Jack Crowell did it all as No. 1 New Canaan rallied past No. 2 Greenwich: Mike Anthony

GREENWICH - Even when Jack Crowell stands still, he seems to be doing a little bit of everything.

As a linebacker, he hovers just beyond scrimmage, head on a swivel. He analyzes, points, screams, adding elements of raw emotion and astute organization to the New Canaan football team's defense.

He stands out immediately in the middle of the field. And the longer you watch, he stands out all over. He's on both sides of the ball. He stretches the field. On Friday, he was even turning the corner for a fourth-quarter touchdown that basically sealed the top-ranked Rams' 23-19 victory over No. 2 Greenwich Friday night in a high school football game that the entire state had its eyes on.

"I was trying to look for the edge," Crowell said of his run right, which came on 4^th and goal from the 4 and gave New Canaan a 10-point lead with 7:39 to play. "I didn't know for sure that I was going to have it. I was kind of looking to cut up one of the blockers. But when I saw the end zone, I mean, green grass. So it was pretty exciting."

Crowell was back on the field for the first play following the kickoff. He thwarted Greenwich quarterback Phil Tarantino's rushing attempt with a vicious hit for a 2-yard loss, the back end of a sequence that said so much about this game.

Crowell was the best player on the field.

And New Canaan was the best team on the field in a matchup between the top two teams in the GametimeCT Top 10 Poll.

It's too bad the FCIAC doesn't have a conference championship anymore because football doesn't get better than this, even in state tournaments.

This was hardly a season-defining victory for New Canaan (Class L) or a season-defining loss for Greenwich (Class LL). Both could go on and win state championships in their respective classes again. But it sure was something to see, with two of Connecticut's best teams lining up to measure up. The best players tend to rise to the occasion during such experiences.

"Pre-game, I was jumping around," Crowell said. "Maybe I jumped around too much because I was cramping in the game. But I was just really excited. They just debuted their black jerseys, which was pretty cool. And with Youth Night - and I think they inducted people into their hall of fame - it was just an important night and it's awesome that we were able to be a part of it, and even more awesome that we came away with the win."

Crowell, named the 2026 boys athlete of the year at the GametimeCT High School Sports Awards Show in June, is a three-sport star. He is a standout defenseman for New Canaan in hockey and arguably the state's best goalie in lacrosse, the sport he has chosen to play next year at Princeton.

Obviously, he's a hell of a football player, too. Crowell had two touchdown rushes on Friday night, setting up the first one with his own interception and a 47-yard return to the 2.

"A little sad I didn't get in t0he end zone," Crowell said. "But …"

Coach Lou Marinelli figured it was only right to hand Crowell the ball from there. Crowell's first rushing touchdown opened the scoring, another stamp on a game he dominated.

"He loves football," Marinelli said. "He absolutely loves football. I think he wishes he was 6-3 and 250 and playing at Alabama. He's just a great captain. I can't say enough good things about him. Whoever does Gatorade player of the year should really consider him for all he does. He plays offense. He plays defense. He's our captain. He's a great player. Just a really heads-up kid. I'm glad he's playing for us."

Crowell (5-9, 185) had just three carries in New Canaan's first five games, for 53 yards and a touchdown. He carried 10 times 35 yards and two touchdowns on Friday, when the bleachers were packed, maybe a couple thousand fans. It was electric at Cardinal Stadium.

New Canaan trailed 13-9 at halftime but went big, and to the ground attack, to push its winning streak to increasingly remarkable territory. Finn Mocco, Dallas George, Ben Scott and Crowell pulled the offense along with the game on the line.

"We have all these big guys in front of us," Crowell said. "It kind of makes our life easy. I'm kind of just picking these gaps, 4- and 5-yard gains. If you get that every play, it's really what you're looking for. It is a great feeling to beat them here."

Both teams entered 5-0. New Canaan won last year's matchup, too, and both went on to win state championships. New Canaan has won four titles in a row, Greenwich two in a row. If Connecticut has a legitimate claim to showcase good high school football, this was the game to display.

New Canaan has won 29 games in a row, last losing in 2024, Crowell's sophomore year. After the latest victory, the team took a knee in front of Marinelli and one player shouted, "Doesn't get any easier from here!"

That's right. The FCIAC is a beast. There's a lot of season ahead.

"Isn't that the greatest thing, though? Isn't that why you play?" Marinelli said. "You want to play in games like this. You want to be able to compete. That was the first time our kids got really punched in the mouth and had to fight their way back. We learned a lot of lessons today. And, all good."

Members of the St. Joe's team, tied with Greenwich for No. 2 in the GameTimeCT poll, were in attendance. New Canaan plays No. 6 Ludlowe next week, then St. Joseph. Greenwich plays Ridgefield next, followed by Wilton, St. Joseph and Staples. It's a long season. Friday was a fun night.

"First time we were really in a game," Marinelli said. "To come from behind like that, I think was important."

Crowell acknowledged that he is cherishing opportunities like Friday's more so than ever. He has just four regular-season games remaining in his football career, plus playoff games. He'll be at hockey rinks soon enough, then on the lacrosse field, and at Princeton before we know it. 

When Crowell looks back on his high school football experience, surely part of his mind will focus on that Friday night October game that all of Connecticut was watching.

"One versus two for a reason," Crowell said. "The atmosphere was awesome. It's easy to get hyped for these games. It was easy to rally the guys."

This article originally published at Jack Crowell did it all as No. 1 New Canaan rallied past No. 2 Greenwich: Mike Anthony.