The high-powered Bristol Central football team was at it again on Friday night on the home turf against Tolland.
How do you follow up scoring 52 points, which Central did in a four-point victory at Hartford Public on Oct. 9? By scoring 68, which the Rams did in an 18-point victory over the Eagles. Victor Rosa exploded for 406 yards and eight touchdowns in the win. The eight touchdowns give Rosa 26 for the season. The eight touchdowns vaulted Rosa from Top 15 at Central for single-season touchdowns scored to the Top 5. Rosa is now fifth all-time in single-season touchdowns. Ahead of him are Tim Washington, which owns the top two all-time totals at 42 (2000) and 37 (2001). There’s Dathan Hickey, who sits in third with 30, which he did in his senior season in 2017. In fourth is Karl Hall, who scored 28 times in 1979.
Rosa scored on runs of 30, 95, 18, 2, 64, 21, 8 and 8 yards, according to a story by Michael Letendre of The Bristol Edition. Tre Blair joined Rosa in the 100-yard club, rushing for 108 on nine carries. Blair scored on a five-yard run. Damion Glasper and Justin Despins also took turns running the ball.
Central and Tolland combined for 118 points, which tied them for 11th place all-time for a single game total between two teams, according to the state record book. Why have the Rams been so good offensively in the last couple games? It starts with good blocking up front, and Central has received that from offensive linemen like Jack Jones, Dan Lauretti, Malachi Jones, Jaden Goldbourne and Julius Powell, along with tight end Mason Stokes. Nick Salinas and Despins provide blocks out of the backfield while Tre Blair, Ashton Zabka and Glasper block from their receiver positions.
Central (5-1) will play E.O. Smith on Thursday at 6:30 p.m. in Storrs.
Photo caption: Bristol Central’s Victor Rosa (with the ball) ran for over 400 yards and scored eight touchdowns in a home win over Tolland on Friday night. (Copyright, Sports on CT-69, file)
