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WILTON, Conn ? The Wilton White third grade football team defeated Darien, 13-0, Saturday to improve to 4-1-1 on the season in the Fairfield County Football League. It was the third shutout of the season for Wilton, which has allowed eight points in its last four games.
The defensive line - Matt Gulbin, Blake Pagano-Walley, Michael Coffey, Joshua White, Henry Sell and Austin Cameron never gave the linebackers or cornerbacks a chance to get involved on Dariens first drive. A tackle for loss by Coffey on first down was followed by a brutal tackle by Gulbin and White and then a crushing hit by Pagano-Walley on 3rd down, forcing a punt.
Wiltons offense took that momentum and ran with it right down the field. Wiltons offensive line Connor Healey, Charlie Hastings, Gulbin, Pagano-Walley, White, Sell and Cameron opened holes for the teams running backs. Taking advantage of his lines work and some nice down field blocking by wingback Daniel Gruseke, running back Sean Sullivan made solid yardage on some nifty runs. Then with about 5 minutes left in the first quarter, fullback Michael Coffey burst through a hole created by the interior of the offensive line for a 20 yard gain, making it to the 1-yard line (video link). Quarterback Everett Andersen finished the job with a QB sneak, giving Wilton a great start to the game on both sides of the ball. The extra point pass from Andersen to wingback Alex Smith was deflected, making the score 60.
The end of the first quarter and all of the second quarter proved to be a defensive struggle. The Wilton White offense could not quite find the rhythm it had on its first drive despite outstanding blocking by Jack Fielden and Jake Eagen and some punishing running by Blake Pagano-Walley. Dariens offense did threaten with about 7 minutes left in the half. But nice tackles by the Wilton linebacking corps of Quinn Wiseman, Sean Sullivan, Davis Cote and Luke ONeil slowed the attack. Dariens last push before the half was abruptly shut down by three impressive individual efforts defensive tackle Matt Gulbin and ends Austin Cameron and Joshua White all made key tackles. Cameron sacked the Darien double-reverse attempt (video link). Finally, on 4th down, Cameron put another exclamation point on the end of the first half with yet another hard hit to stop Darien short of the first down marker.
Wiltons offense started the second half going back to their power running game with running back Sullivan and fullback Coffey picking up yardage up the middle. Sullivan then broke free on a run outside and was fighting for extra yardage to get the first down when the ball popped out and Darien recovered. Wiltons defense rallied in the face of this adversity, however, and after a tackle for a loss by end Joshua White and another tackle for loss by Gulbin and Pagano-Walley, Sullivan got his revenge on 3rd down. Dropping back from his middle linebacker position, he read the Darien quarterback perfectly and intercepted the pass attempt. He took the interception and returned the ball nearly 40 yards deep into Darien territory.
Wiltons offense was not going to let this opportunity go to waste. Quarterback Andersen made a brilliant fake to the running back and swept around the outside for a 15 yard touchdown run, making the score 120. Fullback Coffey ran for the PAT.
Dariens next possession ended in a three and out with Coffey, Luke ONeil and Alex Smith combining on a tackle for loss on first down. Gulbin, Cameron and Spencer Dean making a nice tackle for loss on second down. And Michael Gruseke, Logan Brady and Connor Healey shut down the 3rd down attempt, forcing a punt.
Darien never really threatened again and Wiltons offense kept possession for most of the 4th quarter. Running backs Davis Cote and Blake Pagano-Walley took turns wearing down the Darien defense, eventually running out the clock in victory.
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