GREENWICH — AJ Barber is good at football.
His routes are tighter, his hands softer, cutbacks more deceiving and his speed more electric.
There was not much Norwalk could do to contain him.
The Greenwich junior wideout caught three touchdown passes from quarterback James Rinello, beating defenders deep, finding daylight after catching short passes and everything in between.
WEEK 3 SCOREBOARD / SCHEDULE
It all led to a 45-13 romp by the Cardinals, moving them to 3-0 on the season.
Greenwich — No. 3 in the GameTimeCT Top 10 poll — has now scored 49, 42 and 45 in its three wins while allowing just 23 points.
Two plays after fumbled kickoff Greenwich strikes on TD pass to Riley 7-0 11:14 left in first #cthsfb pic.twitter.com/mWuvniW4gQ
— Scott Ericson (@EricsonSports) September 27, 2019
Norwalk came in unbeaten, but things were looking grim for the Bears from the opening kickoff, which was fumbled, giving Greenwich the ball on the 12-yard line.
The Cardinals wasted no time, scoring two plays later when Rinello hit Matthew Pilk for a 7-yard touchdown pass. Rinello finished 17of-22 for 304 yards and four touchdowns.
Greenwich would go up 14-0 on a 3-yard run by Clark Hunter.
Hunter 3 yard TD run makes it 14-0 Greenwich 6:28 left in first #cthsfb pic.twitter.com/LtbFKmRLVy
— Scott Ericson (@EricsonSports) September 27, 2019
Norwalk got on the board on a 1-yard dive by Camryn Edwards 4:45 left in the first.
That is when Barber took over, scoring the next three Greenwich touchdowns on receptions of 37, 25 and 43 yards, putting the Cardinals up 35-6 midway through the second quarter.
The Bears got one back on an 80-yard bomb from Gordon to Andre Robinson.
Norwalk answers on run by Edwards following a long run by Gordon 14-6 Greenwich 4:45 left in first #cthsfb pic.twitter.com/weIsdIDBOd
— Scott Ericson (@EricsonSports) September 27, 2019
Greenwich would answer right back, driving the field, capping it off on a 1-yard plunge by Hunter Clark and putting the home team up 42-13 at the half.
Ben Howarth kicked a 30-yard field goal in the third, increasing the Greenwich lead.
PLAYER OF THE GAME
AJ Barber, Greenwich. Norwalk could not stop, or even slow down the junior pass catcher. He finished with eight catches for 182 yards.