WATERBURY — Jason Bradley and company aired it out Oct. 2 at Municipal Stadium during a convincing 57-24 win over Kennedy.
Kennedy came into the game riding the best start in school history at 3-0, but was no match for the run-and-gun Greyhounds. Bradley tied a career record with seven touchdown passes going 20 of 27 in the air for 401 yards.
Bradley is now the active career leader with 80 touchdown passes and has thrown for 16 this season for the Greyhounds (3-0). The high-flying ‘Hounds have outscored the opposition 146-61 through three games and have a defense to match its prolific offense.
“Jason is having a great season and is getting a lot of help from his offensive line and his receivers,” Naugatuck head coach Craig Bruno said. “Everything is clicking on defense. We have come up with five turnovers in the last two games and all five times the offense has turned it into touchdowns.”
Bradley threw to a host of receivers in the win over Kennedy as six players hauled in passes. Bryan Coney pulled in five catches for 117 yards and three touchdowns. The All-State receiver now has 17 catches for 348 yards and six touchdowns on the season.
Bradley and Coney hooked up for two scores in the first quarter with Maleek Brooks (2-89) grabbing a 32-yard touchdown, one of his two on the day, as Naugatuck opened up a 22-6 advantage.
Jalen Datil (4-49) and C.J. Wall (1-19) proved to be effective options for Bradley as well. The running game added to the dominating offensive performance with Dan Jones picking up 30 yards in five carries and Antoine Sistrunk running for 22 yards on four carries.
Sistrunk is Naugy’s rushing leader with 201 yards on 25 carries and gives Naugatuck a solid attack on the ground and in the air.
Etty Ilunga sparked the defense with two interceptions. Naugatuck took full advantage scoring touchdowns off the turnovers.
Brooks and Coney caught touchdowns in the second quarter with Sistrunk hauling one in out of the backfield for 18 yards. Naugatuck went into halftime with a commanding 44-12 advantage.
Chris Quarles tied Coney with a game-high five receptions for 60 yards and his 6-yard touchdown haul in the third quarter opened up a 51-18 lead. Tyler Deitlebaum concluded the Greyhounds scoring running it in from 7 yards out in the fourth quarter to account for the 57-24 final margin.
Through three games Bruno feels the ‘Hounds are where they need to be, but must continue to improve.
“I feel we are where we need to be record wise at this point in the season,” Bruno said. “But we still need to work hard and continue to get better on both sides of the ball. We need to stay focused, take it one game at a time and keep progressing.”
Naugatuck will take on another undefeated foe Friday when the Greyhounds travel to Wolcott (3-0) for a 6:30 p.m. contest.
Wolcott has run up a 116-13 point advantage through three games this season. Last year the two teams met up in one of the most exciting games of the season with the Greyhounds pulling out a 42-36 win in overtime at Naugatuck.
“We have a tough game coming up on Friday against a very good Wolcott team,” Bruno said. “They are well coached and I’m sure after last year’s game there will be a lot of intensity in this game.”
