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An injury-riddled Greenwich High football team had the unenviable task of taking on dominant Staples on Thanksgiving Day. Staples came to Cardinal Stadium hungry to clinch a playoff spot. The outcome may have made Greenwich players lose their holiday appetite. The Wreckers' defense proved too much for the Cardinals, as they lost 27-8.
Greenwich tried catching Staples off guard with an opening onside-kick, but the Wreckers recovered. Staples controlled the game from its opening possession. Freshman quarterback Jack Massie marched his team 53-yards down the field on the Wreckers' opening drive, which was capped by an eight-yard touchdown run by Tyler Jacobs.
Greenwich had a chance to get back into the game when Shawn Dunster intercepted Massie. The offense managed to reach the Staples 37, but a fumble erased Greenwich's chances of tying the game. Staples tailback John Heil ripped off a 69-yard run on the ensuing possession to put the Wreckers up 14-0. Staples put the game out of reach with a 60-yard drive, ending with a two-yard Chris Coyle touchdown catch.
With the rushing tandem of Mark Kelley and Shane Nastahowski sidelined with injuries, the Cardinals could only muster 49 total yards on offense in the first half. Greenwich's only score came with 1:10 to play with most of Staples' defensive starters pulled. Cardinals quarterback Liam O'Neil tossed a screen pass to Mike Daly, who eluded tacklers for a 52-yard score.
Greenwich finishes the 2010 season at 5-5, its worst record under head coach Rich Albonizio. The Cardinals have been plagued by injuries and stung by several last-minute losses, leading many to call this their "bad luck season."
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