Cornwall’s running backs scored five touchdowns, and tight end Matthew Breheny added two more in his return from injury, as the Dragons beat the Warwick Warriors 50-6 at home.

Cornwall (3-3) rotated senior Michael Cooper, junior Zaire Owens and freshman Aidan Russo behind an offensive line that consistently opened running lanes. Warwick fell to 0-6.

“The running back room played amazing,” Cooper said. “We were all talking about it before the game, the three of us about how we’re going to have a big day and we all did. It feels great to deliver.”

Breheny, a senior, scored on Cornwall’s opening drive, a 29-yard touchdown catch from junior quarterback

Sage Caesar. Cornwall’s defense set up the score by not allowing a first down on Warwick’s first possession.

The Dragons started the drive at their own 40-yard line and kept it alive with a short catch by junior receiver TJ Muhlfeld and a third-down conversion by Cooper. Muhlfeld ran in the two-point conversion for an 8-0 lead.
“It feels amazing. Coming back, knowing my team had trusted me and put me on the field,” Breheny said. He thanked his coaches for emphasizing getting him the ball this week.

Warwick answered on its next possession. A Cornwall penalty for a hit out of bounds on a receiver gave the Warriors a first down on third-and-10, and senior quarterback Eric Milisauskas, who struggled throwing but was elusive in the backfield, converted a third-and-3 with his legs. Senior captain Sean Perez then turned a short pass near midfield into a touchdown, gaining most of his yards after the catch. The extra point failed when the holder bobbled the snap and the kick was blocked, making it 8-6.

Cornwall pulled away from there. Russo returned the ensuing kickoff to the Cornwall 40, ran for 15 yards and finished the drive with a touchdown for a 15-6 lead.

“Scoring a touchdown is 100% the best feeling in football, especially at home,” Russo said. “When I scored, had all my teammates congratulating me, and then looked up at the crowd cheering it just feels amazing.”

Senior wide receiver Gabe Colsant opened the second quarter with two straight catches for first downs and another on third-and-6, setting up an 18-yard touchdown run by Cooper that made it 22-6. After junior safety Colin Greene made an open-field tackle and the defense forced a punt, Breheny scored his second touchdown on a 30-yard pass from Caesar for a 29-6 lead. It was his third touchdown of the season. He later ran through a Warwick defender on a third catch just before halftime.

Junior return specialist Aydan Ayala opened the third quarter with a long kickoff return to the Warwick 30, and Russo finished the drive with a 24-yard touchdown run, making it 36-6. Owens added a touchdown run from Warwick’s 40 for a 43-6 lead, using his speed and lateral quickness to get past defenders.

Greene ended a promising Warwick drive in the fourth quarter with his second interception of the season, returning it to inside the 10-yard line. Owens ran in his second touchdown for the final margin.

Cornwall coach Kevin Arduino said the pass catchers help the running game. “The safeties start coming down a bit because you run the ball on them, and that’s when we get the one-on-one matchups with Gabe, Jayon, TJ and those guys,” he said. Of Breheny, who is 6-foot-4 and about 210 pounds, he said, “He’s a weapon to have and he’s athletic.”

On the running back rotation, Arduino said, “It’s tough to get all those guys the ball, and we feed them as much as we can. It’s a huge weapon, and it keeps guys fresh.”

Cornwall’s next three games are against division opponents. “It’s kind of a new season now going into our division. Every week is playing for first place,” Arduino said. “We’re treating every week as a championship game.”

“I’m looking forward to having good games, good competition, and getting ready to go far in the playoffs,” Cooper said.

Cornwall hosts Our Lady of Lourdes on Oct. 16 at 7 p.m.