New Haven Register (New Haven, CT)
Russo, Cheshire rout Staples
CHESHIRE — Cheshire sat just outside the Top 10 in the latest GameTimeCT.com state football poll going into Friday night.
The Rams now should be a firm resident of the top 10 come Monday night.
Cheshire (3-0) scored 28 points in the first half and went on to rout Staples, 42-14, in a Connecticut Football Alliance clash at Cheshire High.
“We look at it, but our focus is going 1-0 every week and playing the best we can,” Cheshire running back Christian Russo said. “At the end of the day, rankings are the rankings.”
It was all about the Cheshire offensive line which ruled the night as the Rams rushed for 365 yards. And as usual, it was Russo who led the way with 18 carries for 250 yards. He ran for 213 of them in the first half and added a pair of touchdowns as Cheshire raced out to a 28-7 lead at the break.
“It was all the offensive line,” Russo said afterwards. “They did everything. I just ran though the holes, made some cuts and scored some touchdowns. We’re going to play physical and run the ball down your throat.”
The Cheshire running game kept the Rams in control almost all night.
“If you can establish the run in football, you’re usually going to have some success,” said Cheshire coach Don Drust. “For 100 years, it’s been that way.”
It didn’t take long for Cheshire to take the lead as the Rams needed just six plays before Russo scooted into the end zone for a twoyard touchdown and a 7-0 lead.
However, the Wreckers came right back down the field with an 80-yard drive that was capped off by a Ryan Thompson to James Hillhouse touchdown pass to even things at 7-7 with 5:51 left in the opening quarter.
After that, it was all Cheshire.
A delay of game penalty before the ball was even snapped on the first play of the next possession didn’t deter the Rams as Russo scampered 58 yards for a score to make it 14-7.
Kevin D’Errico ran in from a yard out and Mike Simeone added a three-yard as Cheshire broke things wide open with a 28-7 lead at intermission.
“They are a tough physical team,” Staples coach Adam Behrends said. “We have to do a better job getting up the gap and wrapping up tackles.”
Russo came out of the game early in the third quarter after he cramped up after a run of 37 yards.
“We’re just trying to compete and put ourselves into position to win football games,” Drust said. “We’re also trying to protect these guys. It’s not a one-game season.”
PLAYER OF THE GAME
Cheshire running back Christian Russo had 18 carries for 250 yards, 213 of them in the first half, and he added two touchdowns.