As the teams neared the end of the first quarter of a scoreless game, Farmington tailback Jim Fox took a handoff, broke to his right, and appeared stopped by East Catholic’s Akwan Shabazz. But Fox’ legs kept churning, and the junior broke free and outraced 11 Eagles’ defenders to the far goal line for an 82-yard romp that put the hosts up 7-0.

"That kid made a great run," East Catholic coach Bill Baccaro said of Fox’ effort. "He broke three tackles."

For the Indians, who had posted consecutive come-from-behind, final minute victories in their previous two outings, an early lead was both welcome and unusual against an undefeated East Catholic (6-0, 6-0 Nutmeg) squad.

But East Catholic, which committed a pair of first quarter turnovers (a Sean Garvey interception and an Adam Golab strip-and-recovery), overcame another turnover in the second quarter (Keith McNaboe fumble recovery) to score three times in the stanza to build a 21-7 halftime lead.

The Eagles broke through when East Catholic’s Dan Belli intercepted a Steve Harrington pass and returned it 26 yards to the Farmington (3-3, 3-2) 9. Two plays later, UConn-bound running back Dahna Deleston scored the first of his three scores on a 6-yard gallop to tie it with 6:26 left before halftime.

The East Catholic defense, which allowed only 80 yards in the game other than Fox’ jaunt, and held the Indians to three first downs, blocked a Sean Garvey punt on Farmington’s next possession to take over at the Farmington 10.

Again Deleston scored, this time on fourth-and-1, to give East Catholic a lead it would not relinquish, making it 14-7.

"We made some mistakes and they capitalized, and we were in the hole real quick," Farmington coach Jeff Bemis lamented. "Give East Catholic credit. They capitalized on our mistakes, and we didn’t get anything going (offensively)."

After a three-downs-and-out, East Catholic showed its explosive side as quarterback Dan Belli (5-for-11, 1 INT, 2 TDs, 154 yards) teamed with Deleston for a 59-yard flea flicker catch-and-run that ended with the do-everything Deleston (4 catches, 91 yards receiving, and a game-high 22 carries for 93 yards) tumbling over the goal line with 1:08 before the half.

"It’s not just Deleston," Bemis said of East Catholic’s strength. "He’s good, there’s no question about it. (Running back Joe) Hartigan (17 carries, 80 yards, TD) and (Belli) are good, too."

While the flea flicker gave East Catholic a two-score lead, the Eagles had back-to-back 69-yard scoring drives in the third quarter to take command.

"I think we really took control of the game," Baccaro said. "We told the guys ‘keep thumping at them. They’re going to stop us a few times, and we will punt, but we will wear them down. I think we wore them down in the third quarter."

The Farmington defense came up big in the first quarter, keeping East Catholic at bay after the Eagles started possessions at the Indians’ 44 and 29-yard lines. Farmington’s defense, however, led by defensive ends Jermaine Baskerville and Nick Frechette, kept Deleston from getting outside for big gains.