Sports

Collins, Niang Sign National Letters of Intent

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New Canaan High School seniors Michael Collins and Lucas Niang signed their National Letters of Intent to play at the college level during National Signing Day on Wednesday. Joined by more than 50 friends and classmates in the NCHS auxiliary gym, plus three TV crews and multiple local media outlets, the midday ceremony was run by NCHS Athletic Director Jay Egan. Collins will head to the University of Pennsylvania while Niang is bound for Texas Christian University. Several administrators and teachers there as well, including Principal Bill Egan, longtime Phys Ed teacher Priscilla Schulz and Assistant Principal Ari Rothman. Collins—who signed what could be called a “likely letter” in that although Ivy League schools offer no athletics scholarships per se, can issue agreements signifying their commitment to admitting a recruited athlete—had arguably the most prolific season at quarterback in New Canaan High School history, setting a state record with 54 touchdown passes this year and also tying a single-game state record when he threw nine TD passes in a 69-26 win over Trumbull on November 6, 2015.

Sports

New Canaan Football Outlasts North Haven 42-35 for Third Straight Class L Crown

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It was billed as a matchup of two heavyweights with polar opposite styles—the 21st century run-and-gun spread offense of the No. 6 New Canaan Rams versus the old-school ground-and-pound, Single-wing formation of the top-seeded North Haven Indians. It turned out to be North Haven’s passing that kept the game close, but it was New Canaan’s ground attack that ultimately won it. Led by senior running back Matt Cognetta’s 225 rushing yards and two touchdowns, the Rams outlasted the Indians 42-35 in a classic Class L championship showdown at Ken Strong Stadium in West Haven—one that had just about everything and anything you could have asked for from a high school football game. “It was a great football game to be at,” Marinelli told NewCanaanite.com.

Around Town

Collins Sets State TD Mark as New Canaan Football Beats Notre Dame-West Haven in Class L Semifinals

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After two uncharacteristically shaky performances in the past two games, the big question heading into Monday night’s Class L semifinal at Dunning Field between New Canaan and Notre Dame-West Haven was: “Will the real Michael Collins show up?”

It only took one snap to get the answer. On New Canaan’s first offensive play, the New Canaan quarterback threw a 79-yard touchdown pass deep over the middle to a wide-open Kyle Smith, setting the tone for the rest of the game and leading the Rams to a 51-27 win over the No. 7 Green Knights. “We were just glad to get him back,” New Canaan head Coach Lou Marinelli told NewCanaanite.com. “People were really concerned, but this week he came back strong.

Sports

Bounceback: New Canaan Football Defeats Windsor 21-6 in Class L Quarterfinals

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The New Canaan Rams bounced back from last Thursday’s loss to Darien in the FCIAC Championship with a 21-6 win over previously unbeaten Windsor High School Tuesday night in the Class L quarterfinals. Showing a mental and physical toughness at a rainy, cold Jack O’Brien Stadium, the No. 6 Rams (9-1) overcame the weather, key injuries and potentially big turnovers in a matchup of defending state champions. The No. 3 Warriors (10-1) came into the contest having won 22 consecutive games dating back to last season when they took the Class L-Small title.

Sports

Déjà Vu All Over Again: Darien Football Edges New Canaan 28-21 for FCIAC Championship

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Leave it to the career state record holder to leave his mark when it counted the most. With Darien leading New Canaan 28-21 in the waning minutes of the fourth quarter of the 2015 FCIAC Championship at Stamford’s Boyle Stadium, Darien defensive end Mark Evanchick dropped Rams quarterback Michael Collins for his first sack of the game, forcing a turnover on downs and all but clinching the conference title for the Blue Wave. The Rams would get one more shot to tie the game, but a New Canaan fumble was recovered by Darien at midfield with 1:08 left in the game, sealing the championship for the Wave. It was the second consecutive year the Blue Wave topped the Rams for the FCIAC title, having won last year’s contest by the same 28-21 score. It was also Darien’s fourth straight Turkey Bowl win, as New Canaan has not won the annual Thanksgiving Day matchup since 2011. “We hadn’t really been tested, but we were tested today,” Darien head coach Rob Trifone told NewCanaanite.com.