September 26, 2005Trinity spoils Darien's first game on new field with upset winfrom The Stamford Advocate DARIEN -- Playing its first home game in three years, Darien High School was starving for a celebration yesterday. But the day turned out to be an exercise in frustration. From fumbling away the kickoff on their first possession to having the potential tying touchdown called back by penalty, it was a long day for the Blue Wave, who fell to fired-up Trinity Catholic 20-14 at the new Darien HS field. Catholic grabbed a quick 12-0 lead just two minutes into the game, stunning the crowd with A.J. Nelson's 52-yard return of the opening kickoff. The Crusaders then repelled four Darien drives deep into their own territory. Darien (1-1) lost three fumbles, had two passes intercepted, and committed a costly holding penalty. "We made too many mistakes," acknowledged Darien coach Mike Masiuk. "We're not good enough to win while we're shooting ourselves in the foot." Catholic put the Blue Wave in a hole right from the start, and some key plays by wideout Gene DeVito helped the Crusaders pull off the upset. Three plays after Nelson's long kickoff return, quarterback Anas Koummal raced around the left side of the Darien defense on an 11-yard-touchdown run. Bobby Buch was able to block the conversion kick, but Catholic was soon back in business when it recovered the ensuing kickoff on the Darien 20. Two plays later, Koummal (6 for 16, 110 yards) rolled to his left and fired a 30-yard touchdown strike to DeVito in the end zone. DeVito came up big again with seven seconds left in the first quarter after Darien fought back to take a 14-12 lead on the strength of Tim Hamernick's 52-yard touchdown run and Jamie Ozzano's 24-yard scoring jaunt. Koummal picked his way through the Blue Wave defense for 27 yards before fumbling the ball. But Devito was there to scoop it up and race 25 more yards to paydirt. Following a penalty, Koummal and DeVito got together again for the conversion pass to make it 20-14. The scoring stopped after that explosive first quarter. In the second period, Darien drove down to the Catholic 5 following John Haire's interception, only to be pushed back by a penalty and Mario Pirolozzi's sack. "Mario Perlozzi's just a beast coming from that nose tackle position," praised Catholic coach Bryan Fox. Catholic handed the ball right back, but once again the Blue Wave came up empty following Hamernick's fumble recovery at the Trinity 32. Darien's most costly miscue came early in the fourth quarter when Jonny Schoen's 16-yard touchdown scramble was called back for penalty. The Blue Wave didn't get a second chance. Schoen, substituting for starting quarterback Byron Reding, who was plagued by cramps in the second half, was intercepted by Ryan Durkin at the 5. From there DeVito moved the Crusaders into better field position with receptions of 24 and 22 yards. The 6-2, 210-pound senior begged his coach on the sideline to call a play for him. "He wanted the fade all day. He thought he could beat his man," Fox said. "He's a great receiver. He helps Anas get into his comfort zone." Masiuk agreed that Devito was a key factor in the game. "He made some great plays catching the ball in a crowd. He took them out of a hole." After an interception by Chris Hawthorn sealed Trinity's first win of the season -- the Crusaders were blanked 28-0 by St. Joseph in their opener -- the Crusaders and their coaching staff were the ones doing the celebrating. "We knew it was an emotional game for them (Darien), and we had to match it. We had a lead, which was different. When they fumbled (the kickoff) we caught a break," Fox said. "I'm really happy for our players. We beat one of the better teams in the league." Hamernick led Darien with 132 rushing yards on 17 carries. The Blue Wave played their home games at McMahon for two years while their new field was being built.
 Big senior defensive tackle Vladimir Joseph swims by an offensive lineman in a 28-20 home victory over Fairfield Ludlowe on October 29, 2005. (CrusaderNation.net / Dana Maul)
 Junior defensive tackle Santiago "Teggy" Steele wraps up a Darien
rusher as his
 Junior center Cory Johnson prepares to snap the ball to fellow classmate
 The Crusader offensive line pushes Bassick around in the mud. The
Crusaders
 Senior wideout Rob Hawthorn races downfield to block as junior fullback
Eric Stephens
 2005 All-FCIAC East Offense Row 1, Left to Right: Eric Wells, Bassick; Willie Epps, McMahon;
Pete Raymond,
 2005 All-FCIAC East Defense Row 1, Left to Right: Joe Luchesi, Danbury; Greg Sabo, Danbury; James
Taylor, Danbury;
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