After a penalty-laden win over Warde, the focus at practice this past week for the New Canaan Rams was to play a cleaner, more disciplined brand of football for their Friday night game against 3-1 Danbury.
Mission accomplished.
The captains. Credit: Terry Dinan
Led by an all-around star turn from senior co-captain Alex LaPolice (three TDs—two rushing, one receiving) and a solid overall defensive performance coupled with great special teams play, the Rams dominated the Hatters—all while drawing just four flags on their way to a 42-14 road win at Danbury High School.
“We just wanted to maintain control, and I think we did that,” Marinelli told NewCanaanite.com. “Hopefully we can learn from the mistakes of the past and move on.”
There weren’t many gaffes for the Rams this week as they played perhaps their most complete overall game of the season. The game was essentially over by halftime as New Canaan out-gained the Hatters 236-98 in the first two quarters en route to a 35-0 lead at intermission.
LaPolice on his way to a TD run. Credit: Terry Dinan
LaPolice set the tone from the game’s opening kickoff with an electrifying return of 82 yards, setting New Canaan up with a first-and-goal from the Hatters 1-yard line. On the first play from scrimmage, LaPolice dove across the line for a touchdown and a 7-0 New Canaan lead just 16 seconds into the contest.
“I think it was really important,” LaPolice said. “It was an opportunity for us to make a statement. The hole was huge and I was lucky enough to get down there.”
The offensive line. Credit: Terry Dinan
Danbury was able to hang with New Canaan for much of the first quarter, thanks in large part to the play of linebacker Pierre Moudourou who was able to break up New Canaan quarterback Mike Collins’ passing lanes with batted balls on three separate occasions. But after Rams junior linebacker Cass Knox intercepted a Danbury pass and returned it to the Hatters 35 yard-line, the opportunistic Rams began to roll.
Seven plays after taking over on offense after the Knox pick, senior co-captain Frank Cognetta scored the second New Canaan touchdown with a one-yard run to extend the Rams lead to 14-0 with 53 seconds left in the 1st quarter. And after the defense forced Danbury to a three-and-out on the ensuing drive, a 42-yard touchdown run by LaPolice on the second play of the 2nd quarter gave New Canaan a 21-0 lead.
Zach Allen forces a change of direction. Credit: Terry Dinan
On the following Danbury possession, senior co-captain Zach Allen added to his school record sack total by dropping Hatters quarterback Anferney Ith to force yet another punt. New Canaan took over at its own 45, and 6 plays later found the end zone again. A 33-yard Collins-to-Kyle Smith touchdown pass down the seam gave the Rams a 28-0 lead with 6:29 left in the half.
Danbury was then able to mount its first sustained drive of the game, marching all the way down to the New Canaan 8-yard line. But on third-and-3, Rams senior cornerback Michael Kraus picked off an Ith pass in the end zone to end the Danbury scoring threat. It was Kraus’ team-leading fourth interception of the season.
“He’s an unbelievable player,” LaPolice said. “If they’re not going to throw to me, they’ve got to throw to Michael, so I think it’s kind of pick your poison.”
Michael Kraus with a big catch. Credit: Terry Dinan
New Canaan would score their fifth touchdown of the first half on the ensuing drive, moving 80 yards in 10 plays. After driving down to the Danbury 10-yard line, Collins hit Allen in the back corner of the end zone to give the Rams a 35-0 lead just before halftime.
Danbury opened the second half with its first scoring drive of the game, as Ith capped off a 12-play, 80-yard drive with an 11-yard touchdown run with 7:03 left in the 3rd quarter to cut the Rams lead to 35-7.
LaPolice hauls in a TD pass. Credit: Terry Dinan
New Canaan would answer immediately, as they moved 60 yards in just 73 seconds for yet another touchdown drive. Collins found a wide-open LaPolice for a five-yard scoring strike and a 42-7 Rams lead with 5:50 left in the 3rd quarter.
Danbury scored once more on a 46-yard Tysheen McCrea catch-and-run to make it 42-14 with 4:27 left in the game, a score that would hold up as the final.
With the win, the Rams remained undefeated at 5-0, while the Hatters fell to 3-2 on the season.
“I think we’re getting better,” Marinelli said. “Tonight they came out and did what they really needed to do and put everything together. We’re back to playing the way we should be playing.”
 | Q1 | Q2 | Q3 | Q4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Canaan | 14 | 21 | 7 | 0 | 42 |
| Daniel Hand | 0 | 0 | 7 | 7 | 14 |
*NC – Alex LaPolice 1-yd. run (Swindell kick)
*NC – Frank Cognetta 1-yd. run (Swindell kick)
*NC – Alex LaPolice 42-yd. run (Swindell kick)
*NC – Kyle Smith 33-yd. reception from Mike Collins (Swindell kick)
*NC – Zach Allen 1-yd. reception from Mike Collins (Swindell kick)
*D – Anferney Ith 11-yd. run (Marques kick)
*NC – Alex LaPolice 5-yd. reception from Mike Collins (Swindell kick)
*D – Tysheen McCrea 46-yd. reception from Jacob Bradsell (Marques kick)
Key NC stats:
*Mike Collins: 13-22, 188 yds, 3 TD's passing
*Alex LaPolice: 223 all purpose yards, 3 TD's (2 rush, 1 receiving)
*Frank Cognetta: 16-49 rushing, 1 TD
*Michael Kraus: INT, 2-24 receiving
*Zach Allen: 1-1 receiving, 1 TD, 1 sack
*Kyle Smith: 1-33 receiving, 1 TD, 4-20 punt returns
*Turnovers: Danbury - 2, NC - 0
Here come the Rams. Credit: Terry Dinan
Teddy Dumbauld (#2) and Cass Knox (#25) chase down a Danbury runner. Credit: Terry Dinan
Malaki Holan pressures Danbury QB Anferney Ith. Credit: Terry Dinan
Tommy Root with a big gain. Credit: Terry Dinan
Alex LaPolice bust through with the help of Kyle Smith
Postgame speech. Credit: Terry Dinan