Midway through the third quarter, the ConVal cheerleaders turned to the stands and began a chant. “LAN-DAU! LAN-DAU! LAN-DAU!” The Cougars had just scored their seventh touchdown of the evening against Kingswood, and the cheer team and crowd were just acknowledging what everyone was thinking – what an amazing turnaround ConVal football has undergone over the past two years under head coach Paul Landau.
Coming off a 46-0 blowout against Manchester West in the home opener, ConVal fans weren’t sure what to expect, wondering if the Cougars could keep it up against a Kingswood team that handed ConVal a one-score loss last season. The Cougars quickly proved they are for real, dominating from the start and winning their second straight blowout, 54-12.
Much has been made of ConVal’s aerial attack, and that was a big factor Friday night, but it all stems from the running game, and the Cougars were unstoppable in that regard against Kingswood. ConVal scored five times on the ground on their way to 333 rushing yards without a single negative rush. Four different rushers scored. QB Dan Spezzaferri took it in twice; Danny Parker, en route to his first 100-yard rush game, scored once, diving over the end line; Scott Stanley beasted his way in for another in the third and in the fourth, a trio of nice runs by Zach Obuchowski and Hunter Gullage set up a score by Obuchowski to close it out.
The team averaged 7.7 yards per carry.
Now back to the vaunted ConVal passing game. It was a huge day for WR Isaac Bacon, who’d score three times. Bacon caught a 55-yard bomb from Spezzaferri, breaking away along the left sideline. He’d then recover a fumble in the end zone for what appeared to be another score, but it was called back for a hold. All the better for the highlight reel, it turned out, as he’d then go up and high-point a lob, skying over his defender for another touchdown. Bacon finished his night with a 40-yard catch and run, shedding his defender on the right sideline and sprinting in. He’d end the night with seven catches for 155 yards and three TDs.
Defensively, ConVal had another big night. Undersized defensive tackle Daniel Curran continued what’s sure to be another All-State campaign, blowing up Kingswood’s center with his speed and technique to the tune of 12 tackles (5.5 for loss). Andrew Stockwell and Ian LaBelle got in on the action from the linebacker position, making ten tackles apiece. Defensive end Seth Richardson had a memorable sequence, getting up to block a pass on second down and then sacking the quarterback on third to shut down yet another Kingswood possession.
ConVal (2-1) has now outscored opponents 100-12 in their past two games. They’re headed for a Saturday showdown with Sanborn (1-2), on the road at 1 p.m.