Sports
Wave Washes Over Westhill 37—0
Saturday, Nov. 7: Darien High School's football team beats Westhill 37—0; question marks loom over post season schedule.
The Blue Wave football team improved to 6—2 with a 37—0 win over Westhill (2—6), in their final home game of the season.
Darien is at Norwalk next Friday and concludes the regular season on Thanksgiving Day in the Turkey Bowl at New Canaan. They'll need wins in their final two games to have a shot at the post-season. Unlike last year when Darien played New Canaan for the FCIAC title and then again in the states, losing both to the Rams, this season the Wave will only be eligible for the state tournament; and they'll have to play a waiting game to see if they make it.
The Wave took care of business on Saturday against Westhill. A pair of first quarter field goals by Jon Gardner—the first from 43 yards away, the second from 28 yards—led to a 6—0 lead after one. Westhill never mounted any kind of attack.
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Early in the second quarter, quarterback George Benitez did what he's done so well this season. After finding receivers covered, he ran to his left near the sideline, found all lanes blocked, reversed his field and swung it out wide, beating the defenders into the end zone for a 13—0 Darien lead. Westhill punted to Darien's one-yard line. The Wave moved upfield with the big play coming on a Benitez to Alex Wildish long pass which moved the ball from their own 30-yard line to the Westhill 27. Darien had the ball on the visitor's seven with time running down. They went for a field goal with :09 left. John Gardner was good again, and Darien led 16—0 at the half.
In the third quarter the Blue Wave had three touchdowns in the first eight minutes, all the result of interceptions by Bobby Nolan, Jake Weill and Graham Maybell.
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Benitez got the first on a run followed by a Benitez-to-Clay Barker completion, and a Graham Maybell run.
The closest Westhill came to scoring was on a 10-play drive late in the fourth quarter where they reached the Darien 13-yard line. But the Wave ended that drive with a stop on a fourth and one.
Darien ran out the clock with Coach Trifone giving some playing time to jv and sophomore players. Final score: Darien wins 37-0.
Next up for the Blue is Friday's 6 p.m. game against Norwalk, the first of the final two regular season games.
