Big Plays, Interceptions Galore, In Berlin Win Over ECHS

Berlin, undefeated a year ago until the state quarterfinals, started sluggishly before opening a comfortable lead Friday night with its big-strike capability. But the Redcoats had to cling with all their might to withstand an East Catholic comeback fueled by Berlin turnovers at Sage Park.

The Redcoats defeated visiting East Catholic 21-14 in a CCC interdivisional game that opened the high school football season for both teams.

The Eagles nearly erased a 21-0 deficit, falling short when Berlin’s defense held firm to force an East Catholic punt from midfield with 2:04 remaining in the game. Tom Undercuffer’s 32-yard run to the Eagles’ 45-yard line two plays following the punt didn’t leave them with enough time to sustain the rally.

Both quarterbacks were intercepted three times. Kevin Maine’s interception in the end zone, on East Catholic’s first possession after cutting the deficit to seven points, was the first of the Redcoats’ two defensive series stops needed to preserve the victory.

“It wasn’t pretty, that’s for sure,” Berlin coach John Capodice said. “With that many inexperienced players, nothing could surprise me. To have [made] six turnovers and win the game is a real positive in my view.

“Overall, the kids did a good job for Week 1. We have to eliminate the turnovers. Our goal always is to limit penalties and turnovers and to protect the ball,” Capodice said.

Berlin pushed East Catholic all over the field in the first quarter but failed to score. An interception in the corner of the end zone by sophomore Joe Carbone – also the Eagles’ quarterback – halted an impressive game-opening drive by the Redcoats.

A Berlin drive that started 30 seconds before the end of the first quarter finished with the game’s first score on the opening play of the second quarter. The Redcoats, who lost in the CIAC Class M quarterfinals in 2010 after a 10-0 season, had built a 21-0 lead by halftime. And as gallant as the young Eagles had been, they were reeling at halftime.

“We were kind of shell-shocked in the first half,” East Catholic coach Bill Baccaro said. “But we came back and showed our character. They stacked the middle and played with a nine-man front, daring us to throw the ball. And when you throw the ball, good things can happen but also some bad things can happen.

“The two turnovers we had in the end zone were killers,” Baccaro said.

Scott McLeod’s 7-yard reception from sophomore quarterback Mitch Williams gave Berlin a 7-0 lead after Devin Silverman’s kick to begin the second quarter. Half the period later, Undercuffer’s 2-yard run and Silverman’s kick gave the Redcoats a 14-0 lead. With fewer than two minutes to go before halftime, McLeod beat the Eagles’ defense for 64-yard touchdown reception. Silverman converted and East Catholic, 3-7 a year ago, was down by three touchdowns.

The rally started on East Catholic’s first series of the second half. Three completions in a row – two to Tim Weiner – moved the ball from the East Catholic 43 to the 14 where a 14-yard reception by Weiner made it 21-6 within two minutes of the half. The point-after kick was blocked.

Both teams were interecepted once over the balance of the third quarter – Undercuffer had the pickoff for Berlin, Luke Ocasio for East Catholic – setting up the thrilling fourth quarter.

On second-and-9 from the East Catholic 36-yard line, Williams was a little off on an option lateral and the fumble was scooped up by Eagles’ captain Jacob Shippee near the 50-yard line and returned for a score not even two minutes into the fourth quarter. On the conversion play, Carbone handed off to Shippee, who passed to Carbone over the goal line for two points.

Then things got crazy.

Maine had a nice kickoff return going, cutting from the right side to the left sidelines. But he fumbled, and East Catholic recovered. The Eagles had the momentum – and the ball on the Redcoats’ 31-yard line with more than 10 minutes to play. East Catholic got a first down and moved it to the 15 before Maine intercepted in the end zone.

“You know that old saying, ‘bend but don’t break,’ that’s what we did,” Capodice said. “That was a big play by Maine in the end zone. His fumble, that’s part of the game; those things happen.”

Capodice was impressed with the first varsity start by Williams at quarterback. Aside from three passes being picked off, Williams was 13 of 24 for 202 yards. Baccaro was similarly pleased by the performance of his sophomore at quarterback, Carbone, who was 6 of 27 for 92 yards.

“He won’t sulk when things go bad,” Baccaro said. “That’s the temperament you need to be quarterback.”