By John Frieders
@frieders_j34210
November 23 — All eyes were on Dunning Stadium as New Canaan and Darien faced off in the most highly anticipated matchup of the year – the Turkey Bowl. The Rams came in crowned the Turkey Bowl Champions in 5 straight. The 2023 edition had playoff implications in addition to the notorious pride and bragging rights that drive the competition every year. Tensions were high as the Rams and the Blue Wave took the field, with over 6,000 fans packed into the stands, along with many more watching from the streams of DAF and NCTV.
New Canaan started on the game’s first play with a storybook opening as Senior Captain Alex Benevento housed the opening kickoff for 6. After the PAT by Tucker Stevens, New Canaan’s defense dominated, forcing a quick three and out. Up 7-0, the Rams got the ball back, and on the very first play from scrimmage, Junior Alex Russey broke free on a designed QB run for 81 yards, making it into the endzone. The New Canaan Sideline and the fans erupted with the Rams up 14 just 3 minutes into the action.
With the Blue Wave needing a quick response, Sophomore Quarterback Benjamin Rolapp led a lengthy drive, which resulted in a 31-yard field goal. With the momentum, Darien forced a rare punt by the Rams ending their momentum.
Darien strung together another lengthy drive, and it appeared as though they had capitalized on a 42-yard touchdown pass to Briggs McGuckin, but it was called back due to holding on the O-Line, so instead of being down 14-10, the Blue Wave struggles continued. They would end up having to punt the ball away.
Late in the second quarter, the fake tush push to Alex Benevento resulted in another New Canaan Touchdown, putting the Rams in the driver’s seat and stretching the lead to 21-3. Just a couple minutes later, New Canaan ran another reverse to Benevento, and he walked in untouched for another Rams touchdown. With New Canaan up 28-3, the Dairen Student section began to thin out.
The Rams maintained this lead throughout the first half. However, coming out of the break, the Blue Wave would not go away. With 5 minutes left in the 3rd quarter, Darien stopped New Canaan 4 Times on the 1 yard line. This stop put the offense at their own 1-yard line, and if they wanted to make a comeback, they had to get something going, and they did just that. Darien drove down the field, stringing together consecutive successful plays, including a big 28-yard reception on a wheel route to Charlie Thom. A couple more yards would be tacked on as there was a pass interference called on the play.
Darien maintained possession throughout the end of the third quarter and into the early stages of the 4th quarter. The Blue Wave Capitalized, finally finding themselves in the endzone as Clifton Shelton ran in from the 6. Down 28-10, Darien tried an onside kick; however, it failed miserably as New Canaan gained possession on the Darien 42.
Backed by a strong run game and smart play calling, the Rams sealed the game with a 7-minute drive capped off by a Tucker Stevens field goal. Stevens became the first player to kick a field goal for both teams in the history of the Turkey Bowl. Finally, with 1:07 left in the game, Darien’s Charlie Thom rushes it in to finalize the score at 31-17.
With New Canaan emerging victorious in the 26th edition of the Turkey Bowl, the Student Section stormed the field in the upperclassman’s final Turkey Bowl at Dunning. With his three touchdowns and dominant performance on both the defensive and offensive side of the ball, Alex Benevento ended up receiving the Most Valuable Player Award for New Canaan. The Final Score from Dunning Stadium was 31-17, with the New Canaan Rams Defeating the Darien Blue Wave.
