Around Town

Collins Ties State Record With 9 TD’s as New Canaan Football Trounces Trumbull 69-26

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There’s not a whole lot more you can write about New Canaan senior quarterback Michael Collins that hasn’t already been written. That said, after the Rams’ 69-26 win over Trumbull Friday night, there’s one more accolade that can be added to Collins’ resume… Record-setter. Collins threw an incomprehensible nine touchdown passes, shattering legendary New Canaan quarterback Kurt Horton’s single-game school record of seven set 45 years ago in 1970. In the process he matched a state record for TD passes in a game (tying Bloomfield’s Jason Manson’s mark set in 2000) and moved within one score of tying Matt Milano’s NCHS single-season mark of 42 that was set in 2010.

Sports

New Canaan Football’s Swindell Sets State Field Goal Record as Rams Rout Norwalk 52-14

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For a team that has made its mark scoring touchdowns, it’s somewhat ironic that a field goal kicker would be the latest New Canaan Rams player to set a state record. When New Canaan senior Peter Swindell drilled a 29-yard kick in the second quarter of New Canaan’s 52-14 win over Norwalk High School Friday night at Testa Field he became Connecticut’s all-time leader in career field goals, breaking St. Mary’s-Greenwich kicker Roberto Inesta’s mark of 18 that had stood for 45 years. “That was awesome,” New Canaan head coach Lou Marinelli told NewCanaanite.com. “He’s worked very hard for it.

Sports

New Canaan Rams Football Routs Ridgefield in Season Opener

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For a team with so many question marks heading into its 2015 season opener, the New Canaan Rams sure did have a lot of answers Friday night at Ridgefield High School’s Tiger Hollow Stadium. The reloaded Rams (1-0) scored on their first offensive possession and never looked back en route to a 45-17 rout of the Tigers in a game which showed the Rams haven’t skipped a beat from last season’s state championship run, despite significant personnel changes on the field and on the sidelines. “Going into this, I was scared to death,” New Canaan head coach Lou Marinelli told NewCanaanite.com. “We hadn’t practiced well. I don’t know if they were tired of just practicing without a game, but we looked sloppy and I couldn’t sleep last night.”

Marinelli should be able to catch up on his Z’s after the opening-night win, especially considering the performance of senior co-captain Michael Collins.

Sports

Darien Sinks New Canaan Lax 13-7 in FCIAC Semifinal

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Only 17 days ago, the New Canaan boys lacrosse team put together one of its best games of the season against arch-rival Darien, culminating in a 9-8, heart-stopping victory for the Rams. The win ended the Blue Wave’s 34-game winning streak dating all the way back to 2013. Tuesday night at Jack Casagrande Field in Norwalk, Darien got its revenge. Behind Colin Minicus’ four goals (three in the first quarter) and goaltender Ryan Cornell’s 11 saves, the No. 3  Blue Wave knocked off No. 2 seed New Canaan 13-7 in the FCIAC semifinals.

Around Town

Undefeated No More: New Canaan Lax Sinks Darien, Ends Wave’s Winning Streak at 34

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It had been two years since Darien lost a game. The last 34 games they played in, they were the victors each and every time. Three of those losses in that streak came at the expense of New Canaan in 2014—an OT loss during the regular season, an OT loss in the FCIAC tournament, and a 10-8 defeat in the CIAC Championship. But on Saturday at a packed Dunning Stadium, the Rams turned the page. With the combination of senior co-captain Michael Kraus’ four goals, stellar goaltending by sophomore Drew Morris and collapsing, shutdown defense, New Canaan (9-2, 6-1 FCIAC) defeated Darien (11-1, 7-1 FCIAC), in a 9-8 thriller.