New Canaan Football Puts On Another Show In 42-20 Win Over Greenwich

Last season's New Canaan- Greenwich football game wasn't decided until the final seconds of the fourth quarter.

This year, it was as good as over seven minutes into the first, as the Rams trounced the Cardinals at Dunning Stadium 42-20, scoring all 42 points in the first half.

"I was really happy with the way (the team) prepared for this one," New Canaan head coach Lou Marinelli. "They came out and played like we knew they could."

It marked the second straight game in which the Rams surpassed 40 points, as they routed Wilton, 43-7, last week.

The key'  to the Rams spread offense, as it is most weeks, was the connection between quarterback Matt Milano and wide receiver Kevin Macari.

Milano seems to have a sixth sense for finding Macari whenever he's even remotely open, and that was evident Friday night as the senior receiver had four catches for 87 yards and three touchdowns.

Milano had a huge night himself, passing for 287 yards and five for TDs for the second straight game.

The Rams, bidding for a fifth straight state championship,  improved to 7-1 and dropped the Cardinals to 5-3.

"It was a big win for us," Milano said, adding that it was good to get this kind of momentum going into next week's game against Bridgeport Central, the only team to beat the Rams last season.

The scoring started right away for New Canaan, with Milano hitting Macari on the third play of the game. Macari lined up left, slanted across the middle, and caught the ball in stride, splitting defenders as he cruised 38 yards for the touchdown.

"He obviously great at catching the ball," Marinelli said, "but the really impressive thing is his speed."

After a Greenwich three-and out, New Canaan picked up right where it left off.

Milano hit Conor Goodwin in  the left flat for what looked like a solid 15-yard gain, only Goodwin wasn't done. He broke away from the Cardinal' defenders and sprinted down the left hash marks, burning the Greenwich defense and putting the Rams up 13-0.

Another three -and-out, New Canaan's  ground game took over.

Captain Joe Costigan burst up the middle for 40 yards on a 3rd-and-1, resulting in a 1st-and-goal at the 4.

Milano and Macari then hooked up again for the short score, and after a successful two-point conversion pass to Connor Kilbane,  the Rams had a 21-0 lead before seven minutes had even come off the clock.

"We didn't go out looking to hit home runs," Macari said. ,"We were just taking what they gave us. We had a solid game plan and it paid off."

Greenwich picked up a little momentum in the second quarter after a snap sailed over the head of Milano.

The Cardinals recovered the errant ball at the 1-yard line and punched it in for a touchdown to cut the lead to 14 at 21-7.

A subsequent three-and out-gave the Cardinals some hope, but the defense wouldn't let them get much as they forced Greenwich to turn the ball over on downs after a solid drive.

New Canaan's offense then did what it had been doing all game – get the ball in the end zone.

A 28-yard pass from Milano to Kevin McDonough and 17 yard-pass to Macari had the Rams set to score again, and that they did as Milano found Macari yet again on a perfectly run post route in the corner of the end zone. Milano floated the pass in perfectly to give the Rams a 28-7 advantage.

"We've been throwing that pass for a while," Macari said of the fade route.

The two have definitely developed a great chemistry this season, similar to what was seen between Macari and Turner Baty last year.

"Matt picked it right up this season," Macari said.

On the very next play, Greenwich quarterback Liam O'Neil tossed up a duck that fell into Macari's hands for the interception. Macari dodged defenders down the left sideline, turned on the jets, and sprinted 70 yards into the endzone, putting the Rams up 36-0 after a two point conversion quarterback keeper form Milano.

"I've had some great players," Marinelli said, "and he's right up there."

Milano finished the half with a pass over the middle for a touchdown to Willie Gould, and a missed extra point ended the scoring for New Canaan.

The second half was basically clock killing time, as neither team seemed that interested in scoring. Greenwich scored in the third quarter and added a late garbage time touchdown to cement the final of 42-20.

New Canaan now looks forward to a rematch with Bridgeport Central, the only blemish on last season's record.

"We see 42-7 (last year's score) everywhere," Milano said. "We really want to redeem ourselves."