BEACON FALLS >> For the second week in a row, Torrington’s football team was a juggernaut on offense and defense, this time in a 44-13 roll over Woodland in Beacon Falls.
Last year’s 28-27 overtime Torrington win in the second game of the season turned out to be a season highlight in a 4-6 year.
“Last year, we were almost there,” said Torrington coach Gaitan Rodriguez. “Now, we’re taking advantage of opportunities.”
Senior running back Tyler Marens, with three touchdowns for the night, reeled off 112 yards in the first half on the opportunities his line presented him.
“It’s the line. You just go,” he said. Marens piled up 187 yards in three quarters as the benches moved in for the final period.
Newton Frias wasn’t far behind, with 91 carries, a touchdown and three two-point conversions, in addition to a long kickoff runback to start the second half at the Woodland 37-yard line.
“I thought I had it,” Frias said about the runback. “Thank God I have that line. Without them, I wouldn’t have any yards.”
On defense, the Raiders were just as fearsome, forcing a young Woodland team into five fumbles, recovering two and intercepting freshman quarterback Zack Bedruczuk for a touchdown.
“I thought we were very physical,” said Coach Rodriguez. “We played better than in our opener (a 55-31 win over Crosby). We were more aggressive.”
Nevertheless, for the second week in a row, the other team scored first. Bedruczuk, running a play option most of the game got off a 47-yard strike to Jonathan Scirpo, highlighting a six-play march down the field.
“We were just trying to get in the game,” said Frias.
Torrington’s first play – a pitch from Connor Finn to Zack Mancini went 80 yards, only to be called back for a penalty. Twelve plays later, the Raiders were in the game and on top of it to stay with an 11-yard scoring pass from Finn to Frias.
Marens converted for the lead, 8-7.
The second quarter started as a defensive struggle, then turned into a Marens romp.
Woodland reached the Torrington six-yard line, then fumbled. Torrington recovered.
With three minutes left in the half, Marens took off for 79 yards, 16-7 with a Frias run.
Tory Hammonds intercepted Bedryczuk’s pass on the Hawks’ first play after the kickoff. Marens ran in the touchdown, 15 yards, 22-7.
Torrington turned it over to start the second half, then turned the stone into a gem, holding the Hawks on downs from the Torrington 17.
Marens capped the turnaround with a 77-yard touchdown run, 30-7 with a Frias conversion.
Woodland got on the board one more time, with a 65-yard pass from Bedryczuk to Sean McAllen. The kick failed.
Meanwhile, Torrington was a boulder rolling downhill.
Justin Egliskis carried an interception 20 yards for another score, 38-13, Frias run.
With the benches cleared for the final period, sophomore Dylan Myrie was the Raider ground-eater, scoring on a five-yard burst at the beginning of the period (Torrington took a knee for the non-converstion), then covering 69 yards in eight carries to eat the clock.
Torrington hosts Naugatuck next Friday. Woodland is at Wolcott.
Torrington 44, Woodland 13
At Woodland High School
Torrington 8 14 16 6 – 44
Woodland 7 0 6 0 – 13
Scoring Summary
First Quarter
W – Sean McAllen 8-yard run (Benjamin Nuss kick)
T – Newton Frias 11-yard pass from Connor Finn (Tyler Marens run)
Second Quarter
T – Marens 79-yard run (Frias run)
T – Marens 15-yard run (run failed)
Third Quarter
T – Marens 77-yard run (Frias run)
W – McAllen 65-yard pass from Zack Bedryczuk (kick failed)
T – Justin Egliskis 20-yard interception return (Frias run)
Fourth quarter
T – Dylan Myrie 5-yard run (conversion knee)
Individual Stats
Rushing: T – Newton Frias 13 carries/91 yards; Tyler Marens 10/187; Dylan Myrie 8/69. W – Coby Vaccarelli 5/45; Benjamin Nuss 4/19; Sean McAllen 16/112.
Passing: T – Connor Finn 7 completions/14 attempts/77 yards/interception. W – Zack Bedryczuk 7/12/167/2 interceptions.
Receiving: T – Zack Mancini 4 receptions/51 yards; Favian Moya 1/8; Newton Frias 1/11. W – Guy Massimo 3/35; Jonathan Scirpo 1/47; Sean McAllen 1/10.
Records: Torrington 2-0; Woodland 1-1