Redhawks Dominate in 2010 Season Opener

By Joe Cribari

Wild plays, penalties and gusty winds were the story Saturday when our football Redhawks defeated Burr & Burton’s Bulldogs 56-26 at home. The Redhawks took an early lead – a lead they held until the final horn. In the words of JV-A Head Coach Rahn Fleming, “A definitive win - we scored every way you can think of.”

Coach Jim Provost described this as a “Game of big plays.”

“It’s nice to get a win under our belts,“ he said, but admitted that the Bulldogs gave him a bit of a concern. “I don’t like us giving up 26 points,” Provost said, “But the kids really came through, kids like Ryan Fleming and some others really came through.”

Our defense had four interceptions to Burr & Burton’s none. One of these, by Cameron Fitzgerald, resulted in a 40 yard defensive touchdown.

“I have three touchdowns now – one in each of my varsity seasons,” said Fitzgerald, now a senior. “It feels good . . . but we have a lot of work to do; the defense needs work,” he quipped and said he “hopes for a few sacks.”

Heroic efforts were many - from quarterback Konnor Fleming’s quick head and quick feet, to Eric Palmer’s defensive rush, to the skill, strength and will of the Offensive and Defensive Lines in deciding the battles each down. Taylor Gingras’ return to football in his senior year was welcome, as he is already making his mark on offense and defense.

J.P. Benoit returned the second half kickoff 85 yards for what would prove to be the winning touchdown - fifteen seconds into the third quarter of play. This was one of three touchdowns for Benoit for the day, and one of eight for the Redhawks in this important league contest.

Fleming scored the first Redhawks touchdown on a hard-fought 12-yard rush halfway through the first quarter. The quarterback also scored with passes to Taylor Gingras and Kevin Lambert. Other CVU scores were Benoit’s three, a huge rush by sophomore Tyler Barnes and a defensive score by Cameron Fitzgerald.

Burr & Burton’s touchdowns came from sophomore quarterback Jake Stalcup’s passes to Mitch Magarian, Evan Sawyer and Jake Coyle. Magarian scored another touchdown on the ground.

On one extra point attempt, kicker Tucker Kohlasch turned a botched snap into a 2-point conversion in his very first football game. Kohlasch, a former soccer player known to split the uprights from more than 40 yards out, said he “was going to take the Fall off until Coach Provost asked me to come out and kick.” It appears Tucker can do more than kick.

CVU’s defense had their work cut out for them, as the Bulldogs alternate attacks from Mike Marino on the ground and Stalcup’s passes to Magarian, Coyle and Adis Muminovic moved the ball effectively. But pressure from Palmer, Fitzgerald, Gingras, Crawford Morris and the rest of the Redhawks defense proved to be too much for the ‘Dogs to overcome.

The Redhawks’ defeat over the Bulldogs is their second in two years since both teams entered Division II in 2009. Last year’s season opener in Manchester had a similar result. CVU will next face the 0-1 Division I defending State Champion Essex Hornets on Friday September 10 at 7:00 P.M. in Essex.