When it counted, No. 1 Darien delivered a statement victory
DARIEN — They remember exactly where they were standing on Dec. 14, 2019. And now, 21 months later, the Darien Blue Wave know where they stand.
That would be the No. 1 team in the state.
“We were so motivated,” quarterback Miles Drake said after No. 1 Darien had defeated No. 3 Newtown, 27-14 on Friday night. “We had a meeting (Thursday) and we talked about everything. We knew we had to get this one back.”
“We circled this one on the calendar,” wide receiver Matthew Minicus said. “What happened two years ago, it definitely fueled the fire.”
“Even though I didn’t step on the field that game, just seeing all the seniors and juniors lay it all out there and to see their reaction,” running back Tighe Cummiskey said. “You think to yourself, ‘That can never happen again.’”
And it didn’t.
Drake, then a reserve sophomore, was standing in the press box taking video in 2019 when Newtown quarterback Jack Street dropped back on the final play of the Class LL state championship. Trying to shoot through the fog, it was like filming a horror movie.
“I couldn’t see anything, it was ridiculous,” Drake said. “I heard someone say, ‘He’s open! He’s open! He’s open!’ I couldn’t see anything, and I didn’t hear anything from the coach standing next to me.
“I’m like ‘Oh, shoot.