Tuesday, December 22, 2009 11:20 PM EST
By KEN LIPSHEZ, RYAN PIPKE AND ANDREW LOVELL
Staff Writers
The 2009 high school football season in the New Britain was one that will go down in history for two reasons.
Berlin and New Britain came together for the premiere of the Wishbone Bowl, a Thanksgiving Eve game between two neighbors that had never met. The arrangement, marked by neighborly accoutrements like combined team dinners and marching band performances, is expected to last for the foreseeable future.
Although the Redcoats lost, they rebounded quickly to win their very first state championship by outlasting Avon in the Class M semifinals and blasting Bethel 46-6 in the finale at Waterbury’s Municipal Stadium.
From great team accomplishments comes inspiring individual effort, and as the Herald sports staff sees it, the following are the best of the best.
Max DeLorenzo was Berlin’s most prominent player and also our selection as Male Athlete of the Fall. He rushed for 2,154 yards and 26 touchdowns, including over 600 yards in the playoffs. The junior also eclipsed the school career rushing record previously held by Maurice Humphrey. The honor-roll student had a pair of receiving touchdowns and is a member of the basketball team.
Taylor Tavarozzi was Berlin’s most complete two-way player, amassing 587 yards rushing and making 37 tackles from his linebacker slot. The senior captain’s reaction to an ankle injury sustained in the regular-season finale was an inspiration to the team in the postseason. He scored a touchdown late in the Bethel game. He is a two-time all-conference selection and was an all-state linebacker this year as well as an all-academic team selection. He hopes to play in college.
A.J. Marsiglia was the most intimidating presence on the line for the Redcoats with overwhelming size and strength. The two-way tackle forced opposing coaches to alter their game plans and totaled 20 tackles and two fumble recoveries while creating big holes on offense. The two-time All-Stater and three-time all-league performer plans to either go to prep school or Penn State next year.
Doug Campbell was a co-captain and leader of the defensive line. He made 25 tackles, 15 of them solo, and recovered a fumble. The All-CCC performer brought savvy to his role as a team leader.
Defensive back Tom Undercuffler picked off opposing quarterbacks nine times, including three against Northwest Catholic in a 21-15 Berlin win. The sophomore also made 40 tackles. But he might be remembered for two catches he made when inserted as a wide receiver in the state championship game, setting up Berlin’s first touchdown. They were his only catches of the year. He is an honor roll student and should be a key player for the next two years for Berlin.
New Britain quarterback Rafal Garcarz spent many hours of his youth on the sidelines, dreaming of the day he would don the maroon and gold. He made the most of his opportunity with a season highlighted by stirring performances in victories over playoff-bound Simsbury and Berlin. He played sparingly against Middletown and missed the Manchester loss but still connected on 134 passes in 218 tries for 1,826 yards and 18 touchdowns. He was named to the All-CCC team.
Few high school football players can say they were four-year starters but All-State tackle/defensive lineman Martin Pomykala was a warrior from the start. Offensive linemen do not accumulate statistics. Even his role on defense was not to make tackles but to control the line of scrimmage so linebackers could make the plays. He ended his career with three All-CCC certificates and was twice named to the All-Herald first team. His work in the classroom was equally stellar, and the reward is that he’ll further his education and football career at Dartmouth.
Tebucky Jones Jr. has much more than a family legacy on the gridiron. His athletic gifts and strong classroom work opened up the doors for a scholarship to UConn. At New Britain, he ranked as one of the most feared wide receivers in the state, garnering All-CCC and All-State honors. In the season’s latter stages, he became a two-way player (cornerback). The high-flying 6-foot-2, 180-pounder snared 51 passes for 735 yards and eight touchdowns on the year. Against Northwest Catholic he grabbed a season high nine aerials. He amassed 108 yards receiving in the each of the first two games of the year against Newington and Windsor.
Kaiuway Boima developed into yet another prolific New Britain tailback by running for 2,056 yards and 27 touchdowns in three varsity seasons. After amassing 1,227 as a junior, he gained 774 this fall with New Britain stressing its passing game. He had nine touchdowns rushing and one receiving this season. He ran for 125 yards and scored three touchdowns in the stirring win over Simsbury. His most productive game came against Middletown when he netted 210 yards. He gained 99 yards and scored twice in the win over Berlin Thanksgiving Eve.
Chris Linares goes down as one of New Britain’s best all-around athletes. His legends on the baseball diamond include a steal of second, third and home consecutively. On the gridiron, his greatest influence came as the anchor of the in secondary. The All-CCC speedster ran back two interceptions for touchdowns and scored five as a receiver in New Britain’s arsenal. He grabbed 27 passes for 314 yards, including seven for 100 yards and two scores against Northwest Catholic.
Few signal callers in the state had better seasons than Southington’s Connor Butkiewicz. The junior tied and set a handful of school records in his first year as starter. In his first career start in week one against Hall, he went 26-for-34 passing for 476 yards and seven touchdowns. The seven touchdowns tied a school record and are tied for the second most in state history. He set new Southington marks for the longest pass play from scrimmage (84 yards) and most completions in a single season (197). His 197 completions and 30 touchdown passes both led the state.
Southington senior Dylan Danko handled field goal kicking and kickoff return duties this season, but his biggest contribution was at tailback. The workhorse piled up 973 rushing yards and 10 total touchdowns en route to all-CCC honors. In a win against Middletown, he gained a season-best 198 yards on 14 carries.
Southington outside linebacker Joe Pesce had a breakout season on the defensive side of the ball. The junior racked up 60 tackles, seven sacks, two safeties and two interceptions returned for touchdowns. He was also honored with two game balls during the season, as well as the Defensive MVP award in the Apple Valley Classic against Cheshire Thanksgiving morning. In a win against Newington, he piled up four sacks and 10 tackles.
Newington was faced with a major rebuilding task after playing in the Class L championship game in 2008, and coach Clayton Hillyer had his captains as substantial blocks for the foundation.
Anthony Szwez, a wide receiver and free safety, led the team in all receiving categories (19 catches, 420 yds., 4 TDs), was second in tackles (110) and was tops in kickoff returns (14 for 355 yds., 75-yard TD vs. New Britain). He was named the team MVP and made All-CCC for the second consecutive season. He also scored in the classroom as an honor-roll student, All-CCC Academic and a member of the National Honor Society. He would like to continue his football career at Sacred Heart, Merrimack or Bentley.
Mike Buonocore was the Indians’ staple at linebacker and tight end. He was nominated for All-State, made All-CCC for the second year in a row and ranked as the team’s defensive MVP. He led the team with 125 tackles, saving his best for defending Class LL champion Glastonbury (12 tackles, forced fumble, 2 catches for 23 yds. and a TD). He had eight receptions for 72 yards on the season. He is All-CCC Academic, an honor-roll student and a member of both the National Honor Society and the Science National Honor Society.
The gridiron story coming out of Plainville is one of deep concern. The team has won just one of 20 games over the last two years, had less than 20 players when the season ended and now has no head coach. Yet out of the gloom comes a tale of spirit that reinforces the reason why team sports are a vibrant part of the educational process.
Quintin Wells didn’t rise to All-Herald on the crest of touchdowns. The senior captain could have walked away from a doomed season but he and 18 others stuck it out. He played running back, receiver, cornerback and returned kickoffs and punts after recovering from a dislocated shoulder late in the preseason. In the Thanksgiving game, he was forced to step in as quarterback. He gained All-CCC and All-CCC Academic recognition, is an honor-roll student and is active on the Student Athlete Leadership Council.
