More than bragging rights were on the line for the Joel Barlow High varsity football team in its annual Thanksgiving game against Weston.
The Falcons also needed the victory to cement their chances of making the state Class SS playoffs. With their offense able to move the ball on the ground and the defense holding the competition to less than 70 total yards, the Falcons never looked back in a 30-6 win at home on Thursday, Nov. 23.
It was Barlow’s third straight win in the annual contest, which has been played every year since 1996, except 2020, during the pandemic.
After taking the opening kickoff, Weston had little luck on its first series, due in part by Liam Kiernan sacking Trojan quarterback Tim Martin on his own 31-yard line, eventually resulting in a punt. The Falcons then went to work offensively, embarking on a 42-yard scoring drive.
Runs by Jack Gilbert, Dylan Taylor and Cole Peterson got them deep into Weston territory before Scott Romano found the end zone on a 16-yard run down the left side. Gilbert ran in the two-point conversion and Barlow was on top 8-0 with 5:39 left in the first quarter.
Weston again was forced to punt, and the Falcons were making progress on their next series, which included a 31-yard option run by Sam Guidera and an 18-yard pass from Gilbert to Andrew Watson. However, the Falcons fumbled and Weston recovered on its own 21 early in the second quarter.
“It was a little sloppy,” said Barlow head coach T. J. Cavaliere, whose team fumbled twice in the game. “We need to execute better as we go into the playoffs.”
Barlow’s defense then stepped up with back-to-back sacks by Conor Smyth and Kiernan, forcing Weston to punt again. A short kick gave Barlow good field position on the Weston 27, setting up another touchdown, this one on a 22-yard run up the middle by Taylor. Romano scored the two-point conversion, putting the hosts up 16-0.
Although Weston fumbled on its next series, Barlow soon returned the favor and the score stood unchanged at halftime.
Both sides turned over the ball on downs to start the second half, but the Falcons then embarked on a 53-yard scoring drive that featured a 35-yard pass from Gilbert to Watson. Romano eventually scored from less than a yard out and with Taylor’s two-point conversion it was 24-0 with 13 seconds left in the third quarter.
The Trojans’ lone score was the result of a 59-yard reception by Jackson Solano early in the fourth frame to end the shutout. The two-point conversion failed.
Barlow was quick to answer. Between good field position and a face mask penalty against Weston, it set up an 18-yard touchdown run by Peterson. Although the two-point conversion failed, the hosts were in command 30-6 and even got the ball back once more before time expired.
Peterson led Barlow in rushing with 98 yards and one touchdown. Roman ran for 58 with two touchdowns. Watson caught two passes for 53 yards.
The seventh seed in Class SS, the defending state champion Falcons upset second-ranked Coginchaug/East Hampton/Hale Ray 13-6 in the quarterfinals on Tuesday and are now 7-4 overall. They visit sixth-seeded Sheehan of Wallingford in the semifinals on Sunday, Dec. 3 at 12:30 p.m.
