Staples’ Benji Titlebaum makes contact with Ridgefield’s Kai Prohaszka during the Tigers’ 7-0 victory on Saturday in Norwalk.
Christian Abraham / Hearst Connecticut Media
NORWALK — The best journeys are the ones where you can savor every step along the way.
Life is very good for the Ridgefield football team. The Tigers improved to a 3-0 Saturday night by outbattling Staples, 7-0 in a contest played at Norwalk’s Sam Testa Field.
“We’re a confident group,” Ridgefield junior running back Xander Scavone said. “We believe in big moments someone is always ready to stand up.”
A slew of timely contributions added up to a third consective triumph that kept the Tigers atop the FCIAC East Division.
WEEK 3 FOOTBALL SCOREBOARD / SCHEDULE
An interception early by Dean Habeeb and a pair of fourth-quarter thefts by Dan Moroney and Habeeb kept Staples (1-2) out of the end zone when a tying touchdown beckoned.
Owen Gaydos picks off a hail mary pass to secure Ridgefield’s 7-0 victory over Staples #cthsfb pic.twitter.com/UQSFPt8Nf0
— Sean Patrick Bowley (@SPBowley) September 29, 2019
The two-headed rushing attack of Kai Prohaszka (15 carries, 65 yards) and Xander Scavone (10 carries, 64 yards, TD) allowed Ridgefield to control the clock. It also meant that veteran senior quarterback Owen Matthews (14 of 25 passing, 72 yards) didn’t need to have a Patrick Mahomes-like performance.
And don’t forget Ridgefield’s rugby-style punter Declan McNamara. The junior launched a number of effective punts and added a key 28-yard run on a fake punt that allowed the Tigers to run off more clock in the fourth quarter.
#cthsfb Points! Xander Scavone from 3yards out. Ridgefield 7, Staples 0 – under 7 left 3rd pic.twitter.com/dNqr0uABVJ
— Sean Patrick Bowley (@SPBowley) September 28, 2019
“McNamara is so versatile,” Ridgefield coach Kevin Callahan said. “He’s a quarterback, a wide receiver and a kicker. He’s a tremendous athlete. The coaching staff decided at halftime if there was a chance to run into Staples’ half of the field (Ridgefield was stalled on its own 48), we’d turn Declan loose.”
Winning a slew of little battles allowed Ridgefield to conquer Staples in a slobberknocker style war. The Tigers showed last week’s 17-14 win over New Canaan was for real.
Staples was often its own enemy as penalties derailed the offense. Especially painful was a penalty that wrecked a 23-yard screen pass to running back Henry Beck for a late third-quarter TD.
Ridgefield’s Dean Habeeb thwarts a promising Staples drive with a pickoff at the goal line to start the game. 0-0 #cthsfb pic.twitter.com/sqpdRlZJjO
— Sean Patrick Bowley (@SPBowley) September 28, 2019
Beck gashed the Ridgefield defense for 154 yards rushing on 16 carries. But the Wreckers are also trying to marry a new quarterback with a big arm (Jackson Zager) and last season’s QB Jake Thaw in a change of pace wildcat attack.
Staples’ 6-foot-3 senior tight end A.J. Konstanty had no receptions. The deadly punter didn’t get many chances to pin Ridgefield back in its own end.
PLAYER OF THE GAME
Ridgefield junior running back Xander Scavone: Scavone rushed for the final 32 yards on the Tigers’ 11-play, 64-yard march to open the second half for the game’s lone touchdown.
QUOTABLE
“Our defense is proud. The kids believe in themselves. They are playmakers. When their backs are against the wall, someone always steps up.” — ,” Ridgefield coach Kevin Callahan
