The Chieftains could not contain the Golden Hurricanes’ playmakers as New Britain broke the game open in the fourth quarter.

Conard vs. New Britain football. Sept. 7, 2018. Photo credit: Hunter Marotto

By Marlon Pitter. Photos by Hunter Marotto

The Conard High School football team was overpowered in its season opener, falling to New Britain, 35-0, on Friday night at McKee Stadium in West Hartford.

The Golden Hurricanes scored touchdowns in all three phases – offense, defense and special teams – and scored 21 fourth-quarter points en route to victory over the Chieftains. Shawn Robinson scored two touchdowns on the ground, while Kaiyon Gunn added a pick-six and a rushing touchdown of his own for New Britain. The Golden Hurricanes also recovered a fumble in Conard’s end zone for another score.

Chieftains quarterback Matt Langevin completed 15 of 27 passes for 98 yards and an interception. Langevin also ran the ball 16 times for 18 yards. Sean Guevara caught seven passes for 31 yards, and Justin Furze grabbed five receptions for 50 yards.

“We just didn’t execute,” said Conard head coach Matt Cersosimo. “Part of that was because of what they were doing, and part of that was a little bit self-inflicted. Offensively, defensively and [on] special teams, we made mistakes in all three phases, and that starts with me.”

Robinson opened the scoring for New Britain with a 5-yard touchdown carry, which capped off an 85-yard opening drive for the visitors with 8:04 left in the first quarter.

Down 6-0 on the ensuing drive, an ineligible receiver penalty negated a Conard touchdown pass from just outside the red zone. The Chieftains came up empty as they turned the ball over on downs following the penalty.

Late in the second quarter, Gunn intercepted a Langevin throw and returned it 36 yards for a touchdown. New Britain added a two-point conversion, taking a 14-0 lead into halftime.

Robinson ran in his second touchdown from 14 yards out with 11:29 left in the fourth quarter. Three minutes later, Gunn found the end zone on a 22-yard carry, putting the Golden Hurricanes up 28-0.

New Britain recovered a high snap that sailed over Conard’s punter in the end zone for another touchdown with 7:18 remaining, effectively sealing the game.

Following the loss, the Chieftains fall to 0-1 to start the season. Despite the wide margin of defeat, Cersosimo said there is still plenty of time to improve upon Friday’s result.

“We’ll get it going,” he said. “The good news about this is [we’ve] got a lot of games in front of us to get better.”

Conard will travel to East Hartford to take on the Hornets next Friday, Sept. 15 at 6:30 p.m.

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Conard vs. New Britain football. Sept. 7, 2018. Photo credit: Hunter Marotto

Conard vs. New Britain football. Sept. 7, 2018. Photo credit: Hunter Marotto

Conard vs. New Britain football. Sept. 7, 2018. Photo credit: Hunter Marotto

The Conard High School football team. Photo credit: Marlon Pitter