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Sports

Greenwich Cardinals Play for FCIAC Championship

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Bob Birge, Neighbor
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After a three-year hiatus, which by Greenwich's standards seems like a lifetime, the Cardinals are back in the FCIAC championship game and will face undefeated Staples in Westport on Thursday morning.

While the Cardinals suffered a 51-33 non-league loss to New London in week three, they joined the Wreckers by going 8-0 in the FCIAC - the league's only two unbeaten teams in conference play.

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After a sub-par 5-5 finish last year, Greenwich is seeking its first FCIAC championship since 2007, when the Cardinals routed Staples, 37-0.

The teams have met twice in the FCIAC championship game with Greenwich winning both meetings. The Cardinals' other championship game victory over the Wreckers came in 1974.

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While a league title is at stake, Greenwich, which is seventh in the Class LL rankings, also needs a win to secure a berth in the state playoffs. A loss will eliminate the Cardinals.

Staples is seeking its second FCIAC crown in three years, having defeated Bridgeport Central 14-10 in 2009. Overall, Greenwich has captured 12 FCIAC titles and Staples 5.

The Wreckers already have clinched a spot in the Class LL playoffs and join Xavier, the state's top-ranked team, as the only unbeaten squads in the division.

The Cardinals' attack is led by senior running back Shane Nastahowski, who has rushed for 925 yards and 17 touchdowns with six games over 100 yards.

However, he could be facing arguably the FCIAC's most physical team as the Wreckers lead the state with 48 sacks (Pieter Hoets has eight and Mikel Washington seven).

In addition, Staples is allowing only 15.6 points per game, the FCIAC's third-best mark.

The Wreckers are expected to once again be without top running back Joey Zelkowitz, who suffered a shoulder separation against Fairfield Warde on Nov. 5. Despite missing two games, Zelkowitz is still third in the FCIAC in rushing with 800 yards.

However, Staples is blessed with depth in the backfield and is comfortable with backups Nick Kelly (533 yards, 10 TDs) and Jon Heil (363 yards, 5 TDs).

The winner of Thursday's game will be receive the inaugural Jerry McDougall Trophy, named after the former legendary Trumbull coach who passed away in October.

WEDNESDAY'S RESULTS

No games scheduled

THURSDAY'S SCHEDULE

Football

Greenwich at Staples, 10 a.m., FCIAC championship game

STANDINGS

  • Football
West Division FCIAC Record FCIAC Points F/A Overall Record Overall Points F/A Staples 8-0 281-225 8-0 281-125 Greenwich 8-0 304-88 8-1 337-139 Danbury 4-4 226-142 5-4 256-148 Bridgeport Central 3-5 227-274 3-6 255-327 Trumbull 2-6 157-254 2-6 157-254 Westhill 0-8 108-317 0-9 108-338 Central Division FCIAC Record
 FCIAC Points F/A Overall Record
 Overall Points F/A Norwalk 7-1 226-120 7-1 226-120 Ridgefield 7-2 271-176 7-2 271-176 Stamford
6-2 268-124 6-2 268-124 McMahon 3-6 234-208 3-6 234-208 Harding 2-6 77-235 2-6 77-235 Fairfield Ludlowe 0-9 72-339 0-9 72-339 East Division FCIAC Record
 FCIAC Points F/A Overall Record
 Overall Points F/A New Canaan 8-1 331-158 8-1 331-158 Darien
8-1 285-165 8-1 285-165 Wilton
5-4 287-226 5-4 287-226 Fairfield Warde 4-5 212-204 4-5 212-204 St. Joseph 3-6 167-242 3-6 167-242 Trinity Catholic 3-6 173-240 3-6 173-240 Bassick 0-9 74-343 0-9 74-343
  • Boys soccer
West Division FCIAC Record Points Trumbull 11-1-4 37 Staples 10-2-4 34 Greenwich 9-4-3 30 Westhill 9-5-2 29 Danbury 6-2-7 28 Bridgeport Central 3-11-2 11 Central Division FCIAC Record Points Norwalk 13-1-2 41 Ridgefield 7-6-3 21 Stamford 6-9-1 19 Fairfield Ludlowe 5-9-2 17 McMahon 4-12-0 12 Harding 0-16-0 0 East Division FCIAC Record Points Darien 11-2-3 36 Wilton 9-5-2 29 New Canaan 8-3-5 29 Fairfield Warde 6-6-3 21 Bassick
6-7-3 21 St. Joseph 2-11-3 9 Trinity Catholic 2-13-1 7
  • Girls soccer
West DivisionRecordPoints Westhill 11-1-4 37 Greenwich 10-2-4 35 Trumbull 7-3-6 27 Danbury 6-8-2 20 Central 0-16-0 0 Central DivisionRecordPoints Staples 8-5-3 27 Ridgefield 5-6-5 20 Fairfield Ludlowe 6-9-1 19 McMahon 5-10-0 15 Stamford 3-13-0 9 Norwalk 2-13-0 6 East DivisionRecordPoints St. Joseph 14-1-1 43 New Canaan 12-2-2 38 Darien 9-4-3 30 Wilton 8-3-5 29 Fairfield Warde 9-5-2 29 Trinity Catholic 1-15-0 3

Field hockey

West Division
FCIAC Record Points
Staples 7-2-3-1 18 Stamford 8-4-1-0 17 Greenwich 3-5-3-2 11 Westhill 5-7-1-0 11 Ridgefield 0-6-5-2 7 Danbury 3-10-0-0 6 Trumbull 0-12-1-0 1 East Division Darien 13-0-0-0 26 Wilton 11-2-0-0 22 Norwalk 10-2-1-0 21 New Canaan 8-4-1-0 17 Fairfield Ludlowe 5-6-1-1 12 McMahon 4-7-2-0 10 Fairfield Warde 3-6-3-1 10

Girls volleyball

West Division Record Staples 16-2 Greenwich 14-4 Danbury 12-6 Westhill 11-7 Trumbull 8-10 Bridgeport Central 1-17 Central Division Ridgefield 16-2 Stamford 12-6 Fairfield Ludlowe
11-7 Brien McMahon 5-13 Norwalk 3-15 Harding 1-17 East Division Darien 18-0 New Canaan
14-4 Fairfield Warde 9-9 Trinity Catholic 7-11 St. Joseph
7-11 Wilton 5-13 Bassick 0-18

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