Coming into the Turkey Bowl, the Blue Wave Football team was 10-0, as were the New Canaan Rams. The game between two undefeated rivals for a conference championship generated more buzz than the State Championship ambitions for both teams.

The Blue Wave’s offense sputtered in the first half, leaving responsibility for production on the defense’s shoulders. Senior captain Mike Gasparino (54) lines up against New Canaan’s Kurt Ondash. Ondash ran through the Wave to score twice for the Rams.

 

When the run didn’t work, the Wave put the ball back in Wheelock’s hands. Wheelock attempts to connect with senior Cam Ross (19) in the face of New Canaan’s Ryan Shullman (60). Wheelock threw four interceptions yet still completed 18 passes for 246 total yards.

 

Wheelock’s attempts at running the ball were met with varied success. Gasparino, Klein, and Corey Caputo (6) can only watch as their quarterback is taken down by New Canaan’s Frank Granito (9) and Eduardo Padilla (56), with assistance from Ondash.

With Panourgias leading the charge, Wheelock tries to create openings where none exist.

Like it has been throughout the season, the running game was an essential part of the Wave’s offense. Quarterback and senior Captain Matt Wheelock (7) held on to the ball for a significant amount of Darien’s run, producing 107 yards.

 

When Wheelock did not have the ball, senior Nikki Dysenchuk (22) often took over on the run for the Wave, garnering 99 yards on 18 carries. Dysenchuk tries to break through the Rams’ defensive line with the help of fellow senior Greg Klein (53).

 

Providing protection for Wheelock and the halfbacks was the Wave’s offensive line. Left to right: seniors Teddy Panourgias (50), Andrew Patten (60), Rocco Colandro (71), and Gasparino.

 

Dismal expressions from the DHS student section were frequent throughout the match, as New Canaan scored early and held a lead that the Wave were unable to overcome.

 

Senior Brian Kosnik won the Jack Dempsey Memorial MVP award, a small bandage to the gaping wound left a tough loss to Darien’s biggest rival in one of the greatest games this school has ever seen.

Head Coach Rob Trifone accepts the 2008 FCIAC Championship Runner Up trophy at the end of the game. Darien refused to give up, scoring a touchdown in the last seconds of the match. The next step for the Blue Wave? The Class MM Semifinals. Darien will play Hillhouse (11-0) at West Haven’s Veterans Field at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday.