Platt QB Austen Standish leads 49-13 rout over South Windsor

Platt football senior quarterback Austen Standish threw four touchdowns and rushed for a fifth to lead his team to a 49-13 victory over South Windsor on Friday night. The win improves Platt’s record to 5-2 and keeps the Panthers in the top eight of the CIAC Class MM standings. The margin of victory was decisive, with Platt scoring on every possession in the first half to lead 35-7 at the break.

The game featured a 21-point scoring run by Platt in the final five minutes of the second quarter. Sophomore Amari Bowman returned an interception 46 yards for a touchdown with 1:05 left in the half. That play capped a sequence that included a 40-yard pass from Standish to Maurice Christie and a 5-yard run by Bowman. The Panthers had earlier taken a 21-7 lead after a 12-yard touchdown run by Bowman and a 12-yard rushing score by Standish.

Coach Jason Bruenn noted the difficulty of the CIAC Class MM division, which currently has two teams with two losses remaining in the mix. Bruenn stated that Platt had to take its fate into its own hands to secure a postseason berth. He told his players that with two losses already on the record, the team could not afford another defeat. The coach emphasized the need to keep winning and continue improving throughout the season.

Standish finished with 199 passing yards on 11 of 18 attempts and 50 rushing yards on nine carries. He also caught a pass on the opening drive, which set up his first touchdown pass to Christie. Christie, a junior, finished with six catches for 162 yards and three touchdowns of 12, 40, and 42 yards. The duo connected again early in the second half, triggering the CIAC mandated running clock for the remainder of the game.

South Windsor, which improved to 2-5, scored 13 points. Colton Kyle Flaherty ran for a 6-yard touchdown in the first quarter. Jalil Montgomery scored from 4 yards out with just over five minutes to play in the fourth quarter. Montgomery finished the game with 37 rushing yards. The Panthers’ next scheduled game will determine their standing in the playoff race as the season progresses.

Standish said the team’s goal was to dominate the field and come out strong. He acknowledged that Platt had played flat in a previous 21-20 win over East Hartford but aimed to avoid that performance against South Windsor. Christie said the team started its preparation on Monday, focusing on discipline and aggression. The players said they executed the game plan effectively to secure the win.