Seventh Grade Football: Wilton Blue 22 - Darien Blue 0

While it took some time for Wilton Blue’s offense to gain traction, its defense was spectacular from the start, leading the team to a 22-0 victory over Darien Blue on Sunday morning at Fujitani Field.

On offense first, the Warriors did move the ball, but Wooder Thoby’s long touchdown run was called back due to a penalty. The drive then stalled, forcing a punt and giving the ball to Darien at their own 35. However, the Wilton defense immediately set the tone as Brian Cipri and Kyle Jordan came up big with consecutive stops against the run.

Taking over after a punt with good field position at their own 45, the Warrior run game began to click. Running backs Thoby, Kiel Polito and Jermaine Vincent, and quarterback Everett Andersen, running behind the offensive line of Will Jarvie, Cipri, Trey Dexter, Jack Carroll, E.J. Fasano and Jordan, ate up yards on the ground, but the Warriors came up just short, giving the ball over on downs at the Blue Wave 4.

With Darien pinned at their own goal line, the Warrior defense smelled blood. Tackles for no gain by Ryan MacDougall and Max Mannino, and a fierce rush by Polito that caused an incompletion forced another punt that only traveled to the 24 yard line.

This time the offense would not be denied. A short drive ended in a 5 yard touchdown run by Thoby. Andersen then scrambled for the two point conversion to put the Warriors up 8-0.

Having had no luck against the run, Darien took to the air, but to no avail as Vincent picked off an errant throw at the Darien 40 with 1:06 left in the half. Time ran out before the Warriors could do more damage.

On Wilton’s second offensive play of the half, Thoby ripped off a 53 yard touchdown run. The point after was no good, so Wilton led 14-0.

The fearsome Warrior defense was stout again, as Quinn O’Connor nearly intercepted a pass, forcing a three and out, giving the offense good field position again at the Wilton 47 where they began their march for another score.

On the first play of the next series, a keeper by Andersen went for 19 yards to the Darien 34. Two plays later, on third and long, Andersen rolled right and hit Jimmy McKiernan deep down field for a 39 yard gain to the Darien 1. Thoby’s off tackle dive made the score 20-0. The two point conversion was good as MacDougall released from his tight end position to make a diving catch of an Andersen pass in the end zone.

The Warrior defense continued to lock down Darien the rest of the way to preserve the shutout. With the win Wilton Blue moved to 3-1 on the season and into first place in the NFC division.

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