Around Town

New Canaan Football Tops Ludlowe 42-7, Clinches Berths in FCIAC Championship Game and Class L Playoffs

By |

 

The New Canaan Rams scored six touchdowns in the first quarter and cruised the rest of the way en route to a 42-7 victory over the Fairfield Ludlowe Falcons Friday night at Dunning Field. With the win, the Rams (8-0) punched their ticket to the FCIAC Championship game for the third consecutive year, also earning a spot in the Class L State playoffs. “This has been our goal from the beginning of the year,” New Canaan head coach Lou Marinelli told NewCanaanite.com. “To get back to the FCIAC championship game and put ourselves in a position to play for a State, so we’re right where we want to be.” The Rams were led once again by quarterback Michael Collins, who followed up last week’s record-setting performance against Trumbull by completing 12 of 19 passes for 220 yards and five touchdowns against the Falcons (2-6), all in just one quarter of action. New Canaan senior running back Matt Cognetta also had a big night, scoring the game’s first touchdown with a 53-yard run.

Around Town

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

By |

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.

News

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

By |

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

Rain Check: New Canaan Football Sails Past Westhill [PHOTOS]

By |

Despite last week’s controversial postponement of the New Canaan-Westhill football game, it was soon apparent that nothing short of a natural disaster was going to stop the Rams Monday night at Dunning Field. Senior quarterback Michael Collins threw six touchdown passes while New Canaan’s defense had five interceptions, including a 70-yard pick-six from junior Ryan O’Connell on the game’s opening series as the Rams dominated the Vikings 55-12. New Canaan (3-0) seemed to be playing with a chip on its shoulder after a series of comments on various social media sites from both sides erupted following last Friday’s announcement that the game would be moved to weather due to adverse weather conditions. According to the Stamford Advocate, Westhill head coach Frank Marcucio filed a formal complaint about the postponement. After O’Connell’s TD put the Rams up 7-0, New Canaan increased the lead to 10-0 after a 29-yard Peter Swindell field goal.

Sports

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

By |

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.