Bristol Central football will compete in a state playoff game for the first time since the Reagan administration when it takes on CCC foe Maloney on Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. at Falcon Field in Meriden.
The sixth-seeded Rams (9-1) are in the postseason for the first time since 1987, when they lost the Class MM state championship game to Middletown. Central also played in the 1979 Class L title game, which it lost to Darien.
The third-seeded Spartans (9-1) are no strangers to the postseason recently. This is the fourth straight year that Maloney has appeared in the state playoffs dating back to 2017. There was no football season in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Spartans can attack opposing defenses through the air and on the ground. Senior quarterback Angel Arce threw for over 1200 yards this season, and junior running back Josh Boganski ran for over 1200 yards. Seniors Ian Graham, Tylee Flowers Jr., Austin Studley are all receiving targets for Arce, as is junior Joziah Gonzalez. On defense, Maloney has been led by seniors Kevin McMillian, Deajon Nixon, Johnny Rosado and Kuron Wiggins. Senior Rashawn Shelton is tough to throw the ball against, as are Flowers, Wiggins and Rosado. Each player has multiple interceptions.
Central has been led by the one-man wrecking crew that is senior quarterback Victor Rosa. Rosa has etched his name into the Ram record book during a spectacular final season. Rosa ran for 2598 yards and scored 39 touchdowns. He also threw for 749 yards and eight touchdowns without an interception. Rosa can do it all, but he doesn’t have the season he did without his blockers, who have been terrific. Those blockers have included: junior Tre Blair; senior Ashton Zabka; senior Damion Glasper; senior Justin Despins; sophomore Jack Jones; senior Daniel Lauretti; senior Malachi Jones; senior Jaden Goulbourne; junior Julius Powell; and junior Mason Stokes.
On defense, Lauretti, Jones and Stokes are key players up front. Rosa, Blair and Glasper play in the defensive backfield, as does sophomore Anthony Paulino, who picked off a couple passes in the second half of the season. Zabka can be found at linebacker while junior Nik Salinas has played in the secondary and at linebacker. Central will need a full defensive effort to slow down the Maloney attack.
This game between the Rams and Spartans is the first since the 2019 regular season. That game was also played at Falcon Field, but there will be much more on the line on Tuesday night.
Photo caption: Victor Rosa and Bristol Central football play in the program’s first playoff game since 1987 on Tuesday when they take on Maloney in Meriden. (Copyright, Sports on CT-69, file)
