Sports

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

By |

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.

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.

Sports

New Canaan Rams Football Routs Ridgefield in Season Opener

By |

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.