Shirden, St. Joe’s roll in shutout of Staples

TRUMBULL — Jaden Shirden ran for four touchdowns, Jack Wallace threw for three scores, and the St. Joseph defense kept Staples out of the end zone en route to a 500 victory at Dalling Field on Saturday.

Coach Joe Della Vecchia’s Cadets are ranked second in the GameTimeCT poll and improved to 80. Coach Phil Treglia’s Wreckers dropped to 26.

“Its fun to watch, get the ball to the receivers, hand the ball to Jayden, its like a show I get to watch,” said Wallace, who completed 12 of his 18 passes to four receivers for 175 yards. “The protection is phenomenal week in and week out.”

Brady Hutchison got the Hogs off to an electric start when he returned the opening kickoff 78 yards.

Wallace hit Hutchison on first down and the junior raced to paydirt for a 20yard score only 24 seconds into the FCIAC contest.

“He is going through his progressions and reads all the time,” Della Veccia said of Wallace. “He is working on on everything he does. He’s been great for us all year.”

Cole daSilva’s sack of Staples quarterback Jake Thaw forced a punt.

“They are going hard all day,” daSilva said Cadet’s front three of Michael Morrissey, Jermaine Williams and Caden Porter. “Its great to have them in front. Throwing stunts on, getting blockers out of the way.”

Hutchison, who caught five passes for 91 yards, went up in traffic for a 41yard gain to the 15. Two Shirden carries finished with a 4yard TD run by the senior, who ran for 154 yards on 12 totes.

Tackles for losses by Alex Pagliarini (sack), Jermaine Williams and Michael Morrissey got the ball back quickly. The Cadets took the score to 210 with 2:32 left in the first quarter on Shirden’s 17yard run and Austin Jose’s third conversion kick.

“You can tell we are having a great time,” Pagliarini said. ”Throughout the week, practice is hard. When we get up this many points early, its a great time.”

Thaw, who while under pressure completed 8 of 16 passes, led Staples into Cadet territory before being forced from the game with an injury. The drive stalled, but the Wreckers got the ball back on Michael Metro’s fumble recovery on the Cadets’ 15yard line.

Preston Kral’s interception of a fourthdown pass into the end zone kept the game at 210.

Ryan Thompson’s interception for Staples kept the ball pinging back and fourth, but on the next snap Pagliarini recovered a Wrecker fumble.

Three plays later, Wallace connected with Hutchison for a 14yard TD with five minutes remaining. Shirden got outside and went 62 yards before the half for a 360 Cadet advantage.

Thaw returned to the game for Staples. Nick Armentano (51 yards), Thompson (12 yards) and Sean Clarke (25 yards) each had a air of receptions in the game, but the Wreckers had trouble moving the chains against a defense that had allowed only 51 points.

“We are lucky to have them,” Della Vecchia said of his linebackers. “Cole and Pagsie can play, they love to get after it. We did a few things today we thought we could do with the two of them with Denny (Rotunno), who is our other backer. They did a great job coming off the edge with inside stunts. They love to get after it.”

Wallace did his best Johnny Manziel impression as he rolled away from pressure, ducked a few tacklers, and tossed the ball into the end zone. Owen DaSilva, and his 6foot4, 240pound frame, went up and got it for a 12yard score and a 430 lead midway through the third period.