Senior co-captain Quintin O’Connell picks up some yards after making one of his 14 catches in the state quarterfinals versus Shelton. — David G. Whitham photo Quintin O’Connell was preparing for New Canaan’s showdown with Shelton in the Class LL football quarterfinals on Tuesday night when he received some words of wisdom from linebackers coach Jason Miska. “Play like a champion,” Miska said, “and we’ll win this game.” O’Connell and the Rams made those words ring true. It was a record-setting night for O’Connell when No. 8 New Canaan won a slugfest with top-seeded Shelton, 42-34, and advanced to the state semifinals for the 14th straight season. The senior co-captain…
- Boys Lacrosse, Chris Silvestri, CIAC, FCIAC, football, High School Sports, Jason Miska, lacrosse, Lou Marinelli, Michigan, New Canaan football, North Carolina, Pete Demmerle, Quintin O'Connell, Ryan O’Connell, sports, Sports Lead
- College Prep Sports, football, Lou Marinelli, Lucas Niang, Michael Collins, New Canaan football, sports, Sports Features, Sports Lead, TCU
New Canaan’s Collins set to start as TCU football’s QB
Michael Collins looks downfield during his time as the starting QB with the Rams. — Dave Stewart photo The TCU Horned Frogs didn’t have the greatest football game on Saturday, falling to No. 9 Oklahoma 52-27, but sophomore Michael Collins of New Canaan made an impact at quarterback. So much of an impact, in fact, that head coach Gary Patterson has named Collins TCU’s starting quarterback for its road game against Kansas at 2 p.m., Saturday. Collins is taking over for Shawn Robinson, who is having season-ending surgery. Collins, who entered the game against Oklahoma with TCU trailing 28-7 and 8:19 remaining in the first half, led the Frogs (3-4)…
- Dunning Field, FCIAC, football, High School Sports, John Marinelli, Lou Marinelli, New Canaan football, sports, Sports Lead
Saturday night fever: New Canaan football hosts Greenwich under the lights at Dunning
The New Canaan defense chases down Greenwich quarterback Gavin Muir during last year’s football clash at GHS. — Dave Stewart photo John Marinelli left the New Canaan football program in 2015 to begin work on re-establishing the Greenwich Cardinals as an FCIAC and state powerhouse. During his first match-up against his former team the hype machine dubbed the game “The Marinelli Bowl,” setting it up as a family affair between the son and the father, New Canaan’s Lou Marinelli. The most important thing the hype may have missed, and a fact which both coaches would likely attest to, is that the game is about the players first. “It really shouldn’t…