Walter Camp names Greenwich No. 1
NEW HAVEN — The Greenwich Cardinals, the Class LL state champion and No. 1 team in the state’s high school football seasonending polls, is the Walter Camp Football Foundation’s choice to receive the 2018 Joseph W. Kelly Award.
The Kelly Award is presented annually to Connecticut’s top high school football team.
It is the first time Greenwich has won the award. It was also the fourth straight year a team from the FCIAC has earned the honor, tying the record held by the SCC (2009-2012).
“Utilizing a stingy defense and an explosive offense, Greenwich was exceptional on its way to its championship season,” Walter Camp Football Foundation President Michael Madera said. “We salute Coach John Marinelli, his staff and players on an outstanding season.”
Greenwich went 10-0 during the 2018 regularseason. The Cardinals then defeated New Britain 34-13 in the Class LL quarterfinals on November 27. In the semifinals, Greenwich defeated Newtown, 50-0, and culminated its championship season with a 34-0 victory over New Canaan on December 8. It was the Cardinals’ first state title since 2007.
In their 13 games, the Cardinals averaged 43.4 points per game, allowing just 4.2 a game.
Coach Marinelli and the Greenwich team will be recognized at the organization’s High School Breakfast of Champions event, on Saturday, Jan. 12 at the Omni New Haven Hotel. Greenwich, along with the three other state football champions — Daniel Hand, St. Joseph and Bloomfield — will be feted. Also that morning, the Walter Camp All-Connecticut Team, High School Player and Coach of the Year will also be recognized.
Later that evening, The Foundation will hold its annual national awards banquet, presented by David McDermott Lexus, at Yale University’s Lanman Center. Walter Camp Player of the Year Tua Tagovailoa, along with members of the 2018 Walter Camp AllAmerica team, and other major award winners (Man of the Year — Mike Golic; Distinguished American — Archie Manning, and Connecticut Player of the Year — Zach Allen), will be honored.
Walter Camp, “The Father of American football,” first selected an All-America team in 1889. Camp — a former Yale University athlete and football coach — is also credited with developing play from scrimmage, set plays, the numerical assessment of goals and tries and the restriction of play to eleven men per side. The Walter Camp Football Foundation — a New Haven-based all-volunteer group — was founded in 1967 to perpetuate the ideals of Camp and to continue the tradition of selecting annually an All-America team. Visit www.waltercamp.org for more information.
Tazhon Daniels, Hillhouse, 5-10, Jr., G: If he can keep the defense honest from the perimeter, should be one of the SCC’s most dangerous guards.
Kyle Daniels, Wilbur Cross, 6-1, Sr., G: Transfer from Career could be the best guard in the Elm City this season. If not Daniels, then maybe it’s…
A.J. Edwards, Amistad, 5-9, Sr., G: Averaged 22 ppg. for a program looking to really make a name for itself in the 2018-19 season.
Maximus Edwards, Bunnell, 6-4, Jr., G: Scores at will. A good place to start for first-year coach Dannie Powell.
Matt Knowling, East Catholic, 6-4, Jr., G: Will be heavily relied upon now that Trey Hall has left to play at a prep school.
Aaron Latham, Glastonbury, 5-11, Sr., G: Maybe this year’s best CCC player you’re not familiar with. But the opposition sure is.
Quinton Lott, Kolbe Cathedral, 6-4, Sr. F:
DeJuan Ransom, Wilcox Tech, 5-10, Sr., G: The top returning player in the CTC — and maybe Meriden — returns to wreak havoc on the league again.
Joey Reilly, East Catholic, 6-0, Sr., G: Has scored over 1,200 points career points and is mulling over several Division I offers.
Jordan Riley, Windsor, 6-3, Sr., G: Scored 21 points in the Division I semifinals against Sacred Heart last season.
Victor Rosario, Hamden, 6-0, Sr., G: Left Combine Academy prep after just a couple of months just adds to an already stacked Green Dragons’ squad looking to repeat in the SCC.
Garrett Sattazhan, Wamogo, 6-4, G, Sr.: Likely the best returning player in the Berkshire League.
Nate Tabor, Sacred Heart, 6-5, Jr., G: