BY RYAN O'CONNOR

Two years after winning the 2004 Division V title, the Bow Falcons stumbled to a 2-7 record last season and missed the playoffs.

That’s why Bow head coach Paul Cohen said his team’s first game, a 34-14 road win at Campbell High School of Litchfield, was so important.

“It was about the first time making a statement in this division,” said Cohen. “Through a very hard preseason camp and with the remnants of last year’s team, with a lot of memories of very bad Saturdays from last fall, I think we made our statement loud and clear.”

Last season, after losing his starting quarterback to injury, Cohen turned to then-sophomore quarterback Andrew Vinnenberg.

He said the field general has “really grown up this year” and showed it against Campbell, maintaining his composure throughout the contest despite the foes coming back and tying the game twice in the first half, at 7-apiece and then again at 14-all.

But senior tailback Ian Hanson was the story of the game.

“Ian said to me at the end of last year that his mission as a high school football player was unfulfilled, that he needed to take the next step. He took that step in a big way this week,” said Cohen. “I’m not sure how many yards he had this week, but basically he was unstoppable.”

He amassed 202 yards … and five touchdowns … in three quarters.

On defense, senior cornerback Steven Gallerani intercepted three Campbell passes, including one in the end zone that thwarted a long Cougar drive fueled by multiple Bow penalties.

Cohen, however, while recognizing Hanson’s stellar running and Gallerani’s stout coverage, gave credit to the players in the trenches for the victory.

“The offensive line did exactly what we’ve been training them all through camp to do: they opened some very big holes and really dominated for 90-plus percent of the game,” said the head coach, adding that the three interceptions and second-half shutout were direct results of strong defensive line play.

Bow’s home opener is Saturday, Sept. 8, against Pelham, the team it beat for the 2004 championship.

“I think they’re probably still thinking about 2004,” said Cohen. “November 13. I know we still think about it too. They’re going to come ready to play.

“It’s our first home game, and I’m sure they’d like nothing more than to spoil it for us,” he continued. “But for the moment we’re riding high, and we’re going to take this momentum the right way, and we’ll be ready for them.”