One of the positive aspects of sports is the games come up quickly for teams.
Following last week’s heartbreaking 27-21 loss to FCIAC rival Darien, the Greenwich football team didn’t have much time to reflect and dwell on the defeat.
It was back to practice on Monday for the 5-1 Cardinals, who intend to get back on the winning track against host Trinity Catholic Saturday at 1:30 p.m.
“I talked to the kids after the Darien game and they were hanging their heads a bit and myself and the coaching staff reminded them it was a great football game and you don’t always come out with a win at the end,” Greenwich coach Anthony Morello said. “It’s important to have a short-term memory and turn the page to the next opponent.”
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Despite last week’s loss to the Blue Wave, which ended in the Red Zone, Morello was optimistic about the signs he saw from his squad.
“It was without a doubt, a playoff atmosphere, the emotions were running high and when adversity came knocking, the game could have gone a very different direction,” said Morello, whose Cardinals fell behind, 21-0, to the Blue Wave. “Our team instead, stayed focused, positive and fought back. You never like to lose, but there were so many positives and teaching points in that game.”
Morello believes the Darien experience will aid his squad moving forward.
“Our team learned you have to start solid and not make early mistakes,” Morello said. “We too, learned some things as a coaching staff. A lot of our players have never been in that situation before, because we have a lot of new starters, but they showed no fear.”
Though winless, Trinity Catholic is scrappy and has battled hard in each of its games, which the Cardinals are well aware of. The Crusaders were edged by Trumbull, 21-20, lost to Fairfield Ludlowe, 28-18, and was in their game against Darien in the first half of a 50-21 loss.
“Trinity has talent, they have some of the most athletic players we are going to see all season,” Morello said. “They put up points, a lot more points than some of they teams we have played and they are pesky. They had a chance to make it 9-7 against Darien in the first half, before Darien scored and made it 15-0 at halftime.”
Cardinals quarterback James Rinello is coming off a 23-for-32, 290-yard passing performance against Darien. Rinello, a junior, has spread his passes around to juniors AJ Barber, Kobe Comizio and senior Matthew Pilc. Comizio had five receptions for 112 yards a week ago, while Barber and Pilc also caught five passes from Rinello for Greenwich, saw its 18-game winning streak, spanning parts of two seasons come to a halt last week.
Comizio and Barber each had touchdown receptions, while junior Hunter Clark scored on a 10-yard run vs. Darien. Clark is the squad’s leading rusher.
“We need to come out hot against Trinity Catholic,” Morello said. “I want to see our young guys play well and I want to see us working together as a unit. The entire offense — I want to see sound, fundamental football. Our first quarters have not been the most sound, so we need to do the little things right and show that there’s no ring rust from last week.”
dfierro@greenwichtime.com
