FCIAC Final vs. Darien Looms as New Canaan Football Finishes Unbeaten Regular Season with 47-16 Win vs. Trinity

Though his team’s 47-16 win over the Trinity Catholic Crusaders on Saturday capped an undefeated regular season, the first thing New Canaan Football head coach Lou Marinelli said afterwards was that the final score belied a mistake-laden effort that the Rams must address before taking to the gridiron for the FCIAC final and states.

The second thing he said was that Trinity head coach Don Panapada and his players—notably standout seniors Randy Polonia and Thomas Costigan, a captain, both of whom Marinelli said gave him “agita” all game—“made a tremendous effort and really played their hearts out.”

“I have all respect for Donnie and these kids—just a heartfelt, tremendous job by them,” Marinelli said.

The Rams overcame an early deficit and five penalties for 47 yards, including a fourth-down off-sides call at the end of the first quarter, up just 14-7 at the time, that gave new life to a gutsy Crusaders team led by quarterback Anthony Lombardi, in perhaps the best QB performance against New Canaan all season.

New Canaan also would fumble three times in the game—including once at Trinity’s 1-yard-line, with about one minute left in the first half, and just a 21-10 edge at the time.

Yet another tremendous game from senior co-captain Alex LaPolice (three touchdowns, two interceptions), huge contributions from senior Michael Kraus (two touchdowns, interception) and a 13-23, 350-yard performance from QB Mike Collins—protected by an offensive line led by senior co-captain Jim Keneally—proved too much for Trinity to overcome.

The win sets up what’s expected to be a combo FCIAC-final-and-Turkey-Bowl on Thanksgiving morning (at Boyle Stadium in Stamford), as a St. Joseph High School win over Brien McMahon, combined with a Darien victory on Saturday set up the rival towns for a big showdown.

Saturday’s game was just a few minutes old when Lombardi connected with Polonia on a 58-yard TD bomb, stirring the home crowd at Trinity Catholic Alumni Field on a clear, crisp autumn afternoon. The Rams answered on their opening drive when LaPolice powered into the end zone on a 2-yard touchdown run.

On the next series, on a 3^rd-and-9 from New Canaan’s 44, Lombardi threw downfield and LaPolice snagged the pass out of the air at the 8-yard line. The game was knotted at seven, and LaPolice would finish the drive 71 seconds later at the other end, with a 26-yard touchdown run down the middle of the field.

The LaPolice pick proved to be an early turning-point in the game, as New Canaan never surrendered the lead.

“They put the ball in the air and I was fortunate to be able to come down with it,” the Harvard-bound wide receiver and defensive back said.

Kraus would provide some breathing room in the second corner, returning a kickoff 86 yards down the left side, setting up an extra point that made it a 21-10 game.

New Canaan’s trademark stingy, big-play D—led in part by LaPolice and senior co-captain Zach Allen—stepped up, holding the Crusaders to a single touchdown for the remainder of the game.

Allen said the team had been “pretty sloppy” in practice the past week—following three weeks of very strong practices—and is focused now on the FCIAC final and CIAC tournament.

Asked whether he had any thoughts on finishing his final regular season game as a New Canaan High School Ram football player, the all-time NCHS sack leader said: “I hadn’t really thought about it. We’re all focused on our goal right now. We can reminisce later.”

Here’s a look back at New Canaan’s undefeated season, followed by a summary of Saturday’s game at Trinity Catholic.

1. New Canaan Edges Hand in Football Opener
2. New Canaan Football Tames Lions
3. Mr. 300: New Canaan Beats Greenwich for Marinelli’s Milestone Win
4. Flag Day: New Canaan Overcomes Penalties, Warde for Football Program’s 500th Win
5. New Canaan Tops Hatters 42-14, Improves to 5-0
6. New Canaan Football Wrecks Staples, Improves to 6-0
7. New Canaan Football Makes Statement With Big Win Over St. Joe’s
8. ‘We’re On That Mission’: New Canaan Football Dominates Wilton

New Canaan vs. Trinity Catholic—Nov. 15, 2014 at Trinity Catholic Alumni Field, Stamford, Conn.

Bill Brown	Q1	Q2	Q3	Q4	Total
New Canaan	14	9	10	14	47
Trinity Catholic	7	3	6	0	16

Scoring:

*TC—Anthony Lombardi 54-yard pass to Randy Polonia (Sam Ruzzi kick)
*NC —Alex LaPolice 2-yard run (Peter Swindell kick)
*NC —LaPolice 26-yd. run (Swindell kick)
*TC—Ruizzi 31-yard field goal
*NC—Michael Kraus 86-yard kickoff return TD run (Swindell kick)
*NC—Malaki Holan safety
*NC—Collins 23-yard pass to Michael Kraus (Swindell kick)
*NC—Swindell 31-yard field goal
*TC—Lombardi 3-yard pass to Thomas Costigan
*NC—Collins 92-yard pass to LaPolice (Swindell kick)
*NC—Collins 34-yard pass to Kyle Smith (Swindell kick)

Key NC stats:

* Passing yards: NC - 379, SJ - 203
* First downs: NC - 19, SJ - 15
* Mike Collins: 13-23, 350 yards, 3 TDs
* Alex LaPolice: 2 receptions, 120 yards, 3 TDs (two rushing, one receiving)
* Frank Cognetta: 17 carries, 75 yards