2014 Football Championship M – Large


By Ned Griffen
Special to CIACsports.com
MaxPreps photos by Kevin Pataky
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Gabe Pompette provided one of Brookfield's two scores with his first quarter interception return for a touchdown. MaxPreps photo by Kevin Pataky.

New Britain — Brookfield junior Bobby Drysdale was asked after Friday’s CIAC Class M-Large final if he wanted to know how much of an advantage Berlin had in yardage.

“Not really,” Drysdale said with a smile.

The Bobcats’ defense was on the field the majority of the game but hung tough for a 14-0 win and the program’s third state title at Willow Brook Park.

Second-seeded Brookfield (12-2) had the ball for just 18 minutes, 52 seconds. It was also outgained 247-157.

The Bobcats’ defense kept coming up with big plays, though. Senior co-captain Gabe Pompette scored on a 41-yard interception return less than three minutes into the game.

Drysdale had nine tackles, four sacks and ran 21 times for 117 yards and a touchdown. Junior Nick Seis added 10 tackles and three sacks.

“I always said that to become a great defense, you have to be a scoring defense,” Brookfield coach Rich Angarano said. “Tonight, we did that again. I’m very proud of this football team.”

Berlin coach John Capodice said of Brookfield’s defense, “They got after it (on the pass rush). They came hard. (Drysdale) is a good player.”

The top-seeded Redcoats (11-2) had allowed a state-low 5.25 points per-game headed into the final and stifled Brookfield’s run game.

Jeremy Eliades had seven solo tackles and eight overall for Berlin. Michael Jukonski also had eight tackles.

“I will tell you this — that’s an outstanding defensive team,” Angarano said of Berlin. “They’re good. So are we.”

Pompette’s interception came on the first drive of the game.

“All week, we practiced (against) trick plays, and one of the plays we worked on was a motion to a wheel (route),” Pompette said. “I knew where that guy was going to be when it happened, so I made a play on the ball.”

Brookfield celebrates its Class M - Large championship. MaxPreps photo by Kevin Pataky.

Berlin had a great opportunity to score on a second-and-goal at the Brookfield 1-yard line late in the third quarter, but the drive ended with a dropped pass in the end zone.

Drysdale late sacked Alec Norton for an 11-yard loss on third-and-10 at the Berlin 21 with four minutes left. Pompette returned the punt 22 yards to the Redcoats’ 15. Drysdale ran for a touchdown on the next play with 3:49 left.

Pompette also averaged 35.2 yards on five punts.

“Gabe got it started (with the interception),” Angarano said. “He played an outstanding game. He had a big pick, he owned field position on punting, and he did do a good job on some returns.”

Brookfield 14, Berlin 0

Brookfield 7            0              0              7-14

Berlin      0              0              0              0-0

BR-Gabe Pompette 41 interception return (Dane Borges kick)
BR-Bobby Drysdale 15 run (Borges kick)

Individual statistics

RUSHING: Brookfield, Bobby Drysdale 21-117, Austin Reich 6-11, Danny Jackson 3-10, John Roscigno 1-0; Berlin, Owen Taylor 11-47, Anthony Sisti 8-35, Eric Garcia 3-12, Jeremy Eliades 1-4, Alec Norton 15-(-39).
PASSING: Brookfield, Roscigno 5-12-2-27; Berlin, Norton 10-28-2-188.
RECEIVING: Brookfield, Brock Boullianne 4-27, Gabe Pompette 1-0; Berlin, Jake Ahlquist 1-56, Garcia 4-50, Sisti 3-45, Mitchell Maslowski 1-29, Matt Kaczynski 1-8.

Complete final statistics and play-by-play can be viewed on CBS Sports GameTracker

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