HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL Mistakes costly for Wildcats

Windham took advantage of Southington's turnovers and bad snaps for a 48-12 victory.
By BOB ROTH
VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT
SOUTHINGTON -- A pair of Southington Chalker turnovers and three bad snaps on punts doomed the Wildcats against Windham High, 48-12, in the season opener for both teams Saturday.
The Bombers scored 14 points in each of the first two quarters and added 13 more in the first 45 seconds of the second half to take an insurmountable 41-0 lead.
"Windham is a very good football team," Southington coach Bill Ledsome said. "Our biggest problem today was that offensively we didn't block well and defensively we gave them big plays."
Statistics close: Oddly enough, the game was statistically even. Southington out-gained Windham 194-169 and had just one fewer first down. Wildcat running back Kyle Andreatta carried 12 times for 91 yards and a 33-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter. Kevin Swiger hit Tom Plock for a 55-yard touchdown for Southington's other score.
Windham quarterback Zack Burns was 3-for-6 for 55 yards and three touchdowns in the win. Steve Boxler, Adam Rogers and Cedrick Turner all caught first-half touchdown passes.
"They beat us early with the pass and it didn't help that we had two crucial turnovers and fumbled the ball three times in punting situations," Ledsome said. "They are the best football team we will play in our first four games."
Junior tailback James Lade ran four times for 41 yards and a touchdown. Tony Marstiller scored on the opening kickoff of the second half from 90 yards out.
"I caught the ball and went with the wedge, followed the hole up the sideline, broke a tackle and I was gone," Lade said.
Leads to touchdown: Windham recovered a fumble on the ensuing kickoff and Larry Jones scored from 25 yards out to give Windham a 41-0 lead with 11 minutes remaining in the quarter. Jones finished with 48 yards on five carries and added two sacks.
"I am always ready to go in and contribute and defense just comes easy to me because I like to hit people," Jones said.
Windham playing without 5-foot-9 senior tailback John Lewis, who after running for 1,533 yards last season, missed this opener because of foot surgery.
Windham coach Joe Bomb was pleased with his team's effort.
"It is hard to tell in the beginning of the season that something like this can happen, but we had several big plays from our excellent athletes which gave us a lot of momentum," Bomb said.