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GREENWICH, Conn. Playing on Halloween proved to be a treat for Greenwich High School's football team. The Cardinals improved their record to 6-0 in the conference, crushing the winless Westhill High School Vikings, 41-7. Saturdays historic October snowstorm forced the game to be pushed to Monday.
Workhorse running back Shane Nastahowski rushed for 106 yards and three touchdowns in just three quarters of work. Wide receiver Joel Arroyo caught a pair of touchdowns as well. Greenwich used its backups for most of the fourth quarter.
Arroyo said that even though Greenwich rolled over a winless team, there were still things the Cardinals needed to work out. These kinds of games we have to keep the offense focused and the defense working at its best, he said. Were just trying to get the offense to do the same things over and over. The younger guys are stepping up, which is key.
Westhill marched down the field on the opening possession, but Greenwich forced a fumble and turned the Vikings away. Quarterback Liam ONeil led the Cardinals 72 yards to the house, capping the drive with a 26-yard slant pass to Arroyo for the 7-0 advantage.
Greenwich recovered its second of three Westhill fumbles on the Vikings next possession. Nastahowski plunged into the end zone for a seven-yard score five plays later.
ONeil hit Arroyo again with 5:48 to go in the first half with an impressive 31-yard touchdown pass and the rout was on. The Cardinals opened the second half with a quick drive that ended in Nastahowskis third score.
Mike Longo scooped up Westhills third fumble of the day, returning it 82-yards for Greenwichs fifth touchdown. Mark Bernstein scored from seven yards out to cap the offensive effort. Lineman Bob Decker recovered a pair of Greenwich fumbles to keep two of those scoring drives alive.
Greenwichs defense held the hapless Vikings to 71 yards of total offense in the first half, 53 of them coming on the opening drive of the game. Westhills only score came late in the fourth quarter against the Cardinals backups.
Everything is clicking now, Arroyo said. As long as our starters are in and were healthy, I dont think we can be stopped.
Greenwich will host a tough Brien McMahon team on short rest Saturday at 2 p.m. The game will be homecoming, which was postponed from this past Saturday.
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