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Sports

Bobcats Look to Bounce Back From Tough Year

BHS Football looks to new players to improve.

The Brookfield High School football team isn't used to losing.  In the past six years this prideful program has won the South-West Conference championship three times and played in the Class M state championship game twice, winning it all in 2008.  So, not surprisingly, last season's abysmal 2-8 campaign was a tough one to take.  The Bobcats now are looking to put last year behind them and return to the championship form of previous seasons.

To do so they will have to overcome the loss of 16 lettermen, including team leaders Jordan Burandt and Mike Palicz. 

Burandt was an all-purpose quarterback who led the Bobcats wishbone offense by throwing for over 1,000 yards while leading the team in rushing yards with 370.  Burandt was also a key contributor on defense, getting in on 32 tackles while pulling down one interception.

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"Losing Jordan Burandt is a big blow to any offense," Brookfield's head football coach Rich Angarano said.  To replace Burandt, Angarano has been working out two quarterbacks in the pre-season, senior Brian Kelly and sophomore Boeing Brown.

Palicz was the team's second leading rusher and anchored the defense from the linebacker position.  While his statistical contributions will be missed, his team leadership as an outspoken captain will be hard to replace.

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Kelly will be leaned on heavily as the team's most versatile player.  Last season he lined up under center on a few occasions while being the team's third leading rusher and the top pass catcher.  On defense, he was the second leading tackler from the linebacker position.  Coach Angarano will have some decisions to make on how to best use his most talented player.

Senior co-captains Matt Consalvo and Dion Koumoutseas will the lead the way on the offensive line for a Bobcats team that will look to establish a running game.

"The strength of our offense we expect to be our running game, with an efficient passing game," Angarano said.  "Keys to our season are to get back to our strong running game as we continue to improve on our passing game."

Kelly will need teammates Brenden Zancan, Nick Paez, Tyler Puglisi and David DePoi to step up their games now that they will be given more opportunities to make plays. Seniors Alphonso Gordon and Nick Moores are two wide receivers that will also be given a chance to have breakout seasons.

"We have a lot of players that are vying for key positions and our concern is the lack of varsity experience," Angarano said of the new group of players who have the chance to make their mark on the program.

As the team looks to establish itself offensively it will rely on the defense to keep them in games.

"Early indication of our team strength has been the way we have been playing team defense," the coach said after evaluating his team's performances in its three pre-season scrimmage games.  "We expect our defense to be a solid unit this season."

Senior co-captain Shea McGorty will join Kelly at the linebacker position and be the new anchor to lead the team.  Junior linebacker Joe Acquanita will also be relied on to improve on his impressive sophomore season and fill the shoes left behind by his older brother Frank Acquanita.

"On defense, our players need to remain self disciplined, as well as playing team discipline to be successful," the coach said.

The Bobcats will be faced as usual with a tough SWC schedule. Perennial powers Masuk and Pomperaug will be joined by Newtown and Bethel as the teams to beat.  As Bethel proved last year, a sleeper team could also be in the mix.

"The SWC will be very competitive this year again," coach Angarano said of the league he has coached the Bobcats in for the past 11 seasons.  "We always expect to contend, but are working to improve each week.  Our focus, as always, will be one game at a time."

Brookfield will go on the road to face its top rival Newtown to open the season this Thursday night.  They will then come home to face Immaculate and Weston in two games they must win before heading back on the road to face Masuk in the first of three straight road games.  A late season matchup at Pomperaug and the season finale at home versus Bethel will define their season.

"Our biggest contest is our first game against Newtown, which will give us a good idea of where we fit in the league," Angarano said of the season opener.

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