By Michael Letendre 

PLAINVILLE – The Bristol Central football team battled Plainville in a primetime CCC Tier 3 showdown on Friday night. 

Both teams were on a mission to keep their playoff hopes alive and by the completion of forty-eight minutes, it was clear that the Rams are ready for a postseason berth. 

Behind a slick defensive display, Central derailed Plainville by a 46-0 blitzing from Tinty Track and Field in Plainville.

By the end of the weekend, the Rams (8-1) were still fifth in the Class L rankings while the Blue Devils (6-3) were out of tournament qualification but slotted back to eighth by the completion of action on Saturday.

Turnovers, miscues, and a guy by the name of Victor Rosa was simply too much for Plainville to handle as the Rams led 28-0 at the half and forced running time late in the encounter.

Rosa, who had 2,071 yards coming into the game – as well as 33 rushing touchdowns – collected 245 yards, scoring three touchdowns, and then passed for 75 yards as the senior put on a huge show in the CCC showdown.

He now has 2,316 rushing yards this year and that total is good for third overall in terms of single season yardage at Central.

And now he’s a half-dozen rushing touchdowns away from tying Central’s single season record.

Defensively, Central stopped an excellent Plainville offense with Anthony Paulino making a critical interception of a Michael Bakaysa pass as the visiting aggression did not allow the home team a single point.

Since the Tolland victory, the Rams have been playing defense with inspiration.

After a combined 98 points against Hartford Public and Tolland, Central held Edwin O. Smith, RHAM and Plainville to 28 total points.

What a great way for the defense to go into its Thanksgiving Day war against Bristol Eastern.

Against Plainville, Rosa scored the first three touchdowns of the evening off jaunts of four, four, and 37 yards to help the Rams scoop up a 20-0 push midway through the second stanza.

Damion Glasper ended the first half with a 59 yard sprint for a score and with just over two minutes remaining, Central’s edge grew to 28-0.

In the third tilt, Ashton Zabka caught a 31 yard pass from Rosa for a TD and when Justin Despins made a one-yard plunge into the end zone with 1:56 left in the third, it was a 40-0 romp as the game clock went to running time due to Central’s lead being over 35 points.

And late in the game, the Rams’ Nik Salinas barreled into the Plainville goal off a 63 yard touchdown rush and with 2:11 remaining, Central scooped up a 46-0 cushion to seal the deal.

Bristol Central Football – CCC Tier 3 Showdown

BRISTOL CENTRAL 46, PLAINVILLE 0

from Tinty Field on the campus of Plainville high school

Bristol Central (8-1) 6 22 12 6 – 46

Plainville (6-3) 0 0 0 0 – 0