Football Wrapup

Plainfield  off to flying start

while other

teams falter

By Ron P. Coderre

The 2014-15 high school football season got off to a start with a full slate of games.  The Plainfield Panthers of coach Pat Smith demonstrated they’ll be a force to be reckoned with this season as they manhandled a good Bacon Academy team 55-31.  Quinebaug Pride, Woodstock Academy and Killingly all went down to defeat.

The Redmen were beaten on the road at Tolland 28-13, while Woodstock after a winless 2013-14 season dropped its opener to Stonington 48-7.  Quinebaug Pride, off a State Tournament appearance last season, succumbed to Capital Prep 38-15.

Plainfield Unleashes Multiple Weapons

Quarterback Steve Jankowski entered his senior season with a banner performance, throwing for a pair of touchdowns and running for another score.  Three familiar names Jordan Federer, Cody Alday and Tyler Ballard, all contributed in a big way to the 55-31 win over Bacon Academy.

Jankowski had touchdown tosses of 11 yards to Federer and 32 yards to Ballard.  In addition he capped a great day with a 68-yard touchdown run as the Panthers raced to a 42-17 halftime advantage and never looked back.  Federer tacked on touchdown runs of 47 yards and a 1-yard plunge to his statistics.

Ballard opened the Panther scoring with a 55-yard run and then had scores off of passes of 32 yards from Jankowski and 56 yards on an option from Federer.  Alday put the icing on the cake and all but sealed the victory with a 90-yard kickoff return.

Killingly Blows Halftime Advantage

Killingly opened its season looking pretty sharp as it took a 13-0 lead to the locker room at intermission against Tolland only to get lethargic in the second half and fall to the hosts 28-13.  Vasileous Politis and Michael Elsey scored for the Redmen.

Politis’ touchdown came on a 32-yard pass from Chace Wood and Elsey scored on a 1-yard plunge.  Killingly sophomore quarterback Kyle Derosier was 12-31 in the air for 132 yards.

Pride and Centaurs Easily Toppled

Quinebaug Pride opened its season at home at the St. Marie – Greenhalgh Sports Complex and was run over by Capital Prep 38-15.  Prep led 26-7 at halftime and coasted through the second half.  The Pride’s scores came on a 13-yard pass reception by Steve Dakai from Chuck Innes and a Cody LaScola 9-yard run.  

Raif Santerre with 88 yards on 17 carries was the Pride’s top ground gainer, while Innes was 5-12 for 114 yards in the air.  Dakai with three receptions for 97 yards was the top receiver.

Woodstock was beaten in a lopsided contest by Stonington 48-7.  The Bears led at intermission 41-0.  Woodstock’s lone score of the afternoon came on an 84-yard Kyle Prouty kick return.