Cromwell/Portland football is 6-1 after pulling off two comeback victories in the last two weeks – a 21-16 win over Valley Regional/Old Lyme two weeks ago then a 34-28 win over Haddam-Killingworth last Friday.
“I feel real grateful we’re 6-1,” Cromwell coach Sal Morello said. “We’re a couple plays away from being 4-3. Really. It’s been that close. Valley Regional and H-K are good football teams. To our kids’ credit, they made plays when they had to.”
Cromwell came back in the Valley game with four minutes left – “We were down by a touchdown and had a nice drive to score with under a minute left,” Morello said.
In the third quarter against H-K, with Cromwell trailing 28-19, senior Logan Quick’s hit knocked the ball loose and sophomore defensive end Jayden Augustin picked up the fumble and ran for a four-yard touchdown and a Jack Nolan kick cut H-K’s lead to 28-26. A fourth quarter 64-yard touchdown pass from Michael Sitaro to Nolan gave Cromwell the lead for good.
“I told the kids, ‘We’ve won in different ways,’” Morello said. “We’ve won throwing the ball, we’ve won running the football, we’ve won on our defense. We’re finding different ways.”
Senior running back Matt Gish has been big for Cromwell: he had a six-touchdown game against Weaver, three against Valley and two, one rushing and a 40-yard reception in the first quarter against H-K. Cromwell also lost its quarterback Jess Elfeich to injury in Week 3 so Sitaro had to take over.
“He’s stepped in very nicely,” Morello said.
The Panthers have one loss, 18-12, to unbeaten Capital Prep/Achievement First in Week 3.
“They were more physical than us,” Morello said. “They were tougher than us. We’ve been working on those things. The kids have done a good job responding.
“I think we have a lot of growing to do still. I see our confidence growing.”
Morello is in his first year back as Cromwell coach, after starting the program in 2001 and coaching there through 2008 when the Panthers won a state title. He returned after coaching in Cromwell, which was the Class S runner-up last year, after coaching for 12 years in Middletown.
Cromwell is ranked fourth in Class S behind Ansonia, Capital Prep and East Catholic.
“It’s been a nice progression from week to week,” Morello said. “Kids are getting used to new terminologies, new philosophy, stuff like that. We’re getting there. It’s been a process.”
Here are some of the top performances from last week:
Brady Cersosimo, Conard: Cersosimo completed 10 of 22 passes for 154 yards and a touchdown in Conard’s loss to Windsor.
Vincent Forte, Granby/Canton: Forte had 15 carries for 68 yards and one rushing touchdown and was 5 for 9 passing for 101 yards and a touchdown in a 22-10 win over Ellington.
Aaron Ladr, Ellington: Ladr completed 10 of 18 pass attempts for 210 yards and had a 78-yard touchdown pass in a 21-10 loss to Granby/Canton.
Cashmire Lewis, Windsor: Lewis had eight receptions for 175 yards and three touchdowns in a 48-14 win over Conard.
Tyler Napierkoski, Haddam-Killingworth: Napierkoski had three touchdowns in a 34-28 loss to Cromwell/Portland.
Jeremiah Pinckney, Rockville: Pinckney rushed for 101 yards and three touchdowns in a 49-16 win over CREC.
Evan Poulin, Stafford co-op: Poulin had two touchdown runs and a touchdown reception and rushed for 85 yards in a 35-0 win over SMSA.
AJ Robinson, Windsor: Robinson completed 17 for 26 passes for 281 yards and four touchdowns, going 13 for 19 for 233 yards and three touchdowns in the first half of a 48-14 victory over Conard.
Donovan Rodriguez, Bristol Central: Rodriguez had 15 carries for 95 yards and three rushing touchdown and one passing touchdown in a 42-6 win over Farmington.
Michael Sitaro, Cromwell/Portland: Sitaro had a 64-yard touchdown pass to Jack Nolan in the fourth quarter as Cromwell/Portland rallied for a 34-28 win over H-K.
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