| OSW Seniors |
6 |
7 |
0 |
6 |
- |
19 |
| Branford Seniors |
7 |
26 |
7 |
13 |
- |
53 |
773 Photos
Branford had 10 different players score while amassing 53 points in their highest scoring
output in 5 years. Curtis Sutherland had a pair of TDs, and Alex Borkowski, Andrew
Cohen, Mike Whalen, DJ Ryan, Tommy Delucia and Charlie Boyd scored a touchdown
apiece. Chris Rice, Justin Blood and Billy Glynn all had runs for extra points
to round out the scoring.
It was a cold, windy, sunny November morning as May's Seniors took to the
Branford gridiron for the last time in 2008 for this first round playoff rematch
with OSW. The Rams won the toss and went right down and scored with runs by big
#7 and QB keepers. #56 threw a screen pass into the flat which was carried in
for an 8 yard touchdown. Nick Linta buried the Ram receiver after he made a
catch and was trying to score the extra point, so the score was 6-0.
The Rams kicker shanked the ensuing kickoff, and the Hornets got the
ball on their own 44 to start. Keeping it strictly on the ground as the winds
were swirling, the Hornets drove down to the OSW 24 when it became 3rd and 2. An
incomplete pass made it 4th and 2, and the run for first down was stuffed,
turning the ball over on downs to the Rams.
On their first play while in the shotgun, a bad snap and a
fumble gave it right back to the Hornets. Curtis Sutherland followed a great
block by Alex Borkowski and made it around the end and in for a 13 yard sweep
for a TD, then carried in the extra point for a 7-6 lead.
Josh DiMassa placed his kickoff perfectly over the first line
and speedy Mike Whalen raced down the far sideline and covered it up for
Branford. Alex Borwkowski ran for 6 yards and then a facemask penalty on a
Justin Blood run moved the ball down to OSW's 25 as the first quarter ended.
Starting the second, Charlie Boyd ran for 10, and Sutherland for 2 before
Borkowksi went for a 13 yard romp through the left side for a touchdown. The
extra point was carried in by Charlie Boyd to put Branford up 14-6.
DiMassa's bouncing kickoff again could not be handled by the
Rams and it was covered up by Shaun Reilly. On the first play, DJ Ryan dropped
back and hit a wide open Andrew Cohen with a 15 yard pass, and Cohen turned it
into a 38 yd TD. The run for extra point was no good, but the Hornets were now
up 20-6.
DiMassa's next kick bounded by the first row, and a scrum
ensued, but OSW came out of the pile with it, but ultimately was forced to punt
when they couldn't move at all. A bad snap and the punter had to run with it and
was buried behind the 30. A couple of bruising runs by Borkowski up the middle
were followed by a long run down to the 1 by Sutherland, and then Mike Whalen
took it in for the TD. Chris Rice ran in the extra point and Branford was up
27-6.
The Rams finally got going again and moved down to the Hornet
27. #82 mad a great cut back and then ran diagonally across the field for a 27
yard TD. #76 carried in the extra point to cut the score to 27-13.
The Rams came out of their kickoff huddle and they all ran
straight at the ball and a grounder up the middle was fielded by Justin Perlazza,
who rumbled to left sideline at the 50 with a crushing tackle. When the Hornets
drive got to 3rd and long, Sutherland took a pitch around the right corner
and bolted for a 50 yd TD. The extra point conversion attempt went as an
incomplete pass so the score was now 33-13.
DiMassa's a short kick was fielded near midfield, and on their
first play, OSW fumbled it away as Nick Pataky recovered it. Branford
tried a couple pass plays but turned it back over on downs. The Rams tried to
get something going, but a big sack by Pataky ended the half.
Branford got the kick to open the 2nd half and
marched down for another score with a 7 minute ball controlling drive. Curtis Sutherland
gained a key first down to keep the drive alive with a 4th and 1 run and then Boyd followed a
great fake by Ryan into the line with a 20 yard run down to the 15. Borkowksi with a
big run, took it down to the 1, then Ryan scored with a short keeper and Blood
scored the extra point to make the score 40-13.
The Hornets scored again in the 4th quarter as Alex Borkowski
had a huge 60 yard run but was pushed out at the 1. Tommy Delucia carried it in
and Billy Glynn ran in the extra point to put Branford up 47-13.
On the first play after the kickoff, #82 went spinning and twirling through 3 tackles and
on for 67 yards and a touchdown. A bad snap resulted in no kick, so the score was now 47-19.
OSW tried an onside kick, but the Hornets covered it up at
midfield, then went right down and scored again. Justin Blood had a big 31
yard run down to the 4 and then Boyd carried it in for the touchdown. Delucia's
run attempt was stopped, so the final score was 53-19.
