Sports
FCIAC's Biggest Surprise: Norwalk High Football
Under new Coach Sean Ireland, Norwalk High is suddenly surprising the FCIAC with a 4-0 record so far this season, but tonight's 7 p.m. game with New Canaan will be tough—and Norwalk's biggest game in years.
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Through the first month of the season, there is no question that the Norwalk football team has been the biggest surprise in the FCIAC. Last week, the Bears defeated Trinity Catholic 26-7 to improve to 4-0 under first-year coach Sean Ireland.
But Norwalk faces its biggest test to date on Friday when it hosts perennial power New Canaan at Testa Field in a 7 p.m. kickoff. Friday's contest rates as Norwalk's biggest game in years and has major state championship implications.
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New Canaan, which is seeking its sixth consecutive trip to the state finals, hasn't been overwhelming, but, in typical fashion, the tradition-laden Rams (4-0) have found ways to win.
Last week, New Canaan rallied from an 11-point deficit in the fourth quarter to stun McMahon 36-33 and remain unbeaten.
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Senior quarterback Matt Milano, who is having another stellar season, ignited the Rams with a touchdown run and touchdown pass in the fourth period.
It marked the second straight week that New Canaan needed to rally for a win in the fourth quarter. The week before, the Rams scored 21 unanswered points to defeat Fairfield Warde 28-14 after trailing 14-7.
Quarterback Delshaun Wilson has keyed Norwalk's surprising start with nearly 900 yards of total offense. He has passed for 613 yards and six touchdowns and rushed for 239 yards and two TDs.
Norwalk's other rushing threats are Tomar Joseph (31 carries for 207 yards and 5 TDs) and Johnny Anzalone (36-181, 2TDs).
Of course, the Bears have to contend with Milano and company. Milano already has thrown for 943 yards and 11 touchdown passes, although he is off last year's pace when he threw a state-record 42 TD passes.
New Canaan has a lot of weapons as it boasts four receivers with double-figure catches: Connor Kilbane (27-284, 4TDs), Patrick Newtown (20-196, 2TDs), Peter Kraus (15-163, 3TDs) and Grady Lynch (11-91).
McMahon (1-3), which has suffered back-to-back heartbreakers, looks to rebound when it hosts Wilton (3-1) at 7 p.m.
Two weeks ago, the Senators were in position to beat Staples with a 14-point lead in the fourth quarter, but the Wreckers responded with 17 points in the final seven minutes and pulled out a 24-21 victory on a field goal with three seconds remaining.
Wilton (3-1) suffered its first loss last week with a 47-20 setback to Ridgefield, which is 16-0-1 in its last 17 games against the Warriors.
THURSDAY'S RESULTS
Boys soccer
Ridgefield 2, McMahon 1
Norwalk 5, Harding 0 -- Kevin Joslyn scored two goals and Micheo Nowicki, Teddy Faroni, and Yimi Monca each added one for the Bears, who improved to 8-1-1
Field hockey
Staples 2, McMahon 0
Norwalk 2, New Canaan 0 -- Christine Mace and Katie Schmidt scored late in the first half for the Bears (7-2-1)
Girls volleyball
Norwalk 3, Harding 0
McMahon 3, Wilton 0 (25-13, 25-17, 25-20)
FRIDAY'S SCHEDULE
Football
New Canaan at Norwalk, 7 p.m.
Wilton at McMahon, 7 p.m.
Girls soccer
Norwalk at Trumbull, 7 p.m.
Girls volleyball
McMahon at Trumbull, 4 p.m.
SATURDAY'S SCHEDULE
Boys soccer
Greenwich at McMahon, 12 p.m.
Norwalk at Bassick, 4 p.m.
Girls soccer
Bridgeport Central at McMahon, 2:30 p.m.
Field hockey
Barlow at Norwalk, 10:30 a.m.
STANDINGS
- Football
FCIAC Points F/A Overall Record
Overall Points F/A Ridgefield 3-1 125-64 3-1 125-64 Norwalk 4-0 113-46 4-0 113-46 McMahon
1-3 104-82 1-3 104-82 Stamford 2-2 117-59 2-2 117-59 Harding 1-3 13-110 1-3 13-110 Fairfield Ludlowe 0-4 21-120 0-4 21-120 East Division FCIAC Record
FCIAC Points F/A Overall Record
Overall Points F/A New Canaan 4-0 154-67 4-0 154-67 Darien
4-0 122-60 4-0 122-60 Wilton
3-1 136-87 3-1 136-87 Fairfield Warde 2-2 95-78 2-2 95-78 Trinity Catholic 2-2 81-96 2-2 81-96 St. Joseph 0-4 28-127 0-4 28-127 Bassick 0-4 26-180 0-4 26-180
- Boys soccer
2-5-1 7 Trinity Catholic 1-7-0 3 St. Joseph 0-8-3 3
- Girls soccer
Field hockey
West DivisionFCIAC Record Points
Stamford 7-1-0-0 14 Staples 6-2-1-0 13 Greenwich 2-2-1-2 7 Westhill 3-5-1-1 7 Ridgefield 0-3-4-1 5 Danbury 2-6-0-0 4 Trumbull 0-7-1-0 1 East Division Darien 8-0-0-0 16 Wilton 7-1-0-0 14 Norwalk 6-2-1-1 13 New Canaan 4-4-1-1 9 Fairfied Warde 3-3-1-1 6 McMahon 1-5-2-0 4 Fairfield-Ludlowe 1-4-1-1 4
Girls volleyball
West Division Record Staples 10-1 Greenwich 10-2 Danbury 7-4 Westhill 7-4 Trumbull 4-7 Bridgeport Central 2-9 Central Division Ridgefield 9-2 Stamford 8-3 Fairfield Ludlowe6-5 Brien McMahon 5-6 Norwalk 3-9 Harding 0-12 East Division Darien 12-0 New Canaan
9-3 Fairfield Warde 7-4 St. Joseph 4-7 Trinity Catholic
3-8 Wilton 3-9 Bassick 0-11
