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September 4, 2008
For enquiring minds: Staples vs. Fairfield Prep scrimmage
I'm going to make this short and sweet because there are stories to write, capsules to finish and analyses to make.
But the score you Prep fans have all been waiting for is here.
STAPLES 21, FAIRFIELD PREP 14
I got there just as Staples took the opening kickoff and, in a theme that played itself over and over until I left late in the third quarter, drove right down and scored on a 1-yard run by QB Brandon Pacilio.
Prep's offense, which has the lines to contend, struggled to run with Connor Kelly or throw with new QB Brendan Nizolek.
The Wreckers added another short touchdown run and, after Prep needed three downs to score a 1-yard run against Staples' front seven, the Wreckers sliced through Prep's front seven and zipped right back down with a couple of nice runs by Tyler Healy and Jack Ambrose and scored on another Pacilio run to make it 21-7. Nizolek was intercepted in the end zone to end the half.
Prep's offense didn't get into gear until the second half when the coaching staff inserted back Tyrell Ballard, who scored a touchdown to cut it to 21-14. Prep got the ball back again at its own 10 with 4 minutes left and zipped down to the Staples 20 with two minutes left. But Nizolek was picked off again in the end zone pretty much wrapping things up.
(Incidentally, this last report comes courtesy of Prep student Jack Jake Van Sant because I had a meeting back in Bridgeport). Update: And apparently, I'm so thankful I gave the wrong first name. :/)
Now, Staples looked very impressive, especially on defense. The Wreckers are going to be pretty darn good, given all their losses (they haven't lineman Joe Kestenbaum all preseason).
I heard good things about Prep. But, based on this scrimmage, they need some serious work--especially defensively. Some of those Staples runs were way too easy. It didn't help that lineman Peter Christiani Peter Gruppo was out. Luckily for the Jesuits, they don't play Week 1. By then, however, I think they're going to be ready.
DISCUSS
Posted by SPB on September 4, 2008 7:59 PM
Comments
Figures, every year you hear Staples is down, look for 8th straight trip to the States !Is there a team in the State that scrimmages the teams Staples does ?Shelton,Seymour,Cheshire,Bunnel and Prep!
Posted by: Clyde at September 4, 2008 8:45 PM
Thanks for the shoutout SPB, its Jake though haha
Posted by: Jake FP at September 4, 2008 9:22 PM
Also, it was starting OLB Pete Gruppo that was injured, not Christiani
Posted by: Jake FP at September 4, 2008 9:24 PM
i was there for the first half of this game-looked like it was going to be a rout early,prep fell behind 14-o and wasnt doing a thing on offense.they moved the ball a bit when they started passing,run game wasnt too impressive early on.i will say thi,staples doesnt look as big as in years past,but they look a step quicker.that qb is very good,hes only a sophomore too rite? rb ambrose looks pretty darn good as well,wasnt much of a staple spass rush though.
Posted by: bigmikect at September 4, 2008 9:32 PM
I think the best team in fairfield will be fairfield Ludlowe who kicked J Laws butt tonight. Shut them out. Defense was stellar. Nagu, Farina, and others.
Offensively, QB Ferrara passed for a 60 yard TD and ran for 1 TD. Tiero looked good and Tsopindies did nit even play.
Posted by: Jack Vach at September 4, 2008 11:20 PM
All that said and yet you picked Prep as the eighth team in your elite 8. can't wait to see the next seven.
Posted by: Dave k at September 5, 2008 7:15 AM
Elite 8??? hmmmmm perhaps Trinity Catholic like a few years back. (just kiddin SPB, I bet you thought people had forgotten about that)
Posted by: deify at September 5, 2008 12:39 PM
Whoops!
Sorry about all the mistakes, guys (especially you Jake). I wrote that real quick before tending to preview stuff. It's getting too busy around here to blog. :/
And, hey, deify: Trinity Catholic went 7-3 that year. They lost to St. Joe early and eventual champ Bunnell midway through. Other than that they were pretty good.
Sometimes, you just have to pick with your gut and my gut says Prep's is going to be good enough to merit inclusion given their schedule. The SCC also looks kinda weak.
Posted by: SPB at September 5, 2008 12:44 PM
Ok spb they did get 7 that year--I believe they lost to (Bunnell, Darien, and McMahon) and beat St. Josephs----BUT 7-3 in the FCIAC without playing greenwich, new canaan, ridgefield, or staples is pretty 'bleh' (as you would say).
Posted by: deify at September 5, 2008 2:04 PM
Ok spb they did get 7 that year--I believe they lost to (Bunnell, Darien, and McMahon) and beat St. Josephs----BUT 7-3 in the FCIAC without playing greenwich, new canaan, ridgefield, or staples is pretty 'bleh' (as you would say).
Posted by: deify at September 5, 2008 2:27 PM
I'd agree, but you can only beat the teams who are in front of you. Since their schedule wasn't bad, I threw them in there (as you saw, one loss and they never sniffed the Elite 8 again).
Posted by: SPB at September 5, 2008 3:52 PM
jack, prep would 50 point rule ludlowe its not even close how much different the styles of play are
Posted by: Jason Whiting at September 5, 2008 4:29 PM
Ludlowe...kidding me right. How do they even get into a discussion...and seriously even though FP got slapped around at times...they are without a doubt years ahead of Ludlowe and Warde and the ONLY football team in Fairfield...can't wait to see the new pretzel "W" for Warde.
Posted by: onyx at September 6, 2008 9:51 AM
look for ty Ballard a Bridgeport popwarner alumni
Posted by: coach ty at September 7, 2008 8:04 AM
