The Southbury Record

By Evan Triantafilidis
news@southburyrecord.com

It may have only been a preseason scrimmage, but Pomperaug’s football team gave its fans plenty to be optimistic about.

Facing Watertown High School last Friday, the Panthers jumped out to a 35-0 lead at halftime.

Both sides of the ball looked sharp for a young roster with only four seniors. Both quarterbacks competing for the starting job impressed the coaching staff.

This year’s season begins on Friday, when Pomperaug hosts Platt Tech at 7:00 p.m.

Pereira’s Program

At the helm of the program, head coach Tony Pereira enters his seventh season.

A former Panther himself, he played during the rise of the program in the late 90s and early 2000s, with some disciples of those state championship teams on the coaching staff as assistants.

The path back to glory hasn’t been easy, but last year’s 3-7 record doesn’t tell the full story: a seven-game losing streak to start the season was followed by three straight wins to close it out, with some returning players getting valuable playing time.

That makes Friday’s season opener and the start of this year all the more important, a sentiment reflected in comments from the program’s head coach.

“Especially with a young team, getting that first win under our belt on opening week would do wonders for our confidence,” said Pereira.

Pereira and his staff subscribe to a hard-nosed method of football, featuring a “Wing-T” style offense with multiple running backs at their disposal.

It’s a stark contrast to offenses that prefer to spread the field and sling the ball around, although last week’s scrimmage did feature more of an aerial attack as well.

The compact set-up at the line of scrimmage utilizes downfield running and misdirection plays, anchored by an offensive line that tries to control the trenches.

As roles on the offense and defense get solidified in the weeks leading up to the season opener, there are still spots up for grabs in starting roles, including the quarterback position.

Offense

Pereira has been overseeing a “healthy” competition for the starting quarterback role for his team, following the graduation of three-year starter Brody Springer.

Juniors Cole Tracy and Josh Coughlin both led impressive offensive drives during last week’s scrimmage.

Both showed their ability to operate within the run-heavy offense, with each scoring a rushing touchdown in the first half. Cole opened the scoring with a 52-yard rush, and Coughlin ran a similar option play from 10 yards out to showcase his elusiveness.

As of three days before the home opener, Pereira said that the team may deploy both quarterbacks depending on the situation.

Senior Captain Dane Guinipero accounted for the other three first-half touchdowns, one rushing and two receiving, including a one-handed catch from 38 yards out.

He kicks his own extra points, too.

“He’s our speed guy,” said Pereira. “He’s worked extremely hard. He’s seen varsity reps as a sophomore. The last couple of years he’s been derailed by injuries. But he’s worked extremely hard to make himself stronger to be able to stay on the field.”

Other running backs expected to see carries this year include Gavin Lynch, Aaron Emerick, Dominic Creaco and Jack Guinipero. Skill position players at the running back position could also see themselves playing separate roles on defense.

Between the two quarterback possibilities and a handful of capable ball carriers, the offensive approach is to have at least three of these weapons on the field at the same time, said Pereira.

Senior Captain Sahn Choi-Kang and junior Dougie Mottola line up as offensive weapons, as well as their dual roles on defense.

Defense

This year’s schedule features the tough task of stopping teams that achieved postseason success at the state level last year. The second game of the year features a visit from Brookfield High School (Class M runners-up), followed by an away game against Sheehan High School (Class SS runners-up).

To contain some of these high-powered offenses from around the state, the defensive unit features physical players like Matthew Kugler, Jaden D’Amico, Marco Russomano, and Creaco coming off the edge of the line.

Russomano made a few standout plays during last week’s scrimmage, being disruptive and making his presence felt in the opponent’s backfield.

After some of the early-season practices, Pereira said he felt good about where his team stood in terms of being both mentally and physically conditioned for the upcoming fall season.

“The mental part of this game is huge,” said Pereira. “Football is not easy. It’s not for everybody.”

He continued, “Once you get tired, you can’t think mentally, and you don’t execute. We work hard in practice. I was glad that physicality came through.”

With big shoes to fill on both sides of the ball, Pereira is looking to reap some of the rewards of having returning players with starting experience, keeping the arrow trending upward for Pomperaug.

“We have a very strong and deep junior class that’s worked extremely hard and that is obviously going to need to step up in roles at the varsity level,” he said.

It’s off the field as well where Pereira wants to see growth in the student-athletes who make up his program.

“I want them to leave as better human beings, from the time they enter to the time they leave,” said Pereira. “And then, all the success on the football field follows that. You can’t be a jerk all day in school, in the class, and then expect to be successful out here. It doesn’t work like that. We’re teaching them life lessons through football.”

Schedule

This year’s makeup of games includes a pair of home games to start, followed by a pair of away games at Sheehan and Bethel.

A two-game homestand begins after a bye week, with Joel Barlow coming to town on Saturday, October 18. The Panthers will play Branford the following week.

The Panthers return to the road for three consecutive away games at New Fairfield, Bunnell and Masuk.

The regular season concludes on Tuesday, November 25 with a home game against Notre Dame Prep.