Conard lost to Bristol Central Thursday night in West Hartford after the team’s defense broke down completely in the second half.

Sports reporting is sponsored by Keating Agency Insurance

Conard’s Ryan Cooney recovers the squib kick against Bristol Central. Conard vs. Bristol Central. Oct. 29, 2026. Photo credit: Paul Palmer

By Paul Palmer

The look on Conard football coach Matt Cersosimo’s face after the game said it all. It would be fitting on Oct. 29 to say he looked as if he had seen a ghost. Instead, he had just witnessed his team collapse, allowing Bristol Central 21 points in 12 minutes to go from a 14-all tie at halftime to a 35-14 deficit to start the fourth.

“I’m still trying to process it,” said Cersosimo after the game. “It happened so quickly. They came out ready to play.” By the time it was over, the Rams were celebrating a 38-14 win.

Conard quarterback Henry Tamaccio takes the big hit as he releases the ball. Conard vs. Bristol Central. Oct. 29, 2026. Photo credit: Paul Palmer

The night had started with great promise for Conard, coming in off a win over Newington to move the team to 3-3 on the season. On their second drive of the game, Red Wolves quarterback Henry Tamaccio connected with Riley Williams on a completion that put the ball at the Rams 1-yard line, Two plays later the Conard senior quarterback ran it in for the 7-0 lead.

On its first possession of the second quarter, it was Bristol Central finding the end zone. Quarterback Gabriel Ouellette pitched the ball to Malikia Holley and he galloped 56 yards to pay dirt tying the game at 7.

Tyler Ganci of Conard fights through the hold to turn Rams quarterback Gabriel Ouellette back inside. Conard vs. Bristol Central. Oct. 29, 2026. Photo credit: Paul Palmer

Conard looked like they were about to add more points on the scoreboard on their next drive but Gio Mota – filling in at running back for the injured Holden Smith – fumbled the ball deep in Rams territory and the visitors recovered at the 8. Ouellette moved the ball to the Conard 1 on a drive with under two minutes to play, punching it in himself from the 1 with only 61 seconds left in the half.

Tamaccio and the Conard offense were not about to waste that time left on the clock. A 45-yard pitch and catch to Graham Lamoureux put the Red Wolves at the 5 with :20 to play. Two plays later Tamaccio called his own number, took it around the left side and into the end zone to tie it with :07 to go.

Conard’s Aiden Saez can’t block the Tomas Serwinski field goal. Conard vs. Bristol Central. Oct. 29, 2026. Photo credit: Paul Palmer

Conard had one more chance, when Bristol Central could not handle the squib kick and Ryan Cooney fell on the loose ball at midfield. But there was too little time left to get into scoring position and the half ended tied at 14 with Conard having all the momentum.

At some point in the intermission someone cast a spell on the home team that made their defense disappear and turning Ouellette into the second coming of Harry Houdini. Bristol Central started their first drive of the third quarter at the Conard 41. On first down, Ouellette called his own number, went around the right side, and dashed untouched for a TD just 21 seconds into the half.

Ian Caldwell of Conard is wrapped up by Hudson Fry of Bristol Central. Conard vs. Bristol Central. Oct. 29, 2026. Photo credit: Paul Palmer

After Conard punted on its ensuing possession, the Rams had the ball at their own 33. Once again it was Ouellette on first down, this time going right before running into a defender. He broke that tackle and another as he reversed field and found nothing but green turf and bright lights, as he galloped 67 yards for another score.

In a matter of 1:51 – including a Conard possession – what was a 14-14 game was now a 28-14 lead for Bristol Central. “We had a lot of self-inflicted mistakes that really, really hurt us,” said Cersosimo of how his team played.

The 14 points was just the start of things for the Rams in the third quarter. After another punt from the home team, Ouellette and the visitors need just three plays to score. This time he ran it 60 yards for the score with 5:33 to play sending Conard and its fans into a state of shock, and Bristol Central into a state of awe.

Bristol Central quarterback Gabriel Ouellette breaks free for a long TD run. Conard vs. Bristol Central. Oct. 29, 2026. Photo credit: Paul Palmer

Things did not get any better for the Red Wolves in the fourth quarter. Tamaccio dropped back to pass but was crushed by Branden Santiago who broke through the offensive line and drilled the quarterback as he threw the ball. The pass floated in the air and Reinaldo Soto pulled it in for the Rams to put the ball at their 48. The final nail in the Conard coffin came when Tomas Serwinski kicked a 25-yard field goal to end the nightmare for Conard.

“We had a good week of practice, but we just did not execute on game night,” Cersosimo said. “All of us, myself, my coaches, the players have got to get that execution on game night.”

Malikia Holley (3) of Bristol Central returns the second half kickoff. Conard vs. Bristol Central. Oct. 29, 2026. Photo credit: Paul Palmer

Thai Tran (left) and Eric Feeney of Friends of Feeney. Conard vs. Bristol Central. Oct. 29, 2026. Photo credit: Paul Palmer

Game notes

• The loss drops Conard to 3-4 on the season.
• Next up is a road game at 4-2 Platt next Friday.
• Tamaccio came into the game needing 121 yards to reach 1,000 passing yards on the season. He would be just the ninth Conard QB to achieve the mark.
• The absence of Smith (513 yards on 99 carries) is clearly a big loss. He re-injured his ankle in the first quarter of the Newington game last week. He could be out until the season finale vs. Hall in three weeks.
• Thursday’s game was the 23rd meeting between the two schools with Conard holding a 17-6 advantage.
• Conard had won four in a row against the Rams before Thursday night.
• The performance by Ouellette should not have surprised anyone. He came into the game as Bristol Central’s leading rusher averaging 140 yards per game. He also led the team in TD’s (15) before the game –12 of them rushing. He entered the game with 797 yards rushing in the first 6 games.

Bristol Central quarterback Gabriel Ouellette takes the knee on the games final play, Conard vs. Bristol Central. Oct. 29, 2026. Photo credit: Paul Palmer

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