pomperaug runs over joel barlow

By Christropher Leone THE NEWS-TIMES
09.21.2007

REDDING -- It is no secret what Pomperaug High is going to do when the Panthers step on the field. If it works, they may only attempt a pass or two.

"You have to be comfortable with what you are going to do," said Pomperaug coach Chuck Drury.

Thursday night on the road against Joel Barlow, the Panthers stayed well within their comfort zone, rushed the ball 48 times for 341 yards, and coasted
to a 28-0 victory in a South West Conference football game.

"Part of the goal is taking them out of that offense," said Joel Barlow coach Rob Tynan. "You try to get them to do something different.
We didn't do that and then you die the slow death."

The Panthers opened in their traditional three-back cluster formation and ran left, right, and up the middle on an eight play drive. With Michael Leonetti and
Timothy Miller alternating carries, the Panthers' misdirection plays worked to perfection. Leonetti highlighted the assault with a 39-yard run that started right, came
back to the left, before finishing in the middle of the field. The senior back then punched the ball in from the 1-yard line to complete the scoring drive.

Barlow attempted to answer the early rushing dominance with its own ground game. The Falcons took their opening drive 13 plays, and behind the wishbone attack led by
sophomore quarterback Tyler Colby moved the ball down to the goal line. However, an awkward snap popped out of the hands of Colby and into the end zone. When the scramble
ended, Pomperaug defensive back Geoffrey Rose had the ball and the Panther offense was back on the attack.

"They know what we are going to do," said Leonetti. "We come out and try to be a smashmouth football team."

On its second drive, Pomperaug once again demonstrated its superior ground attack. Miller and Leonetti combined to carry the ball on eight of the Panthers' next nine
plays with no run going for less than 4 yards. With Barlow keying on the inside run, Leonetti bounced the ball to the outside off left tackle at the 29-yard line. With nothing but
green grass in his way, Leonetti outran the Falcons' defense to the end zone to increase the lead to 14-0.

"The O-line makes it easy for us," said Leonetti, who finished with a team-high 147 yards. "They have been working hard in practice and it shows on the field."

"He (Miller) is a speed guy and I think of myself as a pounder," said Leonetti. "We go out and behind the line do our thing."

In the third quarter, it would be Miller who would increase the Pomperaug lead and do his share of the scoring.

Panthers linebacker Patrick Reagan gave his offense great field position to start the third quarter with a fumble recovery at the Falcon 40-yard line. A Falcon
personal foul moved the ball down to the 25-yard line and from there, Miller found his way into the end zone with a power run up the middle that
increased the lead to 21-0.

Later in the quarter, after a Falcons drive stalled at midfield, two Leonetti runs set up Miller for his second touchdown. This time it was a 20-yard spring
off the right tackle that made the score 28-0.