CROMWELL - Granby/Canton football senior Joe Lewie, a two-way starter, made tackles on three of Cromwell/Portland's first four plays from scrimmage Thursday. He was just getting started.
Lewie accounted for three touchdowns from the final 1:24 of the first half through the first 37 seconds of the second half, powering the Bears to a 41-28 victory.
After Cromwell/Portland scored on its first possession on a 1-yard run by Jayden Augustin, Granby scored the next 28 points.
Lewie ran for touchdowns of 12 and 1 yards and threw a 39-yard touchdown pass to Elijah Sam. Keandre Hunter added a 23-yard catch and run to cap the scoring flurry.
"We knew that they obviously weren't going to fold. They came out and scored on us," said Lewie, who also led the Bears with nine tackles. "We came out and faced adversity really well. Our offensive line played outstanding today, we had a few guys go down with injuries, our starting running back (Gabriel Mensah) went down with an injury and we responded really well.
"I think our pass game took a huge step in the right direction today and it is a good signature win. It feels good to beat Cromwell."
Down 28-7 with 8:04 left in the third quarter, Cromwell/Portland went to an up-tempo game and trusted junior quarterback Sam DiMattio to make the right throws in his first varsity start. After going 4-for-10 for 71 yards and an interception in the first half, DiMattio was 11-for-16 for 163 yards and two touchdowns in the second half.
DiMattio and classmate Xavier Hodge connected eight times for 140 yards and two touchdowns in the second half. Hodge finished with 174 yards on nine catches.
"A little more fast paced helped the kid. We seemed to get into some rhythm," Cromwell/Portland coach Sal Morello said. "It is still new to him, his first varsity start so it is definitely something to build on. I am proud of the kids, that is a good football team. We didn't quit.
"He is coming back next year so we want to get him on film and get him a lot of experience. Most of the kids are coming back, we just have to coach him up, put him in spots and make him comfortable."
Cromwell was within 14 points with 6:04 left to play, but Lewie iced the game as he patiently waited for his linemen to make their blocks and was off to the races for a 55-yard scoring run.
"That is sort of the style, just wait and let it develop," Lewie said. "You find a hole and get positive yards. You think north to south when we run, just running hard and running downhill.
"It felt good. They loaded the box, but just trusting the O-line, trusting the guys up front and letting the blocks develop. I found a seam and just took off."
Mason Stachura led Cromwell with 10 tackles and a 7-yard touchdown run.
Player of the game
Joe Lewie, Granby/Canton: The quarterback passed for 144 yards and two touchdowns, ran for 113 yards and three touchdowns, had a two-point conversion run, nine tackles and two tackles for loss.
Quotable
"We have been friends together, we all played youth (football) together and we hang out every day together when we aren't practicing. After we practice, we go and get something to eat together. It is really just a bond." - Granby/Canton's Joe Lewie on his teammates.
Granby/Canton 41, Cromwell/Portland 28
Granby 0 14 14 13-41
Cromwell 7 0 7 14-28
C-Jayden Augustin 1 run (Rocco Nelson kick)
G-Elijah Sam 39 pass from Joe Lewie (Jacob Kilty kick)
G-Lewie 12 run (Kilty kick)
G-Lewie 1 run (kick failed)
G-Keandre Hunter 23 pass from Lewie (Lewie run)
C-Mason Stachura 7 run (Nelson kick)
G-Logan Beckwith 10 run (Kilty kick)
C-Xavier Hodge 16 pass from Sam DiMattio (Nelson kick)
G-Lewie 55 run (kick blocked)
C-Hodge 6 pass from DiMattio (Nelson kick)
Records: Granby/Canton 4-1 (3-0 Pequot); Cromwell/Portland 1-4 (1-3).
Sign up for the Connecticut Briefing from CT Insider. Get the biggest headlines of the day from our network of journalists around the state.
This article originally published at Granby/Canton's Joe Lewie accounts for five TDs, adds nine tackles in win over Cromwell/Portland.