FARMINGTON, Oct. 27 – Despite six straight wins to open the season, the Farmington High football team knew that its first real test of the season would be coming against undefeated Windsor High.The Indians drove 80 yards to score the first touchdown of the game. They led twice in the first half and Friday night’s game was tied at 14 at halftime. However, a pair of key interceptions allowed the Warriors to pull away in a 35-14 victory.
How did Farmington coach Chris Machol think Farmington did in its first big test of the season? “We didn’t pass because we didn’t win,” he said. “But we scored a B. We let everyone know we’re not a fake 6-0.”
The Indians were able to move the ball against Windsor (7-0, 3-0 CCC Division II West). They hit hard and make good, solid tackles. “We ran our offense,” Machol said. “Our guys are players and they want to execute. We left a lot of plays on the field tonight. But at the end of the day, we lost because ( Windsor ) was a better team.”
There is plenty of optimism left as Farmington (6-1, 2-1 CCC Div. II West) prepares to face Middletown Friday night on the road. “I would have more confidence with a win,” Machol said. “But we know we can play with people. This is the No. 7 team in the state and we played right with them to the end.”
While the win gives Windsor a commanding lead in the CCC Division II West, Farmington still remains in contention for one of the eight playoff spots in Class L. A win over Middletown will be key to remaining in the hunt for the playoffs.
“Our goal was to get to the playoffs this year,” Machol said. “When we saw these two games on the schedule, you didn’t want to say you have to win one out of two. But at this point, we have to win one out of two. We can’t afford to lose again so I think our guys will be fighting knowing that our playoffs start Friday (against Middletown ).”
Windsor won their first six games by throwing the ball and making big plays. Farmington made the Warriors run it. “Farmington is a very good football team and they are strong up front,” Windsor coach Rob Fleeting said. “I think our kids had to realize that. They had to wake up and stop making mistakes. If you make too many, you won’t get a chance.
“In the second half, we realized we had to run the ball,” he said. “They had too many guys in pass coverage for us to keep trying to squeeze the ball in there. We stuck with the running game and better things began happening for us.”
Tied at 14, Windsor took the opening kickoff and marched to the Farmington 30-yard line running the ball on seven of eight plays. But the drive stalled after two incomplete passes.
Windsor made its big plays on defense. Aaron Berardino intercepted a Brian Logan pass and ran 40 yards for a touchdown and a 20-14 lead with 7:46 left in the third quarter and the Warriors began to breathe a little easier.
After a Farmington punt, Windsor kept the ball on the ground for 14 straight plays and marched 66 yards, converting on third down three times. Berardino capped off the drive with a 1-yard touchdown run with 10:45 left in the fourth quarter for a 26-14 lead. Windsor added another touchdown when Kamahl Valentine returned a Logan interception 85 yards with 27 seconds left in the game.
Hard-running Adam Buono ran for 69 yard son 15 carries for the Indians while Logan completed a career-high 17 passes on 35 attempts for 160 yards and a pair of touchdown passes to Robert Turnbull. He threw three interceptions.
Turnbull outjumped and outfought a Windsor defender to catch a 19-yard touchdown pass to cap off a nine-play, 80-yard drive on Farmington’s opening possession for a 7-0 lead. Windsor took an 8-7 lead in the second quarter but Farmington responded on its next drive when Logan hit Turnbull for a 37-yard touchdown pass with 4:02 left in the second quarter.
Windsor 35, Farmington 14
At Farmington
Windsor (7-0) 0 14 6 15 – 35
Farmington (6-1) 7 7 0 0 – 14
First quarter
F: Robert Turnbull 19 pass from Brian Logan (Steven Davids kick), 9:02
Second quarter
W: Aaron Berardino 1 run (Alton Smith, Jr. pass from Robert Fleeting), 7:34
F: Turnbull 37 pass from Logan (Davids kick), 4:02
W: Tre Coyle 10 pass from Fleeting (run fails), 0:27
Third quarter
W: Berardino 40 interception return (kick fails), 7:46
Fourth quarter
W: Berardino 1 run (run fails), 10:45
W: Safety. Randy Johnson tackles punter Tyler Chaia in end zone, 9:29
W: Kamahl Valentine 85 interception return (Chris Traore kick), 0:27
Individual statistics
RUSHING: Windsor – Robert Fleeting 14-28, Tre Coyle 12-101, Kymm Gordon 10-28, Aaron Berardino 5-4, Ryeime moore 1-minus 4; Farmington – Ivan Guadalupe 8-45, Adam Buono 15-69, Brian Logan 2-minus 10
PASSING: Windsor – Fleeting 9-17-0, 127; Farmington – Logan 17-35-3, 160
RECEIVING: Windsor – Alton Smith, Jr. 3-36, Ryeime Moore 4-75, Tre Coyle 1-10, Ryan Lumpkin 1-6; Farmington – Robert Turnbull 2-56, Kenny Jones 3-26, Mike English 3-28, Ivan Guadalupe 2-8, Max Spracklin 6-29, Mike Landini 1-13
SACKS: Brendan Marquis (F) 1-9, Mike Joseph (W) and Charles Baldwin (W) 1-8
FUMBLE RECOVERIES: Jo Fillian (F), Brendan Marquis (F): INTERCEPTIONS: Aaron Berardino 1-40, Kamahl Valentine (W) 2-96
RETURNS: Kickoffs – Mike Landry (F) 2-6, Ivan Guadalupe (F) 2-28, Mitchell Berlandy (F) 1-8, Aaron Berardino (W) 1-7; Anthony Carpenter (F) 1-5, Kai Jenkins (W) 1-minus 8
Football
2024 CIAC football championships
UConn football
UConn outlasts UMass to win eighth game, 47-42
High School
2024 CIAC fall tournament results
You must be logged in to post a comment Login