The 2016 Connecticut High School Football Record Book has been released, and there are plenty of local names scattered throughout.
Note: Anything in italics are my thoughts from what I saw.
One of the most prominent is the electric Tim Washington of Bristol Central (1998-01). Washington still owns the top spot for most consecutive 100-yard rushing games. He had 25 of them from 1999 to 2001. Washington is third in career rushing yards, second in most consecutive 200-yard rushing games, and he still holds two of the top seven single-season rushing totals ever (5th and 7th).
I remember watching Washington with my dad when Central faced Southington on Nov. 9, 2001 at Fontana Field. Washington ran for 424 yards on what was still a grass field. On one play, he came down Southington’s sideline, then cut all the way across the field and scored. It was a ridiculous run.
If you’re looking for familiar local names in the record book, here are some highlights:
You can’t talk about rushing without mentioning names like Reinaldo Soto (Bristol Eastern, 1995-98); Garry Pearson (Bristol Central/Eastern, 1975-78); Eli Parks (St. Paul, 2014); Chris Bachand (St. Paul/Goodwin Tech/Lewis Mills, 2009) and Dan Mulrooney (Holy Cross, 2006).
I got to cover Parks in his senior season, and he was outstanding for St. Paul. The Falcons made him the focal point of the offense after the graduation of Marchi, and Parks took advantage.
In receiving, you have to mention Aaron Hernandez (Bristol Central, 2003-06). The record book states that Hernandez is first in career yards, yards in a season, and yards in a game. Other great area receivers include David Coggins (Sacred Heart, 2009-12); Austin Morin (St. Paul/Southington, 2012-15); and Bob Simeone (St. Paul, 1977-80).
Simeone, it should be noted, once had 18 receptions, in a game, against Xavier-Middletown in 1980. Wow.
St. Paul’s prolific passing game over the years leads to several Falcons gracing the receiving record book. Those players include the likes of Ryan Moore, Daija Fitzpatrick, Reid Morin and Brendan Carroll.
I got to watch several of those receivers, and they benefited from being the recipients of passes from Logan Marchi. Marchi was fun to watch, though it was tough to cover three-hour football games (or longer) every week.
When mentioning local quarterbacks, start with Marchi (St. Paul, 2011-13), who is second in career yards passing and completions. Marchi is first in most attempts in a career.
Rohan Ifill (Sacred Heart, 2007-10), Matt Coyne (Bristol Central, 2005-07) and Michael Croce (Holy Cross, 2003-06) are also on the list. David Gondek (Crosby, 2008) is still in Top 25 for most completions in a season.
Gondek led a nasty Crosby passing attack in 2008, and I got to see him and his weapons on full display at Torrington High School. Gondek was great, and he had a big tight end on the team by the name of Jerome Cunningham, who is in the NFL.
Vinny Gambino (Wolcott, 2011-14) finds his way onto the list for most passing touchdowns in a career and a season.
Ifill once attempted 57 passes against Valley Regional/Old Lyme in a 2010 state playoff game.
The stats in the record book are immense (it’s 73 pages cover to cover). Blake Ireland (Crosby, 2015) cracks the Top 25 for most tackles in a season. He had 170 last year. Ocordo Skeen (Wilby) had a ridiculous 19 sacks in 2009. Chris Perusse (St. Paul, 1993-96) tied for 13th for most sacks in a career.
Gerry Ouellette (Bristol Eastern) returned two kickoffs for touchdowns against Hartford Public in 2014, which ties him for the most in a game.
I was at that game, and Ouellette went off against Hartford Public that night. The Lancer sideline went nuts on his second return.
Zach Brown (Holy Cross, 2011) once booted a 74-yard punt in a 2011 Thanksgiving game against Wolcott.
Soto was also a good punt returner. He took three back for touchdowns in 1996.
In another special teams note, Andrea Lund of Kennedy was the first known girl to play in a Connecticut high school game. Lund played against Seymour in 1994 and booted an extra point.
During the 1970s, two of the winningest programs in the state resided in Bristol. Bristol Central was fifth on the list while St. Paul was seventh.
There is so, so much more in the latest edition of the record book, put together by Robert Barton and Gerry deSimas Jr. It’s because of Barton and deSimas, along with the schools, that we have these records. Enjoy!
