Ask the Berlin Redcoats about their 34-7 victory in Plainville on Friday night and they will tell you, it wasn't as easy as it seemed.

"We got ready for a big game today, but so did they," Berlin coach Al Pelligrinelli said. "They did a good job. (Plainville)'s going to be a good football team down the road."

Berlin (9-0, 8-0 in Nutmeg League play) used a balanced rushing attack to score early and often, but the Devils (1-8, 1-7) hung tough, twice having a chance to cut the Redcoat lead to one possession before halftime.

The Redcoats opened the game with a bang. On their first play from scrimmage, senior Alex Barwikowski turned the corner on the right side and traveled 37 yards to the Plainville 25. The run sparked a seven-play, 62-yard drive that took just over three minutes and ended when junior quarterback P.J. Sanzo called his own number and scored on a six-yard sneak to make it 6-0.

Three minutes into the second quarter, another long run led to a Berlin score. This time it was senior Dan Putnam, who went 43 yards over the right side on a counter play for a score. Matt Powell's conversion run made it 14-0. Just two minutes later, Sanzo found Joel Hartunian in the left flat, who ran 24 yards for a 20-0 Berlin lead, and the rout appeared to be on.

Plainville, however, had other ideas.

Blue Devils quarterback Craig Vincelette hit junior Will Hungerford in the right corner of the end zone from 15 yards out on the ensuing possession to get Plainville on the board. 20-7.

After the Plainville's Mike Dugo recovered a fumble on the Berlin 45 just 65 seconds later, Plainville was back within striking distance. The offense stalled however, and Plainville was forced to punt.

The Devils defense stepped up again, forcing a Berlin three-and-out, and the Blue Devils found themselves with the ball right back on the Berlin 37. Again, however, they failed to move the ball. Vincelette, pressured by three Berlin defenders, failed to hook up with Hungerford on fourth down with a minute to go in the first half.

"We played hard," Plainville coach Greg Styles said. "We never quit. We have to capitalize. We were able to turn the ball over, we just couldn't capitalize on their mistakes."

Berlin fought off two more attempts at a comeback before pulling away. Hartunian intercepted Vincelette on the Berlin 30, after Plainville once again seemed poised to score. The Redcoats then marched 65 yards, getting a first and goal on the Devils 5. Again, Plainville's defense stepped up, with Amit Patel and Andy Morse stopping Hartunian on fourth and goal from the 1.

Then Plainville ran out of chances. Vincelette fumbled on his own 24 five plays later, and Berlin broke it open. Putnam scored from five yards out to make it 26-7. Sanzo's 47-yard strike to Barwikowski early in the fourth capped the scoring.

"Joel did a good job, I thought we threw the ball pretty well, and defensively we did a good job," Pelligrinelli said. "I thought we did a better job in the second half. "