photo credit:  Joyce Andersen

In Sunday’s tilt of unbeaten teams, Wilton 7 Blue’s smashmouth style of football overcame arch rival New Canaan Black’s pass-happy, finesse approach in convincing style, 21-6.

As has been the pattern in previous years, New Canaan jumped out to an early lead using the passing game to devastating effect. On just their fourth play from scrimmage, all of which were passes, the Rams connected on a 55 yard scoring pass to take a 6-0 lead. An unsportsmanlike conduct penalty for taunting forced the Rams to go for two points from the 18 where their pass attempt fell incomplete.

The contrasting style of the two teams came into sharp relief immediately as the Warriors displayed a ground and pound attack. Offensive linemen Sean Purdy, Nick Wert, Jack Lenz, Jack Savarese and Maden Herve paved the way for Wilton’s hard-nosed running backs Ryan Healey, Kyle Hyzy, Matt Dooley and Austin Andersen, who ground out yards five, six and seven at a time. On the twelfth play of the drive, at the Rams’ 14, the Warriors took to the air, but a New Canaan defender made a leaping interception in the end zone to stem the Warrior attack, temporarily.

With Jimmy O’Brien, Lenz and Savarese putting an intense rush on the quarterback, New Canaan was forced to punt on their next possession giving the Warriors excellent field position at their own 49 where the Warriors ground game once again was unleashed. It was Hyzy for 5, Andersen for 12, O’Brien for 2, Dooley for 6 and so on to the one foot line where O’Brien punched it in on the eleventh play of the drive. Jack DiRocco then drilled the extra point to put the Warriors up for good, 7-6 just seconds before half time.

After trading possessions to start the second half the Warriors took possession after a punt at their own 46 where the relentless pressure of the Warrior attack really began to take its toll on the Rams. A 10 yard carry by Dooley and runs of 20 and 10 yards by Andersen put the ball at the 14. On the next play, following a huge lead block by Andersen, Hyzy powered into the end zone. DiRocco added another PAT to make it 14-6.

New Canaan’s aerial attack was shut down on the next drive as Herve and DiRocco provided great coverage on the Rams receivers forcing yet another punt which Hyzy returned 15 yards to the New Canaan 39.

On the next play the Warrior offensive line opened a huge hole for Andersen who burst through the left side of the line, streaked up the sideline, broke a would-be tackle at the 10 and scored to put the game away.

New Canaan’s last gasp was thwarted by a ferocious rush from Dominick Polito, Savarese, O’Brien and Lenz, sealing the 21-6 victory and sole possession of first place in the league.

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