The kick did the Rams in
New Canaan falls from ranks of the unbeaten
NEW CANAAN — Wilton football kicker Michael Cooper was about to step into a whitehot spotlight.
With just a few seconds left and a game-winning field goal attempt coming up against New Canaan, Wilton coach EJ DiNunzio delivered a message to Cooper, a former soccer player.
“This is why you stopped playing soccer and you came out to the football team,” DiNunzio said. “Go win the football game for us and make it as enjoyable as you possibly can. And that’s what he did.”
Cooper’s kick was true from 32 yards out with 8.9 seconds remaining and gave the Warriors a 20-17 victory, their first win over New Canaan since 1995, Saturday at Dunning Field.
Cooper admitted when he started practicing kicking a football during the summer, he never envisioned that type of moment.
“Not even close,” Cooper said with a smile. “For most high school football
games that I’ve seen, it’s usually not this close.”
The victory eased some of Wilton’s frustration of the past few weeks. Last week, the Warriors (4-2) led No. 1 Darien 36-35 in the fourth quarter before losing 56-35, and the game prior, they lost to Notre Dame-West Haven 36-35 on a two-point conversion in overtime.
“We were saying all week that we’ve got to play with more heart and finish games,” senior Parker Woodring said. “Today, we finished the game.”
“We’re in every game,” DiNunzio said. “We had guys step up. We didn’t want to let what happened last week (against Darien) happen again. We worked on some conditioning this week, we had a really good game plan, my coaches did a heck of a job preparing.
“I’m just thrilled for my team, my coaches and my community.”
New Canaan (5-1) dropped from the unbeaten ranks heading into its game against Greenwich next week.
The Rams trailed 14-0 after one quarter, but rallied to tie the game at 17-17 in the third quarter.
“It was a great high school football game and we came up short,” New Canaan coach Lou Marinelli said. “We had opportunities but we didn’t take advantage of stuff and they did. You’ve got to give them credit. They hung in there and did what they had to do.”
As was the case against Darien, the Warriors’ offense was potent early on. Their first two drives covered a combined 131 yards and resulted in touchdowns.
Quarterback Grant Masterson scored first on a 39-yard run, and then connected with Woodring on a 24-yard pass for a 14-0 lead.
Woodring led Wilton’s receivers with eight catches for 140 yards and touchdown, and Ben Calabrese had six catches for 74 yards. Masterson had 260 passing yards and a teambest 47 rushing yards,
“We just trust in our guys,” Woodring said of the offense. “We have the best receiving corps in the FCIAC and the state and we know we can compete
with anyone.”
New Canaan broke through with a nine-play, 80-yard drive, capped by a 29-yard strike from quarterback Henry Cunney to Mack Seelert (10 catches, 124 yards).
The Rams drew closer when Ty Groff kicked a 27-yard field goal, but Cooper matched that with a 33-yard kick to make it a 17-10 game at halftime.
The Rams tied the game with another 80-yard drive in the third quarter when Alex Benevento scored on a 14-yard pass from Cunney.
New Canaan was threatening again in the fourth quarter, but a pass by Cunney was tipped at the line, and Wilton lineman Jackson Duncan made a diving grab for the interception.
The Warriors’ winning drive started at their own 30 as they set up Cooper for the game-winning kick.
“Honestly, I was thinking touchdown but anything works,” Woodring said. “100%, I knew he was going to make it. He’s been practicing all week, all offseason, and we just knew he was going to make it.”
Cooper said he was “run over” after the kick and didn’t see the ball sail through the uprights, but he knew it was good “when everybody started cheering and everybody came over to me and started to high five.”
“I can’t say enough about the kids who gave me that effort in the fourth quarter,” DiNunzio said. “We lost two guys, everybody had their tongues hanging out of their mouths and I just asked them to hang on for one more quarter. For us to come out of here with a win is just a testament to my kids and my coaching staff.”