Eighth Grade Football: Wilton Blue 28 - Ridgefield Black 6

Achieving what no Wilton high school football team has managed in more than 20 years, the eighth grade Wilton Blue football team beat Ridgefield in quarterfinal FCFL action on Saturday. And they did it in style, decisively defeating a heavily favored Ridgefield squad 28-6 in the unfriendly confines of Tiger Hollow in Ridgefield.

Sporting a gaudy 7-1 record and seven game win streak, which included a 7-0 victory over the Warriors in the regular season, as well as the league’s stingiest defense which had surrendered just 7.4 points per game, Ridgefield figured to roll over the Warriors into the semi-finals. As the first quarter unfolded it looked like they would be right.

With the Warrior offense struggling and unable to move the ball, Ridgefield was twice able to advance inside the Wilton 10 but with their backs against the wall, the Warrior defense stood strong. Dominick Polito, Kyle Hyzy, Jimmy O’Brien, Austin Andersen, Mathew Antonios and Jack Lenz each made or assisted on key tackles to turn the Tigers away on the doorstep.

Taking over on downs at the 15, the offense went to work on a gritty 85 yard drive. On third and long at the 16, Reilly Sullivan made an incredible, outstretched leaping catch of an Andrew Smith spiral at the 42 which ignited the fans and the team. After a brilliant busted play scramble for seven yards by Ryan Healey and a tough five yard run by Hyzy into Ridgefield territory, the Warriors turned to Daniel Incao, Jake Fernandes, Cole Stephenson, Dominick Caratazzolo, Tate Falta, Dean Griffin and Spencer Reyes to pave the way for Andersen and Smith. Pounding the ball on the ground, twice the Warriors converted on fourth down. Finally, on the 17th play of the drive, Hyzy hit Herve with a 21 yard TD pass to give the Warriors the lead. Noah Levi’s kick was good for a 7-0 advantage just two minutes before halftime.

Ridgefield took the ball in the second half looking to even the score, but a ferocious hit by Andersen on the first play of the half forced a fumble recovered by Herve at the Ridgefield 30.

Lining up against Ridgefield’s massive, man-sized defensive line, the tenacious Warrior offensive linemen Steven Tuin, Jimmy O’Brien, Jack Lenz, Jack Savarese, Noah Levi and Herve began to impose their will on the Tigers. Eight plays later Andersen darted into the end zone from the 8 for a 14-0 lead.

With time waning in the third quarter, Wilton’s lone serious defensive gaffe allowed the Tigers to complete an 80 yard catch and run touchdown on third and long. Undeterred, the defense mounted a furious rush on the extra point resulting in a blocked kick by Levi, preserving an eight point, 14-6 lead.

Early in the fourth quarter a 35 yard punt by Andersen gave the ball back to the Tigers, but at their own 16 with a long field ahead of them. Smelling blood, the Warrior defenders swarmed and Levi recovered another fumble at the 7.

Wasting no time, Smith rolled left and fired to Sullivan, who made another leaping catch, this time for a touchdown and a 21-6 lead.

To put an exclamation point on the Warriors’ dominant performance, two plays later Sullivan intercepted a pass at the Ridgefield 35. This time from the wishbone the Warriors pounded the ball up the gut, forcing the defense to cheat to the middle of the field, creating opportunity through the air. Smith then connected on his second touchdown pass of the afternoon, a 27 yard strike to a streaking Jimmy O’Brien. Levi converted for the fourth time for an insurmountable 28-6 lead and rare Warrior football victory over the Tigers.

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