POMPERAUG FOOTBALL
NEWS

Tom Tidgwell (37) has led Pomperaug to its first division title and
first appearance in the conference championship game. He has followed the blocking of
James Mastriani, Cliff Hawthorne, Joe DiRienzo, Matt Sharkey, Phil Platt, Tim Napoli.

The best of both worlds
Pomperaug’s Tidgwell shines on offense and defense
By Ed Flink
THE NEWS-TIMES
2002-11-19

Pomperaug High senior Tom Tidgwell realizes he’s enjoyed "the best of both worlds’’ this fall.

A three-year starting linebacker, he also emerged as the team’s featured ball carrier this season.

On most high school football teams, the best athletes usually play both offense
and defense, rarely leaving the field.

But that’s not the case with Pomperaug (9-1), which meets Immaculate (9-0-1) in the
South-West Conference championship game Thursday at Trumbull High.

Coach Chuck Drury employs a two-platoon system, and Tidgwell is one of only three
Panthers who start both ways.

"He’s always been a good football player,’’ said Drury, who noticed Tidgwell "had senior
qualities as a sophomore.’’

Arguably he is the team’s most indispensable player. Tidgwell has scored 15 touchdowns,
rushed for almost 800 yards and is its second-leading tackler.

A 6-foot, 190-pounder, he was looking forward to the challenge of running with the ball.

"I was definitely excited and anxious to see how I was going to do,’’ said Tidgwell, who
delivered a defining performance in the Panthers’ biggest game of the season.

On the road at Notre Dame-Fairfield two weeks ago, he rushed for 123 yards and scored
four touchdowns as Pomperaug beat the Lancers 33-18, clinching the school’s first division title.

And to think he probably would’ve settled for playing only linebacker were he
forced to make a choice.

"Just because we lost a lot more players on defense,’’ Tidgwell said. "We knew were going to
have a young defense this year and I would’ve wanted myself out there to help the defense
out and (provide) some experience.

"I like offense, too; don’t get me wrong. I like them both a lot,’’ he added.

Speed is big reason for his effectiveness at both positions.

Defensively, "he can close people down quickly and he’s a sure tackler,’’ Drury said.

Offensively, "he runs with fluidity and then he has a second gear. So he sees the opening
and gives you a burst,’’ the coach said.

Said Immaculate coach Steve Kaplanis: "He’s a very dangerous runner. He knows
how to read his blocks very well.’’

Tidgwell’s contributions don’t end as a two-way starter, either. He’s one of the league’s
better directional punters, and he’s returned a pair of kickoffs for touchdowns.

Pomperaug operates out of the Delware Wing-T and relies heavily on its running game.
Fullback Ken Fraser, halfback Patrick Kantor and quarterback Steve Hansen join Tidgwell
in the backfield. They owe their success to the unsung offensive linemen in the trenches.

Ironically, the quintet of left tackle Tim Napoli (6-2, 240), left guard Phil Platt (6-1, 230), center
Matt Sharkey (6-1, 200), right guard Joe DeRienzo (6-0, 235) and right tackle
Cliff Hawthorne (5-10, 270) entered the season as a collective question mark.

Only Platt was a full-time starter last year, but this dedicated unit has been largely responsible
for Pomperaug averaging 23 points per game.

"They made themselves. Home grown,’’ Drury said. "Those guys jumped into the weight room
after the last game (of last season) and didn’t come out until August 18.

"They have a lot of confidence because they’ve been in the weight room. It’s not because we’re a bullying
type group; they just want to move the sticks. And as the linemen know, they’ve got some good backs
behind them so that’s also motivation to block harder. They know the kids behind them can take it the distance.’’

The line gelled soon after Pomperaug’s season-opening 21-0 loss to Amity.

"The first week against Amity we were all discombobulated. We were missing a lot of blocks and guys
didn’t know their assignments that well,’’ Tidgwell said. "But that (ensuing) week in practice I think
we came together and we knew it was going to work out well.’’

Kaplanis is impressed with the physicality of the Panthers’ linemen.

"They’re all seniors, they’re all big and they’re all very aggressive run blockers,’’ he said. "They’re
a cohesive unit and they’ve got talented backs behind them.’’

Immaculate flaunts the SWC’s stingiest defense, having surrendered only 71 points. However, senior
captain Donald Naiman, a 6-4, 275-pound defensive tackle, concedes the Mustangs will need a
superb effort to contain Tidgwell and the Panthers.

"They’re a very threatening team. They get off the ball very well and have very tight splits,’’ Naiman
said. "That’s a lot of power, they’re fast and they’re effective. It will be a challenge for our defensive line.’’

No doubt they’ll be keeping a close eye on No. 37. That would be Tidgwell, one of the few
Panthers who has the best of both worlds.