Wilton eighth graders Austin Andersen (L, above #17) and Stephen Kendra (#74) recently participated in the FBU National Football Tournament as members of the 35-strong 8th grade Connecticut all-state football team, which was chosen in a series of open tryouts from among 200 of the best 8th grade players from around the state.
Team Connecticut defeated Rhode Island 29-6 in the first round of the tournament and overcame a second half deficit to beat New Hampshire 14-12 in the New England Championship game before falling to South Jersey 27-0 in the eastern regionals of the 64 team tournament in a game held last weekend in Lewisburg, WV.
Andersen, who this season played for Wilton Blue in the Fairfield County Football League while also serving as captain of the undefeated New Canaan Country School Varsity football team, has been a stalwart on the all-state team at wide receiver and safety for the past three seasons. He was Team Connecticut’s leading receiver for the second consecutive season and snared the winning pass late in the fourth quarter of the New England championship game.
Kendra, a member of FCFL runner-up Wilton White this season, was a key contributor on the defensive line for Team Connecticut.