Vitals

• COACH — CHRIS PACE (1st year)
• CONFERENCE — CTC
• PLAYOFF CLASS — S (357 boys enrolled)
• HOME — Bullard Havens
• 2017 RECORD — 9-2 (Lost to Stafford Co-Op in the Class S quarterfinals)
• 2018 OPENER — Sept. 7 at Quinebaug Valley, 6 p.m.
• TEAM WEBSITE — Maxpreps

Top Players

• EDWARD HOLMES, Sr., RB/CB, (5-8, 187)
• TOMAS MONTILLA, Jr., SS/WR, (5-9, 170)
• MARCUS JOHNSON, Jr., LB, (5-9, 175)
• CRISTIAN PAGANO, Sr., QB/WR/LB, (5-10, 170)
• ISAIAH YORK, Sr., FS/WR, (6-1, 180)
• LOVAN ANDERSON, Jr., OL/LB, (5-10, 220)

Key Losses

QB/DB Tyrese Wright (All-State), WR/LB Malik Lominy, CB Tyler Northrop, RB/CB Keith Gathers, WR/CB Elijah Martin, OL/LB Tavon Smith

Outlook

How does one replace all-state dual-threat Tyrese Wright? 

That’s the million-dollar question Chris Pace must answer as he begins his first season coaching Bullard-Havens in Bridgeport. 

Wright was one of the state’s most productive players during his four years at Bullard-Havens, passing for 4,098 yards and rushing for 4,856 more. Over that time, the Tigers went 34-10 and made three trips to the state playoffs. 

“He was a huge part of the offense,” Pace said of Wright, who passed for 19 touchdowns, and rushed for 1,707 yards and 25 touchdowns in 2017. “We lost a lot of guys on both sides. We’re both fresh and new.” 

Very new indeed. Pace, the coach at Weston from 2014-16, replaces John Johnson, who was at the helm for 10 years. 

“You kind of get that itch to be a head coach again,” Pace said after he was hired in April. “I took a look at some opportunities, but this is an opportunity that I really found attractive.” 

Pace watched from afar last season as the Tigers went 9-2 to win the CTC, but lost in the Class S quarterfinals to Stafford/East Windsor/Somers, 20-12. Despite knocking on the door the last few years, Bullard-Havens — or any other tech school, for that matter — has yet to win a playoff game.  

With only three starters back on offense, and none on the offensive line, the Tigers will face a steep learning curve. Senior Cristian Pagano and junior Cyrus Cotto, neither of whom has attempted a pass in a varisty game, are competing to replace Wright.

Pace expects the offense to revolve around senior running back Eddie Holmes, who rushed for 1,005 yards and scored 12 touchdowns last season. 

“His field vision is great. He’s elusive,” Pace said. “Most importantly … he’s a quiet leader.”

The defense, which, of course, must replace Wright, an all-state defensive back, will be anchored by junior linebacker Marcus Johnson. 

2018 Schedule

• Sept. 7 — at Quinebaug Valley,** 6 p.m.
• Sept. 15 — MCW UNITED,** 12 p.m.
• Sept. 22 — at Wilcox Tech,** 6 p.m. 
• Sept. 29 — VINAL/GOODWIN/WHITNEY,** 12 p.m.
• Oct. 6 — ABBOTT TECH/IMMACULATE,** 12 p.m.
• Oct. 20 — PLATT TECH,** 12 p.m. 
• Oct. 27 — at Thames River,** 12:30 p.m.
• Nov. 2 — at Cheney Tech,** 6 p.m.
• Nov. 10 — O’BRIEN TECH,** 12 p.m.
• Nov. 17 — at Prince Tech,** 12 p.m.

Home games in CAPS
**Conference game