Printer Friendly Version - North Branford Football Takes OT Defeat; Field Hockey, Volleyball Pick Up Wins

Lou Raffone and the North Branford football squad rallied from a 20-0 deficit against Cromwell-Portland in their home opener, but wound up taking a 28-20 overtime defeat against the Panthers. Photo by Wesley Bunnell/The Sound

The North Branford football squad took a 28-20 defeat in overtime against Cromwell-Portland in its home opener on Sept. 14. The Thunderbirds have a record of 1-1 to begin the year.

Cromwell scored the first three touchdowns of the game to jump out to a 20-0 lead. Senior Nick Mancini ran home a 27-yard score for North Branford late in the second quarter to make it 20-6 at the half. In the third quarter, sophomore Alex Clinton caught a 61-yard touchdown pass from sophomore Tyler DiNapoli, after which Mancini ran in the 2-point conversion to make it a 20-14 game. In the fourth quarter, senior Lou Raffone punched in a 10-yard run to tie the game at 20-20. In overtime, Cromwell scored on a 5-yard touchdown run and then tacked on the 2-point try for the 28-20 victory.

North Branford finished with 269 rushing yards as a team in the loss. DiNapoli ran 23 times for 120 yards, while Mancini carried the ball 24 times and gained 102 yards.

On defense, Mancini led the T-Birds with 11 tackles, three of which were for a loss, and he also recovered a fumble. Marquis McFadden had a sack, and DiNapoli intercepted a pass for North Branford.

Next on the docket for the Thunderbirds is non-conference game against Branford, marking the first game between the teams in 33 years. The game will take place at Branford High School at 7 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 21.

The T-Birds moved to 2-0-0-1 this year by taking an overtime loss and later earning a win on the week. North Branford dropped a 3-2 overtime decision to East Lyme on Sept. 10, but bounced back with a 5-1 home victory over Old Saybrook on Sept. 14.

In the win over Old Saybrook, the T-Birds put 22 shots on goal as Ava Galdenzi finished the day with a hat trick. Avonlea LeBeau and Ali Barrett also scored goals, while Amy Raucci had three assists in the victory.

North Branford earned its first victory with new Head Coach Tori Ramada last week and now stands at 1-3 for the season. The Thunderbirds lost 3-0 contests against Northwestern and Cromwell, before notching a 3-1 win over Old Lyme.

On Sept. 10, Northwestern defeated North Branford by a 3-0 (25-20, 25-11, 25-19) score. Junior Julia Ricardo had six kills, and senior Sam DeAngelo recorded 16 digs for the T-Birds.

On Sept. 12, North Branford lost to Cromwell by a 3-0 (25-9, 25-10, 25-17) final. Junior Lily Blomster had 13 kills, Katy Pedersen finished with 25 digs, and fellow junior Emily Cole had 18 assists.

To close out last week, North Branford claimed a Old Lyme 3-1 (20-25, 25-16, 25-17, 25-23) triumph against Old Lyme on Sept. 13 for Ramada’s first win as the T-Birds’ coach. Seven different players finished with at least one kill, led by six apiece from Blomster and senior Emy Stakaj. The T-Birds also had 21 aces in the match, including eight from Stakaj. Pedersen finished the match with 30 digs, plus Cole had 18 assists.

North Branford opened its 2018 season by taking a pair of defeats last week. The T-Birds are entering their first year with new Head Coach Dwight Boatman.

On Sept. 13, Haddam-Killingworth topped the T-Birds by an 8-0 count. North Branford then took an 8-1 loss at Old Lyme the next day. Senior captain Mike Rabuffo scored his first career varsity goal early in the contest.