Brookfield defense smothers Berlin to win state championship

Brookfield celebrates after winning a state title. (Photo courtesy GameTime CT)

NEW BRITAIN, Dec. 12 – On the third play of the game, Brookfield’s Gabe Pompette returned an interception for a touchdown. It was an early sign of a defensive battle for the next 48 minutes. Brookfield’s defense bent – but they didn’t break as the Bobcats won the Class M Large Division championship with a 14-0 win over Berlin at Veteran’s Stadium Friday night.

Offensively, Berlin gained 247 yards. Brookfield had just 157. But Brookfield’s junior end Nick Seis and linebacker Bobby Drysdale combined for 19 tackles and seven sacks as the Bobcats made stand after stand to keep Berlin away out of the end zone and off the scoreboard. Click on the following link for more from GameTime CT. 

It was the first of eight state championship games this weekend. Seven will be held Saturday with five in New Britain. 

Pequot Conference champion Valley Regional/Old Lyme (12-0) will be playing for its first-ever state title but they face Ansonia (11-1) in Class S Large at Veteran’s Stadium at 10 a.m. At 10:30 a.m., another Pequot Conference squad, North Branford (11-1), will take on Capital Prep/Achievement First at Central Connecticut State at 10:30 a.m. in the Class S Small Division title game. Capital Prep (11-1) erased a 21-8 deficit to beat Canton in the semifinals last weekend, 28-21. 

Undefeated Windsor (11-0) will challenge Notre Dame-West Haven (11-0) at Central Connecticut State at 2:30 p.m. in the Class L Small Division final At Veteran’s Stadium at 2 p.m. it will be Ledyard (12-0) vs. St. Joseph-Trumbull (10-2) in the Class M Small Division final. 

The day concludes with the No. 1 ranked team in the state, undefeated Southington (11-0), playing NFA (8-2) in the Class LL Large Division final at Veteran’s Stadium in New Britain. The Blue Knights are looking for back-to-back state titles for the first time in school history. 

Two games will be held at West Haven High School. In the Class LL Small Division final, Xavier (8-3) faces Shelton (12-0) at 2:30 p.m. In the Class L Large Division title game, New Canaan (10-1) faces arch-rival Darien (12-0) for the second time in three weeks at 10:30 a.m.

Three championship games will be broadcast live by CPTV Sports.

• Class S Large: Ansonia vs. Valley Regional/Old Lyme, 10 a.m.
• Class M Small: Ledyard vs. St. Joseph, 2 p.m.
• Class LL Large: Southington vs. NFA, 6 p.m. 

Championship game schedule

Veteran’s Stadium, New Britain
Class S Large: Ansonia (11-1) vs. Valley Regional/Old Lyme (12-0), 10 a.m.
Class M Small: Ledyard (12-0) vs. St. Joseph (10-2), 2 p.m.
Class LL Large: Southington (11-0) vs. NFA (8-2), 6 p.m.

Arute Field, Central Connecticut State
Class S Small: North Branford (11-1) vs. Capital Prep/Achievement First (11-1), 10:30 a.m.
Class L Small: WIndsor (11-0) vs. Notre Dame-West Haven (9-3), 2:30 p.m.

West Haven High School
Class L Large: New Canaan (10-1) vs. Darien (12-0), 10:30 a.m.
Class LL Small: Shelton (12-0) vs. Xavier (8-3), 2:30 p.m.