New Canaan Football Wrecks Staples, Improves to 6-0

The big question for the New Canaan Rams heading into Friday night’s matchup against Staples was how would they come out of the gate after a bye week. It was a question that took all of two minutes to answer. First, senior co-captain Zach Allen recovered a Staples fumble at midfield on the fourth play of the game. Then–on New Canaan’s first offensive play from scrimmage–junior quarterback Mike Collins hit classmate Matt Cognetta on a 48-yard bomb, setting up a 1-yard Frank Cognetta touchdown. Before most fans had settled into the Dunning Field stands, the Rams had a 6-0 lead, well on their way to a 35-2 shellacking of the Wreckers.

New Canaan Tops Hatters 42-14, Improves to 5-0

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. 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.

Flag Day: New Canaan Overcomes Penalties, Warde for Football Program’s 500th Win

In a game where the officials threw more flags than New Canaan quarterback Mike Collins threw passes, the Rams defeated the Fairfield Warde Mustangs 35-14 at Tetreau-Davis Field. The Rams were called for an eye-popping 19 penalties for 186 yards, including several personal fouls – two of which led to a New Canaan assistant coach’s ejection from the game. The penalties almost overshadowed some impressive individual performances in New Canaan’s win, the 500th in the football program’s rich history. Senior co-captain Frank Cognetta– in his second game back from a foot injury – scored three touchdowns while younger brother Matt had the other two New Canaan scores as the Rams improved to 4-0 on the season. Warde fell to 2-2 with the loss.

New Canaan Rams 2014 Football Preview: ‘Enjoy the Ride’

It’s going to be a tough act to follow. A year removed from one of the most dominant football seasons in the program’s rich history, the New Canaan Rams will get their 2014 season underway against Daniel Hand on Sept. 12. That being said, the first challenge for the defending FCIAC and Class L State Champions will be putting the past behind them. “We lost 28 seniors and to show you the quality of that class, 14 of them went on to play at another level,” Rams head coach Lou Marinelli told NewCanaanite.com.

Primed for a Three-peat: 2014 New Canaan Rams Lacrosse Preview

With an influx of returning starters and playmakers at virtually every position, the New Canaan Rams varsity lacrosse team enters the 2014 season primed to defend their back-to-back FCIAC titles and make a run at the school’s first state championship since 2003. With multiple weapons at his disposal and talent to spare, second-year head coach Chip Buzzeo can hardly wait to get the season underway. “From top to bottom we’re better than we were last year, and last year was an incredible team,” Buzzeo told NewCanaanite.com. “But some guys grew up. Some guys got bigger, stronger, faster.