The home team gave no ground, though, in defeating the Terriers 10-0 in a grind-it-out game characterized by the mud covering both green and white jerseys.

The Indians scored the game’s only touchdown on their opening drive off an 11-yard pass from Mike Bourdon to Cullen Bonner. After that, it took only the Northwest defense, and the slop on the ground, to seal the deal.

Neither team could get much offense going, but the Indians did a slightly better job of it in the end. Their main offensive weapon was powerful running back Rich Kevorkian, who chipped away at the Terriers’ defense for 91 yards on 22 carries.

"We’re not going to make excuses," Rocky Hill coach Dave Coyne said. "They beat us. We’re a fast team and it’s hard to be fast when you’re playing in three inches of mud, They’re a good football team and they won. Take your hats off to them."

Coyne emphasized that both teams had to deal with conditions, something that Northwest coach Mike Tyler repeated.

"In a perfect field, maybe they score more, maybe we score more," Tyler said. "It’s hard to guess on that stuff ... It’s the same for both teams and maybe it takes away from both teams a bit to play in these conditions, but we played and we’re real happy with the outcome."

Both teams, usually complementing their running games with potent air attacks, were hampered, but it was the Indians who adjusted better. The Terriers continued to try and play with their passing attack, and were limited by incompletions to just over 100 yards by Doug Elliot.

Turnovers and penalties proved costly as well. Rocky Hill lost three fumbles, a number that would have been higher if not for the ones they recovered. Elliot also threw two interceptions. The most costly halted a promising Rocky Hill drive near midfield late in the game.

With the offenses limited, it came down to defense. As Tyler said, his group played just slightly better.

"We could have won this game," Coyne said. "They didn’t blow us out. They had some big plays and we had a couple plays. We just didn’t get our offense going. Our defense I’m proud of. They made some big stops, but they were on the field for too long."

With the win, the Indians now stand alone in first place in the Nutmeg League at 5-0 following losses Friday night by Middletown and Plainville. Rocky Hill (4-1) is currently tied with those teams and Berlin for second and will go to Middletown next weekend in another important matchup. Northwest will play Berlin.

"It’s huge for the kids, and for the program, for the coaches and the Northwest Catholic community to be in this position," Tyler said. "Coach [Coyne] has done a great job with their program and this is what we figured it was gonna be. A dog-eat-dog game right to the end."