While it would have been easy to fall back into the "it’s just a football game" mentality and go about their business as best they could, head coach Sal Morello and staff didn’t allow that to happen. They had prepared the team for this game like it was the only one that counted.

Cromwell was successful in six of the seven games against JV programs, but each time it heard the same message from Morello.

"It was always, like, good job guys, but ..," Morello said. "We always reminded them that they were beating other schools’ freshmen and sophomores."

The one game that meant something was the Thanksgiving Day test against Rocky Hill.

So when it snowed the day before and there was a threat ofa cancellation, the Panthers gladly accepted the invitation of the Rocky Hill team to help them shovel the field so the game could be played.

"This game was what the season was about," Morello said. "We never let them forget that. After what we’ve been though there was no way we weren’t going to be ready for this game."

The same wasn’t the case on the other side of the field. The Rocky Hill staff didn’t scout Cromwell early in the season, and then when it planned to the games were canceled because the Panthers’ opponents had varsity games to make up.

That helped Cromwell. Once it found certain things were working -- like its misdirection plays -- Morello stayed with them. With only halftime to adjust, the counters helped Cromwell pile up the yardage and keep the confidence high.

A 14-0 advantage at that point didn’t hurt either. The two-TD edge was provided by the running of Shante Wynn and a pass reception by Tyler Boswell, both of whom made key plays in the first half.

As Morello eagerly paced the sidelines waiting for the second half to start he offered a reminder to his team and assistants.

"Everything we’ve got; we’re going to give them everything we’ve got in the playbook," he said.

Moments later the Panthers almost recovered the onsides kickoff.

Things got hectic when Rocky Hill rebounded. A breakaway run pulled the hosts within a touchdown and then the defense pinned the Panthers deep in their end. A bad snap in a punting situation almost yielded a game-tying block, but this was not the Terriers’ day.

Cromwell recouped and tacked on a pair of scores to makes its first varsity game a win.

When the sportsmanship deteriorated a bit near the end Morello and staff were there with solid reminders.

As the seconds wound down the Cromwell players chanted "we’re on the map."

Morello had another message.

"Not one word. Not one word in the (handshake) line," he said.

This was Cromwell’s game; Cromwell’s day. He didn’t want one stupid mistake to take anything away from the achievement.

The final seconds ticked off, and they were on the map.