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undefinedSOUTHINGTON -
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undefinedThe scoreboard at Fontana Field Friday night showed Conard had defeated Southington, 40-20.
And for those few hundred chilled, wet fans who saw this CCC interdivision game, Jonathan Esposito was the runaway reason why Conard defeated Southington.
He ran for 327 yards and four touchdowns on 42 carries, had one fumble recovery and an interception.
"He's one of the finest football players in the state," coach Rob Cersosimo said.
There was no dispute from either sideline. The junior running back has rushed for 1,767 yards and 28 TDs this season.
Conard (9-0), No. 3 in the Class L rankings, also used interception returns for touchdowns by Brady Collins (28 yards) and Jerry Rivera (50) to secure this win.
Blue Knights quarterback Connor Butkiewicz, who despite throwing for 262 yards (22-for-52), had three interceptions and was forced to hurry throws against various blitz packages.
"When you turn the ball over more than you take the ball back, you don't win ballgames from pee-wee to the NFL," Southington coach Bill Mella said.
Esposito opened the scoring with a 33-yard run in the first quarter.
Southington (5-4) tied it 6-6 on Tyler Dube's 17-yard catch in the second quarter.
Esposito's 15-yard TD run put Conard back on top, 12-6. On Southington's first play after the kickoff, Butkiewicz was pressured by blitzing linebacker Esposito and rushed his pass.
Left end Collins intercepted the ball in the right flat and took it to the end zone to give the Chieftains an 18-6 halftime lead.
Jon Estronza tackled Southington's Anthony Florian one foot short of the end zone on a fourth-and-goal reception with 47 seconds left before halftime to preserve the margin.
"We played outstanding defense," Cersosimo said. "[Assistant coach] Jeff Redman had them well prepared."
After the second-half kickoff, it took Conard only two plays to post another TD. Esposito raced 69 yards down the right sideline to increase the margin to 25-6.
Dube followed with his second of three TD catches (19 yards). He scored his final one on a 15-yarder late in the fourth.
Earlier in the quarter Rivera had his interception return. Esposito ended Conard's scoring on a 33-yard run with 8 1/2 minutes left.
"He's a great runner, real good and coming downhill," Mella said. "I think he'd give a lot of credit to his offensive line and his fullback [Larry Burns]. Esposito's talent, coupled with their team, was great."
And for those few hundred chilled, wet fans who saw this CCC interdivision game, Jonathan Esposito was the runaway reason why Conard defeated Southington.
He ran for 327 yards and four touchdowns on 42 carries, had one fumble recovery and an interception.
"He's one of the finest football players in the state," coach Rob Cersosimo said.
There was no dispute from either sideline. The junior running back has rushed for 1,767 yards and 28 TDs this season.
Conard (9-0), No. 3 in the Class L rankings, also used interception returns for touchdowns by Brady Collins (28 yards) and Jerry Rivera (50) to secure this win.
Blue Knights quarterback Connor Butkiewicz, who despite throwing for 262 yards (22-for-52), had three interceptions and was forced to hurry throws against various blitz packages.
"When you turn the ball over more than you take the ball back, you don't win ballgames from pee-wee to the NFL," Southington coach Bill Mella said.
Esposito opened the scoring with a 33-yard run in the first quarter.
Southington (5-4) tied it 6-6 on Tyler Dube's 17-yard catch in the second quarter.
Esposito's 15-yard TD run put Conard back on top, 12-6. On Southington's first play after the kickoff, Butkiewicz was pressured by blitzing linebacker Esposito and rushed his pass.
Left end Collins intercepted the ball in the right flat and took it to the end zone to give the Chieftains an 18-6 halftime lead.
Jon Estronza tackled Southington's Anthony Florian one foot short of the end zone on a fourth-and-goal reception with 47 seconds left before halftime to preserve the margin.
"We played outstanding defense," Cersosimo said. "[Assistant coach] Jeff Redman had them well prepared."
After the second-half kickoff, it took Conard only two plays to post another TD. Esposito raced 69 yards down the right sideline to increase the margin to 25-6.
Dube followed with his second of three TD catches (19 yards). He scored his final one on a 15-yarder late in the fourth.
Earlier in the quarter Rivera had his interception return. Esposito ended Conard's scoring on a 33-yard run with 8 1/2 minutes left.
"He's a great runner, real good and coming downhill," Mella said. "I think he'd give a lot of credit to his offensive line and his fullback [Larry Burns]. Esposito's talent, coupled with their team, was great."
