Wave Drowns the Rams in Turkey Bowl Upset

by Cameron Van de Graaf

In a long-awaited and bitterly contested matchup between two rivals, the Darien High School Blue Wave (10-1) triumphed over the New Canaan Rams (10-1) by the score of 28-24 to win the annual Turkey Bowl and take home the Coaches Memorial Trophy for the second year in a row. 

At 10:30 on Thanksgiving morning, New Canaan’s Dunning Field was packed – the breath from 6,000 or so fans emanating slowly from the stands to sky. After winning the toss, Darien elected to defer possession and give the Rams first crack on offense. Taking full advantage, New Canaan quarterback Nick Cascione heaved an 80-yard touchdown pass to Alex LaPolice on the first play of the game. The score of 7-0 stood for the remainder of the first quarter, as back and forth drives by both teams stalled short of the red zone. With around six minutes left in the second quarter, senior Silas Wyper, Darien’s quarterback, ran in his first touchdown of the day to tie up the game. With time expiring, Cascione ran in a TD of his own to give the Rams a 14-7 lead at the half. 

In contrast to the first half, the final two quarters of the Turkey Bowl were characterized by exhilarating plays and rapid swings in momentum. On the first drive of the second half, Wyper completed a 62-yard bomb to senior John Reed then ran from the 1-yard line to even up the score. After New Canaan went three and out, sophomore Mark Evanchick blocked a punt, enabling Wyper to successfully score his third rushing TD of the game. Although the Rams successfully kicked a field goal to narrow the Wave’s lead to four, Darien looked steady as the third quarter drew to a close. Though the fourth quarter began in similar fashion, NC’s Zach Allen soon forced a fumble as Wyper was winding up to throw and returned it 34 yards to turn the tide, and the score, decisively in New Canaan’s favor.

The Blue Wave would not be denied, however, and over a seven-minute stretch the Darien offense drove for 65 yards, finally arriving on the brink of the Rams’ end zone. Senior Jay Harrison subsequently punched through a tough NC goal-line defense to score the first non-Wyper touchdown of the game. New Canaan mounted its own last ditch attempt, but their effort was thwarted by junior Griffin Ross, who broke up a pass in the end zone to seal the win for Darien. After the play, the Darien student section broke out in exuberant cheering while New Canaan supporters assumed an understandably subdued tone. For his part, QB Wyper said the game put Darien back at “the top of the FCIAC” and credited the team’s “special … camaraderie” with the victory.

With this win, Darien improved its record to 10-1 and secured the top seed in the Class L state tournament. Be sure to come out and support Wave Ball at Brien McMahon next Tuesday at they take on Daniel Hand in the first round of the state playoffs.

Silas Wyper prepares to throw downfield
(photo courtesy of Darien Athletic Foundation).