Berlin is a perfect 4-0 against Middletown since September of 2021 and they'll have a chance to extend that dominance on Friday. The Redcoats will face off against the Blue Dragons at 6:00 p.m. Berlin will come into the matchup with an undefeated record on the line.
On Friday, Berlin was fully in charge, breezing past Edwin O. Smith 49-7. Given the Redcoats' advantage in MaxPreps' Connecticut football rankings (they are ranked 13th, while the Panthers are ranked 99th) , the win wasn't entirely unexpected.
Nick Balicki
| 11/14/25 @ Edwin O. Smith | 2 |
| 10/18/25 @ RHAM | 1 |
| 09/26/25 vs Bristol Eastern | 1 |
| 09/13/24 @ Branford | 1 |
Nick Balicki was a one-man wrecking crew as he rushed for 129 yards and a pair of scores on only seven carries. The dominant performance also gave him a new career-high in rushing touchdowns (two). Cody Puzio was another key player, throwing for 152 yards and two touchdowns.
They were just one part of a punishing run game: Berlin was unstoppable on the ground and finished the game with 315 rushing yards. That's the most rushing yards they've managed all season.
Meanwhile, there's no place like home for Middletown, who bounced back after a loss on the road last Friday. They were the clear victors by a 32-7 margin over Farmington on Friday. The Blue Dragons haven't had any issues with the River Hawks recently, as the game was their seventh consecutive victory against them.
The critical scores for Middletown came from Kairese Monroe, Da'Zhor Duggins, Cornelius Moore, and Tariku Zipf.
One reason for the win was Middletown's imposing defense, which managed to get into the backfield for three sacks. The team can thank three different players for their defensive prowess: Juel ocasio, Zion Smallman, and Ali DemirhAn, who each picked up one sack apiece. Middletown received some extra help from Zipf, whose fumble return for a touchdown made for one of the most unforgettable moments.
Middletown's win bumped their record up to 7-2. As for Berlin, their victory bumped their record up to 9-0.
Friday's contest might be decided on the ground. Berlin has been unstoppable on the ground this season, having averaged 231 rushing yards per game. However, it's not like Middletown struggles in that department as they've been averaging an even more impressive 174.6 rushing yards. There's a good chance Friday's game turns into a tough fight on the ground.
Everything came up roses for Berlin against Middletown in their previous matchup back in November of 2024, as the team secured a 46-15 win. In that matchup, the Redcoats amassed a halftime lead of 37-7, an impressive feat they'll look to repeat on Friday.
