Schools

North Branford Football Improves to 8-1

The T-Birds' football team topped Lewis Mills 58-20 with one game left in the regular season.

The certainly has momentum on its side heading into the final contest of the regular season, which is on  at Veterans Field in West Haven. The T-Birds most recently routed Lewis Mills with a 58-20 victory on Nov. 18.

Before the T-Birds took care of business on the gridiron, they took some time to thank the 14 seniors on the 2011 team. Seniors on the team include: Tom Steinke, Ryan Magnotti, Rob Martino, Sal Sabetta, Cory Onofrio, Chris Scala, Christian Perrotti, Anthony Franco, Steve Saunders, Eric Berlepsch, Mitch Mongillo, Nikko Saddig, Damoy Hunter and Connor Healey.

After the celebration, the T-Birds got right down to business, charging out to a 34-0 first-quarter lead.

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Gary Falanga took advantage of an early Lewis Mills throw with a 29-yard interception return before Dale Hausman ran in the T-Birds’ second score 16 yards. Ryan Magnotti was good on both PATs.

Quarterback Brandan Basil threw in the next three touchdowns; hitting Joe DeLucia for 20 yards, Cory Onofrio for 24 and then Conor Healey on a three-yard pass. Basil also had a two-point conversion to Chris Caron on the first of his passing TDs.

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Sal Sabetta opened the scoring in the second quarter with a five-yard run for a 40-0 lead before Lewis Mills got on the board with its first of three scores in the game. Basil connected with Rob Martino on a 42-yard pass to round out the first-half scoring with North Branford up 46-7.

Lewis Mills scored quickly to open the third quarter with an 80-yard kickoff return, but DeLucia responded with a 49-yard run to maintain a 39-point lead.

In the final frame, Dale Hausman punched in a one-yard score for North Branford before Lewis Mills added a final TD before the end of the game.

Basil was 12-for-16 passing for 197 yards and four touchdowns, while Hausman had 15 carries for 190 yards and two scores. DeLucia had two receptions for 27 yards and a touchdown to go with a 49-yard TD carry.

Scoring a touchdown apiece were Onofrio (3 receptions for 33 yards), Martino (reception for 42 yards) and Healy (2 receptions for 8 yards). Other offensive contributors included Caron (2 receptions for 26 yards) and Magnotti (2 receptions for 61 yards).

Anthony Franco had four tackles. Falanga had three tackles and an interception for a touchdown and Bobby Miller had two tackles and an interception.


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