Lewis Mills’ Tyler Kolenda (88) intercepted a pass in Saturday’s 23-6 loss to Berlin in Burlington. It was one of three turnovers forced by Lewis Mills against Berlin.
BURLINGTON, October 19 – John McGeever ran for 126 yards and a pair of touchdowns on 26 carries to lead the Berlin High football team to a 23-6 win over Lewis Mills on Saturday afternoon in a showdown for the lead in the Central Connecticut Conference’s Division III East Division.
Berlin (4-1, 3-0 CCC Div. III East) can clinch their fifth division championship in six years with a win over Avon on Friday, Nov. 1, at Scalise Field in Berlin.
After four straight victories to open their first-ever season in the CCC, Lewis Mills (4-1, 2-1 CCC Div. III East) lost for the first time this fall. The Spartans were held to just 89 yards rushing and 60 yards passing by Berlin.
McGeever gave Berlin an early 7-0 lead on a 50-yard touchdown run with 2:01 left in the first quarter. Aaron Senz kicked the extra point for the Redcoats.
Berlin extended their lead to 14-0 with 7:26 left in the third quarter on a five-yard run by McGeever and another Senz extra point. Berlin took a 21-0 lead early in the fourth quarter when Danny Lynch scored on an eight-yard touchdown pass from QB Justin Skates.
Skates completed 12-of-16 passes for 137 yards and a touchdown for Berlin.
Mills did force three turnovers but couldn’t not capitalize on their good fortune. Sean Lafleur and Brady Ronalter each recovered fumbles while Aidan Sullivan intercepted a pass. Sean Polinsky had 11 tackles for Mills while Cade Cormier had nine. Mills sacked Skates three times for 35 yards in losses.
Mills returns to action on Friday night when they travel to Manchester to face East Catholic at Cheney Tech beginning at 6:30 p.m.
Thanks to the athletic booster club at the school, Mills will play a third night game under portable lights on Friday, Nov. 1 when the Spartans host Tolland beginning at 6:30 p.m.
Berlin 23, Lewis Mills 6
At Burlington
Berlin (4-1) 7 0 7 9 — 23
Lewis Mills (4-1) 0 0 0 6 — 6
First quarter
B: Johnny McGeever 50-yard run (Aaron Senz kick), 2:01
Third quarter
B: McGeever 5-yard run (Senz kick), 7:26
Fourth quarter
B: Danny Lynch 8-yard pass from Justin Skates (Senz kick), 11:50
LM: Colby Cables 18-yard pass from Colby Nordstrom (kick blocked), 6:36
B: Safety. Nordstrom intentional grounding in end zone, 2:27
Individual Statistics
RUSHING: Berlin — Johnny McGeever 15-126; Elijah Crowley 7-34; Justin Skates 5-minus 10; Kyle Krupa 4-14; Jamie Palmese 4-2. Lewis Mills — Cade Cormier 8-36; Sean Polinsky 6-10; C.J. Nordstrom 2-8; Josh Martinotti 10-35
PASSING: Berlin — Justin Skates 12-16-1, 137; LM — Nordstrom 7-14-2, 60
RECEIVING: Berlin — Elijah Crowley 2-53, Joseph Caracoglia 3-29; Kyle Krupa 2-1; Jamie Palmese 1-6; Danny Lynch 3-37; Mark Addamo 1-11; Lewis Mills — Seamus Hannon 2-13; Aidan Sullivan 1-8; Sean Polinsky 1-15; Josh Martinotti 1-6, Colby Cables 1-15, Tyler Kolenda 1-11
FUMBLE REC: Sean LaFleur (LM), Brady Ronalter (LM); INTERCEPTION: Sullivan (LM); SACKS: Nick Romano (LM) 1-8, Sullivan (LM) 1-15, Kolenda (LM) 1-12
