Platt football absolutely dismantled CCC foe South Windsor 49-13 on Friday night, proving why they belong squarely in the CIAC Class MM playoff hunt. This wasn’t just another win; it was a statement game, catapulting the Panthers to a 5-2 record and keeping them right in the thick of the top eight teams vying for a postseason spot. With two losses already on the books, coach Jason Bruenn made it clear: “There is no margin for error in MM,” and his squad took that message straight to heart.
Standish Delivers a Five TD Masterclass
This win was all about senior quarterback Austen Standish, plain and simple. The guy played like he owned the field, tossing four touchdowns and running for a fifth. He was absolutely lights out, going 11 of 18 for 199 yards through the air and adding another 50 yards on the ground. Standish, a four-year varsity player who was on Platt’s last playoff team in 2023, is now 5-0 this season when he’s under center, which is a wild stat considering the team’s two losses came when he sat out. You can tell this dude is the heart and soul of that offense. He even caught a pass himself on the opening drive, setting up his first of three scoring throws to junior Maurice Christie. Christie was eating, too, snagging six catches for 162 yards and those three touchdowns from 12, 40, and 42 yards out. “Our goal is to come out on the field and dominate teams because we know we can do that,” Standish said, admitting they sometimes come out flat. Not tonight, though. “The mentality tonight was punch them in the mouth; we knew we were the better team.” And boy, did they.
A Second-Quarter Barrage That Shut Down the Drama
The Panthers started hot, scoring on every single one of their first-half possessions. But it was the final five minutes of the second quarter that really put this game on ice. After South Windsor somehow cut the lead to 14-7, Lyjon Bel lit a fire with a massive 52-yard kickoff return, setting Platt up deep in Bobcats territory. Eight plays later, Standish punched it in from 12 yards out for a 21-7 lead. Then, after South Windsor stalled, Standish pulled off some magic, turning a fourth-and-30 into a 42-yard touchdown strike to Maurice Christie while on the run. That made it 28-7. But the real dagger came just 50 seconds later when 14-year-old sophomore Amari Bowman snatched an overthrown ball and raced 46 yards untouched for an interception return touchdown, capping off a 21-point explosion in a blink. That made it 35-7 at halftime, and any drama was GONE. Bowman actually bookended that spree, having also scored on a 12-yard touchdown run earlier in the quarter. Talk about a young buck stepping up big!
What’s Next: Keep Pushing, Keep Winning
With this dominant 49-13 performance, Platt is walking the talk. Coach Bruenn’s message was loud and clear after those two earlier losses: “We can’t lose again. We have got to keep winning; keep pushing. And we have to continue to get better.” They certainly started that process tonight. The Panthers showed they’ve got the firepower and the mentality to hang with the best in Class MM, especially when Standish is slinging it and the defense is making game-changing plays like Bowman’s pick. They need to maintain this focus and aggressive play if they want to solidify their playoff standing. Every game from here on out is essentially a postseason game for them, a chance to prove they truly belong.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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