Darien Wins State Football Championship In Class LL: Photos

TRUMBULL, CT — Two years ago, Darien was within seconds of the state football title, when the team suffered a heartbreaking loss to Newtown. Saturday’s Class LL championship game went a little differently for the Blue Wave.

Darien steamrolled the Fairfield Prep Jesuits, 42-7, amid heavy fog at Trumbull High School, claiming its eighth title and first since 2017 in a championship two years in the making, after the 2020 season was canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic.

“I think all facets of the game came to play,” head coach Mike Forget said. “We just kept churning and holes opened up.”

Tighe Cummiskey scored Darien’s first touchdown about halfway through the first quarter, and the Blue Wave didn't let up, keeping the action on Prep’s side of the field for most of the game. Darien’s Matt Minicus scored near the end of the second quarter, and the Blue Wave had three touchdowns in the third quarter — one from Miles Drake and two from Jeremiah Stafford, who also scored once in the fourth quarter.

“We just came out and we did our thing,” co-captain David Evanchick said.

Prep refused to end the game with its side of the scoreboard empty. Tim Pearson got in a touchdown for the Jesuits during the final minutes.

“I would have liked to have kept that 7 off of the board, but it is what it is,” Forget said.

The Jesuits were ranked No. 1 going into the final and the Blue Wave were ranked No. 3. Both teams had an 11-1 season record.

“We were outplayed tonight,” said Prep's head coach, Keith Hellstern. “That’s a credit to Darien.”

Prep’s offense struggled, according to Hellstern, who said the team was “a little undermanned” with linebacker Ryan O’Connell injured.

“That’s the circumstances you’re given and you have to play,” Hellstern said.

The Jesuits have won three state titles. The team’s last championship victory was in 1988.

Darien: 7 7 21 7 — 42

Fairfield Prep: 0 0 0 7 — 7

First quarter

D — Tighe Cummiskey 40 run (Isaac McMullin kick)

Second quarter

D — Matt Minicus 12 pass from Miles Drake (McMullin kick)

Third quarter

D — Drake 19 run (McMullin kick)

D — Jeremiah Stafford 4 run (McMullin kick)

D — Stafford 56 run (McMullin kick)

Fourth quarter

D — Stafford 8 run (McMullin kick)

FP — Tim Pearson 13 pass from Connor Smith (Aidan Graham kick)

Individual Statistics

Rushing — Darien, Tighe Cummiskey 25-188, Jeremiah Stafford 7-74, Miles Drake 3-11, Matt Minicus 1-6, Ryan Felt 1-(-2). Fairfield Prep, Dan Barnick 10-17; Connor Smith 10-(-25), Wally Wuchiski 1-1, Team, 1-(-14)

Passing — Darien, Miles Drake 7-11-102. Fairfield Prep, Connor Smith 17-29-138.

Receiving — Darien, Matt Minicus 2-62, John Wilson 2-38, Tighe Cummiskey 1-1, Jeremiah Stafford 1-1. Fairfield Prep, Tim Pearson 5-46, Tymaine Smith 5-30, James Iaropoli 3-33, Jack Reiling 3-18, Dan Barnick 1-11.

Other Championship Scores

CLASS L

• No. 3 Maloney 35, No. 5 Windsor 21

CLASS M

• No. 1 Killingly 28, No. 2 Rockville 14

CLASS S

• No. 2 Cromwell/Portland 21, No. 1 Bloomfield 6