Fifth Grade Football: Wilton White 30 - New Canaan Black 8

Fifth Grade Football: Wilton White 30 - New Canaan Black 8

Excelling in every facet of the game, the Wilton Fifth Grade White football team demolished previously unbeaten New Canaan Black on their own turf 30-8, with a stifling defense, punishing ground game and impressive aerial attack to move to 4-0 midway through the regular season.

Wilton’s only real mistake during the game came early, on the game’s fifth play, when New Canaan broke a sweep left for touchdown.  When the two point conversion was good and the scoreboard read 8-0, the stunned visiting crowd went quiet.

The poised young Warriors were unfazed, however.  Running through an enormous hole created by the true heroes of the game, the offensive line of Brendan Sullivan, Jack Baker, Matt Gulbin, Charlie Hastings, Evan Kauh, Jack Tinnen and Ryan Siegel and Aiden Shannon, and breaking tackles in the secondary, Blake Pagano-Walley rumbled 70 yards for a touchdown on Wilton’s first offensive play.  He also scored the two point conversion, knotting the game at 8.

Wilton’s defense then took over.   Austin Cameron’s crushing hit on second down and Michael Coffey’s tackle for loss on third down forced New Canaan to punt, giving the Warrior offense the ball near midfield.

Running backs Pagano-Walley, Sean Sullivan and Trevor Martines, and Quarterback Everett Andersen took turns pounding the ball at the Rams defense while grinding out a 14 play 54 yard touchdown drive, culminating in Sullivan’s three yard touchdown run to put Wilton up for good 14-8.

New Canaan next mounted a drive of their own, but the Warriors stiffened as a great tackle by Quinn Wiseman, pass defense by Sullivan and the toughness of the defensive line of Austin Cameron, Coffey, Gulbin, Chip Hulse, Tinnen and Jimmy McKiernan  stopped the Rams at the Warrior 16 as the clock ran out on the half.

After dominating on the ground in the first half, the Warriors went to the air on the first series of the second half.  On second and 11, Quarterback Andersen dropped back and threw a long, perfect spiral deep downfield to Pagano-Walley who caught the pass in stride and waltzed 71 yards for the score.  Martines bowled over a defender for the two point conversion and the scoreboard read 22-8.

The Warrior defense, especially Martines, Matt Gulbin, Chip Hulse and Jimmy McKiernan completely shut New Canaan down in the second half forcing three punts and not a single first down.

Pagano-Walley, Sullivan, Martines and Andersen again moved the ball efficiently on the ground on a ten play, 54 yard drive.  With the Rams defense showing some life, on third and nine at the 21, Andersen sprinted out and threw a perfect strike to Pagano-Walley at the eight for the first down to keep the drive alive.  Pagano-Walley later scored his third touchdown on a seven yard run.  Sullivan’s dive over the right side made the final score 30-8.