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.

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‘Our Defense Won For Us Today’: New Canaan Outlasts Greenwich 24-14 in Inaugural ‘Marinelli Bowl’

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It wasn’t something he was looking forward to: When Greenwich showed up on New Canaan’s schedule, Head Football Coach Lou Marinelli knew the Rams would face a Cardinals team led by his own son, John, named GHS head coach in the spring. Thanks to two early Ram touchdown passes by Mike Collins, and outstanding defense, New Canaan (5-0) was able to make a first-half lead holdup and survive a Greenwich (2-3) comeback attempt. “It was hard,” Marinelli told NewCanaanite.com after the 24-14 win, describing what it felt like to see John on the opposite sideline. “And I think he [John] did a tremendous job. I think those kids from Greenwich did a tremendous job.

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‘Complete Your Path’: New Canaan Football’s Jarrett Torromeo

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The 2015 New Canaan Rams football season is already rife with story lines: the 4-0 start, senior quarterback Michael Collins’ record-setting TD passing pace, this weekend’s “Marinelli Bowl,” as Lou and the Rams take on Johnny and the Greenwich Cardinals. That said, the best storyline—certainly the most poignant—might be that of NCHS senior Jarrett Torromeo. Ever since he started playing football in the third grade, Jarrett ‘JT’ Torromeo dreamed of being a New Canaan Ram. His best childhood memories include New Canaan Football’s “Youth Night,” when grade school kids run across Dunning Field in front of a packed house during halftime of a Rams game. “You’d see the big stands and to me it looked like there were thousands of people there,” Torromeo told NewCanaanite.com.

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NCHS Athletic Director: ‘Health and Safety’ Concerns Prompted Football Game Postponement

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New Canaan postponed Friday’s scheduled varsity football game versus Westhill High School solely because of concerns about players’ health and safety, and not to gain a competitive advantage, officials say. Though the Vikings’ head coach filed a formal appeal with the FCIAC accusing the Rams of wrongdoing, New Canaan High School Athletic Director Jay Egan said that “even though artificial turf provides good footing,” a far better option for players—and those who would’ve come to watch the home game at Dunning Field—was to wait for the “next available day.”

“Why go into the driving rain at 45 degrees just to say we played? I personally would not do that just to say that we did it,” Egan told NewCanaanite.com. “It is also my understanding that it is the home team’s call with respect to any athletic contest. I do not think it is by mutual agreement, unless I am missing something on that.”

The Rams defeated visiting Westhill 55-12 on Monday night, following a weekend that saw supporters of both sides take fiercely to Twitter regarding the postponement.

Sports

Rout Day: New Canaan Football Tops Central 53-8 for Homecoming Win

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Homecoming Week has never been one of Lou Marinelli’s favorites. With the pep rally, the homecoming bonfire and dance and Spirit Week-themed Clone Day, High Society Day, Turn Back the Clock Day and Red and Black Day, Marinelli has been around long enough to know the distractions that come along with the fun can sometimes negatively affect his football team’s focus on the actual homecoming game itself. With all of that said, Saturday could have been called Rout Day. Led by senior quarterback Michael Collins’ five touchdown passes—all in just one half of play—the Rams obliterated the Bridgeport Central Hilltoppers 53-8 in front of a packed house at Dunning Field. With the win New Canaan improved to 2-0 on the season while the Hilltoppers fell to 1-2.