Knights Continue Perfect Season With 28-7 Win at Enfield

Bryan Rider completed just four passes, but three went for touchdowns as the Ellington/Somers co-op football team maintained its unblemished record by stomping Enfield 28-7 in Pequot Conference Uncas Division action Friday night.

The Knights won their seventh game in as many outings; they have outscored their opponents 262-46 this season. Enfield had a four-game winning streak snapped, dropping to 5-2.

"We had a good week of practice, because we knew it would be a tough batttle for us, especially playing a team with a spread offense," Knights coach Keith Tautkus said. "We just came off playing two teams, Windsor Locks and Stafford, that are double tight, double wing. All of a sudden, now we had to play the whole field with just one week to prepare. We made a few adjustments that really worked for us in the end, we kept putting pressure on them and made good physical plays, which is how we've been successful."

"This game was won the past nine months," Enfield coach Jay Gaucher said. "Ellington has been committed to working out in the weight room; you can see the size difference between their kids and our kids. Their kids got committed and did all the stuff in the offseason to put themselves in the position to be 7-0."

Ellington/Somers got on the scoreboard late in the first quarter on a four-yard touchdown pass from Rider to Mitch DiResta. Mitch Cobb kicked the extra point.

The Raiders came roaring right back on the first play of the second quarter, scoring on a 30-yard pass from Tony Romano to Hugh Lindo. Anthony Trotta's conversion kick tied the game 7-7.

From that point, it was all Ellington/Somers, as the Knights utilized their ground game to maintain possession the majority of the contest. Ellington/Somers accounted for 351 yards of total offense, with 279 of them rushing.

With just under three minutes to play in the first half, Rider lofted a 16-yard scoring pass to Brendan Coverdill, putting the Knights ahead for good, 13-7.

After intermission, Rider combined with Coverdill on a 31-yard scoring pass late in the third quarter. Christian Schneider ran for the two-point conversion for a 20-7 Ellington/Somers lead.

DiResta broke loose for a 45-yard touchdown run on the first play of the fourth quarter to cap the scoring.

"Tonight we gave up the big play, which we haven't done all year," Gaucher said. "Sometimes we had them third and long or fourth and long, and we gave up a big play. You can't do that and beat a good team."

Jake Schneider took over defensively in the final quarter by picking off two Romano passes, including one at the Ellington/Somers 8-yard line with 6:48 left to play.

DiResta finished with 106 yards on the ground, while Jason Moustafa picked up 77 for the Knights. The tough Ellington/Somers defense held Enfield to just 166 total yards.

Both teams will face Avon in their next contest. Enfield travels there on Saturday, Nov. 5 at 3 p.m., while Ellington/Somers has two weeks off before hosting the Falcons on Saturday, Nov. 12 at 1 p.m.