Connecticut's Blowout Rule

SCORECARD, JUNE5, 2006

IT SHOULD havebeen a magical moment. Late in the fourth quarter of Bridgeport (Conn.)Central's Sept. 15 game against rival Bassick High, Central's Paul Lumfuakiadiran up the middle 24 yards for his first varsity touchdown. Hilltoppers fanswere thrilled for the third-string sophomore, right? Not quite. Says AD EricGraf, "I heard someone say, 'What is that kid doing?'"

Lumfuakiadi's TDmade the final score Central 56, Bassick 0--and made coach Dave Cadelina(below) the first violator of the state's "score-management" rule,which calls for a one-game suspension for coaches who win by 50 points. SaysCadelina, "I was nervous they might make an example out of me."

Luckily for him,the rule isn't hard and fast. Cadelina appealed to the ConnecticutInterscholastic Athletic Conference, explaining how he tried to avoid blowingout Bassick, which came in riding a 46-game losing streak. He pulled hisstarters in the first half; the clock ran continuously after Central took a35--0 first-quarter lead; in the second half Central did nothing but runbetween the tackles. The CIAC upheld the appeal--thanks mainly to Bassick coachGeorge Loughery's support of it--and Cadelina was coaching when Central beatTrumbull 52--21 last Thursday. "If George wasn't so adamant about us notrunning up the score," says Cadelina, "I'd probably besuspended."

PHOTO

CHRISTIAN ABRAHAM/CONNECTICUT POST