News

‘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.

Sports

2015 New Canaan Football Preview: Rams Look to Fill Big Shoes, Defend State Championship

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Every year, the New Canaan Rams football team faces the same question: How will you replace last year’s graduates? And every year, the answer remains the same: Next man up. Few would disagree that elements of last season’s state championship team are irreplaceable—most notably All-State receiver Alex LaPolice and CT Gatorade Defensive Player of the Year Zach Allen. Both figure to be immediate-impact players at their respective post-NCHS, Division I programs, with Allen at Boston College and LaPolice at Harvard. That said, New Canaan head coach Lou Marinelli has the luxury of benefitting from his own creation—a factory-like feeder program in a football-crazy town, which can make even the biggest shoes seem fillable.

News

New Canaan Football Places Eight Players, One Coach on All-FCIAC First Team

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As the FCIAC regular season came to a close last weekend, the New Canaan Rams stood atop the league with a perfect 9-0 record heading into Thursday’s conference championship against Darien. So it comes as no surprise that the Rams lead all schools by having eight players named to the 2014 All-FCIAC first team. QB Michael Collins, WR Alex LaPolice and offensive linemen Jim Keneally and Lucas Niang were named to the first team on offense. The defensive first team honorees were linebacker Zach Allen, defensive backs Michael Kraus and Sterling O’Hara and lineman Malaki Holan. Also receiving a postseason honor was defensive coordinator Chris Silvestri who was named FCIAC Assistant Coach of the Year.