No. 5 Southington football rides defense, Roman's 3 touchdown passes past Wilton
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SOUTHINGTON - The Southington High defense came out with a plan to limit Wilton senior running back Dennis Dustin during Friday night's Connecticut High School Football Alliance matchup at Fontana Field.
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The Blue Knights, ranked fifth in the latest GametimeCT Top 10 poll, shut down Dustin and the Warriors for the most part in a 34-14 win. Southington improved to 4-0 while Wilton fell to 2-2, with both losses coming against CCC foes.
The Knights quickly jumped out to a 7-0 lead, using just five plays to navigate 67 yards. Jacoby Roman hooked up with Walker Mierzejewski for a 44-yard touchdown pass down the Warriors' sideline, and Jacob Carrier added the extra point.
The Warriors struck back with a 13-play drive that ended with a Colton Smith keeper for a 6-yard touchdown. The extra point by Bennett Smith tied the score 7-7 with 3:02 left in the first quarter.
Carrier made his first of two field goals, from 28 yards, to give Southington a 10-7 lead with 5:43 left in the second quarter. After a Wilton turnover on downs at the Knights' 27, Southington sped up its already-quick no-huddle spread offense. Roman completed passes to Mierzejewski, Nick Andrews and Leif Renehan to move the ball to the Wilton 30.
A screen pass to Ben Beaulieu turned into a 30-yard touchdown, and Carrier's extra point gave the Blue Knights a 17-7 lead with 28.8 seconds left until halftime.
Southington struck again on its first possession of the second half when Roman hit Andrews, a running back who was lined up in the slot, for a 65-yard touchdown. Carrier's extra point put the Blue Knights up 24-7 with 6:20 left in the third quarter.
Southington's defense stiffened on the ensuing Wilton drive and stopped the Warriors inches short of a first down at the Blue Knights' 16 with 3:13 left in the third quarter. Southington got as close as the Wilton 6 before settling for Carrier's 25-yard field goal and a 27-7 lead with 10:56 to play in the fourth quarter.
Southington's Connor Orange forced a Wilton fumble that was recovered by Jaxson Musshorn at the Warriors' 43. The Blue Knights gained just 2 yards, then saw a punt snap sail over Carrier's head. It was recovered by Wilton at the Southington 30.
The Warriors gained just 5 yards in three plays before Smith hit Dustin for a 25-yard touchdown pass. Bennett Smith's extra point with 5:43 remaining got Wilton to within 27-14.
The Warriors tried to recover a short kick, but the Blue Knights got it. Southington used the right arm and legs of Roman, along with the running of Andrews and Beaulieu, to move the ball 59 yards. Beaulieu scored from 11 yards out, and Carrier added the extra point, with 1:15 remaining for the game's final margin.
Player of the game
Jacoby Roman, Southington: The senior quarterback threw three touchdown passes of 44, 30 and 65 yards to Walker Mierzejewski, Ben Beaulieu and Nick Andrews.
Southington 34, Wilton 14
WILTON 7 0 0 7-14
SOUTHINGTON 7 10 7 10-34
S-Walker Mierzejewski 44 pass from Jacoby Roman (Jacob Carrier kick)
W-Colton Smith 6 run (Bennett Smith kick)
S-Carrier 28 field goal
S-Ben Beaulieu 30 pass from Roman (Carrier kick)
S-Nick Andrews 65 pass from Roman (Carrier kick)
S-Carrier 25 field goal
W-Dennis Dustin 25 pass from Colton Smith (Bennett Smith kick)
S-Beaulieu 11 run (Carrier kick)
Team records: Southington 4-0; Wilton 2-2.
This article originally published at No. 5 Southington football rides defense, Roman's 3 touchdown passes past Wilton.