By Michael Letendre
FAIRFIELD – The Connecticut High School Football Alliance pitted Bristol Eastern against Fairfield Warde on Friday evening, a squad the Lancers simply could not slow down.
The FCIAC East competitor scored off the bat and then on the flip side, clamped down on Eastern defensively – holding the locals to just one touchdown score.
And the depleted Lancers ended up falling by a 27-7 final from Tetreau/Davis Field in Fairfield.
Undefeated Warde, now 3-0, saw standout QB Charlie Gulbin (19-of-24, 283 yards) make connections all over the field.
A mix of play action kept the gridiron wide open, and Gulbin was able to find of host of receivers after Eastern (0-3) forced late down situations.
Still dealing with an injury to Lancers’ signal caller Kamden Laprise, back-up Alexander Corvo did a credible job hanging in, squaring away 12-of-19 passes for just over 100 yards.
Rayshon Andrews captured over 100 yards from scrimmage, snaring seven passes for 83 yards while making three rushes for 20 yards.
Jaiden Fore (21 carries, 94 yards) did another credible job moving the football on the ground while Austin Shorette – playing well on both sides of the ball – made a 10-yard touchdown reception for the team’s only touchdown of the evening.
Shorette led the defense with 7.5 tackles.
Kyle Babin made three receptions while on defense, Zaveyn Tate was a stud – scooping in three tackles for losses while collecting seven tackles overall.
Joseph Gibson tallied Eastern’s first sack of the campaign and did everything he could to slow a very aggressive offensive onslaught by the crafty Mustangs.
Warde scored on its opening drive, going 65 yards on 12 plays which was capped when Gulbin made a 12-yard charge into the end zone as the home team led 7-0 just five minutes in.
Eastern forced a turnover on the Mustangs’ second drive with the ball and off a slick 49-yard punt by kicker Gavin Damboise, Warde had to traverse nearly the length of the field to score again.
This time, a slick six play, 91-yard jaunt saw Gulbin make a 37-yard pass to Gerald Jacobs.
Tate did a credible job tracking the receiver, but Jacobs was already a step or two in front, sprinting in the goal for six more points as Fairfield led 14-0 with 7:28 remaining in the half.
After an Eastern three-and-out, Warde scored on the ensuing drive as Gulbin dumped down a pass to Jacobs for an 8-yard TD strike and with 2:59 remaining in the second frame, it was a 20-0 game.
That score carried into intermission and off an onside kick to open the third tilt, Warde had possession of the ball and scored one last time.
To end the scoring, Gulbin made a great toss to Lucas Coleman who made an equally tough reception over the Eastern defender and on the 25-yard scoring connection, the Mustangs were in charge at 27-0 with 10:21 showing on the clock in the third tilt.
But Corvo, who is more than holding his own as the starting QB, helped to orchestrate a 79 yard, 13 play drive – including a big 10-yard fourth down reception by Babin – as Shorette eventually notched Eastern’s touchdown.
Under fire, Corvo made a smooth toss to Shorette – all alone in the middle of the end zone – as the 10-yard touchdown strike trimmed the deficit to 27-7 with 2:56 left in the third.
Neither team scored again the rest of the way as Eastern eventually absorbed a tough 27-7 decision.
Eastern continues its four-game trek on the road this Friday as the
Kingstreeters battle Avon at 6:30 p.m. from the Falcons turf field.
BRISTOL EASTERN FOOTBALL (CCC-FCIAC Football Challenge)
FAIRFIELD-WARDE 27, BRISTOL EASTERN 7
from Fairfield-Warde
Bristol Eastern (0-3) 0 0 7 0 – 7
Fairfield-Warde (3-0) 7 13 7 0 – 27
SCORING
First Period
F – Charlie Gulbin 12 run (TJ Sinis kick), 7:00
Second Period
F – Gerald Jacobs 37 pass by Gulbin (Sinis kick), 7:28
F – Jacobs 37 pass by Gulbin (failed kick), 7:28
Third Period
F – Lucas Coleman 25 pass by Gulbin (Sinis kick), 10:21
BE – Austin Shorette 10 pass by Alex Corvo (Gavin Damboise kick), 2:56
Fourth Period
No Scoring
Individual Statistics
RUSHING – Bristol Eastern: Jaiden Fore 21-94, Rayshon Andrews 3-20; Fairfield-Warde: Overall 22-48.
PASSING – Bristol Eastern: Corvo 12-of-19, 101 yards; Fairfield-Warde: Charlie Gulbin 19-of-24, 283 yards.
RECEPTIONS – Bristol Eastern: Austin Shorette 1-10, Andrews 7-83, Kyle Babin 3-11, Chase Dauphinee 1-(minus-3); Fairfield-Warde: Overall 19-283
Records: Fairfield-Warde 3-0 overall; Bristol Eastern 0-3.
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