Defense and IQ Sees Greenwich to Connecticut Title
Defense and IQ Sees Greenwich to Connecticut Title
Greenwich HS won the Connecticut state final over the weekend, taking home a very close win over Fairfield Prep.
The first time these two teams played, Greenwich kind of sliced up Fairfield with a very smart kicking game, winning 43-12. But this game was certainly different. Both teams committed hard to defense and the intensity of the collisions forced turnovers. Rain on the day made the going a little wet and that didn't help when it came to controlling the ball.
Both teams had early chances to score where if the ball had bounced a little differently they could have scored.
It was one of those games.
Midway through the first half Greenwich got right down to the tryline but lost the ball forward. However, after Fairfield was able to kick clear, Greenwich came back and, finally, was able to break through the middle. They were caught just before the tryline, but bounced over the line for the touchdown ... except that potential try was disallowed for a knock-on during the grounding. No try again. Did they get it down on the tryline before the ball was lost forward? AR said no.
Greenwich got a penalty off the ensuing scrum, tapped, and tried to work their short-yardage plan once more. Knock-on at the line again.
From that scrum, the ball squirted out the Fairfield side. Scrumhalf Benja Gonzalez Lobo got to the ball first and brilliantly soccer-kicked it to his left. Everyone on Fairfield was converging on the ball, so this was basically a soccer pass wide where wing Santi Lattuada chased untouched and scored in the corner.
It was a superb piece of skill and awareness.
With about eight minutes left in the half, Fairfield Prep got a series of penalties near the Greenwich line. Repeatedly the Cardinals defense forced drops to get out of trouble.
So that one try was the only score of the half and Greenwich took a tenuous 5-0 lead into the halftime break. However, the Cardinals came out of that half with confidence.
"The first half was tightly contested but possession and territory was mostly controlled by Greenwich," said Greenwich Coach Jamie Everett. "Greewich got over the line three times in that half but two of the scores were called back. For the last eight minutes of the half, Prep had a two man advantage. So, even though we went into halftime only up 5-0, we felt pretty good."
Greenwich were determined to get points from pressure, especially as the rain intensified. Seven minutes into the second half they opted for posts on a penalty, and Gonzalez Lobo launched a well-taken kick to make it 8-0. Just a few minutes later, Fairfield Prep was attacking and a miscue in their backline allowed Lattuada to swoop in. He toed the ball ahead twice, and then managed to control the ball long enough, despite tacklers, to take it over the line. Gonzalez Lobo converted, and Greenwich had a three-score lead at 15-0.
A good portion of the next 10 minutes or so were spent in the Greenwich half. But the Cardinals held on.
But with about 14 minutes left Fairfield got a penalty, took the lineout, and worked a maul down the sideline. The maul was stopped about five meters from the Greenwich line, but illegally, and the result was a yellow card and a penalty try. That made it 15-7.
Most of the result of the game was kept in the middle of the field and really Fairfield didn't get very close to scoring position after that.
"Our defensive effort was excellent and was certainly the defining factor in this game," said Everett. "The rain was a major factor that limited both side's attack and led to many scrums over the course of the match. Discipline also played a role."
Greenwich received three yellow cards in the game, and Fairfield Prep received two.
"In the second half, we did a really great job managing the game," added Everett, adding that Gonzalez Lobo "led the way in this regard. Fortunately, we were able to ride out the remaining time and break our championship drought."
Final score: Greenwich 15, Fairfield Prep 7.
