Last season was a rough one for the Southington football team and its new coach Rob Levesque. The Blue Knights had some big players who were injured early on, and some younger players in key positions, and stumbled to their first losing season in many years, going 3-7.
They opened last season with a loss; this year, the Knights opened with a convincing 35-0 win over Brien McMahon last Thursday on the road.
Southington’s defense gave up 33 total yards to McMahon, as well as only three rushing yards.
“I would say the highlight was our special teams and our defense,” Levesque said. “Offense sometimes takes a little while to click in with their timing. We’re still working on that.
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“We have a couple returners (on defense) but we’re mainly young. We’ve been young across the board the last two years. We are still junior-heavy.”
Senior linebacker Danny Corrado, one of the returning starters, had 12 tackles and two sacks Thursday and junior safety Ben Kielbowicz, who broke his collarbone halfway through the season last year, had an interception.
There was a lot of competition at the quarterback spot. Junior Luke Prozzo, who was injured during baseball season his sophomore year and couldn’t play football, won the job, but he is being pushed by Nate Pelletier, who started as a freshman last season. Prozzo completed 15 of 28 passes attempted for 216 yards and two touchdowns and he ran for another TD.
“So far we’re healthy,” Levesque said. “We return most of the offense. Our defense is young but they’re hardnosed, tough kids. We’re looking for a complete turnaround.”
Other highlights: Sheehan quarterback Jake O’Brien was 11-for-11 for 145 yards and two touchdowns in Sheehan’s 34-20 win over Waterford Thursday night. … Ellington’s Aaron Ladr had five touchdowns in a 54-6 win over the Windsor Locks co-op. Ladr completed 12 of 19 passes for 263 yards. … Michael Chopack had 22 carries for 158 yards and three touchdowns in Cheshire’s 35-7 win over Xavier. … Stafford’s new coach Devin Gilbert got a win in his coaching debut after Derek Consolini had a 49-yard touchdown pass to Nate Faber and the extra point was good to beat the CREC Colts, 7-6. Jackson Frassinelli led the defense with 11 tackles. … Berlin quarterback Cody Puzio had three passing touchdowns and one rushing TD as the Redcoats defeated New London 50-12 Thursday night in coach John Capodice’s return to the sidelines. … Josh Frith scored on a 32-yard run and caught a 12-yard touchdown pass to lead Haddam-Killingworth past Capital Prep, 28-0, on Friday. … Rockville’s two-headed quarterback attack, Darren Ghostlaw and Luca Houle, combined for five touchdowns, 286 yards passing and was a combined 13-for-15 passing in a 48-6 win over Coventry Friday night. … Junior Joe Lewie had 10 carries for 125 yards and a touchdown and passed for 54 yards and a touchdown to help Granby/Canton to a 49-0 win over SMSA Friday.
The Courant’s High School Football Top 10 poll is back: Who’s No. 1?
Games to watch
Southington (1-0) at Glastonbury (0-1), Thursday, 6:30 p.m.:
Southington is on the road for five of its first six games; Glastonbury is looking to bounce back from a 17-3 opening night loss to Staples.
Berlin (1-0) at Bloomfield (0-1), Friday, 6:30 p.m.
Berlin looks to keep its momentum going after an opening night win, while Bloomfield is looking to get back on track after last Thursday’s loss to Ansonia in a rematch of last year’s Class S state championship game.
Sheehan (1-0) at Fairfield Prep (0-1), Friday, 6 p.m.:
Sheehan coach John Ferruzzi talked about how difficult his schedule was before the season and here his team goes into the thick of it, traveling to Fairfield Prep, which lost its opener, 31-14, to Greenwich, No. 2 in this week’s Courant high school football poll.