Sports

New Canaan Football Blanks Central 49-0

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It was at times sloppy, but New Canaan’s 49-0 win over Bridgeport Central was money in the bank for head coach Lou Marinelli—especially considering New Canaan’s recent history against the Hilltoppers at cavernous Kennedy Stadium. “You never know what you’re going to get when you come up here,” Marinelli told NewCanaanite.com. “This can be the house of horrors for us.”

But those looking for a replay of New Canaan’s shocking 42-7 defeat at the hands of the Hilltoppers in 2009 would be sorely disappointed. New Canaan outgained Central 402 to 149 in total offense—including 246 yards on the ground, despite being without injured senior offensive lineman, co-captain Teddy Hood—and put the game away early with a 35-0 lead at halftime, crushing any notion of another upset. The Rams were led by senior co-captain Ryan O’Connell, who rushed for 125 yards and two touchdowns.

Sports

Pyne, O’Connell Lead New Canaan Football Over Ridgefield, 41-21

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After last week’s shaky win over Trinity Catholic, the New Canaan Rams were looking a leader who could step up and give a struggling offense an identity, a rhythm and some confidence. Enter Drew Pyne. The freshman quarterback solved New Canaan’s quarterback conundrum, completing 20 of 35 passes for 281 yards and two touchdowns, rushing for 58 yards and helped lead the Rams to a convincing 41-21 win over Ridgefield Friday night at Dunning Field. “Just a tremendous job for his first time as a varsity starting quarterback,” New Canaan head coach Lou Marinelli told NewCanaanite.com. “He exceeded my expectations for sure.

Sports

New Canaan Old Timers Association Spotlight: Mario Lopez

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One of the most intense competitors in the history of New Canaan High School athletics, Mario Lopez was a two-sport star for the Rams. The 1984 grad was a captain in both baseball and football in his senior year. Lopez was an inside linebacker for the Rams in head coach Lou Marinelli’s earliest seasons. Mentored by assistant coaches Joe Ditolla and Bo Hickey, Lopez earned three Varsity letters from 1981 to 1983, emerging as New Canaan’s top tackler and earning a reputation as one of the FCIAC’s hardest hitters. “Mario really set the tone for our team,” Marinelli told New Canaanite.com. “He was so emotional and so intense, one of the most intense players I’ve ever had.

Sports

New Canaan Football Slips Past Trinity Catholic 20-6

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It wasn’t the prettiest of wins, but Lou Marinelli will take it. Tested by a tough, underrated Trinity Catholic squad Marinelli’s New Canaan Rams—buoyed by a spectacular defensive performance—escaped their season-opener at Dunning Field with a hard-fought 20-6 win over the Crusaders. “Thank God for our defense, thank God for (defensive coordinator) Chris Silvestri, they did a tremendous job,” Marinelli told NewCanaanite.com. “The best thing I can say is that we were stymied. Thank God for some heroics by some kids who came up big.”

One such hero was New Canaan linebacker James Freyre.

Sports

‘It Doesn’t Get Any Better Than This’: 2016 New Canaan Rams Football Preview

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For the first time in recent memory, the New Canaan Rams will be heading into their season without a defined quarterback situation. It’s a scenario that may be amplified for the Rams—who will look to defend their three consecutive Class L State Championships—given the graduation of All-State signal caller Michael Collins, who has taken his considerable talents to the University of Pennsylvania this fall. It’s not that New Canaan head coach Lou Marinelli lacks choices. In fact, as many as eight QB’s were in the running for the starting job through the summer—a talent pool that has been whittled down to five as New Canaan’s opening game against Trinity Catholic approaches this Saturday. “We’ve started all over again,” Marinelli told NewCanaanite.com.