New Canaan's 4th-Grade Black team rolled over host Ridgefield on Saturday morning, 26-7. Game captains Joey Mclain and Ben Thorsheim won the coin toss to give the Rams the first possession. Quarterback Luke Morton set the tone on the first play from scrimmage, sprinting 60 yards around the left end for a touchdown. Gus Larson, Charlie Night, Nick Brown and Chris Carratu carved the way with key blocks. Fullback Zach LaPolice powered over left tackle Charlie Knight for the extra point, sending New Canaan up, 7-0.
On the ensuing drive, the Ridgefielders were stymied due in large part to a sack by Andrew Charkales. After exchanging fumbles, Morton scampered around left end, this time for a 65-yard touchdown. Brandon Sechan did the extra point honors on a run behind the blocking of Thomas Doster, Mathew Rigione and Jack Finnigan, putting the Rams up, 14-0, as the first quarter neared its close. On Ridgefield's next possession, Ethan Niang stuffed a run putting the home team in an undesirable down and distance. Shortly thereafter, Mike McDonnell intercepted to dash the remaining hopes of the drive. New Canaan threatened to put the game away as LaPolice burst up the middle through a gaping hole opened by Bailey Williams and James Ragusa, culminating in a 35-yard touchdown that put the visitors up 20-0 at the half.
As the third quarter began, Ridgefield showed no quit, even after a long run was called back by penalty. It promptly delivered another long run deep into New Canaan territory, this time on a reverse around right end. While Charlie Knight stuffed a run for a 5-yard loss, Ridgefield came back a few plays later for its first score on a 6-yard toss right. The extra point closed the gap, 20-7.
New Canaan could not find traction on its next possession, first having a penalty bring back what appeared to be textbook blocking by George Lozier and Gus Larson that sprung Sechan for a 40-yard run.
With renewed hope, Ridgefield drove to close the gap, but its drive stalled after key stops by Charlie Mac Watson, Matthew Rigione, Bart Challe, George Lozier and Patrick Colwell. New Canaan then closed out the scoring on a methodical drive. Key plays included Dean Ciancio breaking off left tackle for seven yards and a first down. Behind the blocking of Crawford Whitman and Nick Brown, Morton converted a long third down with a 17-yard scamper and Jack Lisecky delivered the knockout blow with a 17-yard touchdown run off left tackle. The 4th-Grade Black will host Darien Blue on Saturday at 8 p.m. under the lights at Dunning Stadium.
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