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The undefeated Redcoats improve to 3-0 and allowed their first points of the season when the Terriers completed a 73-yard bomb from Eric Fritz to Jeff Courneen in the second quarter. But Berlin limited Rocky Hill to only 55 yards rushing.
"They have some big kids and they wore us down in the second half," Rocky Hill coach Dave Coyne said. "They are a lot bigger than we are. They are a real good football team. I don't see anyone beating them this season."
Berlin controlled the trenches on both sides of the ball. Offensively, center Anthony Boguslawski, guards Pat Chambrello (5-10, 210) and Tom Strain (6-3, 270) and tackles John Russo (6-0, 255) and John Senia (6-4, 310) opened some nice holes for running backs Matt Powell, who ran for 95 yards on 16 carries and Joel Hartunian, who scampered for 86 yards on 10 carries.
"Our inside game was pretty good," Berlin coach Al Pelligrinelli said.
Berlin marched downfield on its opening drive but it stalled on the Rocky Hill 26-yard line. The Terriers took over on downs, but on a third-and-8, Rocky Hill QB Eric Fritz threw a back pass to receiver Jeff Courneen, who was hit hard before he could catch the ball, which fell to the turf in front of three Berlin defenders.
Most players walked away thinking it was an incomplete pass. But there was no whistle and Berlin's Matt Powell scooped it up and ran untouched for a 25-yard touchdown on the fumble recovery. A Powell run made it 8-0 with 4:26 gone in the first quarter.
Berlin was able to move the ball but couldn't sustain drives. Rocky Hill took over on its 17-yard line with 3:31 left in the second quarter. Three plays later, Fritz found Jeff Courneen down the left sideline for a 73-yard touchdown reception, the second-longest pass play in school history. The conversion pass failed but the Terriers only trailed by two, 8-6.
However, the Redcoats responded three plays later when Berlin QB P.J. Sanzo found Barwikowski wide open on the left sideline for a 77-yard touchdown pass with 1:24 left in the second quarter and a 14-6 lead.
On Rocky Hill's next series, Barwikowski intercepted Fritz and returned it 42 yards to the Terrier 10-yard line. But Berlin blew a chance to blow open the game when Sanzo was intercepted by T.J. Green.
Barwikowski made another key play in the third quarter. His 47-yard punt return gave Berlin the ball on the Rocky Hill 11-yard line. Sanzo capped off the quick 3-play drive with a 1-yard touchdown run. After a successful conversion pass, it was 22-6.
Barwikowski batted down three other Fritz passes.
"I had a lot of help from defensive end Brian Hill. He was bumping the receivers before they could get into their patterns," said Barwikowski, who paid attention to the where Fritz would position his shoulders on passes.
Charles Rhinehart and Richard Dance each had sacks for the Terriers (1-2) while Loxley Walters (17-yard return) and Green (38 yards) each had interceptions.
Joel Hartunian capped off the scoring by breaking through a tired Terrier defensive line for a 44-yard touchdown run with 16 seconds left in the game.
