A closer look at Friday's matchup between the two top-ranked high school football teams in the GametimeCT Top 10 Poll:
No. 1 New Canaan vs. No. 2 Greenwich
- WHERE:
Cardinal Stadium, Greenwich - WHEN: Friday, 7 p.m.
- RECORDS:
New Canaan 5-0; Greenwich 5-0 - KEY PLAYERS: New Canaan:
Jack Crowell, Sr., LB; Connor Furman, Sr., OL/DL; Maddox Hoffman, Sr., QB; Charlie Koch, Sr., WR/DB; Henry Reagan, Sr., OL/DL; Greenwich: Justin Carroll, Sr., LB/RB; Alexander Neitzell, Sr., CB; Colin Suvansri, Sr., SS; Phil Tarantino, Jr., QB; Evan Beilenson, So. RB
Outlook
Here we go again. For the second consecutive season, New Canaan and Greenwich will square off in a 1v2 matchup, with the Rams at No. 1 and the Cardinals at No. 2. The two powers are both 5-0 and feature perhaps the top two defenses in the state. The Cardinals have given up 13 points and have three shutouts, while the Rams have surrendered 14 points with four shutouts. New Canaan's defense features multi-sport champion Jack Crowell, the program's all-time leader in solo tackles, at linebacker, along with defensive end Dallas George, safety Charlie Cuesta and a host of others. Maddox Hoffman is in his second year as the starting quarterback and has yet to lose a game, and the offensive line stars Connor Furman and Henry Reagan at the tackles. Greenwich has its own multi-faceted star in Justin Carroll, a linebacker/running back, and the defense also includes veteran free safety Colin Suvansri and corner back Alexander Neitzell. Offensively, quarterback Phil Tarantino is in his second year at the helm, with Carroll and sophomore Evan Beilenson doing the bulk of the running.
You should know
This is the 10th meeting between the No. 1 and 2 teams in the GametimeCT Top 10 Poll since 2005. In the previous nine games, No. 2 teams have a 5-4 edge and have outscored the No. 1 teams 228-211. Actually, Greenwich is a "T2" after St. Joseph moved into a tie with the Cards for the second spot this week. New Canaan holds a 22-16-3 edge against Greenwich in the all-time series and the Rams have won the last two meetings, both 14-7, first in 2021 and then against last year. The Cardinals last beat New Canaan 35-0 in the 2018 CIAC Class LL final. Both teams are 5-0 and they have two common opponents, including New Britain, which is 3-2. Greenwich's game against the Golden Hurricanes was 35-7 in Week 2, and New Canaan won 47-14 in Week 4. Both teams also beat Bridgeport Central by identical 42-0 scores. Greenwich and New Canaan are both playing heavily backloaded schedules. Following this week's showdown, New Canaan will face No. 6 Ludlowe (5-0), No. 2 (tie) St. Joseph (5-0), Wilton (3-3) and Darien (2-3), while Greenwich faces Ridgefield (3-2), Wilton, St. Joseph and Staples (5-1).
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This article originally published at What to know about Friday's No. 1 New Canaan vs. No. 2 Greenwich high school football matchup.