Central crushes No. 1 New Canaan, advances to FCIAC championship
By Dave Ruden Ct. Post Staff Writer 11/14/2009 BRIDGEPORT -- When Shabashe McIntosh woke up Friday morning, he immediately rushed to a window and looked outside. It was a football player's version of Christmas morning, only the Central running back wasn't looking for gifts under a tree, but to make sure the previous night's weather forecast was accurate. "When I saw it was windy and raining I smiled," McIntosh said. "I knew it was going to be a big advantage for us." With a berth in the FCIAC championship game on the line against New Canaan on Friday night, the Hilltoppers knew their defense would be put to the test against the No. 1 team in the state and its vaunted passing attack. Any help from the elements was welcome. |
 As it turned out, balmy conditions would not have prevented one of the most astonishing outcomes in recent league history. That Central ended the Rams' 24-game winning streak was not so shocking. The 42-7 margin on a dank night at Kennedy Stadium certainly was. "The game wasn't even that close," New Canaan coach Lou Marinelli said. McIntosh led a devastating ground game that accumulated 333 yards by finishing with 184 yards on 22 carries and four touchdowns. The victory, coupled with wins by Stamford and Greenwich, earned Central (8-1) just its second trip to the FCIAC championship game and first since 2004, while saving the league from the potentially embarrassing situation of having the Rams edge Central on points for the berth, will meet Staples in the final Friday night at Wilton High School. "I'm at a loss for words right now," Central coach Dave Cadelina said. "I'm getting happier as time goes on. Beating the No. 1 team in the state is certainly special and getting ahead on them like we did was important." The Hilltoppers scored their first touchdown just 1:22 into the game, had a 28-0 lead by halftime and rolled to both an easy and convincing victory. Unlike last week, when the Rams were able to rally from a 14-point halftime deficit, they were mired in a hole too deep from which to extricate themselves. Turner Baty, the quarterback who was a key reason for New Canaan's 8-0 start, had his worst game of the season, completing just 12 of 28 passes for 96 yards. He had an interception and fumble that led to Central scores. The loss was the Rams' worst since a 28-0 defeat to Greenwich in the 2006 FCIAC championship game. It was their biggest regular season loss since a 42-14 decision to the Cardinals in 2004, which came several games after New Canaan suffered a 24-0 loss the Hilltoppers, the last meeting between the teams prior to Friday night. "We got down and kept trying to do things, but nothing worked," Marinelli said. "They just came out and took it to us. We were outplayed, outcoached, outeverything." Lucas Desouza finished with 75 yards on 14 carries and scored a touchdown for Central. Christon Gill, the Hilltoppers' talented quarterback, threw a touchdown pass but had a relatively modest night as he was able to hand the ball off and watch good things happen. "This was a team effort," said Ernest Wiggans, Central's celebrated tackle, who had a big game on both sides of the ball. "We worked hard on perfecting things in practice. Tonight everything just came together for us. It's such a good feeling." A foreshadowing came on the Hilltoppers' opening possession. New Canaan jumped offsides twice, Gill had an 11-yard run and McIntosh a 9-yard carry that set up a 47-yard touchdown in which he got free outside on the left, cut back across the middle and beat the Rams' Jeff Sztorc with a nice move. "I knew we were capable of doing some things but who would have thought something like this," Cadelina said as he stared at the numbers on the scoreboard after the game. "Things went our way tonight." Central's next possession was a 14-play, 69-yard drive that ended with McIntosh scoring on a 2-yard run. The Hilltoppers then went 87 yards in nine plays -- the last eight rushes after an incomplete pass -- with Desouza finishing it off with a 5-yard touchdown. |
David Rhoden intercepted Baty with two minutes left in the half to set up Gill's 6-yard scoring pass to Keishaun Fernandez.
Central had another chance to score in the final seconds after partially blocking a punt, but the Rams were able to sack Gill. Baty's fumble midway through the third quarter set up McIntosh's third score. New Canaan got on the board with 1:44 left in the period on Baty's 4-yard pass to Cody Newton. McIntosh scored from 1 yard out in the closing minutes. "We just could not stop the run tonight, and those kids deserve a lot of credit," Marinelli said. "Without a doubt that's the most athletic team we've played. They deserve it." NEW CANAAN 0 0 7 0 --7 CENTRAL 14 14 7 7--42 C--Shabashe McIntosh, 47 run (Lucas Desuoza kick) C--McIntosh, 2 run (Desouza kick) C--Desouza, 5 run (kick failed) C--Keishaun Fernandez, 10 pass Christon Gill (Gill run) C--McIntosh, 6 run (Desouza kick) NC--Cody Newton, 4 pass Turner Baty (Collin Shapiro kick) C--McIntosh, 1 run (Desouza kick) Records: New Canaan 8-1, Central 8-1 |
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