Friday, October 26, 2012

Blue Wave Football Preview: Staples


By Kat McKay
So tomorrow (Saturday, 10/27) is one of the biggest football games of the year. Darien has, so far this season, earned a record of 4-2, which is impressive, but still inferior to their weekend rivals. On Saturday, they’re playing the best team in the FCIAC: Staples.
Staples is undefeated. The Wave, though, is fresh off of last Friday’s dominating 35-7 win over Wilton. For the second time all year, DHS will have all its starters on the lineup, thanks to senior captain Peter Gesualdi’s return.
 The bantering going on between these two schools on Facebook alone is a show, but the real game – which will settle all of the arguments—starts tomorrow at 1:30, here at DHS. For those of you who haven’t kept up with FCIAC football, here’s what the two teams look like going into Saturday’s showdown.
Offense
Staples has played five games this season. In three of those, they scored over 50 points- and in the other two, they scored 49. Their rushing attack has never been held to fewer than 300 yards. The Wreckers are yet to score less than 7 touchdowns in a game.
Darien has scored an average 35.7 points per game, which is, in and of itself, impressive. The Wave’s average rushing yards is 214, but this number should jump now that Gesualdi- who is a threat on both the ground and as a receiver- is back. Senior captain and quarterback Henry Baldwin has passed for a total of 1095 yards this season.
Defense
Staples has held their five opponents to a total of 68 points. That is all.
Darien, led on defense by senior captain Matty D’Andrea, has yielded 115 points to six opposing teams. 
There are a lot of elements that go into a football game. Stats are important, yes, but so are other things: a team’s mentality, momentum, crowd, and preparation. The Wave has all the tools to serve Staples its first loss of the season on Saturday. Now we see if they will actually do it.

Photo caption: Senior Christain Bognar running the ball at last Friday's game against Wilton. Photo credit to MSG Varstiy.

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