RSS
|
|
"It’s definitely fun after all of those losing seasons," said Lappen, who rushed for a season-high 170 yards on 13 carries. He also scored three touchdowns, intercepted a pass, recovered a fumble and had five tackles.
Before this season, Rocky Hill had never won more than four games in its previous five varsity campaigns. Now the Terriers (7-1, 7-1 Nutmeg) are two wins away from a berth in the Class S playoffs. They finish the regular season by hosting St. Paul/Goodwin Tech/Lewis Mills next Friday and winless Vinal Tech/Coginchaug on Thanksgiving.
"The kids are having a ball," Rocky Hill coach Dave Coyne said. "We have a lot of good athletes who have come together. They’re gelling well together."
A disappointed Plainville squad (5-3, 5-3) lost for the second straight week and for the third time in four weeks after an 4-0 start. The Blue Devils committed six penalties for 60 yards and turned the ball over four times.
"We kept shooting ourselves in the foot with fumbles and penalties," Plainville coach Mike Archangelo said. "Now, it’s a matter of pride. We can finish 5-5 or go get back to work."
Big plays boosted Rocky Hill from the start. Elliot (4-for-8, 118 yards) completed a 42-yard pass down the right sideline to Lappen. Four plays later, Lappen ran inside and broke away from a 22-yard touchdown run and a 7-0 Terrier lead.
Plainville responded quickly, scoring on a 47-yard run by Aaron Benson on a fourth-and-7 play up the middle. Benson got through the line of scrimmage and took off.
But Rocky Hill scored on its next four possessions to seize command of the game. On the next drive, Lappen’s 60-yard scamper down the left sideline was key. Lappen scored on a 5-yard run.
The key play in the next drive was Elliot’s 29-yard completion to Sean Burgawardt. That drive ended with a crisp Elliot pass to Burgwardt on a slant route into the end zone for a 21-6 lead. On the next Terrier drive, Lappen outleaped a Plainville defender to pull in the touchdown pass and extend the lead to 31-6.
"The line opened up some great holes and we just ran through them," Lappen said. "We know where everyone is supposed to be."
Added Coyne, "He is a great athlete. There is no doubt about it. But we have a great bunch of seniors. They’ve been playing together for years and they are really focused."
Fritz (9-121) scored two touchdowns in the second half, including the 73-yard run which is the third longest run for a TD in team history. Fritz has already set single-season school records for most touchdowns (14) and points in a season (84).
Kicker Chris Tyler set a new school record by converting on 7-of-7 point after touchdown attempts. He also had a 29-yard FG.
Ben Sparks (7-61) had a 28-yard run to open up the second half for Plainville, which marched 50 yards on five plays to score on its opening drive of the second half with a 1-yard run by sophomore quarterback Todd Carroll.
But the Terriers responded with Fritz’s 73-yard touchdown and on Plainville’s next possession, they fumbled the ball away on the first play.
The 52 points was the second-highest scoring output in team history, second to 58 points it scored a year ago against St. Paul/Goodwin Tech.
