By Ken Lipshez
MaxPreps.com
Rare is the occasion when a Southington High football team has to bounce back from a defeat on opening day.
Fresh from the Blue Knights’ loss to Bergen (N.J.) Catholic at Giants Stadium, coach Bill Mella knew his troops had a test waiting for them on the road against an athletic Hartford Weaver squad that was coming off an exhilarating Week 1 win.
They discovered that fitness has its rewards and that All-Herald defensive back Matt Roncaioli can play a little offense, too.
Roncaioli snared two touchdown passes and made two interceptions Saturday as the Knights overcame a slow start to cruise past the cramp-riddled Beavers, 35-14, at Weaver.
Roncaioli got the sun-splashed afternoon off to a successful start when he grabbed a two-yard touchdown toss from quarterback Josh Lamson on the Knights’ first drive. His 52-yard TD reception from Lamson on a fourth-and-5 play early in the second quarter gave Southington a 14-7 lead that it would never relinquish.
Aside from being a staple in the defensive backfield, Roncaioli has emerged as a feared weapon in the Southington spread offense.
“I was a receiver as a freshman and they decided this year maybe they should try bringing me over,” Roncaioli said. “So far, I’ve shown I can handle it.”
His picks came on Weaver’s first two possessions of the second half. The second gave the Knights a short field at the Weaver 19, and Lamson (20-for-30, 269 yards passing) scored three plays later to give Southington (1-1) a commanding 28-7 lead.
The loss to Bergen slipped further into the past.
“No one enjoys a loss but the fact that we were able to come back today and earn a win just goes to show that maybe that loss won’t kill us,” Roncaioli said.
Perhaps Roncaioli’s biggest fan is the man with the headsets calling the plays.
“He’s a tremendous three-sport athlete. He’s one of my favorite kids,” Mella said. “He’s a captain. He’s the leader of this team. I just could not watch him play just half a game anymore.”
The score was tied 7-7 early in the second quarter when the Knights struck twice in less than two minutes to take control of the game. After Roncaioli’s second touchdown, Ryan Gemmell picked off Weaver quarterback Andre Campbell at the Beavers’ 16. Justin Kosko plowed in from the 3 moments later.
Duque Leads New Britain
Juan Duque proved that he could kick long ago. Duque has pounding extra points through the uprights for the New Britain High football team since his freshman year.
By the way, he can play a little defense, too.
Duque kicked three field goals, made a key interception and had a hand in a goal-line stand Friday night as New Britain turned back a resolute Newington squad, 23-17, in a titanic interdivisional CCC struggle at Alumni Field.
“Duque’s really come into his own,” New Britain coach Paul Morrell said. “He moved here in eighth grade from Colombia and didn’t know English. He’s gone from a football player who didn’t know anything other than putting the ball through the uprights to a wide receiver last year to a team captain. He’s the heart and soul of our defense.”
The all-around play of Duque and slippery quarterback Rafal Garcarz (17 carries, 124 yards, 1 TD rushing, 1 TD passing) spelled heartbreak for the Indians (1-1).
Elsewhere in Central Connecticut
* Max DeLorenzo scored three touchdowns and totaled 98 yards on 11 carries as Berlin remained unbeaten with a convincing 38-6 victory over Plainville in a Nutmeg League clash Friday night.
Kevin Tatro chipped in with 97 yards on 12 totes behind an offensive line that turned in a dominating performance.
“ That's a great football team,” Plainville coach Rocky Gagliardi told The New Britain Herald. “They've got a chance to go all the way. They get off the ball. I've been around football for a long time, and that's a (very) physical offensive line.”
* Ellington middle linebacker Sam Ziter broke the school record for career tackles in Friday’s 34-9 Pequot League win over Gilbert. Ziter made 17 tackles, giving him 245 for his career. He also scored two touchdowns on short runs.
* Jordan Brown amassed 162 yards and scored three touchdowns as Glastonbury remained undefeated with a 39-3 drubbing of Meriden Platt.
* Quarterback Tyler Murphy rushed for three touchdowns and passed for another as Wethersfield routed E.O. Smith to run its record to 2-0.
* Johadd Easterling scored three touchdowns to lead Cheney Tech to a 45-14 win over Capital Prep.
* Manchester (2-0) ripped Hartford Bulkeley, 35-13, as Dejavon Chisholm ran for 137 yards and two touchdowns on 25 carries in an interdivisional CCC battle.
* Bristol Central quarterback Dymetric Maisonet rushed for four touchdowns in a 34-0 win over East Hartford.
* UConn-bound running back Marcus Aiken scored the game-tying touchdown from 2 yards out with 27 seconds remaining to lead Bristol St. Paul to a 27-26 win over Northwest Catholic.
* Bristol Eastern rebounded from a one-point loss to Weaver on opening night to thrash Bloomfield, 35-6, behind the running of Michael Zeigler. Zeigler gained 307 yards on 37 carries and scored four touchdowns.
Ken Lipshez of the New Britain Herald covers central Connecticut for MaxPreps. He may be reached at kenlip@aol.com
