STRATFORD — After the Stratford football team picked up its initial first down on the game’s third play Thanksgiving morning, one Bunnell player yelled out, ‘That’s all they get!”
Stratford did pick up a few more first downs, but that ended up being its only one of the first half. Bunnell’s defense suffocated the Red Devils throughout the game.
Five different players scored as Bunnell routed Stratford 43-0 at Penders Field. The Bulldogs (3-7) retain the Manning E. Harvey Trophy for another year — and the 12th time in the past 13 seasons.
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“Those guys played today like they didn’t know if they would get another opportunity,” Bunnell coach Ty Jenkins said. “They were Ok with spreading the wealth today. We have talked about being selfless. Everyone has to eat.”
Stratford was held to under 10 yards of total offense in the first half and under 50 for the game.
“It means the world to me. Most of these guys I ave been playing with since I was 8 years old in Pop Warner,” senior linebacker Nic Ochoa said. “To finish the game with them is incredible.”
Bunnell coach Ty Jenkins talks to his players following the Bulldogs' 43-0 victory over Stratford. #cthsfb pic.twitter.com/Jo14QY2C9b
— Joe Morelli (@nhrJoeMorelli) November 28, 2019
As for the Red Devils, it’s a long, uphill climb from this 0-11 campaign.
“We are trying to build a program that is year-round, a big commitment,” Stratford coach Jack Petion said. “I’m still happy for the guys who did commit to it this year and did play for me. I’ll have love for them always.”
On several of Bunnell’s scoring plays, the Red Devils had the Bulldogs contained, even possibly tackled for losses. But they couldn’t finish off the plays, and the Bulldogs broke free for the big plays.
“We try to put the guys in the best positions to make a play but, at the end of the day, they have to make the play,” Petion said. “It comes down to technique and the little things we don’t do over the week. aAs far as being accountable, it shows up in a game. When it’s your turn one on one, you have to make the play.”
James Savko with the final touchdown of the game and his career at Bunnell. #cthsfb pic.twitter.com/CGV34mlmcU
— Joe Morelli (@nhrJoeMorelli) November 28, 2019
Senior Tyreek Smith set the tone on the first play of the second quarter. The Red Devils had him bottled up at the line of scrimmage, but Smith broke some tackles, reversed field and ended up taking quarterback Brian Carrafiello’s pass for the 55-yard touchdown and a 7-0 lead.
“I surprised myself to get outside and get down the sidelines and dive for the pylon. It was my greatest moment, I think,” Smith said. “It’s a great feeling to go out in my last game with a win.”
In the third quarter, senior James Savko took a short pass at midfield, also broke some tackles, then went the distance for the score and an eventual 29-0 lead for the Bulldogs after they got the 2-point conversion.
Nick Ochoa flies in to make the stop for Bunnell. #cthsfb pic.twitter.com/QgYFsByAvd
— Joe Morelli (@nhrJoeMorelli) November 28, 2019
Then there was Jovan Eggleston, he, too, in his final game, who ran over all his potential tacklers for a 68-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter.
But the true back-breaker came from that Bulldog defense. Carrafiello (13 of 16, 250 yards, four touchdowns) had just scored on a sneak to make it 14-0.
Ochoa, who had spent plenty of time in Stratford’s backfield to that point, sacked quarterback Michael Koda and forced a fumble. C.J. Newton, the game’s Most Valuable Player, picked up the fumble at the Stratford 2-yard line and went in to make it 21-0.
The 1-yd TD for Carrafiello. #cthsfb pic.twitter.com/yOKNWIadjX
— Joe Morelli (@nhrJoeMorelli) November 28, 2019
Stratford ended up with just four first downs – its second and third ones coming on the final two plays of the third quarter.
“When we have our off-season (workout), if they are serious about football, they need to be here every day, hitting the weights,” Petion said.
PLAYERS OF THE GAME
Bunnell defense: Held Stratford to under 10 total yards and one first down in the first half – and four first downs overall and under 50 yards overall.
QUOTABLE
“We know missed opportunities to make the big play this year, whether it was a step short or an overthrown ball. Today what I told them was, ‘We had nothing to lose. Let’s make the small plays and the big plays by individual effort. Amd that’s what you saw.”– Bunnell football coach Ty Jenkins.
