GES-WHAT? — He’s back: Peter Gesualdi, returned from injury, broke it open early for DHS. (Photo courtesy of Mark Maybell)
FOOTBALL
Back starting in earnest for the first time this season, senior 2011 scoring leader Peter Gesualdi did not dawdle in delivering for DHS.
He made it 8-0 in the first quarter on a one yard hop and follow up conversion run, as the spark to light up the Wave’s 34-7 win at Wilton on Friday night.
Freshman defensive lineman Mark Evanchick (6-feet, 220) continued to shine.
— Rob Trifone
“It was great to have Peter back,” Darien football coach Rob Trifone said. “He was still playing around 90% just trying to get his game legs going.”
The Wave was outscored by one point in the second quarter, holding a 14-7 lead at the half.
Darien put it away with a 13-0 third quarter and 7-0 fourth.
UNHURRIED HENRY — Henry Baldwin looks to make the toss at Wilton on Friday. (Photo courtesy of Mark Maybell)
“Team played very well minus a few mistakes,” Trifone said.
For Darien, Brian Weigand got in on a 42-yard interception blow-back, Ian Vanderhorn scored on a 10-yard run, Graham Lesko caught a 47-yard scoring pass from Henry Badwin, Christian Bognar scored on a five-yard rush and C.J. Raia kicked two PAT.
Darien improves to 4-2 while Wilton drops to 3-3.
If it was nice to have Gesualdi back, it was nice too to have the back-up of new blood stepping into the limelight as varsity performers.
“Freshman defensive lineman Mark Evanchick (6-feet, 220) continued to shine,” Trifone said. “With limited play in passing situations he recorded 1.5 sacks against a very elusive (Wilton) QB Brett Phillips.”
And the limelight turned to a white hot spot when Evanchick made his first hit on the quarterback.
RUNING AWAY IN WILTON — Christian Bognar ahead of the pack. (Photo courtesy of Mark Maybell)
“The turning point in the game was the start of the third quarter, third and long,” Trifone added. “Mark records his first sack — as the offensive lineman is holding him — against Phillips for a big loss; (Phillips) who had alluded our D-line all night.”
The best kind of sack, the play resulted in a soon-to-be push to the goal line.
“They were forced to punt deep in their own territory and then we punch in to go up 21-7,” said Trifone.
Evanchick gets in fast.
“He runs a 4.8 40 yard dash,” Trifone said of the hefty ninth grader.
The win leaves Darien 10th in Class L with a bonanza of points on the table next week as it looks to climb into playoff contention in the top eight with four games to go, including Turkey Bowl.
But the table’s got high legs.
Darien has it’s biggest showdown of the season vs. visiting Staples (5-0) 1:30 p.m. on Saturday, followed by a clash with Trinity (6-0) at Stamford the next week.
Fun with numbers
Baldwin threw six completes on nine passes for 95 yards.
Bognar ran 20 times for 158 yards, Gesualdi 11 times fro 20 yards, six his longest gain.
Gesualdi caught two passes for 35 yards, Kyle Gifford one for seven and Jackson Whiting one for six.
Tackles: Andrew Maley made 11 in all, Matt Brown seven, Vanderhorn seven, Matt D’Andrea six, Weigand, John Reed, Whiting, Kyle Blummer four apiece, Jay Harrison, Chris Hamernick three each, Myles Ridder and George Reed two each, and Jimmy Weinstock, Isaac Sellhausen, Murtuza Jafri, Gesualdi, Tommy DiMauro, Evanchick had one apiece.
D’Andrea and Ridder had a sack each.
Daly Herbert punted three times for 81 yards.
He kicked off three times for 153 yards while Raia kicked off three times for 170.
