NewCanaanite.com (https://newcanaanite.com/bounceback-new-canaan-fifth-grade-black-crushes-darien-31560)
Scenes from NC Black 5's win over Darien. Credit: Diane Rasso
Scenes from NC Black 5's win over Darien. Credit: Diane Rasso
Andrew Rittenberry with a 56-yard INT return for a TD. Credit: Diane Rasso
Brendan Hagan (#34) with a big gain. Credit: Diane Rasso
Dominic Rasso (#76) with a hard tackle. Credit: Diane Rasso
Heading into Saturday’s game against Darien White, New Canaan Fifth Grade Black head coach Jason Milligan must have been wondering which team would show up—the one which dominated the line of scrimmage and played flawless defense in a 14-8 opening day win against Ridgefield, or the penalty-laden, underachieving one that lost 12-8 to a decidedly-inferior Darien Blue team.
By halftime, the answer was obvious.
Energized by the return of wide receiver Brendan Hagan, New Canaan (2-1) jumped out to a 38-14 lead at the intermission and cruised the rest of the way en route to a convincing 38-22 win over Darien, who fell to 1-2 on the season.
“We’re not too accustomed to losing,” Milligan told NewCanaanite.com. “Typically after a loss the kids respond, and they were fired up all week. You could tell that everybody came to play today.”
Brendan Hagan (#34) with a big gain. Credit: Diane Rasso
And that included Hagan, who missed last week’s game due to a finger injury he suffered in the waning minutes the previous week against Ridgefield. Having the added dimension of Hagan’s speed on the field allowed New Canaan to stretch out the Darien defense, which in turn provided running backs Andrew Rittenberry, Caden Bowling and Beckett Beatman plenty of big-gain opportunities throughout the game.
“Last week my team lost and I felt like I let them down a little bit…it was really annoying,” Hagan said. “This week I felt good and ready—I’m back to full health, and our team played great today.”
“Brendan is one of our fastest guys,” Milligan said. “He’s got the ability to turn any play into a touchdown, so it does open up some things for other guys because defenses are keying on him. He’s one of our best tacklers on defense, so it was definitely good to have him back.”
New Canaan actually trailed in this game, albeit briefly, after Darien—led by the fastest kid in the world, Isaac McMullin—scored on an 11-play, 80-yard drive capped off by a 15-yard Wave TD pass. After the PAT bounced off the crossbar, Darien had a 6-0 lead with 3:45 left in the first quarter.
Scenes from NC Black 5’s win over Darien. Credit: Diane Rasso
New Canaan answered immediately, and unsurprisingly it was Hagan who did the heavy lifting. With New Canaan facing a third-and-ten at its own 33-yard line, Hagan took a direct snap around the left end. Sprung by solid blocks from Reese Hanrattie and Zach Manna, Hagan picked up 43 yards before being dragged down at the Darien 24. On the very next play, Bowling ran untouched around the right side for a touchdown. After Ty Groff booted home the PAT, New Canaan had an 8-6 lead with 2:02 to go in the first.
Andrew Rittenberry with a 56-yard INT return for a TD. Credit: Diane Rasso
After New Canaan’s defense forced a Darien punt, led by strong tackles from Petey “KO” Cieszko, Dominic “The Dominator” Rasso and Darian “It’s My Name Not My Town” Murray, the Black 5’s offense struck again. On the first play from scrimmage, Rittenberry slid through a hole created by Holden Busby and Cooper Dinan and broke through into the Darien secondary. Outrunning the Wave defenders, Rittenberry raced for a 56-yard touchdown and a 16-6 New Canaan lead with 8:45 left in the half.
Darien would answer on its next series as McMullin scored on a 42-yard TD run to close to within 16-14 with 6:56 left. New Canaan, however, would respond immediately on the ensuing offensive possession.
Dominic Rasso (#76) with a hard tackle. Credit: Diane Rasso
After Groff picked up six yards on a QB keeper, a screen pass to Hagan went for 25 yards to the Darien 40. On first down, Bowling followed a textbook seal from Ryan Connelly and a block from center Colin Perkins, broke a tackle and ran for a 40-yard touchdown, giving New Canaan a 22-14 lead with 5:02 left in the second.
New Canaan’s defense forced Darien to a three-and-out on their next series, as tackles from Cieszko, Busby and Hagan, heavy pressure from Ben Bo and Jack Buttine, plus a near-sack from Tucker Milligan stopped the Wave cold in their tracks. After New Canaan took over possession, a remarkable 37-yard run by Beatman set up Bowling’s third TD of the game, a 16-yard scamper through the right side for a 30-14 New Canaan advantage.
Scenes from NC Black 5’s win over Darien. Credit: Diane Rasso
In a game where offense was the main story, it was New Canaan’s defense which put the final nail in Darien’s coffin on the next Blue Wave possession. Pressured by a blitzing Hagan and Will Larson, Darien’s QB tried to avoid a sack by getting rid of the ball, which he did—right into the waiting arms of Rittenberry, who returned the interception 56 yards for a defensive touchdown and a 38-14 lead. After Darien got the ball back, a Milligan sack of McMullin just before the gun was the exclamation point to a completely dominant first half for New Canaan.
Darien would score on the first possession of the second half as McMullin showed why he is still one of the most dangerous players in the FCFL, racing to a 70-yard TD and closing the New Canaan lead to 38-22. But that was as close as Darien would get.
New Canaan’s defense, led by great play from R.J. DeCamillo, Charlie Harrison, Ben Bo, Teddy Rosen and Jacob Dowdle held Darien in check for the rest of the game. Meanwhile, the New Canaan offense, spurred by solid gains from Larson and halfback Sean Jones, was able eat up valuable yardage and clock to ensure the victory.
| Q1 | Q2 | Q3 | Q4 | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Canaan | 8 | 30 | 0 | 0 | 38 |
| Darien | 6 | 8 | 8 | 0 | 22 |
