Rams give thanks for Turkeybowl victory

Ellen Trinklein
Sports Editor

Today is a day of thanks. We give thanks for pilgrims and Indians and turkey, but today especially we give thanks that, once again, New Canaan has won the Turkeybowl against Darien, 14 to 7.

The game didn’t start smoothly for the Rams. Darien started off strong offensively, with players like Bobby Nolan moving the team quickly down the field. Even when the Ram’s defense was finally able to hold Darien at their 4th down, an offside penalty against the Rams during the punt gave the ball back to Darien.

The Ram’s luck only got worse. After Jeff Sztorck blocked Darien’s field goal attempt and got the ball back in the Ram’s possession, NC couldn’t get the ball moving. Hopes went up after Turner Baty’s wonky pass during the third down landed in the hands of Joe Costigan, who ran with it over 70 yards into the end zone, but a flag in the play brought the Rams back to a third down with 19 to go, no touchdown. Then, in the next play, Darien player Michael Wahlberg intercepted a pass and brought it all the way to the Ram’s 16 yard line.

Second quarter, mistake after mistake put the team in an even worse light. Peter Park fumbled after getting tackled, enabling Darien to recover the ball at their 42 yard line. Then, after a series of 1st downs, Darien’s Graham Maybell rushed the ball 7 yards into the end zone for a touchdown. When NC got the ball back, they failed to move the ball far enough down the field to get a first down and Willie Ouellette was forced to punt. Needless to say, the second quarter dragged on and the first half ended with the score 7-0, Darien.

When the Rams came back for the second half, though, they picked it up. After quickly recovering another fumble by Peter Park, Willie Oullette caught the ball and made a touchdown after less than 4 minutes into the second quarter. Collin Shapiro followed up with the extra point. Darien, after moving back down the field, missed another field goal attempt, putting the ball back into Rams’ hands. Shakily, NC moved back down the field.

Fourth quarter had its moments as well. Chris White blocked a throw from Darien’s quarterback. Two plays later, in Darien’s fourth down, the punter’s knee hit the ground before he kicked it, meaning that the Rams got possession of the ball on Darien’s 22 yard line. In two great plays running back Peter Park got the ball all the way up to the 1 yard line, where Tim Robustelli was able to take it in the next play for a touchdown, with 7 minutes left in the quarter.

The next 7 minutes, little as that may seem, were rough. The Rams almost got an interception, with the ball bouncing on a players helmet and landing in Ouellette’s hands, but flags on the play gave the ball back to Darien for a first down. Then, the Rams were able to recover Darien’s fumble at their 6 yard line. Again, the Ram’s offense had trouble getting started (in fact Darien almost got a safety) and they had to punt it out to Darien. Despite Darien’s efforts, though, New Canaan’s defense was too strong. With 19 seconds left on the clock, Tim Robustelli blocked a pass and the game was over. The Rams won.

This game was rough, from the warm-ups to the last seconds on the clock. To start, Darien’s tackling dummies had pictures of Turner Baty’s head taped on them during practice this week. Also, a total of 14 penalties in the second half of the game alone led to angry, profanity filled jeers from NC’s student section.

But, in the end, it was a glorious day. In addition to Head Coach Lou Marinelli’s 250th Career Win, the Jim Gerard Sports Award was given to New Canaan’s Willie Ouellette and Darien’s Alex Wildish, the Jack Dempsey Memorial Most Valuable Player Award was given to New Canaan’s Willie Ouellette and Darien’s Graham Maybell, and the Rams were awarded the Sikorski Team Award.

New Canaan can give thanks, all right. We can give thanks for a victorious Turkeybowl and a great football team, and we can give thanks to Coach Marinelli for getting us there.