Rome runs for 4 TDs to help Granby/Canton win opener with overtime victory

Granby/Canton QB Jackson Rome ran for 161 yards and four TDs to help lift the Bears to an overtime win over Stafford/East Windsor/Somers on opening night. (Photo courtesy Bill Brewster)

STAFFORD, Sept. 13 – Quarterback Jackson Rome ran for four touchdowns, including a 10-yard TD run in overtime as the Granby/Canton co-op won their first game together with a thrilling 27-26 overtime win over Stafford/East Windsor/Somers on Friday night.

Tied at 20-20 after four quarters, Stafford scored first in OT on a two-yard run from Mark McLaughlin but missed on the extra point. Granby/Canton scored on their first offensive play in overtime on Rome’s 10-yard scamper.

Sam Attianese kicked the extra point to give the Bears (1-0, 1-0 Pequot Conference) the victory. Attianese was 3-for-4 kicking extra points.

Rome ran for a team-high 161 yards on 19 carries and 4 TDs. He also completed 6-of-10 passes for 63 yards. Sam Schock ran for 30 yards on nine carries. Carter Gavin caught two passes for 33 yards.

The Bears led 14-7 at halftime thanks to touchdown runs of 76 and 65 yards from Rome. Stafford (0-1, 0-1) tied the game on a three-yard run from Logan Briggs in the third quarter before Rome gave the Bears a 20-13 lead on a one-run of his own.

Stafford tied the game on a 70-yard touchdown pass to Tyler Oullette from Briggs.

Granby/Canton’s Devin Flagg and Simon Matthews each had eight tackles in the game. Matthews had five solo stops. Attianese had seven tackles including three solo tackles. Schock had six tackles and an interception while Mahlik Brown Smith made four tackles and had an interception.

Donte’l Williams had six tackles, a sack and forced two fumbles to help the Bears defense.

Granby/Canton host their first home game of the season on Friday night when they host Ellington beginning at 7 p.m.

Granby/Canton 27, Stafford/EW/Somers 26, OT
At Stafford
Granby/Canton (1-0)      7  7  6  0  7  — 27
Stafford/EW/Som (0-1) 0  7  6  7  6  — 26
First Quarter
GC: Jackson Rome 76 run (Sam Attianese kick), 8:20
Second Quarter
S: Logan Briggs 3 run (Linards Berkias kick)
GC: Rome 65 run (Attianese kick)
Third Quarter
S: Briggs 3 run (kick failed)
GC: Rome 1 run (kick failed)
Fourth Quarter
S: Tyler Ouellette 70 pass from Briggs (Berkias kick)
Overtime
S: Mark McLaughlin 2 run (kick failed)
GC: Rome 10 run (Attianese kick)
Individual statistics
RUSHING: Granby/Canton – Jackson Rome 19-161, Sam Attianese 9-30, Sam Schock 4-39, Carter Gavin 7-20
PASSING: Granby/Canton – Rome 6-10-0, 63
RECEIVING: Granby/Canton – Attianese 1-3, Gavin 2-33, Simon Matthews 1-19, Colin Makin 2-8
INTERCEPTION: Mahlik Brown-Smith (G/C) 1-10, Sam Schock (G/C) 1-0; SACK: Donte’l Williams (G/C) 1-10