Connecticut: A Guarded Approach to Rebuilding

By Ken Lipshez

MaxPreps.com

The Newington High School football team entered the 2008 season with quite a rebuilding job to undertake.

Record-breaking running back Nathan Pagan graduated. Highly esteemed head coach Sal Cintorino resigned. Of much less interest at the time was that a lanky, quick junior that was starting at guard and making a transition to quarterback.

Label the move a success.

Spencer Parker ran for two touchdowns, amassed over 100 yards passing and rushing, and kicked a field goal for good measure last Friday night as the Indians unleashed an offensive avalanche that buried Bloomfield, 42-14, in a CCC interdivisional game at Alumni Field.

Bloomfield (1-4) had no answer for the 6-foot-4, 190-pound quarterback with the smooth moves, accurate arm and strong leg. Parker transferred the praise to his offensive line, led by 6-2, 275-pound tackle Sean Parent.

“Our O-line is the key,” Parker said. “(Parent) is our senior leader. Dan Wilczynski, (5-foot-5) Matt Piendak at center, Mike Siopa our right tackle, left guard Rob Esposito. I’m trying to get them some credit, and maybe some pizza and stuff.”

After a 27-yard kickoff return by Anthony Szwez, the Indians opened with a methodical nine-play excursion that covered 58 yards. Running back Jon Riddick, playing in his first game since suffering a high ankle sprain in the preseason, scored from the 9. Bruising fullback Harrison Scully worked the inside, slot man Jimmy Dombrow gained 16 yards on two runs that skirted left end and Parker connected with Szwez for 14 more.

“We try to run stuff in series and a lot of the stuff we got from (Cintorino),” Newington coach Clay Hillyer said. “The idea is to pick plays the kids can be successful at. Against Bloomfield, the key was to run the ball.”

Parker booted the ensuing kickoff off a Bloomfield lineman and recovered himself at midfield.

When the drive stalled, he kicked a 30-yard field goal.

Keeping the ball out of Bloomfield’s hands proved to be a valuable ploy. When the Warhawks finally got their first snap, quarterback Denzel Jones and running back Tyler Baisden took turns gaining chunks of yardage in their no-huddle attack.

Jones scored from the 5 to pull Bloomfield to within 10-6.

But the Warhawks, in keeping with their first four games in which they gave up 171 points, were not up to the challenge of stopping the Newington offense.

Riddick raced 17 yards around left end on the third play of the second quarter to restore the Indians’ 10-point lead.

A sack by Michael Fulfer forced the first punt of the game and Newington (4-1) went to work again. Scully ripped off successive runs of 25 and 28 yards to give Newington a 17-point lead with 9:03 still remaining before halftime.

Two sterling defensive plays by defensive end Jerimee Moses forced another Bloomfield punt. This time, a penalty and a sack presented Newington with a third-and-32, but it didn’t deter Parker. He scooted around left end, then dodged and swiveled his way 53 yards for yet another score and a 29-6 halftime edge.

“We got caught by a quarterback who can run,” Bloomfield coach Roy Roberts said. “We knew it coming in and you can see he made some plays. Third-and-32; that play right there sums up the game.”

Brown Delivers for Tomahawks

The question that has become part of popular marketing mantra on Madison Avenue has a much different meaning on Main Street, Glastonbury:

What can Brown do for you?

Plenty for undefeated Glastonbury.

Running back Jordan Brown scored two touchdowns and piled up over 200 yards on the ground Saturday as the Tomahawks blew by Wethersfield, 41-3, in a lopsided interdivisional CCC encounter at Cottone Field.

Brown set the tone for the game with a 96-yard touchdown gallop on Glastonbury’s first snap. He scored his 10th touchdown of the season in the Tomahawks’ 21-point second quarter that essentially ended any Wethersfield dream of replicating last year’s one-point win.

What can McQuillan and Pfeffer do for you?

Quarterback/free safety Erich Pfeffer passed for two touchdowns, made two touchdown-saving tackles on kick returns and booted three extra points. Slot back Sean McQuillan scored three touchdowns and passed for a fourth in his auxiliary role as Pfeffer’s backup.

There was little Wethersfield (3-2) could do.

“They’re outstanding,” Wethersfield coach John Campanello said. “They’re tough and we knew they were going to be tough. They ran the ball real well, to their credit.”

Glastonbury (5-0) piled up 500 yards of offense, 400 on the ground. Brown amassed 219 on 15 carries and McQuillan had 97 yards on just five totes.

“Brown’s having a great year (743 yards on 72 carries) and give credit to the guys up front because he’s got a big offensive line,” Glastonbury coach Peter Pfeffer said.

“He got hurt last year against New Britain and it was tough on him and tough on all the kids because it’s a close-knit team. We’re just so happy to have him back. He’s stronger and faster than he was before.”

Around and About

* Southington (3-1) followed up a lackluster win over Bristol Eastern with a 35-0 trouncing of Conard (2-3). Quarterback Josh Lamson tossed two touchdown passes and ran for one while gaining 211 yards rushing.

* Cheney Tech remained unbeaten in the Constitution State Conference with Troy Wigmore piling up 172 yards rushing and two touchdowns in a 32-6 win over Wright Tech/Stamford Academy.

 * UConn-bound back Marcus Aiken scored five touchdowns as St. Paul/Goodwin Tech remained undefeated in the Nutmeg League by out-pointing Enfield, 48-30.

* Simsbury (4-1) toppled Windsor from the ranks of the unbeaten in resounding fashion, 35-7, as Corey Vanderbeck scored three times and ran for 136 yards. Lawton Arnold led the defense with three sacks and rushed for 126 yards. The Trojans host Southington in a key CCC clash Friday night.

* New Britain (4-1) bounced back from a defeat by rolling over Hall, 47-16, behind the running of Kaiuway Boima (12 carries, 131 yards).

* Manchester (5-0) continued its remarkable renaissance by crushing Fermi, 49-6, with Dejavon Chisholm storming for 215 yards and three touchdowns on 15 carries. The Indians have already equaled their win total of the previous two seasons.

Seahawks Release Ex-Warhawk

Former Bloomfield star running back Matt Lawrence was released off the Seattle Seahawks’ practice squad last week.

Lawrence, 23, played two seasons at the University of Connecticut and started two games as a sophomore before transferring to Massachusetts, where he became the fifth best rusher in school history with 2,035 yards.

Lawrence gained 1,950 yards as a junior at Bloomfield. The two-time All-Stater was a SuperPrep All-American in 2001 after leading the Warhawks to the Class S title and earning championship game MVP honors.

CHSCA to Fete Seven

The Connecticut High School Coaches’ Association will host its 32nd annual Hall of Fame induction ceremony November 20, 2008, at the Aqua Turf in Southington at 7 p.m.

Six coaches and a member of the media will be inducted.

Joining the prestigious CHSCA Hall of Fame: Lenny Corto, South Catholic and New Britain high schools; Michael Bontatibus, Cheshire High School; Gary Makowicki, Norwich Free Academy; Abe Breslow, Trumbull High School; Pam Childs, Putnam High School; George Baldwin, Middletown High School; George Albano, veteran reporter from The Norwalk Hour.

Tickets are $40. For further information, contact the CHSCA office at: P.O. Box 632, Southington, CT 06487, call 860-628-4122 or e-mail JfontanaOl@SNET.net.