Seventh Grade Football: Wilton Blue 22 - Westport North 6

Wooder Thoby’s electrifying first play, 70 yard touchdown run sparked Wilton Blue to a 22-6 victory over Westport North in the twilight on Saturday evening at Fujitani Field.

Brian Cipri’s crushing block opened a hole for Thoby whose shake and bake moves did the rest on his way to the Wrecker end zone for a 6-0 lead. Everett Andersen’s two point conversion pass to Ryan MacDougall was nullified by a 15 yard offensive pass interference call, but the Warriors converted anyway as Andersen hit a streaking Max Mannino in stride in the end zone for a twenty yard two point conversion to make the score 8-0.

The Warrior defense, led on the day by middle linebacker Kiel Polito who made tackles all over the field, and linemen Robert Rios and Kyle Jordan, shut Westport down nearly completely in the first half, which ended with Wilton leading 8-0.

After the Warrior defense again shut down the Wreckers at the start of the second half, the Warrior offense took over after a punt to the Wrecker 46. Polito and Thoby ground out yards to the Westport 32, and then the Warriors took to the air. Faking a pitch and rolling right Andersen fired a pass to Jimmy McKiernan who made an acrobatic leaping catch at the Wrecker 11. Two plays later Thoby outjumped two defenders to haul in Andersen’s pass in the end zone for the Warriors’ second score and a 14-0 lead.

Struggling to move the ball on the ground, Westport took to the air, but Wilton’s linebackers and defensive backs were up to the task. Jermaine Vincent, McKiernan and Ryan Sorbo thwarted all attempts by Westport to gain yards through the air, forcing punts in the third and fourth quarters.

Late in the fourth quarter, Westport’s defense stiffened and a Warrior drive appeared to stall as the home team faced fourth and 14 at the Westport 46. However, the Wilton coaching staff elected not to punt. Quarterback Andersen took the snap from center Trey Dexter, whose direct and shotgun snaps were perfect all day, faked a pitch right and bootlegged left. Will Jarvie and Max Mannino perfectly executed blocks clearing a path to the secondary where Andersen kicked in the afterburners and beat the defenders to the end zone. Polito’s fullback dive was good for two points and the Warriors led 22-0.

Westport managed to score on a long pass on the game’s final play, making the final score 22-6.