Football Game Preview: Cromwell/Portland Panthers vs. Valley Regional/Old Lyme Warriors

The Cromwell/Portland Panthers will face off against the Valley Regional/Old Lyme Warriors at 7:00 p.m. on Friday. Both squads will be entering this one on the heels of a big victory.

If Cromwell/Portland beats Valley Regional/Old Lyme with 49 points on Friday, it's going to be the team's new lucky number: they've won their past two games with that exact score. The Panthers blew past Weaver 49-26 last Friday. The Panthers' win was nothing new given the team hasn't lost yet this season.

Tyler Cipolla

Rushing Yards

10/10/25 @ Weaver	163
10/03/25 vs Morgan/Old Saybrook/Westbrook	44
09/25/25 @ Capital Prep/Achievement First	60
09/19/25 vs North Branford	178
09/12/25 @ Coginchaug Regional/East Hampton/Hale Ray	82

Cromwell/Portland had a senior duo take command as Michael Sitaro Jr. rushed for 132 yards and three touchdowns and Tyler Cipolla gained 235 total yards and three touchdowns. With that strong performance, Cipolla is now averaging an impressive 105.4 rushing yards per game.

Cromwell/Portland was unstoppable on the ground and finished the game with 354 rushing yards. That's the most rushing yards they've managed all season.

Meanwhile, Valley Regional/Old Lyme got themselves on the board against Coginchaug Regional/East Hampton/Hale Ray on Friday, but Coginchaug Regional/East Hampton/Hale Ray never followed suit. They put the hurt on the Blue Devils with a sharp 21-0 victory. The game was the first time the Warriors have beaten the Blue Devils on their field since September 22, 2018.

Valley Regional/Old Lyme's win bumped their record up to 4-1. As for Cromwell/Portland, their victory bumped their record up to 5-0.

Cromwell/Portland didn't have too much breathing room in their matchup against Valley Regional/Old Lyme in their previous meeting back in October of 2024, but they still walked away with a 21-16 win. Do the Panthers have another victory up their sleeve, or will the Warriors turn the tables on them? We'll have the answer soon enough.