Rams proud of their run
The emotions were overflowing following the Greenwich Cardinal’s 34-0 win over New Canaan Rams in the Class LL football final at Boyle Stadium on Saturday.
On the one side, there were the Cardinals, celebrating their first state championship since 2007.
On the other, there was New Canaan, which saw its wild ride of the past few weeks come to a close.
For the departing Ram seniors, this season and their remarkable finish is not something they’ll soon forget.
“This is the closest I’ve ever been with a group of people before,” senior cocaptain Garrett Braden said. “Nothing’s going to change that. We’re brothers for life.”
“Obviously we all wish that we were able to close the season out on a high note with a championship,” senior co-captain Jack Conley said. “We might not have gotten the ring, but we got to be with our brothers for a maxed out 13 games. We all love each other so much and we’re sad to see it end.”
When all was said and done, the Cardinals (13-0) simply had too much for the Rams (10-3), racking up a 27-0 lead by halftime en route to the win. Greenwich’s offense gained 428 yards, while the defense
held New Canaan to just 142.
Greenwich had several stars, with receiver A.J. Barber delivering a huge performance, catching 10 passes for 138 yards and three touchdowns, and throwing for another TD. Quarterback Gavin Muir passed for 242 yards and three TDs, and RB Tysen Comizio had 23 rushes for 140 yards.
It was a dominating performance, and one with mixed emotions for head coach Lou Marinelli, who was facing his son, John, the head coach of Greenwich.
“As his father, I’m happy for him, but it doesn’t make it any easier,” Lou Marinelli said. “My seniors have done so much for us. I feel for them.
“We really didn’t have any answers for a lot of the things they were doing. It was a great coaching job; there’s no doubt about who’s the best team in the state. They haven’t had a game that’s any closer than 28 points and they certainly did a tremendous job against us.”
The loss brought an end to a remarkable run for New Canaan, which was 3-2 after a week five loss to Greenwich and nearly didn’t qualify for the state tournament. The last time the postseason didn’t include New Canaan was in 2004.
The Rams regrouped, refocused and went on a run, qualifying for the Class LL tournament on the final day of the regular season when they topped rival Darien 17-14 in the Turkey Bowl.
New Canaan then went out and knocked off No. 1 Shelton 42-34 in the state quarterfinals, and dominated Fairfield Prep in a 38-7 semifinal win on Dec. 2 at Rafferty Stadium.
The magnitude of those three victories wasn’t lost on the Rams.
“It would’ve felt a lot better with a win here, but to finish off our careers with a few amazing wins before this game, beating Darien, Shelton and Prep, was great,” Conley said. “I’m just happy I was able to play a full season, a full 13 games, with my brothers. I love them all so much.”
“I’m so proud of these guys,” Braden said. “I’ve been trying to keep it together for them but this is tough. To put in all the work for this and then to have it end — we were doubted at 3-2 and we’re here now. We made it to a state championship and not many people can say that.”