Rockville blanks Uncas Division leader Granby
Oct. 23—The Granby/Canton co-op football team was atop the Pequot Conference Uncas Division standings as it hosted Rockville Friday.
But there's something to be said about the heart of a champion.
The reigning Pequot champion Rams took a first-quarter lead on a Hason Green interception return and never looked back as they routed the Bears 42-0 at Granby High.
Rockville, Granby/Canton, and Ellington share the Uncas Division lead at 4-1. The Rams and Bears are also 4-1 overall with Rockville having won four straight since a loss to SMSA.
"We had a crazy start to the season with losing our scrimmage and then losing our first game," Rockville coach Erick Knicherbocker said. "We also had a lot kids miss a lot of time. We've been playing better but tonight I wanted to know who we were.
"We really showed a lot of heart. I knew we had it but I wasn't sure how much. These kids take a lot of pride in the program and the history of it. This was really a collective effort tonight."
Green's 64-yard pick six opened the scoring. The Rams maintained their edge with a stand in the second quarter as they denied the Bears on fourth down from the 2-yard line with Brendan Tierney and Amir Knighton combining on the stop.
Short touchdown runs by Travon Edmondson and Matt Ryan in the third quarter made it 21-0. Rockville blew it open in the fourth quarter as Knighton scored on a two-yard run, Ryan found his brother John for a 12-yard TD reception, and Juneil Powell returned an interception 62 yards for a score.
Michael Naylor was 6-for-6 on extra points.
The Rams' defense was relentless led by Knighton (10 tackles, 3 sacks), Malachi Mapp (fumble recovery), Ashton Szrejna (9 tackles, 2 fumble recoveries), and Cam Washington.
"We made a lot of plays and played with everything we have," Knickerbocker said.
Offensively, Knighton had 104 yards on the ground on only four carries, including a 70-yard burst that set up the first score of the second half.
Rockville hosts Coginchaug in a Pequot interdivisional game Friday night.
ROCKVILLE (4-1) 7 0 14 21 — 42
GRANBY (4-1) 0 0 0 0 — 0
R — Hason Green 64 interception return (Michael Naylor kick)
R — Travon Edmondson 2 run (Naylor kick)
R — Matt Ryan 1 run (Naylor kick)
R — Amir Knighton 2 run (Naylor kick)
R — John Ryan 12 pass from M. Ryan (Naylor kick)
R — Juneil Powell 62 interception return (Naylor kick)
