As quickly as the Platt football team’s season was on the rise, it appeared to be over.
After starting the season 6-1, the Panthers lost to Bristol Central, 21-20. They then lost again the following week to Middletown, 21-18.
“Just coming off the loss, it was a heartbreaker,” coach Jason Bruenn said of the Bristol Central game.
The 6-3 record in Class L would make it an upward climb to get into the playoffs. Last year, not a single three-loss team made the tournament in Class L. If Platt had any hopes of playing late into November, everything had to roll the Panthers’ way.
Then, Bruenn got the call from Bristol Central coach Jeff Papazian. The Rams had an ineligible player on their roster, who started the season playing soccer and switched sports halfway through the fall. Bristol Central reported it to the Connecticut Interscholastic Athletic Conference and was forced to forfeit two games — one of which being the win over Platt.
Suddenly, the Panthers had life.
The Panthers were back, and at 7-2, were back in the playoff picture.
Platt faced a win-and-you’re-in game against crosstown rival Maloney in the annual Stoddard Bowl on Thanksgiving Eve. The Stoddard Bowl dates to 1958, with plenty of bad blood and intertwining storylines between the teams. As Bruenn said, winning the Stoddard Bowl just once can give you bragging rights for 50 years.
On top of the usual stakes that come with the Meriden showdown, the Panthers had a shot at the playoffs with a win.
Maloney took a 12-8 lead heading into halftime, but an inspired rushing attack led by Roberto Salas (144 yards, two touchdowns) and Jake Baker (49 yards, two touchdowns) led to a 22-0 run, and eventually a 36-20 win.
The Panthers did it. They beat the Spartans, won the CCC Division II conference outright and clinched the sixth seed in the Class L tournament.
Platt made good on its last shot and second chance, and will travel to Nauagtuck on Tuesday for the Class L quarterfinals.
At 9-1, Naugatuck presents a challenge, but it’s nothing the Panthers haven’t seen, or had to conquer to get to this stage.
All of this came after losing starting running back E.J Dudley to a torn ACL in August.