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NCHS Senior Drew Pyne Signs Early Letter of Intent To Play Football at Notre Dame

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New Canaan High School senior quarterback Drew Pyne on Wednesday signed an early Letter of Intent to play football at the University of Notre Dame. Pyne said he’s always dreamed of playing at the storied Indiana university. “[Rams Football Head] Coach [Lou] Marinelli gave me the right path in high school to make all this happen, so all thanks to him,” Pyne said moments before a signing ceremony in the Wagner Room at NCHS attended by more than 50 relatives, friends, classmates, teammates and coaches. “I’m blessed with this great opportunity so I’m very excited.”

Asked what special NCHS memories he’ll take with him, Pyne said, “All of high school has been fantastic, whether football or academically.”

“Mr. [Bill] Egan, our principal, has made it a great experience for me. And Coach Marinelli has made it unbelievable as well.

Sports

‘This Is Why We Play’: New Canaan Football Tops Windsor 35-20 for Fourth Straight Class L Championship

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As darkness enveloped New Britain’s Veterans Memorial Stadium, Lou Marinelli stood alone at midfield, long after his New Canaan Rams defeated Windsor 35-20 for their fourth straight Class L championship. “I don’t want to leave,” Marinelli said. “We’re counting down the minutes on the sidelines and I’m saying, ‘Damn, I can’t wait until it’s over.’ But now I don’t want it to be over.”

For Marinelli, the time to reflect is well-deserved. The win marked the 12th state title in his 36 years as head coach of the Rams and his 331st career victory, tying former West Haven and St. Joseph coach Ed McCarthy for the most wins in state history.

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New Canaan Football Tops Notre Dame-West Haven 20-17 in Class L Semifinals

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In a season filled with ups and a few downs, praise and scrutiny, hype and over-analysis, it seems only fitting that Drew Pyne’s finest moment in his young New Canaan career came on the heels of what could have been his lowest. New Canaan’s poised freshman quarterback rebounded from an interception deep in Rams territory and—buoyed by a dramatic defensive goal line stand—engineered a 95-yard second half touchdown drive for a lead the No. 2 Rams (11-1) would not relinquish in a 20-17 Class L semifinal win over No. 6 Notre Dame-West Haven (8-4) Monday night at Dunning Field. “That was incredible,” New Canaan senior co-captain Ryan O’Connell said of Pyne’s performance.

Sports

New Canaan Football Tops Masuk 31-28 in Class L Quarterfinal

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On a team laden with so many offensive and defensive weapons, it isn’t often that the kicker garners much of the spotlight. That being said there was perhaps no bigger factor in No. 2 New Canaan’s 31-28 win over No. 7 Masuk in Tuesday’s Class L quarterfinal than Rams kicker Grant Morse. Morse didn’t just bail out the Rams—in what New Canaan head coach Lou Marinelli called a “flat” performance—with his punting, averaging 47.5 yards on two kicks that helped tip the field position balance in the Rams’ favor.

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Darien Football Edges New Canaan 37-34 in Overtime Turkey Bowl Thriller

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It was one of the most memorable chapters in a long and storied rivalry—a rare high school football game that not only lived up to but exceeded its hype as the top-seeded Darien Blue Wave escaped New Canaan with a breathtaking 37-34 overtime win over the No. 2 Rams Thanksgiving afternoon in front of nearly 5,000 fans at Dunning Field. Darien senior co-captain Finlay Collins was named the game’s MVP, rushing 10 times for 87 yards and two touchdowns and sealing the Wave’s thrilling win with an interception of New Canaan quarterback Drew Pyne in overtime at the Wave five-yard line. “Hats off to New Canaan, they played a hell of a game.” Darien head coach Rob Trifone told NewCanaanite.com.