Prep blanked, remains winless

FAIRFIELD — Each season, Cheshire football coach Don Drust’s focus for his team is to create memories for his players.

It didn’t take long to create a lasting memory in its 14-0 SCC Tier I victory over rival Fairfield Prep on Friday.

Cheshire received the game’s opening kickoff and set the tone on its first play from scrimmage with some razzle dazzle.

Cheshire quarterback Aniston Marsh took the snap, flipped the ball to Jeffery Gonzalez who then connected with Matt Jeffery for a 69-yard touchdown pass to spark No. 3 Cheshire at Rafferty Stadium. Marsh’s 2point rush gave the Rams an 8-0 lead just 16 seconds into the game.

“With it raining hard, we knew Fairfield Prep would think we would run the ball all night,” Jeffery said. “But they would never expect us to throw on the first play of the game. Jeffery Gonzalez threw me a perfect pass, I never broke stride.

“That score was big for us, especially with the weather we had to deal with all night.”

Drust was just happy that it worked.

“That play was all Mike Ciotti, our offensive coordinator,” Drust said. “He came up with it. I was a little nervous at first, but it was really exciting when it happened. It’s those kind of memories we like to give our kids, something they will always remember.

“Fairfield Prep is a good team. It was important to get that first score. It was a little revenge after last year.”

Last season, the Rams were 4-0 and Fairfield Prep was 1-3 when they met. Prep won and ran the table to reach the Class LL final.

Cheshire improves to 4-0 and Fairfield Prep drops to 0-4.

The Rams did run the ball most of the game and dominated the ball possession. The Jesuits couldn’t sustain any possession.

Jeffery ended up with 102 yards rushing on 18 carries and Gonzalez had 64 yards on 15 carries. Mason Frey led the Jesuits with 51 yards on nine carries.