Ryan O'Connell is tackled just shy of the goal line as a bemused Scott Ericson stands by during New Canaan's 35-7 win over Westhill, Oct. 1, 2016. Credit: Terry Dinan
Lou Marinelli with some words of encouragement for receiver Justin Greco as he scores on an 81-yd. TD reception. New Canaan went on to a 35-7 win over Westhill, Oct. 1, 2016. Credit: Terry Dinan
Drew Pyne (#10) gets protection from senior co-captain Teddy Hood (#58) and Tiernan Brady (#64) during New Canaan's 35-7 win over Westhill, Oct. 1, 2016. Credit: Terry Dinan
Teddy Hood (#58) confers with O-Line coach Sean Donovan and injured senior James Crovatto (#5) during New Canaan's 35-7 win over Westhill, Oct. 1, 2016. Credit: Terry Dinan
Scenes from New Canaan's 35-7 win over Westhill, Oct. 1, 2016. Credit: Terry Dinan
There was no deluge as had been forecast by local weather outlets, but that didn’t stop the No. 2-ranked New Canaan Rams football team from raining points down on Westhill Saturday afternoon.
The Rams (4-0) scored the first 21 points of the game and never looked back on the way to a 35-7 road win over the Vikings (1-3) at J. Walter Kennedy Stadium. Both teams put last year’s controversial move of a Friday game to Monday due to rainy weather behind them, as this season’s game was completed without any lingering acrimony.
“I thought those Westhill kids played hard and did a really good job against us,” New Canaan head coach Lou Marinelli told NewCanaanite.com. “Offensively, we’re coming. I think we can do better, we’re still trying to figure out who we are. Hopefully coming into the meat of our schedule we can figure it out.”
The Rams offense—which outgained the Vikings 343 to 187 in total offense—was led by freshman quarterback Drew Pyne who completed 10 of 16 passes for 226 and two touchdows against one interception. One of those touchdowns was an 81-yard bomb to junior wideout Justin Greco that gave New Canaan a 14-0 lead with 2:34 left in the first. The Rams scored their first touchdown the previous possession on a J.R. Moore 4-yard run.
New Canaan extended its lead in the second quarter after an interception by Jackson Appelt set the Rams up with a first-and-10 on the Westhill 34. Six plays later Graham Braden scored on an 8-yard run, the first of two touchdowns on the day.
“The line did great,” Braden said. “Holes were opening up left and right and as a running back it was really easy to find space and make things happen.”
Westill cut New Canaan’s lead to 21-7 as quarterback Blake Newcomer hit receiver Noodles Metayer for a 39-yard touchdown pass with just 38 seconds left in the half. It was the only lapse the New Canaan defense had all game.
“I thought defensively the down linemen—Jack Kircher (two sacks), Dylan Miles (one sack) and Seamus O’Hora (one sack)—they dominated,” Marinelli said. “And then you have the linebacking core of (senior co-captain) James Freyre and Grant Morse…that’s a force.”
The Rams put the game away in the second half as Appelt took the third quarter’s opening kickoff 49 yards to the Vikings’ 36-yard line. Pyne then hit senior co-captain Ryan O’Connell on a swing pass that turned into a 36-yard touchdown and a 287 lead with 11:36 to play in the quarter.
Westhill was able to take their ensuing possession to the New Canaan 26, but an interception by senior co-captain Tommy Root ended the drive at the Rams 15.
New Canaan then marched 85 in 10 plays, capped off by Braden’s 13-yard touchdown run to make it 35-7 Rams.
“It feels great to have the season start off on a great note,” Braden said. “The coaches have been pushing us hard in practice and we haven’t gotten complacent. We’ve been trying to get better every day.”
Q1
Q2
Q3
Q4
Total
New Canaan
14
7
14
0
35
Westhill
0
7
0
0
7
Scoring:
*NC - J.R. Moore 4-yd. run (Grant Morse kick)
*NC - Justin Greco 81-yd. pass from Drew Pyne (Morse kick)
*NC - Graham Braden 8-yd. run (Morse kick)
*W - Noodles Metayer 39-yd. pass from Blake Newcomer (Matt Alswanger kick)
*NC - O'Connell 36-yd. pass from Pyne (Morse kick)
*NC - Braden 11-yd. run (Morse kick)
Key Stats:
*Ryan O'Connell: 3-68, TD receiving; 11-39 rushing
*Drew Pyne: 10-16, 226 yds., 2 TD's, INT passing; 5-29 rushing
*Graham Braden: 5-35, 2 TD's rushing
*Justin Greco: 3-122 TD receiving
*Jackson Appelt: INT, 1-49 kick returns
*Tommy Root: INT
*Jack Kircher: 2 sacks
*Total Offense: NC - 343, W - 187
*Third down conversions: NC - 5 for 9, W - 3 for 13
