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T-Birds Take 13-7 Defeat to Valley-Old Lyme in Season Opener

The North Branford football squad is entering the 2022 season with a team that graduated no seniors from last year. With the roster featuring so much experience, Head Coach Mark Basil is looking for the Thunderbirds to put in the work and put together a playoff-worthy campaign this fall.

North Branford started its season with a home game against Valley Regional-Old Lyme (VR-OL) on Sept. 9, taking a 13-7 loss in the matchup. Senior captain quarterback Mason Provencher was injured in the second quarter and replaced by freshman AJ Sigel, who recorded the T-Birds’ lone score of the game with a 17-yard touchdown run in the period.

Sigel’s TD tied the game at 7 before the Warriors came back to score to go-ahead touchdown later in the second quarter. The two teams played a scoreless second half as Valley-Old Lyme held on for the 6-point win.

Sigel finished the game completing 4-of-6 passes for 37 yards to go with 24 yards and his touchdown on the ground. Provencher was 3-of-3 for 37 yards before leaving the game.

Sophomore Tommy Hansen led the T-Birds in rushing with 135 yards on 19 carries on the night. Senior captain Ian Kamienski had 2 catches for 22 yards, while seniors Eric Izzo and Eli Defaranos both had 2 receptions for 21 yards.

Senior Dradon Brindisi led North Branford in tackles by making 12 in the game. Senior captain Tyler Serenson had 10 tackles, and junior Lucian DePino had 9 tackles with a sack.

With Provencher suffering an early injury, Coach Basil said that the T-Birds were strapped in terms of what they could run offensively due to Sigel’s newness with the varsity playbook. Still, Basil felt proud of Sigel’s performance and the way the T-Birds battled versus Valley-Old Lyme. They never let the injury affect them and competed right through the final whistle.

“We’re building depth at the No. 1 position. I felt like it was a positive game,” Basil said. “Our playbook was limited because of the lack of reps the backup was able to have. With the small handful of plays we were able to utilize, I thought our guys ran them well and played hard. We were swinging. Our guys played physical. We just ran out of time.”

North Branford has 14 returning seniors on this year’s roster, allowing the team to jump right in without having to relearn the playbook. Basil and his coaches knew that the team had the potential for a good head start. The Thunderbirds hit the ground running and were prepared for the beginning of the season.

“They’re a close group of guys. I’ve got 14 seniors who are very tight,” said Basil. “We had a great offseason in the weight room. Their strength is as good as any team I’ve had in the past. It’s a good group of kids.”

North Branford’s senior class is led by its four captains, who are Mason Provencher, Ian Kamienski, Tyler Serenson, and Dom Langello. With Provencher at quarterback, Kamienski plays the slot back position and is one of the team’s top offensive weapons. Serenson and Langello are both standouts on the offensive line and also two of the squad’s top linebackers.

North Branford’s senior class also includes Jack Meehan, Alec Johnson, Dave D’Onofrio, Eric Izzo, Jace Kamienski, Eli Defaranos, Dradon Brindisi, Dylan Burwell, Tyrek Solomon, and Charlie Johnson.

With Provencher and Hansen in the backfield, North Branford has a tandem of rushers that other teams need to respect. Coach Basil said that Provencher is a strong and athletic quarterback who is capable of making plays with his feet. Basil describes Hansen, who became the team’s starting running back last year, as a well-built rusher who runs hard and can catch the ball out of the backfield.

Sigel is only in his first year in the program, but was already asked to step under center as the varsity QB in North Branford’s season opener. Coach Basil said that Sigel was up to the challenge and played well in his debut. Basil felt that Sigel ran the ball well and believes that he has a bright future in a T-Birds’ uniform.

Along with Kamienski, North Branford’s receiving core features a tall cast of athletes. At 6-foot-2, Izzo is one of the team’s leading receivers and a player who the T-Birds want to get the ball to. Izzo is starting next to Defaranos, who is also 6-2. Senior Jack Meehan, who stands 6-foot-4, plays out of the slot and will be asked to both catch the ball and do some running on designed plays.

Next to Langello and Serenson, the T-Birds’ offensive line includes Charlie Johnson, who Basil calls a solid center. At the guard position, North Branford has Lucian DePino, who Basil describes as one of the best linemen that he’s ever coached.

Overall, Coach Basil feels that big things are in store for North Branford’s offense this year. Basil said that the Thunderbirds are talented at every position and have the potential to make some noise every time they have the ball.

“We’ve got a very talented backfield. Both of them are capable of putting up numbers this year,” Basil said. “We have a good balance in receivers. We got size on the line of scrimmage. I like everything about it. We’ve got the weapons to be pretty good.”

North Branford’s defensive line is anchored by DePino and junior Aidan Chittenden. At linebacker, the T-Birds have Langello and Serenson, who Basil refers to as the backbone of the defense. Basil said that the strength of North Branford’s defensive line demands double teams from the opposition, allowing the team’s linebacker to play aggressively.

As North Branford progresses through the season, Coach Basil and his players are focused on qualifying for the playoffs while performing well within the Pequot Conference. With an experienced roster, Basil knows that his team is ready to compete and play its hardest in every contest.

“We’re just going to continue to execute. We put in the time during the offseason. The team is built physically to be good,” said Basil. “We’re in great condition. We’re going to be fine. I feel good about this team and what we can do.”

The North Branford football team’s roster for the 2022 season includes senior captains Mason Provencher, Ian Kamienski, Dom Langello, and Tyler Serenson; seniors Jack Meehan, Alec Johnson, Dave D’Onofrio, Eric Izzo, Jake Kamienski, Eli Defaranos, Dradon Brindisi, Dylan Burwell, Tyrek Solomon, and Charlie Johnson; juniors Braden Burns, Aidan Chittenden, Luke Blomster, Patrick LeBeau, Chris Olsen, and Lucian DePino; sophomores Shane Esposito, Tommy Hansen, Matt Delfino, Ethan Helff, Sean Boardman, Gennaro Piccirillo, and Jayden Giardna; and freshmen James Crisco, AJ Sigel, Zach Beecher, Greg Ferraro, Joe Raffone, Brandon Longo, Luca Landino and Chase Nugent.

Head Coach Mark Basil is joined by assistant coaches Brandan Basil, Joe DeLucia, Nick Mancini, Dave Carpenter, and Mike Katz.