Sixth Grade Football Playoffs: Wilton White 28 - Fairfield Black 6

The Wilton 6 White football team stormed back from an early 6-0 deficit to trounce Fairfield Black 28-6 in the first round of the 2014 FCFL playoffs in the pouring rain Saturday night at Fujitani Field.

After being forced to punt on their first possession, the Warriors came out aggressively on defense stopping Fairfield cold on their first two plays as Christian Theoharides, Matt Gulbin, Will Jarvie, Jimmy McKiernan, Everett Andersen and Connor Healey manhandled the Fairfield offensive line. However, a helmet-to-helmet penalty and a Warrior offside penalty moved the ball to the 40 where Fairfield perfectly executed a 58 yard screen pass and run over the heads of the onrushing Wilton defenders. Fairfield scored on the next play to take a 6-0 lead.

Unperturbed, the Warriors struck back quickly. With gaping holes opened by the Warrior offensive line of Charlie Hastings, Henry Sell, Brian Cipri, Evan Kauh, Theoharides, Gulbin and McKiernan, Sean Sullivan carried twice for a first down at the 41, followed by a bootleg by Andersen to the Fairfield 48. Sullivan’s 28 yard scamper was then followed by runs of 16 and 4 yards for the touchdown by Trevor Martines, the first of his three TDs on the day. Ryan van Heyst’s kick was perfect and the Warriors took the lead for good.

The Warrior defense toughened up and gave Fairfield fits the rest of the game while the offense remained in high gear.

Taking over at midfield after a defensive stop, the Warriors ground out another touchdown drive with the run game. With Sullivan, Martines and Blake Pagano-Walley carrying the pigskin, the Warriors moved quickly to the Wildcats 11. Quinn Wiseman then scored on a nifty reverse, but the TD was nullified by a flag for clipping.

However, three plays later Martines bulled over from the 6 and van Heyst’s kick was good to make the score 14-6 shortly before halftime.

Fairfield took the ball for the second half but the Warrior defense forced a three and out, gaining possession after the punt at midfield. Three plays later Pagano-Walley burst through the line for a 28 yard score and with the PAT the score was 21-6.

Another three and out set up the final Warrior touchdown, a 26 yard Martines run. Van Heyst drilled his fourth straight PAT to make the score 28-6.

Fairfield’s last gasp came as Davis Cote intercepted a pass with 1:31 to play.

The Warriors will next face Ridgefield Orange in second round playoff action.

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