The Cromwell/Portland Panthers will square off against the Rockville Rams at 6:30 p.m. on Friday. Cromwell/Portland knows how to get points on the board -- the squad has finished with 31 points or more in their past eight games -- so hopefully Rockville likes a good challenge.
Cromwell/Portland is headed in fresh off scoring the most points they have all season. They claimed a resounding 51-18 victory over Sports & Medical Sciences Academy/Bulkeley/Classical Magnet. With the Panthers ahead 37-6 at the half, the contest was all but over already.
Tyler Cipolla
| 11/07/25 @ Sports & Medical Sciences Academy/Bulkeley/Classical Magnet | 159 |
| 10/29/25 vs Haddam-Killingworth | 85 |
| 10/24/25 vs Valley Regional/Old Lyme | 47 |
| 10/10/25 @ Weaver | 163 |
| 10/03/25 vs Morgan/Old Saybrook/Westbrook | 44 |
| + 3 more games |
Multiple players turned in solid performances to lead Cromwell/Portland to victory, but perhaps none more so than Tyler Cipolla, who rushed for 159 yards and one touchdown on only six carries. With that strong performance, Cipolla is now averaging an impressive 102.2 rushing yards per game. The team also got some help courtesy of Michael Sitaro Jr., who threw for 70 yards and three TDs.
They were just one part of a punishing run game: Cromwell/Portland was unstoppable on the ground and finished the game with 274 rushing yards. That strong performance was nothing new for the team: they've now rushed for at least 173 rushing yards in five consecutive matchups.
Cromwell/Portland didn't go easy on the quarterback and picked off three passes before the game was over. The picks came courtesy of Cipolla and Zhyair Brown. Cipolla got in on the action too, converting a pick into a touchdown.
Meanwhile, Rockville was just a hair shy of victory last Saturday and fell 22-21 to CREC [Computer Science and Engineering/Academy]. The game marked the Rams' lowest-scoring contest so far this season.
Cromwell/Portland will have to keep a close watch on Will Davis Jr. and Darren Ghostlaw, a pair of players who had a big impact on Rockville's prior game. Davis Jr. picked up 102 receiving yards and a pair of scores, while Ghostlaw threw for 151 yards and a pair of touchdowns on only 11 passes. Davis Jr.'s longest reception was for an impressive 55 yards, which helps to explain his lofty yards per catch total.
Cromwell/Portland's win bumped their record up to 8-0. As for Rockville, their defeat was their first of the season and makes their record 6-1.
Friday's matchup might be decided on the ground. Cromwell/Portland has been unstoppable on the ground this season, having averaged 254.4 rushing yards per game. However, it's not like Rockville struggles in that department as they've been averaging 189.3 rushing yards. There's a good chance Friday's game turns into a tough fight on the ground.
Cromwell/Portland was able to grind out a solid victory over Rockville in their previous meeting back in November of 2024, winning 29-19. One of the biggest obstacles trying to stand in the way of that victory was the Rams' Brady Ramsdell, who rushed for 50 yards and two TDs, and also threw for 136 yards and one touchdown. Now that he won't be playing on Friday, will it be easier for the Panthers to walk away with another win? There's only one way to find out.
