Results on the ground
Black Knights use running game to topple rival Crusaders
STAMFORD — The game plan for the Stamford High football team was simple.
Ground and pound.
Sticking largely to the running game, Stamford ran to a 19-7 win over rival Trinity Catholic Saturday afternoon.
All the points in the game came in the second half.
“The game plan was run first. Our receivers are a little mad about it, but we felt like we were a little bigger than them and we felt we would be run first and ground and pound today,” Stamford coach Jamar Greene said. “We knew we had the counter in our back pocket. We tried to run it late in the third quarter but messed up the snap, but we saw it was still going to be there. We knew it would hit. We didn’t know it would be for a touchdown, but we knew it would be for big yardage.”
The counter run did in fact hit for a touchdown with Lenny Garcia busting out for 60-yard scoring run with 6:28 to play, putting
ing for 11 guys who can do that. We’ll find them. It might take some time, but we’re going to find them.
“Our offense came out in the second half and played really well,” he added. “We got the ball to our guys, took advantage of the stuff we thought we could take advantage of the whole game.”
Vikings quarterback AJ Laccona completed 22 of 43 passes for 318 yards and two touchdowns. Both scores went to Angelo Nicholas, who caught nine passes for 117 yards.
Westhill (0-3) had two red-zone trips in the first half while trailing only 10-0, but Danbury’s defense came up big both times. On the first possession, Westhill completed a pass on fourthand-goal, but Danbury’s Johan De Jesus Nunez made a touchdown-saving tackle on the 1-yard line.
On the next possession, Danbury defensive end/left tackle Jah Joyner recorded sacks on consecutive plays, forcing a punt. Joyner finished with three sacks and a fumble recovery.
GAME BALL
Malachi Hopkins averaged 11.5 yards per rush and frequently victimized Westhill on third-and-long.
KICKING PROWESS
Danbury’s kickers were perfect on the day, hitting seven extra points and a field goal. Lucas Amaral was good from 24 yards while Jessica Resendes set her single-game best with two extra points.
QUOTABLE
Can Danbury run like that every game? “We hope,” Tieri said. “That’s what we’re striving for. But there’s some great teams out here. If we execute well, we’re capable of anything. That’s our belief. We’ve really kind of changed the mantra around here of our mindset, that we come into games and we expect to win. So far we’re really happy with how we’re coming along.”
UP NEXT
Danbury hosts Hartford’s Capital Prep/Achievement First at 7 p.m. Friday while Westhill visits GameTimeCT No. 7 New Canaan at 1:30 p.m. Saturday.