Wilton Scores and Standings, Nov. 14

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Blake Pagano-Walley scored on a 55-yard touchdown run with under a minute remaining, then added the 2-point conversion, as the Wilton White third grade football team rallied from an early 13-point deficit to stun New Canaan 14-13 in the semifinals of the FCFL playoffs.

Wilton, which avenged its lone loss of the regular season, sealed a co-championship with Wilton’s Blue team also winning its semifinal game earlier in the day. 

All season long, Wilton White’s defense has been among the best in the league.  But early in the game, New Canaan Black’s disciplined and physical offense seemed to catch Wilton by surprise.

On just the third play of the game, a reverse got outside the defense and had the Warriors down 7–0.  Things only got worse for the home team as the offense fumbled on its first snap of the game. 

Though Wilton’s defense was able to settle in and stop the run better their second time on the field, New Canaan’s offense proved to be multi-dimensional.  A beautiful pass play went for another touchdown (PAT failed) and with 1:37 left in the first quarter, Wilton was down 13-0.

After another fumble by Wilton’s offense, the defense finally forced a New Canaan mistake and linebacker Quinn Wiseman was there to pounce on the ball (videolink by Austin Andersen http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w8mh5aMtmAY).

At the beginning of the second quarter, Wilton Pagano-Walley found daylight behind the solid offensive line of Charlie Hastings, Jason Bivona, Austin Cameron, Joshua White, Matt Gulbin, Henry Sell and Michael Coffey, and ran 45 yards for a touchdown (PAT failed) to make the score 13–6 (videolink by Austin Andersen http://youtu.be/qe7NzClqmkM).

Wilton’s defense stiffened after that score, realizing it was back in this game.  Standout play by Henry Sell and Austin Cameron along the defensive line kept New Canaan’s running attack at bay (videolink by Austin Andersen http://youtu.be/q2u296BrqmA).

Close coverage by cornerbacks Spencer Dean, Connor Healey, Logan Brady and Luke O’Neill, as well as by safety Michael Gruseke, kept New Canaan Black's passing attack in check.

In the second half, Wilton’s offense was able to move the ball well on the ground.  Running backs Sean Sullivan, Pagano-Walley, wing back Alex Smith, along with quarterback Everett Andersen, were able to find seams created by offensive linemates Daniel Gruseke, Jake Eagen and Jack Fielden.

However, Wilton fumbled three more times before the end of the game. Still, the turning point came with seven minutes left in the fourth quarter and Wilton’s facing a 3rd-and-10.

Dropping back to pass under pressure, quarterback Andersen pitched a perfect spiral to Joshua White, who wrestled the ball away from a New Canaan defender for a first down (videolink by Austin Andersen http://youtu.be/zI0bL_yBYQs).

With only 3:23 left to play and the Warriors still trailing by seven points, the defense atoned for its earlier lapses.  A sack by linebacker Davis Cote on first down surprissed the New Canaan quarterback.

On second down, defensive guard Michael Coffey pushed through the line to take the running back down for a loss.  And on third down, defensive tackle Matt Gulbin overpowered his man and stuffed the runner at the line of scrimmage. 

New Canaan elected to punt, pinning Wilton in its own territory with 1:33 remaining.

Pagano-Walley, who had handled most of Wilton's running in the game, took a pitch left and found an opening. After a punishing lead block by his backfield mate Sean Sullivan, Pogano-Walley's 55-yard TD had pulled Wilton within 13-12. (videolink by Austin Andersen
http://youtu.be/C-YPo1CkpZM).

With only 43 seconds left, Wilton’s coaching staff made the gutsy call to go for broke on a 2-point conversion.  Pagano-Walley swept left and powered into the corner of the end zone to give Wilton its first lead of the game(videolink by Austin Andersen http://youtu.be/KHbsG-3QQso).

Wilton sealed the win after forcing four consecutive incomplete passes. The fourth-down attempt ended with a sack by Matt Gulbin and Davis Cote (videolink by Austin Andersen http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=52tesYcGBg4).

In the regular season, Wilton went 5-1-1 for a second-place finish, scoring 83 points. In the playoffs, it was 2-0, outscoring its opponents 34-26.

With a possible semifinal contest against Darien looming, the Wilton field hockey team hosts No. 5 New Fairfield in the quarterfinals of the Class M state tournament on Monday (4 p.m.).

Fourth-seeded Wilton (17-3-0-0), which lost to Staples in the FCIAC final, advanced with a 3-0 win over No. 13 Suffield in the first round on Friday.

The winner of Monday's contest awaits the winner of the contest between top seed Darien and Guilford in the quarterfinals on Wednesday.

The Wilton boys soccer team (10-5-2) visits top seed Wethersfield in the second round of the Class L state tournament on Monday (6 p.m.).

The 16th-seeed Warriors advanced with a 7-0 win over New London while Wethersfield had a first-round bye.

The winner of Monday's game gets either No. 8 Brookfield or No. 24 Wilbur Cross in the quarterfinals on Wednesday.

Eight FCIAC teams have reached the second round of the state tournament: No. 3 Norwalk, No. 7 Trumbull, No. 11 Staples, No. 17 Greenwich and No. 19 Westhill in Class LL and 5 Darien, No. 12 New Canaan and No. 16 Wilton advanced in Class L.

Semifinal results in Fairfield County Football League playoffs:

Bantam third grade

Wilton Blue 25, New Canaan Red 12

Witon White 14, New Canaan Black 13

Bantam fourth grade

Wilton Blue 28, New Canaan Red 6

Wilton White vs. New Canaan Red

Junior fifth grade

New Canaan Red 28, DJFL Wave 14

Wilton Blue 12, DJFL Blue 0

Junior sixth grade

Fairfield Red 13, DJFL Blue 0

Wilton Black 14, Westport North 0

Senior seventh grade

Fairfield Blue 18, DJFL Blue 13

DJFL White 26, RYF Orange 12

Senior eighth grade

DJFL White 21, New Canaan Black 15

DJFL Blue 12, New Canaan Red 7

FRIDAY'S RESULTS

Football

Wilton 35, Fairfield Warde 28

Boys soccer

Wilton 7, New London 0, Class L, first round

Field hockey

Wilton 3, Suffield 0, Class M, first round

SATURDAY'S RESULTS

Girls soccer

Berlin 2, Wilton 1 (7-5 penalty kicks), Class L, second round

MONDAY'S SCHEDULE

Boys soccer

Wilton at Wethersfield, 6 p.m., Class L, second round

Field hockey

New Fairfield at Wilton, 4 p.m., Class M, quarterfinals

STANDINGS

• Football

• Boys soccer

• Girls soccer

Field hockey

Girls volleyball