Notes from the Greenwich-Brunswick Scrimmage

Thanks to Tim Parry, I have a new place to occasionally post some goodies. When I do that, I will likely post it here as well, along with a link. So below is what I wrote for the FCIAC Football Blog.

Before you read that, I'd be remiss if I didn't tell you in Greenwich to watch for the fall sport preview in the Greenwich Citizen. Look closely at the Greenwich water polo preview. My thanks to coach Terry Lowe and captains James Case, Dan Alessandri, and Schuyler Kruizenga for being willing participants and good interviews. I didn't know the first thing about water polo, but they educated me. It was fun to do it, and I look forward to seeing my work in print!

OK, onto today's game...

Hello, FCIAC football fans! Rob Adams here, so-called "voice" of the Cardinals (and Brunswick Bruins, for that matter), at least on WGCH radio (1490 AM and www.wgch.com ). This morning, along with Sean Kilkelly, Nick Angotto, and Dom Romeo, we presented the annual Greenwich-Brunswick scrimmage. Greenwich won 28-14, and once they got some sloppy play out of their system early in the game, seemed to click. Tucker Stafford started at quarterback for Greenwich and threw for one score, while running for two more. He also threw two picks - both to Kevin Royal. Overall he looked good but not quite great. He's got the tools to be very good, and surprised us with his mobility. Incidentally Cody Gifford did not play QB because he has a concussion.

Jonathan Myers was the focal point of much of the Cardinals attack and looked OK, but at times the Bruins defense wrapped him up. Don't misunderstand that - the Bruins are a very good team, even after losing two of the best players in the history of their program (quarterback Kevin Decker and two-way star Tyler McFarlane). Tommy Hoyos and Mark Figgie anchor a solid defense, while Jack Barrett has the task (at least for today) of running the show on offense. The Bruins run a spread offense, and Barrett, despite some poor throws, was more than efficient, throwing for two scores. He was picked off once.

The Bruins got their first score late in the first quarter, as Barrett found Will Reed to top off a 97-yard drive. The Cardinals needed to adjust defensively, as they were missing tackles and looked out of sorts during the drive. John Kavanagh quickly helped the Cardinals respond by running the ensuing kickoff deep into Bruins territory. A few plays later, Myers ran in from four yards out, and the game was quickly tied at seven.

Greenwich would head to the intermission up 14-7 as a result of a 13-yard scamper by Stafford.

In the third, Barrett threw his second touchdown, this time to Andrew Reed, from a yard out, to tie the game. With the Reeds and Kevin Royal, the Bruins have some weapons in the passing attack. Now they need more from the running game to balance things out. Milo Ceci has the size to be a solid fullback but was unable to generate anything against the Cardinals. Philip Cutler has capabilities but was also limited against Greenwich.

OK, you say, enough about the Bruins - they're just a prep school team. I would counter that this little ol' prep school team would fit nicely in the FCIAC, at worst in the middle of the pack. That's how much I think of coach Sean Brennan's team. I went to today's game prepared to see the Cardinals destroy them and instead saw a feisty and talented team that went into the fourth quarter tied with the defending Class LL champs at 14.

The Cardinals pulled away in the fourth quarter - a result of a second touchdown run by Stafford, this time from five yards out. To me, the play of the day was the one that sealed it, as Stafford, under pressure from the Bruins defense, threaded the needle to Myers, who made an over the shoulder catch and run for a 25-yard touchdown.

There's no question that the Cardinals have enough talent to win the FCIAC and Class LL again, but now they have to be careful of their own press - and that is something that coach Rich Albonizio and his staff are pros at. Greenwich opens the season at Kennedy Stadium on Friday night against the Hilltoppers of Bridgeport Central - a team that is hungry and talented. What a way to start the season for both teams - very reminiscent of 2004, when Staples went to Cardinal Stadium to open the season and lost. The Wreckers would never recover, and the Cardinals would win another FCAIC title - aginst Bridgeport Central.

Just in case you didn't know, Friday's game will be on WGCH, and on the internet at www.wgch.com - as will all of the Cardinals games (and a few Bruins games as well). Yes, that includes the game in Naples, Florida on November 9th.

That's all for tonight. I'll talk to you Friday night from Bridgeport.

Thanks to Tim for letting me post here.