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GREENWICH, Conn. Many suspected that Saturdays game between Greenwich High and Brien McMahon High School would be the Cardinals toughest remaining test on the road to a showdown against Staples on Thanksgiving Day. And Greenwich passed with flying colors.
The tandem of Shane Nastahowski and Mike Daly shredded yet another defense, combining for more than 200 yards rushing. Nastahowski plunged in for a pair of touchdowns as Greenwich trounced McMahon, 35-14, on Homecoming and Senior Day.
Greenwich defense played its best game of the season, aggressively pursuing McMahons usually effective running game. With lead back Chris Jerome out, Nastahowski and the rest of the defense held McMahons Kyle Jordan and Trevon Forney to just 13 total yards in the first half.
McMahon was tough and had a lot of quick guys, but we just kept pushing through, Nastahowski said. We knew they liked to run outside with their speed, so we knew we would have to have guys out there to contain and let the linebackers clean it up.
Alex McMurray had a big day for the Cardinals, rushing for a touchdown and intercepting a Damien Vega pass on defense. Greenwich quarterback Liam ONeil had a solid day, finding Taylor Olmstead for a touchdown pass and rushing for a score.
Greenwich had a little luck on its side as well. The Cardinals fumbled three times on long drives. Twice it could have proved disastrous, but Greenwich recovered and turned the mistakes into long gains.
Yeah, we got lucky, but we cant have that happen next time, Daly said. Our running game is one of our weapons, but we still had too many errors today. We just have to stay focused on both sides of the ball.
Later Saturday night, Greenwich learned it is in the hunt for a spot in the conference championship game. Stamford handed New Canaan its first loss of the season, making Greenwich and Staples the two teams in the drivers seat for a championship berth. Greenwichs Thanksgiving Day matchup at Staples could now be for the conference title.
Greenwich will travel to Danbury on Thursday for its third game in 11 days thanks to last weekends snowstorm and ensuing postponements. The matchup against the Hatters is scheduled for 7 p.m. that day.
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