By Michael Letendre
MERIDEN – While the Bristol Eastern football program spotted Platt 22 points in its Central Connecticut Conference inter-tier showdown on Friday night, the locals simply refused to yield.
After not scoring over first half play, the Kingstreeters reeled off 14 third period points in a matter of 2:36 and quickly, it was a game again.
But the Panthers managed to stay one score ahead the rest of the way, hanging on to seize a 29-22 victory from Falcon Field in Meriden.
Platt (1-1) won for the first time while Eastern (0-2) lost its second game this season by a single possession.
“We spurted a little bit in the first half,” said Eastern coach Anthony Julius. “We just had a couple bad breaks.”
The Lancers had two 10-play drives in the first half that didn’t produce a score while Platt rode the arm of quarterback Avery Robinson (13-of-16, 190 yards, two touchdowns) to stay ahead of the visiting aggression.
After Eastern came up dry on its opening double-figure play drive, Platt went 85 yards on nine plays as Robinson found Kevin Acosta for a six-yard TD reception as the home team led 7-0 with 2:34 left in the first quarter.
After a three and out by Eastern, a botched punt attempt saw kicker Gavin Damboise, who valiantly went after the ball, ended up tackled in the end zone – resulting in a safety as the Panthers led 9-0 with 90 seconds to go in the first.
Off the free kick, Robinson eventually ran the ball in for a 12-yard score and with 9:34 remaining before the half, Eastern fell behind 16-0.
But the Lancers defense perked up, led by a couple tackles for losses by Eastern senior Austin Shorette, and Platt was held to just six points over the ensuing 18 minutes.
Adam Zavecz also made big tackles to help slow the Platt offense.
A promising Eastern drive was foiled in the second period when Jack Hartley (two catches, 24 yards) made a quick reception at the Platt 15. But the ball slipped away from Hartley and Platt nabbed the pigskin – ending the Lancers best scoring chance over the first half.
“We had a great scramble and the ball just kind of pops up in the air and Platt capitalized on it,” said Julius of the turnover.
But one play later, off a huge 61-yard Platt reception, the ball was fumbled and Eastern’s Zaveyn Tate pounced it as the Panthers were also stopped in the red zone.
After a three and out, Platt had a short field as Corey Rogers made a five yard TD plunge into the goal as Platt scooped up a 22-0 cushion.
Eastern did not score over its final drive of the half as the Panthers held an imposing lead going into intermission.
“We went into the locker room [and] the kids were still positive,” said Julius. “They felt like they were right there, and they showed what we could be in the second half. I’m proud of their effort.”
In the third period, after Platt faltered on its opening drive, Eastern quarterback Kamden Laprise (8-of-17, 100 yards) sent a short screen pass to Rayshon Andrews (six catches, 48 yards).
And Andrews was off to the races.
He charged through every Platt defender down the Eastern sideline on his way to a 46 yard touchdown reception and off a two-point conversion from Jaiden Forte (23 carries, 104 yards, two TDs), the game was afoot at 22-8 with 9:29 left in the third quarter.
A botched Platt punt on the ensuing drive gave Eastern the ball on the Platt 27, leading to a short field.
Four plays later, Forte ran the ball nearly up the middle for a 13-yard touchdown plunge and with 6:53 remaining in the third, it was an eight-point game at 22-14.
“Jaiden did a great job today,” said Julius of Forte. “I believe it was the second touchdown we scored, he looked at us and said ‘I’m going to run this in. I want the ball’ and he did. We got behind some of our big guys and they did a nice job.”
“Platt’s a really quality football team so for us to be able to move the ball on the ground with success is definitely a bright spot for us.”
But the dagger came off the Eastern kickoff as Platt went six plays, churning out 87 yards which was capped by a tremendous 27 yard catch by Deante Torres and with 3:55 to go in the third, the Panthers surged in front 29-14.
Eastern failed to score on the following drive, a Platt fumble was picked up by the Lancers’ Josh Aubin, but an injury to Laprise on the first play of the ensuing drive pressed back-up Alex Corvo into duty.
Corvo might have been a little nervous but never showed it as he made all three of his passes for 16 total yards and helped set up the final scoring drive of the game.
“As the back-up quarterback, you always have to be ready,” said Julius. “And Alex practices really hard. He’s a really smart kid and he pays attention. For us to be able to put the back up in there and really not have to close the playbook too much was a credit to how hard he prepares without guaranteed playing time.”
“I’m really happy for him [but] obviously, I’m hopefully Kam is all right.”
Fore eventually punched in a two-yard TD run with 10:42 to play and after he ran in the two-point conversion, the deficit was trimmed to seven once again (29-22).
Eastern stopped Platt on the ensuing drive, the Panthers then returned the favor, and with 5:09 to go, the home team eventually ran out the clock via a little stall-ball.
The Lancers took timeouts to slow the clock with less than 1:30 to play, but Platt took three knees and a late run and fall ended the contest with the home team grabbing a big 29-22 win.
“It’s certainly something we’re going to have to figure out as a coaching staff,” said Julius of the team’s lack of consistency. “In the first half we just felt like it was execution. We were a block away here, we were a play away here. In the second half we clicked really well. We put it all together [and] we were able to do some really good stuff.”
BRISTOL EASTERN FOOTBALL (CCC TIER II/III CHALLENGE)
PLATT 29, BRISTOL EASTERN 22
from Falcon Field, Meriden
Bristol Eastern 0 0 14 8 – 22
RHAM 9 13 0 7 – 29
SCORING
First Period
P – Kevin Acosta 6 catch by Avery Robinson (Trevor Cannata kick), 2:34
P – Safety (Gavin Demboise tackled in the end zone), 1:30
Second Period
P – Robinson 12 run (Cannata kick), 9:34
P – Corey Rogers 5 run (failed kick), 1:35
BE – Rayshon Andrews 46 catch by Kamden Laprise (Austin Shorette catch), 9:29
BE – Jaiden Fore 13 run (throw failed), 6:53
P – Deante Torres 27 catch by Robinson (Cannata kick), 3:55
Fourth Period
BE – Fore 2 run (Fore run), 10:42
Individual Results
RUSHING – Bristol Eastern: Jaiden Fore 23-104, Rayshon Andrews 3-5, Kamden Laprise 5-28, Alex Corvo 1-(minus-1); Platt: 30-132 overall.
PASSING – Bristol Eastern: Laprise 8-of-17, 100 yards, Corvo 3-of-3, 16 yards; Platt: Avery Robinson 13-of-16, 190 yards.
RECEPTIONS – Bristol Eastern: Brady Brown 1-21, Austin Shorette 2-6, Zaveyn Tate 1-17, Andrews 6-48, Jack Hartley 2-24; Platt: Team 13-190 (Kevin Acosta 2-53, Deante Torres 7-117).
Records: Platt 1-1 overall; Bristol Eastern 0-2.
All TBE readers, supporters and donors
The Bristol Edition will be limiting the number of stories non-members and free readers may access each week. This decision is based on our financial projections and, most certainly, to remind people that TBE is serious about providing accurate, timely and thorough reporting for Bristol. To do this we have devised a financial support structure that makes unlimited access extremely affordable, beginning with a $6 monthly donation.
- Non-members will be able to access eight (8) articles per week.
- Free readers and people who have subscribed by email will be able to access eight (8) articles per week.
- Donors and financial supporters will have unlimited access as long as they log in.
Note: Donors may have to contact TBE if they find they are being limited, since we will need to set up a membership account for you. Email editor@bristoledition.org for instructions. Sorry for any inconvenience. People with financial difficulties may write editor@bristoledition.org to be considered for free access.
