Stamford blanked
WESTPORT — As Staples returned home after a slim 1-point victory against Danbury, it was more smooth sailing for the Wreckers.
Staples scored on its first five possessions to handle Stamford 54-0 to extend its winning streak to three. On its homecoming weekend, senior captains Ryan Thompson and Tanner Connors carried the load offensively in the first half. Connors ran in a pair of touchdowns in the first quarter from 6 and 14 yards respectively while Thompson used his arm to tally the remaining three touchdowns of the first half.
Out of the three touchdown passes Thompson threw in the opening half, two of them went to senior wide receiver Nick Armentano. The connection between Thompson and Armentano has stemmed far beyond their high school years together. “We’re just getting older and smarter,” Thompson said. “We’re seeing more things and we’re building on that connection. We talk about it all the time, so we are always trying to see new things.”
Thompson, who played just over one half of the game has continued to develop in his coach’s eyes, which has allowed the Wrecker offense to continue to click.
“He’s one of the most intelligent kids I’ve been around,” said Staples coach Adam Behrends. “He’s gotten me out of some bad situations, and he’s mobile, which helps you get out of a lot of spots.”
For Thompson, the feeling is mutual being led by a coach with a track record of developing quarterbacks.
“He’s a huge skill guy when it comes to coaching quarterbacks,” Thompson said. “The biggest thing he’s taught me is leadership skills and to always have confidence and control of that team. He’s worked with some of the best quarterbacks who have gone onto the NFL.”
While the offense built the commanding lead, the Staples defense managed to hold Stamford scoreless while recording a pair of turnovers in the win. “I thought the defense played lights-out,” said Behrends. “We had coaches challenging them to get a shutout this week. That’s the first shutout we’ve had since I’ve been here.”
As for if Staples will continue its winning ways into next week’s showdown on the road against Norwalk, Behrends still believes his team is not playing at its peak. “We’ve got a lot of things to grow,” Behrends said. “In all phases of the game there is something that we need to clean up. They have a good football team over there and they are having a heck of a year.”
Stamford coach Jamar Greene hopes his young team continues to grow as they continue to search for their first win of the season. “We are going out and competing, but we are getting pushed around,” Greene said. “We have a lot of young guys. We will take the positives from tonight and get better moving forward.”
PLAYER OF THE GAME
Ryan Thompson, Staples Sr. QB: Needed just one half to pass for three touchdowns in the victory. Thompson has thrown eight touchdowns compared to just two interceptions during Staples’ threegame winning streak.