Image courtesy of Dan Heary

By Rob Gullo
NEFJ Correspondent

BERLIN — For the second time in the last five seasons, the Berlin Redcoats football team will appear in a state title championship game.

Behind the legs of quarterback Cody Puzio, the No. 2 Redcoats earned a 49-7 CIAC Class M victory over the No. 5 Holy Cross Crusaders Monday night at Sage Park in Berlin.

“We have a great group of kids, they compete every single week, their goal was to win their last game at Sage Park as seniors,” said Berlin coach John Capodice. “I was glad they were able to do that today. These guys have backed up everything that they’ve said and their coaches have been outstanding, our players have been outstanding, [and] our preparation has been spot on since we began in March.”

Puzio rushed for four of the team’s seven touchdowns and also threw a 38-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Brandon Sadowski. Puzio pointed towards a well-coached and well-executed game by the offense that allowed for his and his offense’s big night.

“It’s all about preparation,” said Puzio. “Every week, we’ve been working on these plays changing formations. Coach Cap put us in the right places and we came out and executed.”

The Redcoats were dealt some early adversity as Holy Cross gained a 7-0 lead on the opening kickoff, with Mason Mucci racing 70-yards for a touchdown.

Berlin responded on the ensuing drive, tying the game up as Puzio punched in a three-yard touchdown run.

Berlin took a 14-7 lead minutes later as Nick Balicki recovered a fumble in the end zone on a bad snap punt.

Puzio helped give Berlin a 21-7 with over two minutes left in the half when he ran in a 12-yard touchdown with 2:14 left before the break.

As Holy Cross looked to make it a one-score game heading into halftime, Berlin defensive back Carmen Rio had other plans. The Crusaders got down to the Redcoats’ seven-yard line, but Rio picked off quarterback Brady Lombardo in the red zone with under 30 seconds in the half.

“I know they got guys on offense, so my job this week was to step up on defense,” said Rio. “I’m an athlete, I play on both sides of the ball. When I hear I have to lock somebody up, it’s game time.”

On the opening drive of the third quarter, Puzio connected with Sadowski on a deep ball as Sadowski won a tip-drill for a 38-yard touchdown reception. Puzio rushed for two more touchdowns, one in each the third and fourth quarters, giving Berlin a 42-7 lead with 11:45 left.

With a running clock in play, Berlin managed to tack on one more touchdown as Eli Rice scampered and hit the jets for a 50-yard score with 2:02 left to play.

Berlin (12-0) will meet the No. 5 Brookfield Bobcats (10-2) in the Class M state championship game this Saturday. Brookfield upset No. 1 St. Joseph in a 6-3 defensive slugfest. Saturday’s championship game’s location and time is TBD and will be announced by the CIAC tomorrow morning.

Capodice said his team will prepare the same way that it does every week heading into the state title and will enjoy being together for another week.

“Really nothing changes,” he said. “Our goal is to go 1-0 every week, we have a standard of practice and we want to play and practice to the standard. We’re really blessed to be able to go to practice tomorrow together for a little bit longer.”

Images courtesy of Dan Heary