Guilford Senior White - 13, Branford B - 0
Guilford Senior White took the opening drive 57 yards for a score, Mike Knapp gained 27 of those yards on the ground and finished this drive with a 13 yard TD score. Joe DeLucia contributed with a 12 yard run. PAT just missed under the bar. Aggressive solid defense with big hits lead by Ryan Sutowski, Eric Pasay and Ian Rorke, with two Quarterback sacks by Mark Lisitano and Rick Cacopardo kept Branford offensive three and out the entire first half. 6-0 at the half. In the second half, Guilford took the opening kick off in the second half started on their 39 yard line with big runs on the ground with Ryan Sutowski 3 carries for 30 yards, Mike Knapp's pass to Jared Dillon for 15 yards and a Joe DeLucia 12 yard TD score. Rick Cacopardo's extra point run behind a very solid offensive line 13 - 0 3rd quarter.
Defense came up strong again for the entire second half with 5 big Quarterback sacks - Ian Rorke, Eric Pasay (2), John Lisitano and Dallas Nugent. Jared Dillon with two big plays on defense one interception and a fumble recovery to stop two Branford drives in the second half to keep Branford scoreless.
JUNIOR DIVISION:
Ball control and tough defensive play win Guilford Junior Green the day 25-7 against the Madison A passing attack. It was a throwback to smash-mouth, run-up-the-gut football. Dane Lawrence anchored the dominating offensive line allowing Guilford to post 44 offensive plays. Green showed it's versatility with touchdowns posted by Eric Zergiebel at Fullback, Paul Distasio at Tailback, Duke Knapp at Slot and Tyler Nelson at Quarterback. Joey Nault led a tough secondary to hold the Madison passing attack in check while Dave Laurie and Distasio shut down the outside run. Matt "the Bull" Brewer came alive this week helping on two sacks to end the game.
YOUTH DIVISION:
Youth Green: In a hard fought and close game, Guilford Youth Green fell to Branford by a score of 13-2. In the loss, Guilford completed several passes and controled the ball well sustaining several long drives. The highlight was a defensive safety scored when John Altieri squeezed through the offensive line to tackle the Branford ball carrier in the end zone. The defense played well giving up only a punt return and onle long run for a touchdown
Youth White: Sunday, the Youth White team faced the Branford A team in a game which would turn out to be a test of Guilford’s perseverance. The defense started out the day shutting down the Branford offense after 7 plays. Branford had gained a first down by running a reverse which was stopped by the Guilford linebacking corps. Once with the ball, Guilford marched down the field through a series of runs by Tony Pensa and Alex Ulrich. Robert Heller scored on a 30 yard sweep thanks to the blocking of Tony Pensa, John Suchy, “Jumping” Jack Jankura, Nick “Boulder” Moscato, & Billy Conover. The Guilford defense held Branford once more through the outstanding quickness of Evan “Bullet” Hilgert. Tony Pensa & Billy Conover forced Branford play to the inside right into Connor Peters, Nash Singleton, Ben Currier, & Alex Ulrich. Once Guilford was on the ball, the “Tribe Offense” took the ball and managed to move the sticks. After an excellent punt by James Bright shoving the Branford Offense into their own territory, the Indian defense once again proved too much for Branford to handle. Time in the half ran out after a meandering jaunt by Tony Pensa, and a 15 yard gain by Alex Ulrich on a reverse. Guilford took the ball at the start of the 3rd quarter and wasted no time getting into Branford territory. A 25 yard touchdown by Tony Pensa was capped off by a quick slam of a run by Robert Heller behind a determined offensive line. Yet again Branford’s attempts at getting their offense moving were put down by some excellent plays by Carmen Ciardello, Charlie Reynolds, & Cody Cox. The Tribe Offense once again managed to get the ball moving with Tony Pensa at the helm. Guilford striving for a shutout was in a tight spot with 3rd and short, but Charlie Danaher backed up by the tenacious Indian defense caught a surprised Branford running back from behind to end the game.
