Caparell helps Bedford football cruise past Milford

BEDFORD – If it looked like James Caparell and Brian Collins have been playing football together for a long time, it’s because they have.

The Bedford High School seniors were on the same page right from the start Friday night, and helped lead the Bulldogs to a 48-7 win over Milford in a crossover game.

Caparell completed 13 of 19 passes for 276 yards and four touchdowns, two of which went to Collins, who caught five passes for 144 yards. Michael Vailas also caught two touchdown passes from Caparell, as Bedford outgained Milford 460-88.

“They have such a connection together, it’s like they can read each others’ minds a little bit,” Bedford coach Kurt Hines said. “What really surprised me, we really spread the ball around. The danger was if James just takes the ball and decides to look at Brian, they’re going to double team him and we’re not going to win many games. James made some really good decisions.”

Five different receivers caught passes for Bedford (1-0), and Caparell’s only mistake came on an interception late in the first quarter that set up the only touchdown for Milford (0-1).

“Certainly against offenses like that, you can’t give up big plays and we gave up too many big plays,” Milford coach Keith Jones said. “We let them off the hook too many times.

“Give (Caparell) credit. When he was scrambling around, there is no coverage that is going to stay in with that. He can throw the ball and he probably has the best arm in the state. Everybody touts other kids, but that kid can sling it.”

Caparell did just that on Bedford’s first offensive play. After forcing Milford to punt, the senior quarterback found Collins deep and the receiver jumped over the Spartans’ defender to haul in the pass before racing 74 yards for the game’s first score.

On Bedford’s next drive, Caparell connected with Vailas on a 31-yard pass, and then went back to the sophomore receiver on the next play for a 14-yard touchdown that made it 13-0.

“The offense line gave me great protection all night,” Caparell said. “Brian Collins had a field day out there. He was open all the time. They just allowed me nice easy throws. It’s easy when your line is getting you good protection and you’re receivers are getting open.”

But Milford wasn’t going away that quick. Mitchell Banuskevich intercepted a pass on Bedford’s next drive, setting the Spartans up at the Bulldogs’ 42.

Milford quarterback Harrison Urda scrambled for 11 yards, and on the first play of the second quarter, Urda found Ian Michaud for a 30-yard completion to the Bedford 2. Joe Albina rumbled into the end zone on the next play and Morgan Andrews kicked the extra point to make it 13-7.

“To make it 13-7, to show we weren’t going to quit, we could have easily said that when it was 13-0,” Jones said. “I give the kids credit.”

Bedford responded on a 32-yard touchdown pass from Caparell to Collins, but Milford looked like it was about to answer right back.

The Spartans moved to Bedford’s 31, but Joe Thibeault (two sacks, forced fumble) knocked the ball from Albina’s hands and Aaron Palys recovered. Bedford turned the fumble into an eight-play, 75-yard drive that ended on Caparell’s 28-yard touchdown pass to Vailas that made it 28-7 just before halftime.

“I’m so proud of our guys. It’s not what I expected. I felt like we could have won the game, but they exceeded my expectations,” Hines said. “They really did well.”

The road gets tougher for Bedford, which moved up to Division II, as the Bulldogs will host Winnacunnet on Sept. 7. The Warriors rolled over Souhegan 41-7 on Friday.

For Milford, it’s back to the drawing board, as the Spartans host Pembroke on Sept. 7 for their first Division III game of the year.

“The good thing for us is we’re still 0-0 (in Division III),” Jones said. “The key for us is to get this out of the way and next week we open with Pembroke. Those are the ones that count. One of the kids said a great thing – reality check. It’s time to get back to work and get it done.”