EAST HARTFORD – Thirty years ago, Bloomfield and Ansonia played for the first time in what would become a storied rivalry in Connecticut high school football.
The score was lopsided, an Ansonia win for the Class S title.
Saturday, the two teams met for the eighth time in the Class S championship game and the result was similar. Second-seeded Ansonia dominated No. 5 Bloomfield 58-12 behind four Quintez Whittle touchdowns at Rentschler Field.
It was Bloomfield’s sixth straight trip to the finals after winning the title last year. Two years ago, the Warhawks (9-4) lost to Ansonia 28-21.
“Ansonia was just too much for us this week,” Bloomfield coach Ty Outlaw said in a text after the game. “We just have too many injuries. I have to have everyone when playing against a legendary coach and program.”
Bloomfield lost its quarterback Cameron White – who completed 11 of 24 passes for 118 yards – toward the end of the third quarter to an unknown leg injury. White left the field at the end of the game on crutches, with no weight on his right leg.
Quintez Whittle led Ansonia (12-1) with 198 rushing yards on 18 carries. Quarterback Matteo Sorrentino, who rushed for 80 yards, had two touchdowns.
Ansonia won its 22nd state title and its fifth over Bloomfield in eight meetings. The Chargers last won in 2022.
“We lost last year in the second round, that was held on our shoulders since last year,” Sorrentino said. “We took that fire and we’re like we’re not losing this year.”
Sorrentino came back from a broken collarbone he suffered on Nov. 8.
“I did what I needed to do, I took my vitamins,” Sorrentino said. “I lifted with my other side, my legs – I was ready to go when I came back.”
Bloomfield hung around for a while Saturday until Ansonia broke open the game. Ansonia took a 16-0 lead on a 58-yard touchdown run by Whittle with 3:07 left in the first quarter but Bloomfield scored on a White pass to Lamont Applewhite as time expired. Zachai Kimber scored on a 47-yard run with 10:21 left in the second quarter but the pass failed and Bloomfield trailed 16-12. That was as close as the Warhawks would get.
Sorrentino scored next on a 32-yard run and then intercepted a White pass to set up a three-play drive culminating in a 43-yard touchdown run by Whittle.
Ansonia led 30-12 at halftime, then scored 28 points in the third quarter to put the game away.
“It feels amazing to hold (the trophy), especially with this team,” Sorrentino said. “We’ve been through a lot, the losses last year, it’s a great, great feeling.
“Bloomfield’s a great team, they have a ton of athletes and when you get into the playoffs in Class S, you’re kind of like, ‘OK, we’re going against Bloomfield,’ if you’re going to the state championship.”
Class S championship
At Rentschler Field
Ansonia 58, Bloomfield 12
Bloomfield 6 6 0 0 – 12
Ansonia 16 14 28 0 – 58
First quarter
A-Jacob Romanowski 2 run (Quintez Whittle run)
B-Lamont Applewhite 37 pass from Cameron White (pass failed)
Second quarter
B-Zachai Kimber 47 run (pass failed)
A-Matteo Sorrentino 32 run (run failed)
A-Whittle 43 run (Sorrentino run)
Third quarter
A-Whittle 8 run (Sorrentino pass from Whittle)
A-Whittle 22 run (run failed)
A-Sorrentino 2 run (Crishon Fogle run)
A-Fogle 22 run (kick failed)
Records: Bloomfield, 9-4; Ansonia, 12-1.