Small Body, Big Heart - The Career of Sam Pellegrini

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Sports
High School Football

Bristol Central sneaks past Meriden

Bristol Central (3-0) 35, Meriden (1-2) 31

Meriden - Bristol Central faced their first real test of the season as they traveled to face Meriden. Meriden had lost their season opener and won convincingly last week despite not having senior quarterback Marvin Hardwick, who will return from a shoulder injury next week.

The fireworks started early in this one when Central's Sam Pellegrini took the opening kickoff back 87 yards for a touchdown.

Meriden answered with a long drive and tied it up on their first possession. Meriden hoped to use up clock and keep the ball out of Pellegrini's hands as much as possible.

Central scored again before the end of the first quarter on a long pass from Kent Strong to Jamarr Douglas.

Meridan again scored to end a long drive to make it 14-14 midway into the second quarter.

Each team would score a third touchdown before halftime to make it 21-21 at the break. Aside from the opening kick return Meriden had kept Pellegrini somewhat quiet, holding him to just a single rushing touchdown in the half.

Pellegrini made the most of his touches, returning a punt for a 79 yard touchdown in the third quarter.

Again Meriden answered. 28-28 after three quarters.

Meriden took their first lead of the game on a 27 yard field goal with just over four minutes left in the game.

From there Pellegrini took over. He carried the ball six times, covering 73 yards and running in what would be the game winning touchdown from 18 yards out with less than 30 seconds left.

"They're a great team, really good offense. They'll be tough to beat when they get Hardwick back." Central head coach Joe Allen said after the close win.

Things don't get any easier for Central as they will travel to face West Hartford in a battle of undefeated teams next week.

PELLEGRINI SCORES ON THE OPENING KICK, PELLEGRINI'S PUNT RETURN TD, PELLEGRINI'S GAME WINNING TD

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Sam Pellegrini Stats
12Car 123Yds 2TD, KR TD, PR TD, 1Tkl

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Sports
High School Football

Bristol Central tops West Hartford on late field goal

Bristol Central (4-0) 24, West Hartford (3-1) 21

West Hartford - Bristol Central needed a last second field goal to top West Hartford and stay undefeated last night.

Joe Rossman connected on a 37 yard kick as time expired to give Central a 24-21 win in what was a game for the ages.

Central senior Sam Pellegrini accounted for all three of the teams touchdowns.

For the second week in a row Pellegrini scored on the game's opening kick off, returning this one 97 yards for a score. He added a pair of rushing touchdowns to go along with 196 yards. Pellegrini also caught one pass for 12 yards.

Bristol Central will face one of the best defenses in the state next week when they play host to Norwalk. Norwalk started the season 0-2, losing those games by a combined four points. They have won two straight, both shutouts. Norwalk has allowed 11 points and just one touchdown through four games. Their offense has struggled, scoring just 29 points.

PELLEGRINI SCORES A LATE TD

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Sam Pellegrini Stats
26Car 196Yds 2TD, 1Rec 12Yds, KR TD

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Sports
High School Football

Bristol Central's Pellegrini receives scholarship offers

Bristol - Bristol Central's Sam Pellegrini has started the season off with a bang. Through four games he has accounted for a state high 858 yards rushing and 11 touchdowns. He has also scored three times on punt and kick returns.

Colleges are starting to take notice.

Pellegrini came into the season with just one offer on the table from Southern Connecticut State.

He's since added two more with offers from Central Connecticut and Sacred Heart submitting offers on Monday.

"I'm not thinking about that too much just yet. I'm trying to focus on the here and now." Pelegrini explained.

Bristol Central (4-0) hosts Norwalk (2-2) this Friday.

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[djp73]

Sports
High School Football

9-22-2012

Bristol Central edges Norwalk in defensive battle

Norwalk (2-3) 7, Bristol Central (5-0) 10

Bristol - Bristol Central had scored at least 24 points in each of their first four games. Norwalk had allowed 11 points total through their first four games. Something had to give.

In a battle that came down to the fourth quarter Central outlasted Norwalk by a final score of 10-7.

Norwalk scored on their first possession and kept Central out of the endzone until Sam Pellegrini scored the team's only touchdown with just under three minutes to play, putting Central on top 10-7.

Joe Rossman hit a 33 yard field goal for Central in the second quarter.

Pellegrini was held to just 60 yards and a touchdown on 22 carries, by far his worst performance.

Norwalk stacked the box with eight or nine defenders and left their corners in man coverage for much of the game.

Central was not able to take advantage in the passing game and struggled to move the ball.

Central travels to 0-5 Norwich next week.

PELLEGRINI SCORES THE GO AHEAD TD LATE, PELLEGRINI CELEBRATES A LATE DEFENSIVE STOP

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Sam Pellegrini Stats
22Car 60Yds 1TD, 3Rec 10Yds, 1Tkl

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[Yankeesfan224]

nice CT kid, hope you get to play the East Hartford Hornets(my alumni) & manchester indians. cool that you have CCSU(also my alumni) and sacred hart. Hope you can get offers from UConn and Boston College and other New England Colleges.

[Manning2Harrison]

Stay a Ram, go to URI.