams (5-1) return home next Sat, Oct 28 for a bout with Coginchaug/Hale Ray (3-3).  

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