STRATFORD – A year ago, Pomperaug left Mastroni Field with a loss. Bunnell ran another play in the final minute when they probably could have taken a knee.
On Friday, the Panthers returned and left Stratford with a 49-21 win to begin the season 4-0.
Not only is it the first 4-0 start for Pomperaug since 2011, but the Panthers will have a chance to match last season’s five-win total in their fifth game of the year.
Is the cat back?
On Friday night, Pomperaug rushed for over 400 yards and never trailed in the game.
The latest stop on the “Respect Tour” played the hits — a ground-and-pound, multi-headed rushing attack out of the triple option.
Gavin Lynch led the backfield with 195 yards and three rushing touchdowns.
Josh Coughlin called his own number at quarterback for a two-score, 100-yard rushing day.
Jack Guinipero rushed for the game’s opening 30-yard rushing touchdown while also accounting for one of three defensive interceptions in the game for the Pomperaug defense and a fumble recovery.
Leading 21-14 at halftime, head coach Tony Pereira said the team felt like they should have had a bigger lead at the break.
The Panther defense quickly responded with back-to-back interceptions, giving their offense positive field position to capitalize on.
“In the blink of an eye,” Pereira said, the Pomperaug lead grew to 35-14.
Dom Creaco added a rushing touchdown for the Panthers, while the team’s three second-half defensive interceptions came from Guinipero, Doug Mottola and Nick Randazzo. Bobby Kinsella and Guinipero each recovered a fumble on defense.
“It’s a team effort, and these kids deserve everything they’re getting,” Pereira said following the game.
Speaking about his team’s rushing game, Pereira noted that the Bulldogs were attempting to neutralize Guinipero’s speed and shiftiness, adding, “they took, arguably, one of the best running backs in the league out of the game.”
He credited the offense and the play-calling for much of the Panthers’ success Friday night.
“They work tremendously hard in the offseason,” Pereira said of his group of running backs. “I am so grateful it’s paying dividends for them.”
Coughlin took a minute to ponder what a difference a year had made on the turf at Bunnell before saying, “It’s so nice to return the favor.”
Lynch’s hat trick of second-half scores came with a side of vengeance, he said.
“We’re a new team,” said Lynch. “We love playing for each other. We’re playing for the guy on our left and our right, not ourselves.”
On defense, Pomperaug knew they had to have a plan for Bunnell’s senior, Rody Ricketts.
Although Ricketts accounted for a 27-yard receiving touchdown, Pereira praised the past week of practice that led to a five-turnover day on defense.
“We knew that Ricketts is explosive,” said Pereira. “We contained him as much as we could.”
Bunnell head coach Ty Jenkins sat on his team’s bench following the final whistle, reviewing footage from the game.
“That is a generational team, one of the best they’ve probably had in 20 years,” Jenkins said of Pomperaug after the game.
Noting the current Bulldog defense, which is filled with underclassmen, Jenkins added, “We’ll be excited to play Pomperaug next season.”
With no game this week, the Panthers will look to the remaining six games of the season, the next being away at Harding High School on Friday, October 16.
Then, the Panthers will return home for three straight games against Masuk, Joel Barlow, and Weston.
But for this week, there is no opponent lining up opposite the Panthers. For Pereira, the off-week means a week of film, lifting, and conditioning.
“It’s not a two-week vacation,” he said, adding that there will be a focus on the fundamentals.
Maybe the secret is out on Pomperaug, and with more people taking notice, Pereira plans to challenge his team in how they respond.
“That’s going to be the key message in the bye week,” he said. “How are you going to respond when you’re not catching up [in games]? How are we going to respond now that we are getting that attention?”
Until then, the Panthers will keep cashing in their receipts for respect.
By Evan Triantafilidis
