Norwich — Sometimes football is more fun when one simply pounds away at an opposing defense rather than spreading it out.

"Oh, absolutely," said Thames River senior co-captain Josh Brown after Saturday's 20-6 win over MCW United in a Connecticut Technical Conference game.

"That's my personal favorite thing to do."

Thames, a cooperative program made up of players from Grasso Tech, Norwich Tech and St. Bernard, was a little squirrely at halftime as the game was scoreless. ... and it hadn't scored in 21 days.

The Crusaders' previous game was on Sept. 15, a 7-0 double-overtime loss to Wilcox Tech.

Thames opened the season with a 14-6 win over Platt Tech.

"We shot ourselves in the foot," head coach Darin Jones said about Saturday's first half. "Just stupid penalties. I challenged the kids (at halftime). Let's sustain drives and get in the end zone."

Jones chuckled and added, "We came out of halftime, and there was (immediately) a false start and a snapped ball over (quarterback Logan Starr's) head."

The Crusaders shook it all off and scored on their next three drives, ditching their one-back, shotgun formation for the I-formation, an old-school favorite befitting a game played on Norwich Tech's still moist grass field.

Brown ran 20 times for 100 yards and a touchdown (and added seven tackles) for Thames (2-1, 2-1) and Al Velazquez had six carries for 64 yards and a touchdown.

Starr ran 7 times for 77 yards and a score for the Crusaders, and Cole Occhiolino added seven carries for 44 yards.

"It's nice to have that extra blocker in there to really reinforce that hole because sometimes it's not as big as it could be," Jones said about the I-formation. "Cole (at fullback) going right through (the hole first), it really just opens it up."

Brown and Jones were quick to mention the work done by Thames' offensive line of center Brian Bethea, guards Roark Ryan (a junior co-captain) and Hamlet Chajub, and tackles Nick Miller and Tyler Jicha. None are seniors.

"We've got some cattle up there," Jones said. "We've got some heavy guys, and they like to hit."

The Crusaders' defense jumpstarted the team as it stopped MCW a yard short on fourth-and-3 from its own 38 midway through the third quarter.

Thames came out in the I and began smashing away. Starr scored on a 3-yard keeper with 5 minutes, 22 seconds left in the quarter to put his team ahead, 6-0.

The United (0-4, 0-4), made up of players from Housatonic Regional, Wamogo, and Wolcott Tech, came right back as Chris Speaker threw a 72-yard touchdown pass to Cade Gwinn with 2:40 left in the quarter. The extra point was blocked.

Thames responded even faster. It began with senior co-captain Ismael Rivera-Garcia returning the kickoff 29 yards to the United's 46-yard line.

Velazquez scored two plays later on a 40-yard run. He also caught the conversion from Starr to put the Crusaders' ahead, 14-6, with 1:39 left in the third.

Thames senior co-captain Wil Korineck (five tackles) blocked a punt on the United's next possession. It gave his team the ball at the MCW 8-yard line with seconds left in the quarter.

Smith scored on a 2-yard run with 11:31 left in the game.

Luis Aguilar and Ryan each had five tackles for Thames, Dominic Martinez had four tackles, and Matt Thorpe had three tackles and a sack.

"They composed themselves and they absolutely rose to the challenge we gave them," Jones said about his team. "Instead of trying to hang your head, you've got to let the kids know that we still believe in them, we're still positive, and they responded."

n.griffen@theday.com