Panthers Head Back to Championship Game

Jamie Bryant’s 116 yards rushing sealed the AAA Semifinals against Militia                      

WATERBURY, CT- For the third straight season, the Connecticut Panthers derail the Western CT Militia in the playoffs. The low scoring 6-3 finals will send the Panthers to their second consecutive trip to the AAA Championship game.

Both teams passing games were limited as a result of 45 MPH winds throughout the afternoon. A 27 yard made field goal by kicker Andy Benicewicz gave the Militia a 3-0 lead heading into halftime. Slowed by a sore ankle, quarterback Rich Snowden gave way to do-everything Jamie Bryant for the majority of the second half. Keeping the ball mostly on the ground, Bryant found his way into the end zone in the third quarter giving the Panthers the lead that they sought. “We knew we would get in eventually if we kept running the ball at them” said Bryant.

Bryant, who has single handedly spelled doom for the Militia the last few seasons finished the game with 116 yards on 14 carries. “He’s the closest thing to a closer in baseball I have ever seen” said Panthers Court Sutherland, “he has a way of coming up big this time of the year; we needed him today.”

The Panthers will head to Portland, Maine this weekend to take on the top-ranked and undefeated Southern Maine Raging Bulls. “They are on an incredible run” said Sutherland, “we must be ready for anything next week if we want to repeat as champions.”

Panthers Corey Johnson (52) and David Reese helped limit the Militia’s offense to less than 140 yards of offense