It was inevitable that it would happen. No one could have guessed it would happen this soon.
Coming into this season tied with Connor Buck for the all-time NCHS record for career sacks at 19.5, senior co-captain Zach Allen wasted little time separating himself from his former teammate.
Zach Allen dumps Hand’s Nick Van Dell for a school career sack record. (Terry Dinan photo)
In Friday’s season opener against Daniel Hand, on the second defensive series of the 2014 season, Allen exploded off the right side of the line and quickly closed in on Tigers quarterback Nick Van Dell, who was moving to his right. Before Van Dell could get rid of the ball, Allen had him in his clutches and quickly spun him 365-degrees to the Strong Field turf.
The record belonged to Allen.
“It was great,” Allen told NewCanaanite.com. “But the win over Hand was even better.”
Typical modesty and team-first mentality coming from one of the most-feared defensive presences New Canaan has ever had.
At 6’6” and 258 pounds, Allen’s defensive lineman size and linebacker speed has vaulted him both into the nightmares of his opponents and the record books of the New Canaan Rams.
“Not bad for a kid who didn’t want to play football as a sophomore,” Lou Marinelli said upon learning of Allen’s record-setting accomplishment. “He stuck with it and turned out to be one of the all-time defensive players.”
New Canaan’s Zach Allen. (Terry Dinan photo)
Allen, who will play football at Northwestern next year, had seven tackles in the 21-14 win over Hand which saw the Rams shut out the Tigers in the second half. Allen also caught two passes for 37 yards lining up as a tight end on offense.
“He’s a hell of a player,” Marinelli said. “They don’t offer everybody scholarships at Northwestern, UCLA, and places like that. He plays hard all the time.”
Allen will look to add to his record as the Rams take on Bassick High School on Friday night at Dunning Field. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m.