New Canaan Football’s Swindell Sets State Field Goal Record as Rams Rout Norwalk 52-14

For a team that has made its mark scoring touchdowns, it’s somewhat ironic that a field goal kicker would be the latest New Canaan Rams player to set a state record.

When New Canaan senior Peter Swindell drilled a 29-yard kick in the second quarter of New Canaan’s 52-14 win over Norwalk High School Friday night at Testa Field he became Connecticut’s all-time leader in career field goals, breaking St. Mary’s-Greenwich kicker Roberto Inesta’s mark of 18 that had stood for 45 years.

“That was awesome,” New Canaan head coach Lou Marinelli told NewCanaanite.com. “He’s worked very hard for it. He’s got a great leg. It’s been great to watch him develop and I hope he continues next year someplace.”

“It’s funny, I actually forgot before the game,” Swindell said. “It’s an honor and I’m proud of all the hard work we’ve put in—not only myself but the holder, the snapper—it’s a huge part of it. If we’re not on-point by an inch, everything goes wrong. They do a great job and it makes my job a lot easier.”

By the time Swindell booted his record-setting kick, New Canaan (6-0) already had the contest in hand. Norwalk (3-3) fumbled away the game’s opening kickoff, setting New Canaan up with the ball at the Bears’ 21-yard line. Two plays later Rams quarterback Michael Collins hit Kyle Smith with the first of his six touchdown passes on the night, giving New Canaan a 7-0 lead 30 seconds into the game.

Three minutes later, the Rams struck again as Collins found junior Ryan O’Connell across the middle for a 35-yard catch-and-run touchdown and a 14-0 lead with 8:20 left in the first quarter.

New Canaan extended its lead after Collins floated a perfect pass to Smith for a 35-yard touchdown and a 21-0 lead with 2:35 to go in the first.

Norwalk threatened to get on the board in the second quarter, driving down to the New Canaan nine-yard line. The Rams defense would hold, eventually forcing a turnover on downs before mounting a long scoring drive, capped off by an 11-yard touchdown pass from Collins to senior wideout Brian Maccalla to make it 28-0 New Canaan with 6:15 left in the half.

After Swindell’s historic kick put New Canaan up 31-0, Collins threw touchdown number-five on the night, this time to senior receiver Andrew DeFranco from 12 yards out just 14 seconds before the half. New Canaan went into the intermission with a 38-0 lead.

New Canaan’s starting offense came out for one series in the second half, which ended in yet another score. Collins found Kyle Smith in the end zone for a third time as a 27-yard touchdown pass gave the Rams a 45-0 lead.

For Collins, it was yet another amazing performance as the senior co-captain finished the evening completing 13 of 20 passes for 273 yards and six touchdowns, increasing his season total to 32 touchdowns in just six games. Collins, who committed to Penn before the start of the season, has justifiably generated additional interest from several D-1 powerhouses with his performance this season, including the University of Michigan.

“What can’t you say about him? He’s awesome,” Kyle Smith said of Collins. “When was the last time a quarterback from New Canaan was getting Big Ten looks? It’s nuts. His work ethic is absurd. He’s running hills after practice with his sled, and he told me the other day he did sleds on his gravel driveway. With the amount of work he puts in, he deserves this.”

Smith also had a monster game, reeling in seven catches for 189 yards—the fifth-highest single game total in program history—and three touchdowns. The Collins-to-Smith tandem has been something opposing defenses have dreaded since their days playing in New Canaan’s youth program.

“Growing up it’s always been me and Mike,” Smith said. “Tonight it really showed how much work we really put in together.”

Norwalk was eventually able to prevent the shutout, sandwiching two third quarter scores around another New Canaan touchdown—an 80-yard scoring strike from backup QB James Crovatto to junior Jack Hoelzer. Even so, it did little to diminish a dominant win for a Rams team that answered any and all questions which might have surfaced after last week’s shaky win over Greenwich.

“It’s a totally different feel,” Marinelli said. “Last week because of my son I was a basket case, but I think we calmed down. The quarterback and receivers took over. The offensive line did a great job protecting. It was a well-thought out game plan. Defensively I think the kids rose to the occasion. There were a couple of times where they could have scored, but our kids came up big.”

	Q1	Q2	Q3	Q4	Total
New Canaan	21	17	14	0	52
Norwalk	0	0	14	0	14

Scoring:

*NC – Kyle Smith 10-yd. reception from Michael Collins (Peter Swindell kick)
*NC – Ryan O'Connell 35-yd. reception from Collins (Swindell kick)
*NC – Smith 35-yd. reception from Collins (Swindell kick)
*NC – Maccalla 11-yd. reception from Collins (Swindell kick)
*NC – Swindell 29-yd. FG
*NC – Andrew DeFranco 12-yd. reception from Collins (Swindell kick)
*NC – Smith 27-yd. reception from Collins (Swindell kick)
*N – Brendan Brown 15-yd. reception from Krishtjan Frrokaj (Frrokaj kick)
*NC – Jack Hoelzer 80-yd. reception from James Crovatto (Hoelzer kick)
*N – Joey Laracca 12-yd. run (Frrokaj kick)

Key Stats

*Michael Collins - 13-20, 273 yds., 6 TD passing
*Kyle Smith - 7-189, 3 TD receiving
*Matt Cognetta - 7-133 rushing
*Peter Swindell - 29-yd. FG, sets CIAC record for career FG's (19)
*Total Offense - NC: 492, Norwalk: 223
*Yards per play - NC: 13.3, Norwalk: 3.7