Printer Friendly Version - Branford Football Earns 30-14 Win Versus Tolland; Several Other Clubs See Productive Weeks

Sophomore Akiel Lomotey ran for a touchdown and also had a blocked punt that resulted in a safety when the Branford football team notched a 30-14 home win over Tolland to improve to 2-1 on Sept. 23. Photo by Wesley Bunnell/The Sound Photo courtesy of Wesley Bunnell

The Branford football team hosted Tolland for a non-conference contest on Sept. 23 and claimed a 30-14 victory against the Eagles at Branford High School. The Hornets improved their overall record to 2-1 on the season with the win.

Senior Nathan Florio ran for a pair of touchdowns in the first half to give Branford a 13-0 advantage at halftime. The Hornets were able to maintain their two-score lead for the rest of the game and come away with the victory, solidifying the win on a touchdown run by sophomore Akiel Lomotey in the final minutes.

Florio put Branford on the board when he rushed for a 2-yard touchdown with 5:26 remaining in the first quarter. Junior Joseph Robinson kicked the extra point to give the Hornets a 7-0 lead after one.

Florio scored on a 1-yard TD run 24 seconds into the second quarter to put Branford up 13-0. The Hornets took their two-touchdown lead into the halftime break.

Tolland scored on a 2-yard touchdown rush with 9:02 remaining in the third quarter. The Eagles then hit the 2-point conversion to cut the deficit to 13-8.

With just 36 seconds left in the quarter, junior Jeter DeCusati picked off Tolland’s quarterback and returned it 36 yards for a touchdown and a 19-8 Branford advantage. Lomotey followed by running in the 2-point try to give the Hornets a 21-8 lead entering the fourth period.

Lomotey made a big play by blocking an Eagles’ punt through the back of the end zone just 20 seconds into the fourth quarter. The play resulted in a safety and a 23-8 lead for Head Coach John Limone’s team.

Tolland came back with a 55-yard touchdown pass to make it 23-14 with 7 minutes to play in the game. However, Branford stopped Tolland’s 2-point conversion pass, keeping the Hornets up by multiple scores.

Lomotey put the game away by rushing for a 1-yard touchdown with 1:25 left in the game. Robinson kicked the extra point to finish off a 30-14 victory for the Hornets.

Branford ran the ball 45 times for 197 yards in the win. Florio gained 43 yards on his way to scoring 2 touchdowns on the ground.

The Hornets’ defense controlled the line of scrimmage versus Tolland. Branford had 14 tackles for a loss and 2 sacks in the victory.

During the previous week’s action, Branford hosted Guilford for a divisional game and took a 28-7 loss to the Grizzlies. Lomotey scored the Hornets’ lone touchdown of the game on a 4-yard run in the fourth quarter. Robinson kicked the extra point for Branford.

Senior quarterback Zach Turbert completed 13 passes for 125 yards in the game. Florio ran the ball 15 times for 58 yards to go with 3 catches for 27 yards for Branford. Lomotey grabbed 3 receptions for 44 yards and also scored the rushing touchdown. Senior Ethan D’Onofrio had 2 catches for 46 yards.

Branford is playing a road game against fellow SCC Tier 3 opponent Jonathan Law on Friday, Sept. 30. The ball kicks off at 7 p.m. at Lawmen Stadium in Milford.

The Branford field hockey team hosted Hamden for its lone contest of the week on Sept. 20. The Hornets scored a 4-0 win over the Green Dragons at Branford High School, boosting their overall record to 3-1 on the season.

Senior Lauren Kendrick scored 2 goals to led Branford to its shutout victory versus Hamden last week. Senior Scout Engstrom scored 1 goal and had 1 assist in the win. Junior Mia d’Amuri also netted a goal for the Hornets, while senior Lauren McCarthy handed out an assist.

Junior Julia Bozzi made 1 saves in the cage to get the shutout for Head Coach Pete Frye’s team. Coach Frye said that junior Rachel Esposito and sophomore Eliza Burgess both played solid games to help Branford come away with the win.

Branford is playing three home games this week. The Hornets are hosting Cheshire on Thursday, Sept. 29 at 6:30 p.m.; Sheehan on Friday, Sept. 30 at 6:45 p.m.; and North Haven on Tuesday, Oct. 4 at 3:45 p.m.

The Branford girls’ soccer team won two of its three matchups last week to move to 4-2 in the 2022 season. Branford claimed wins over Shelton and Hamden and also took a loss to Cheshire in last week’s action.

The Hornets kicked off their week by earning a 5-2 victory against Shelton in a road game on Sept. 20. Bryce Infantino scored Branford’s first goal of the game in the 9th minute of the contest. Tess Ferrie had the assist on the goal.

Trailing 2-1 at halftime, the Hornets rattled off four-straight goals in the second stanza to take control of the contest. Tess Ferrie scored the tying goal from Ava Ferrie in the 52nd minute. Ten minutes later, Tess Ferrie netted the go-ahead goal on another Ava Ferrie assist to give Branford a 3-2 advantage.

Ava Ferrie scored from Tess Ferrie in the 65th minute to increase the lead to 4-2. Then in the 74th minute, Lucy Moran found the back of the net off of Ava Ferrie’s third helper of the game to finish off the 5-2 victory. Senior Molly Pombo made 4 saves in goal for the Hornets.

Then on Sept. 22, Branford hosted Cheshire and took a 2-0 defeat against the Rams. Pombo had 12 saves in the game.

Two days later, the Hornets were back at home to face Hamden and posted an 8-0 shutout over the Green Dragons at Branford High School.

Branford is on the road to play Guilford at 6 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 29. After that, the Hornets are hosting East Haven on Monday, Oct. 3 at 6:30 p.m.

The Branford boys’ soccer team played three games last week and came away from the slate with two victories to boost its record to 4-2 this year. The Hornets took a loss to Cheshire before bouncing back with wins over Amistad and North Haven in recent action.

Branford took a 7-0 loss to Cheshire in a home game on Sept. 20. Two days later, the Hornets traveled to New Haven to face Amistad and won the contest by a 1-0 score. Sophomore Antonio Esperti scored the lone goal of the game to lift Branford to the victory.

Branford wrapped its week by hosting North Haven on Sept. 24. The Hornets edged out the Nighthawks by the final score of 1-0 at Branford High School.

Branford will be on the road for its next three contests. The Hornets will face Amity in Woodbridge on Friday, Sept. 30 at 3:45 p.m.; are playing at East Haven on Monday, Oct. 3 at 6 p.m.; and will then play a road game versus Career-Hillhouse at 3:45 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 5.

The Branford girls’ volleyball team hit the court to play a pair of road matches last week. The Hornets took a loss to West Haven and then posted a win over Foran to move to 2-4 for the fall campaign.

On Sept. 19, Branford took a 3-2 defeat at West Haven, losing the contest by the score of 21-25, 22-25, 25-22, 25-8, 15-13. Senior Allie Bietz finished the match with 35 assists and 9 digs for the Hornets. Senior Paige Kelly had 12 kills with 6 digs and 5 aces. Junior Jenna DeFrancesco posted 13 kills and 8 digs in the contest.

Then on Sept. 23, Branford traveled to Milford to face Foran and recorded a 3-0 shutout against the Lions. The Hornets swept the match with set scores of 25-12, 25-20, and 25-18.

Branford is playing a road match versus Cheshire on Friday, Sept. 30 at 6:30 p.m. The Hornets will then come back home to host East Haven on Monday, Oct. 3 at 5:30 p.m.

The Branford boys’ cross country team picked up a couple of victories when it competed in a quad-meet at Shelton High School last week. The Hornets recorded a team score of 57 to defeat Fairfield Prep (75) and Hillhouse (87) while taking a loss to Shelton (17) in the contest on Sept. 20. With these results, Branford improved its record to 4-2 on the year.

Senior Massimo Corrick led the Hornets’ pack by claiming fifth place with a time of 18:29 at the meet. Senior Colin Donahoe finished in sixth place by timing in at 18:30 for Branford. Junior Dom Zdunek came in ninth place with a time of 18:48 to help the Hornets take two of three.

Junior Sam Coppola finished in 16th place by running a time of 19:24 for Branford. Junior Anton Hesselink finished in 26th place with a time of 19:57.

Branford will hit the course to take part in the SCC Divisional Meet next week. The competition takes place at the Guilford Fairgrounds at 4 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 29.

The Branford girls’ cross country team squad competed against three teams in a quad-meet at Shelton High School on Sept. 20. The Hornets recorded a team score of 54 points to defeat both Lauralton Hall (70) and Hillhouse (70) to go with a loss versus Shelton (33). Branford boosted its record to 2-4 by taking two of three at this meet.

Junior Tanner Marrandino hit the finish line with a time of 22:08 to take third place for Branford in the meet. Senior Hannah Jackson ran a time of 23:15 and finished in fifth place on behalf of the Hornets. Sophomore Ella Stone finished in 11th place at 25:22.

Senior Marina Smiarowski came in 17th place by hitting the finish line with a time of 26:10 for Branford. Fellow senior Taylor Tracy ran a time of 27:05 to finish in 22nd place.

Branford will be competing in the SCC Divisional Meet at the Guilford Fairgrounds on Thursday, Sept. 29 at 4 p.m.

The Branford girls’ swimming and diving team recently competed against North Haven in a road meet. On Sept. 23, the Hornets faced North Haven at Walter Gawrych Community Pool and took and took a 92-67 defeat in the contest.

Sophomore Kylie Acquarulo-Savastano finished first in the 100 backstroke (1:22.93) for Branford against North Haven. Junior Lasang Subba took first place in the 100 breaststroke (1:54.74).

Branford’s 200 freestyle relay team of junior Ridhima Shrestha, junior Claudia Romano, junior Carmella Lippolis, and Subba finished in first place (2:17.01) at the meet. The Hornets’ 400 freestyle relay of freshman Abigail Talalas, sophomore Erin Newlan, junior Malak Elweheshy, and junior Isabella Armellino also claimed first place (5:07.38).

Branford is hosting Sacred Heart Academy at the Walsh Intermediate Pool on Thursday, Sept. 29 at 4 p.m. The Hornets will then compete in the West Harford Invitational at Cornerstone Aquatics Center on Saturday, Oct. 1 at 3 p.m. After that, Branford has a home meet versus Sheehan on Monday, Oct. 3 at 4 p.m.