[The following video—featuring Christopher Canet #7 and Dukes Plum #11—and game summary with photos were submitted by New Canaan Youth Football. Please forward your own write-ups to editor@newcanaanite.com for publication on the site and visibility in our daily newsletter, Facebook page and Twitter feed.]
Thanks to Darien Coach Steve Cavoli and New Canaan Coach Mike Graham—who graduated USMA at West Point in 1992—Darien White squared off with NC 6 Red team on a soggy Saturday morning up at West Point.
The NC 6 Red team squared off against Darien Point on a soggy Saturday morning (Oct. 4) up at West Point’s practice field. Contributed photo
Couple of fun facts: Steve played on the Army 150-lb. football team. Both of their fathers were Army officers. They served in the Infantry together after graduating and have been close friends ever since. Steve’s brother is an Army General on active duty in Europe. Their sons Matthew and Ben play on the respective teams.
On a dreary 60-degree day, NC 6 Red controlled the line on both sides of the ball and ground out a 21-0 shutout of Darien White. After a quick 3-and-out for Daren, New Canaan went to work with Bates Grigsby up the gut for 8 yards.
The NC 6 Red team squared off against Darien Point on a soggy Saturday morning (Oct. 4) up at West Point’s practice field. Contributed photo
The O-line of Sam Gardner, Will McKay, Matt Balkun, Damian Zaorski, Jack Harrison, Corey Pickering, Teddy DeClue, Nick Stiles, and Nicholas Radman really stood out, as well as ends Colin Ratner, and Jarrett Alexander, opening gaping holes for the runners.
Even though the Darien line was physically bigger, the old saying of “It’s not the size of the dog in the fight, but the size of the fight in the dog” rang true.
The NC 6 Red team squared off against Darien Point on a soggy Saturday morning (Oct. 4) up at West Point’s practice field. Contributed photo
A steady diet of Bates, QB Chris Canet, and Ben Graham moved the ball into Darien territory before Grisgby busted through line with a 20 yard TD scamper. Dukes Plum had a great seal block to open hole for Bates. Chris Canet then added 2-point conversion to make it 8-0 NC.
New Canaan’s defense continued to shine on second possession with D-line of Tom Brannan, Dukes Plum, Robert Harris, DeClue, Zaorski, Radman, Pickering and Will McKay controlling line of scrimmage which allowed Grisby, Tommy Towers, Canet, Ryan Corbett, and Graham to make several key stops.
The NC 6 Red team squared off against Darien Point on a soggy Saturday morning (Oct. 4) up at West Point’s practice field. Contributed photo
On 4th-and-10, Pickering, Zaorski, and Radman combined on stop behind line to get the ball back to NC and end Q1. Highlight of Q2 was a TD saving open field tackle by Canet which preserved the 8-0 lead heading into halftime.
Darien drove to the New Canaan 29 before back-to-back sacks by Radman and DeClue, who was virtually un-blockable all morning. New Canaan took over and like in Q1, made a statement by driving the ball right down the field highlighted by 35-yard TD run and conversion by Canet to make it 15-0 New Canaan to end the third quarter.
The NC 6 Red team squared off against Darien Point on a soggy Saturday morning (Oct. 4) up at West Point’s practice field. Contributed photo
NC 6 Red’s D continued to pressure Darien, with combo sacks by Zaorski, Balkan, Harris and Radman. Darien’s last gasp was squelched when Will McKay pounced on fumble at Darien 25 yard line. Dukes Plum then carried 3 straight times, scoring last TD for 21-0 final. Next up is the always tough Wilton Blue squad at 7 p.m. this Saturday at Dunning Field.
Couple more photos here:
The NC 6 Red team squared off against Darien Point on a soggy Saturday morning (Oct. 4) up at West Point’s practice field. Contributed photo
The NC 6 Red team squared off against Darien Point on a soggy Saturday morning (Oct. 4) up at West Point’s practice field. Contributed photo