On Saturday, December 11, 2021, at Trumbull High School in Trumbull, Connecticut, the first-placed Fairfield Prep Jesuits and the third-placed Darien High School Blue Wave played an LL-level state championship football match.
Blue Wave #71 Carter Hagen lifts No. 21 Jeremiah Stafford, Connecticut State Special, after scoring a score in the LL-level state championship football game between Fairfield Prep Jesuits No. 1 and Darien High School No. 3 at Trumbull High School on Saturday, December 11, 2021. Rangpur
On Saturday, December 11, 2021, at Trumbull High School in Trumbull, Connecticut, the first-placed Fairfield Prep Jesuits and the third-placed Darien High School Blue Wave played an LL-level state championship football match.
On Saturday, December 11, 2021, at Trumbull High School in Trumbull, Connecticut, Jesuit QB #1 Connor Smith between the No. 1 Fairfield Reserve Jesuits and No. 3 Darien High School Blue Wave Pass during the LL-level state championship football game.
On Saturday, December 11, 2021, at Trumbull High School in Trumbull, Connecticut, the first-placed Fairfield Prep Jesuits and the third-placed Darien High School Blue Wave played an LL-level state championship football match.
Blue Wave #12 On Saturday, December 11, 2021, in the LL state championship football game held at Trumbull High School, John Wilson ranked first in the match between Fairfield Prep Jesuits and No. 3 Darien High School Blue Wave. He tried to keep the ball out of bounds. In Trumbull, Connecticut.
Darien High School Blue Wave Head Coach Mike Forget celebrates during the LL State Football Championship between No. 1 Fairfield Prep Jesuits and No. 3 Darien High School Blue Wave at Trumbull High School in Trumbull, Connecticut on Saturday, December 11, 2021.
TRUMBULL-Cole Murphy, Darien's senior defensive winger, has been threatening Fairfield Prep's backcourt throughout Saturday afternoon, pointing to the press booth at McDougall Stadium.
"I was in that booth two years ago," Murphy said after Rambo defeated the Jesuits 42-7 in the 2021 LL Championship. "My arm is broken. I work with coach (Andy) Grant, who is my fourth grade teacher, typing and seeing how often they pass and run.
"My football IQ improved a lot that year. But now I have two metal plates on my arms, and I am lucky to be able to play football. I don’t think I will. I fell while hiking that summer and took my The humerus fell in half."
Murphy did not see the drama that broke Darion's dream on December 14, 2019. He did not see Jack Street throwing a 36-yard touchdown pass to Riley Ward in the last few seconds, raising Newtown to 13-7 and winning on the seventh anniversary of the terrible Sandy Hook shooting in Newtown.
"It's too foggy, I can't see the fields," Murphy said.
David Evanchick saw it. The same goes for Christian Allegro. They are on the court. They burst into tears. Mike Forget was also present in his last game as Darien's defensive coordinator. That day, he and the Blue Wave staff did a great job, and in the next few days, as Newtown football became a national story, his team remained calm. ESPN and so on. Every time it is on the screen, Forget feels sick.
"Seeing the heavy fog when we drove here reminded me of some flashbacks, of course," Evanchick said.
"When we stopped today, the fog rolled in again, which was a bit daunting," Forget said in his first year as head coach. "I assure the people who participated in that game that everything is fine. We are a different team. This is a different game."
As Murphy said, "It's time to write our own story."
So Blue Wave did it, and when they finished, there was no doubt who was the number one high school team in the state in 2021.
"I hope not," Evanchick said. "If there is, we will play again. I think everyone will want to play. I hope there is no argument."
This is an excellent game by Darien. Tighe Cummiskey is unstoppable. Jeremiah Stafford broke out again. Miles Drake and Matt Minikus continued to hook up during the passing game.
However, defense is particularly dominant.
Fairfield Prep had a legal first place before Saturday, with 24 yards in the first half and first trailing.
The Fairfield Reserves had 52 yards and 3 first turnovers in three-quarters of the game.
After that, the numbers don't matter.
"We are taking care of their quarterback Connor Smith," Murphy said. "He can move. He has big feet. It means a lot to us to contain him. I think we did a great job locking him in our pockets.
"We ended up linking offense and defense, combining them together and becoming one player in the same game. It will be slow at first. Otherwise, the other will start to be slow. Not today."
"We knew they wanted to get up and running," Forget said. "Their team is a bit bigger than ours, but from a physical point of view, our people are there. Once we stop running, we know they have to participate in the passing game, we just play deeper."
When Prep finally scored with 1:37 remaining, the irony did not disappear. In 2019, Newtown scored at this end of the court, and touchdowns mean everything. On this Saturday in 2021, Prep scored a meaningless touchdown in that game.
"Yes, I've been crying two years ago," Evanchick said. "Today's one, I didn't care too much."
"On the same field, we knelt on one knee and we couldn't open our eyes from crying," Allegro said. "Me and my captains, we said that we are going to come back here in the junior and senior years, and we will win this game."
"Today, we put all the parts of the puzzle together," Allegro said. "We all jumped out."
Murphy was in three sacks. Evan Chik, the best defensive player in the state, is his normal threat to himself. etc.
"We were under a lot of pressure up front," Evanchick said. "Our guy is approaching (Connor Smith), letting him run and making him uncomfortable. Cole Murphy is underestimated. He should be the first team in D's tackles in full form.
"Christian did his job there. Alec Medvall. Next was the blockade."
There are always disadvantages in these state championship games. It is difficult to see Ryan O'Connell injured his knee in the semifinals. He is an excellent player for Prep. "The last game...I feel sorry for this kid," Evanchick said.
he knows. Two years ago, he also felt pain in the same field.
"I'm near the 40-yard line, right over there," Evanchick said. "I kind of just stood there. I saw Wilboswell throw his helmet. I just looked away and started crying."
Allegro was also present. When Jack Street threw his miracle, he was the security guard across the court.
"With three seconds left, they throw and score," Allegro said. "I was shocked. I just remember the Newtowners who knelt down on my knees in the end zone and ran past me and said,'You suck. You are terrible. Anything. It just gives motivation."
After defeating New Canaan in the semifinals last weekend, Cesare said there is no doubt that Darion has the best defense in the state. Allegro just smiled and said, "Exactly correct."
Forget was the head coach of Fairfield Ludlowe. Before being appointed as interim coach in 2020, he has served as Darion's defensive coordinator for eight years. Earlier this year, the interim coach was cancelled.
"He is the best," Evanchick said. "Defensive coordinator, he is great. He does exactly the same thing as the head coach... He won the state championship in his first year. He has everything. He is a great leader. He is always by your side. You You can always rely on him."
This is Darien's 8th state championship, and this is the first time since 2017. Let's put it this way: You were not hired as coach Darien to get second.
"We should probably abandon that (Newtown) game," Forget said. "I think these people know that they have to finish a game. I think this is what today is about. From start to finish, give a complete game. This is what makes this thing extraordinary. From top to bottom, coaches, players, Everyone did their job well."
Now Lan Bo is back to where they think belongs to them.
jeff.jacobs@hearstmediact.com; @jeffjacobs123
Jeff Jacobs is a Connecticut sports writer 10 times a year, and has won the news media sports editor four times as one of the country's top ten columnists. Jeff's passion for local sports covers everything from high school track and field to University of Connecticut basketball-he has won all four University of Connecticut men's championships and 10 of 11 women's championships. He has also reported on many Olympic Games, World Series and Super Bowl. In the process, he demonstrated his passion for big scoops and his craftsmanship, able to convey important human stories that resonate outside of the sports world.