It was apparent from the outset of the varsity football showdown between host Brunswick School and Suffield Academy that there was going to be no shortage of points in this matchup featuring high-powered, formidable NEPSAC teams.

Sophomore Noah Park scored on a 65-yard catch-and-run off a pass from junior quarterback Ben Rolapp on the game’s first play from scrimmage, setting the scene for a wild, high-scoring game loaded with highlights Bruins fans will remember for quite some time.

Brunswick proceeded to post 56 points on the scoreboard and as it turned out, they needed most of them to get past visiting Suffield Academy, which also had its share of highlight reel plays on this Sept. 27th night before a large crowd at Cosby Field.

Park and sophomore running back Colt Inman scored three touchdowns apiece and sophomore Sawyer Bligh reached the end zone twice for Brunswick in its thrilling 56-49 victory over Suffield Academy. The action-packed win raised Brunswick’s record to 2-1, heading into its home game against Belmont Hill School on Oct. 4 at 3 p.m. The Bruins’ triumph over Suffield marked the debut of Rolapp, a transfer who experienced plenty of success at Darien High School in previous seasons. Showing significant chemistry with the receivers and running backs, Rolapp efficiently and effectively ran the Bruins’ high octane offense.

“The O-Line played amazing, the receivers played amazing, the running backs played amazing, though there’s always room for improvement,” Rolapp said after the Bruins beat Suffield.

Talk about scoring quickly. Brunswick held a 28-7 lead on Suffield following the first quarter, then entered halftime with a 42-14 advantage. However, the Bruins had to keep their offense going and continue getting touchdowns in the second half, as the visitors wouldn’t go away. Suffield scored 35 second half points to keep the outcome in doubt right to the end of the fourth quarter.

“It was a great first half in all three phases of the game,” Brunswick coach Wayne McGillicuddy said of his squad. “We just didn’t execute as well as we could in the second half. We executed at times, but we have to execute in all three phases better. We ran 16 plays in the first half and scored 42 points, which is great.”

Indeed, as the statistics indicate, it didn’t take the Bruins long to impose their will offensively on Suffield Academy. The Bruins reached the end zone again on their second possession. Rolapp dropped back to pass and again connected with Park over the middle. Using his elusiveness and speed, Park caught the pass and ran 22 yards to the end zone. The PAT was converted and ‘Wick held a quick 14-0 lead at the 6:13 mark of the first quarter.

“I’ve got to give credit to coach, he did a great job of calling plays, which we executed well,” Park said. “On the first touchdown (senior wide receiver) Matt Colella made a great block for me. As an offense, we definitely showed our potential tonight, especially in the first quarter.”

The Tigers (1-2) broke a long play of their own for their opening touchdown of the game. Sophomore quarterback Drew Catterton completed a short pass near the left sideline to senior running back/receiver Bryce Summers. After snaring the pass, Summers broke a tackle and sprinted down the left sideline, showing standout speed, for an 80-yard touchdown, making it a 14-7 game. That didn’t conclude the scoring in this electrifying second quarter, however.

On the first play of the ensuing possession, Inman broke free of Suffield’s defense, finding a hole on the left side and dashed his way down the left sideline for a 63-yard score, making it 21-7 in favor of the Bruins with 4:46 still left in the opening quarter.

“We were really efficient with the ball and I’m proud of the offense,” Inman said. “I’m super proud of that first touchdown. I didn’t know I was going to break it.”

After Brunswick’s defense forced the Tigers to go three-and-out on their next possession, thanks to stellar play in the secondary, the hosts continued to light the scoreboard in the first quarter. Following a 14-yard reception by Bligh, who made his way out of the backfield for the catch, Park darted to the end zone from 41 yards out on a screen pass from Rolapp for Brunswick’s fourth TD of the opening quarter and a 28-7 lead with 1:49 to go in the first stanza.

Rolapp replaces 2025 Brunswick graduate Ben Herbert at quarterback. The 2025 Connecticut Gatorade Player of the Year, Herbert is playing football at Notre Dame. Through three games and especially versus Suffield, Rolapp has been in sync with the Bruins’ receivers, while being helped by a productive running game.

“I thought we played amazing,” Rolapp said. “As a quarterback, when you hand the ball off and Colt, who runs about 80 yards for a touchdown and throw a screen for five yards and it turns into a touchdown, it racks up my stats, when I only have to throw a five yards pass.”

“It’s awesome, it makes my job so much easier as a quarterback when you dump it off in the flat and score a touchdown – it’s awesome,” Rolapp continued.

Leading 28-14, Brunswick went back up by three scores at 35-14 when Inman took Rolapp’s handoff and scored on an impressive 62-yard run with 7:45 remaining in the second quarter. Bligh broke an 18-yard run for a touchdown off a sweep to the right at the 2:01 mark of the second stanza, giving the Bruins a seemingly comfortable 42-14 halftime lead.

Brunswick’s imposing offensive line of Rowan Ahrens, Oliver Sims, Sean Berntsen, Oliver Swenson and Michael Marini excelled at opening holes for the team’s running backs and protecting Rolapp in the pocket, giving him time to go through his progressions and get to the ball to the receivers.

“The offensive line played amazing, it was crazy, I’m so proud of our team,” Inman noted. “Everything came together on offense tonight.”

Bligh caught a screen pass and took it 65 yards for a touchdown with 5:48 left in the third quarter and Inman broke another run – this time for 40 yards – for a TD, capping Brunswick’s scoring for this NEPSAC matchup.

Suffield put 35 points on the scoreboard in the second half, with Summers scoring twice on runs and Catterton scoring on a short run, to spark the offense.

“They’re a well-coached, hard-nosed Suffield team,” McGillicuddy said. “We put our defense in some tough situations at the end. We need to play complementary football, because we feed off each other.”

The Bruins’ defense was ignited by senior defensive end Owen Kaseta, who registered a sack and had several tackles resulting in a loss of yards. Among some of the athletes who helped pace Brunswick’s defensive line was junior James Lindsay, who also made his presence felt in the Tigers’ backfield.

Brunswick is back in action with another home game on Oct. 4, as they will face Belmont Hill. Kickoff is scheduled for 3 p.m. and coach McGillicuddy’s team hopes to pick up where it left off offensively in their season-opener.

“There is definitely more to come from our offense,” Inman noted.