HARTFORD, Sept. 8, 2022 – Quarterback Daniel Hernandez ran for a game-high 235 yards and a touchdown on 33 carries to lead the SMSA co-op team to a 21-14 victory over Granby/Canton in Pequot Football Conference Uncas Division contest Thursday night at Weaver High.
The Tigers, who have players from Sport Medicine Science Academy, Bulkeley, Classical Magnet, HMTCA (Hartford Magnet Trinity College Academy) and University High, limited Granby/Canton to just 177 yards of total offense including 56 yards rushing on 27 carries.
SMSA co-op built a 21-0 lead after two quarters and held off the Bears in the second half.
The Tigers took a 7-0 lead on Tamir Campbell’s 90-yard interception return and a Tristian Gaddy kick early in the game. SMSA co-op made it 14-0 on a 20-yard touchdown reception to Russell Smith from Hernandez. A 58-yard run from Hernandez gave the Tigers a 21-0 lead at the half.
Granby/Canton (0-1) tried to rally. The Bears got on the scoreboard on Luke Maher’s 40-yard fumble return for a touchdown – a first for the co-op. Khalil Thomas’ 11-yard touchdown run and the extra point from George Horst cut the lead to 21-14 but that is as close as the Bears would get.
Gable had a pair of interceptions for the Tigers while Russell Smith had eight tackles, a tackle for loss, an interception and one pass deflection.
Granby’s defense forced five SMSA co-op turnovers. Maher, Horst and Carter Chambers each had an interception while Maher and John Bennett each recovered a fumble.
Maher had six tackles for the Bears along with three tackles for a loss. Will Attianese had 10 tackles while Bennett had eight.
Granby/Canton travels to Stafford to face the Stafford co-op next week on Friday, Sept. 16.
SMSA co-op 21, Granby/Canton 14
At Hartford
SMSA co-op (1-0) 14 7 0 0 — 21
Granby/Canton (0-1) 0 0 14 0 — 14
First quarter
S: Tamir Campbell 90 interception return (Tristian Gaddy kick)
S: Russell Smith 20 pass from Daniel Hernandez (Gaddy kick)
Second quarter
S: Hernandez 58 run (Gaddy kick)
Third quarter
G: Luke Maher 40 fumble recovery (George Horst kick)
G: Khalil Thomas 11 run (Horst kick)
Individual statistics
RUSHING: G/C: Luke Maher 16-37, Will Attianese 5-26; SMSA: Daniel Hernandez 33-235
PASSING: G/C: Will Migliaccio 15-29-3, 131; SMSA: Daniel Hernandez 5-11-3, 87
RECEIVING: G/C: Will Attianese 4-27, Brandon Powell 3-50, Richardson 3-20
INTERCEPTIONS: Maher (G), Horst (G), Carter Chambers (G), Tamir Gable (S) 2, Russell Smith (S); FUMBLE REC: Maher (G), Bennett (G)
Lewis Mills 25, Plainville 14
BURLINGTON, Sept. 8, 2022 – Jack Stanislaw had an 89-yard kickoff return as the Lewis Mills High football team beat Plainville, 25-14 in the season opening game for both teams on Thursday night in CCC Tier 4.
The Spartans (1-0) led 19-7 after one quarter and 25-7 at the half. QB Larry Weaver threw a touchdown passes to James Roben (35 yards) while Noah Moriarty ran in a pair of touchdowns.
Stanislaw’s kickoff return is the third longest in team history. Josh Martinotti had a 92 yard return for a TD in 2018 against the Coventry co-op squad while Bob Martinotti had a 90-yard return in 2011 against Morgan.
Mills won on opening day for the third straight season. The Spartans will host Tolland next Friday night in Burlington.
Lewis Mills 25, Plainville 14
At Burlington
Plainville (0-1) 7 0 0 7 — 14
Lewis Mills (1-0) 19 6 0 0 — 25
First quarter
LM: Noah Moriarity 6 run (Mateo Dozadelli kick)
P: Joseph Vasquez 72 kickoff return (xxxx kick)
LM: Jack Stanislaw 89 kickoff return (kick blocked)
LM: James Robin 33 pass from Larry Weaver (run fails)
Second quarter
LM: Noah Moriarity 6 run (run fails)
Fourth quarter
P: xxx 1 run (kick fails)
Individual statistics
RUSHING: Lewis Mills – Evan Pannuto 7-52, James Roben 6-31, Larry Weaver 5-23, Cole Ronalter 2-13, G. Dolzadelli 1-6, Noah Moriarty 13-75
PASSING: Lewis Mills – Larry Weaver 3-8-2, 51
RECEIVING: Lewis Mills – James Roden 1-33, Jack Stanislaw 1-11, Evan Dougherty 1-7
