Edwards, Norwalk derail Wilton’s postseason plans
It wasn’t that long ago that Wilton was the darling team of Fairfield County.
The Warriors introduced themselves by hanging tough into the fourth quarter of an eventual 56-36 loss to No. 1-ranked Darien.
In the following weeks, Wilton signaled its arrival on the state scene with its first victory over New Canaan in 26 years and, perhaps better, finally cast away three decades of frustration vs. arch rival Ridgefield.
The Warriors rocketed up the Top 10 poll, getting as high as No. 5 last week. A second-consecutive playoff berth appeared imminent.
They just needed to beat Norwalk on Friday night.
Funny enough, the Bears had been the FCIAC’s darling team of September, what with Cam Edwards, one of the state’s best players wreaking havoc.
But Norwalk still hadn’t won an actual big game — a 25-15 Cheshire win looked less impressive in retrospect and a 20-13 loss to surging Staples last week all but knocked them out of the Class LL playoff race.
Nobody told Edwards, apparently. The a 5-foot-11, 190-pound senior played as if his season depended on it and delivered, perhaps, the state’s greatest performance of the year: 291 yards and five rushing touchdowns and a pickoff on defense as Norwalk raced away with a 41-21 victory and, quite possibly, Wilton’s Class L playoff hopes.
The best part? Edwards did the bulk of his damage in the second half of a tight game: 253 yards and four scores from 18, 60, 80 and 37 yards out.
The game was tied at 21-21 in the third quarter when Edwards picked off a pass in the red zone. Next play, the go-ahead 60-yard score.
“He was unstoppable,” Wilton coach EJ DiNunzio said of Edwards. “I would argue with whoever said he’s not the best running back in the state. And he’s a heck of a defensive player. He’s a football player.”
Pumped up as one of the state’s top players, Edwards hasn’t disappointed. He’s run for 1,484 yards and 20 touchdowns in nine games and is responsible for 1,901 yards of total offense and another four touchdowns.
Fans might not even get to see his best stuff.
“We had (an alumnus) from last year come in and he was watching practice and Cam jumps up and makes a ridiculous play,” Miller said. “The kid said ‘Whoa, what was that?’
That? “That was just Wednesday,” Miller said.
Norwalk is a long shot to earn its first Class LL playoff berth in 10 years, so Thanksgiving Day’s finale vs. McMahon likely will be it for Edwards until college (he already has offers from Central Connecticut State and Sacred Heart, so that’s happening).
But even if we don’t get to see him go off in Class LL, just know he’s had a major impact on who wins in the Class L field.
Wilton can surely attest to that.
FIVE CT PREPS GET NEPSAC BOWL BIDS
Five Connecticut prep schools will play for New England bowl championships this weekend, the NEPSAC announced Saturday. All of the games are tentatively scheduled for Saturday, at 1 p.m. except one, which will be played Friday night.
Loomis Chaffee, Avon Old Farms and Choate — the three Founders League co-champions — and Brunswick were all awarded NEPSAC A bowl bids. Canterbury was awarded a spot in a NEPSAC B bowl game.
Loomis Chaffee (7-1 overall) will play host to unbeaten ISL-6 champion Milton Academy (Mass.) (8-0) in the Todd Marble Bowl on Saturday for the de facto overall New England title. This will the first bowl game in Loomis Chaffee’s football history.
Avon Old Farms (6-2) play host to Buckingham Brown & Nichols (Mass.) (7-1) in the Kevin Driscoll Bowl — named for the current AOF coach who returned to the sidelines this season.
Brunswick (7-2) will play host to Deerfield Academy (Mass.) (8-1) in the Mike Silipo Bowl.
Choate (6-2) will travel to face Lawrence Academy (Mass.) (6-2) in the Dave Coratti Bowl.
On Friday night at 6 p.m., Canterbury (6-1) travels to face unbeaten Pingree (Mass.) (8-0) in the Moose Curtis Bowl.