Soundly defeated by FCIAC football rival Staples High School on Thanksgiving, Greenwich left the game knowing it could produce a much better showing against the Wreckers if it had a chance to play them in the postseason.

The Cardinals will indeed, have an opportunity to show that they can contend with the Wreckers, when they travel to Westport on Dec. 8 for the CIAC Class LL Tournament semifinals.

Third-seeded Greenwich earned the right to play second-seeded Staples in the semifinal-round of the Class LL Football tournament by upending sixth-seeded New Britain, 27-6, in the state tourney’s quarterfinal-round on Dec. 3 at frigid Cardinal Stadium.

Greenwich dropped a 27-0 decision on Thanksgiving to Staples, which cruised past seventh-seeded Manchester, 42-6, in the Class LL quarterfinals.

“I can’t wait, everybody wants a redo of Thanksgiving morning and we get that,” Greenwich coach Anthony Morello said of his squad playing against Staples in the state semifinals. “We have the opportunity to go after the team that beat us in the season.”

“If you are going to win a state championship there’s no better way than going through a team that’s beaten you this year, so we’re excited for that opportunity,” Morello continued.

Greenwich (9-2), which advanced to the Class LL semifinals in 2023 and won the Class LL Tournament championship in 2022, earned another chance at Staples by setting the tone early against New Britain (8-3) and playing from in front. Senior quarterback M.J. D’Angelo rushed for two touchdowns, senior wide receiver Blake Martin caught a long touchdown pass from D’Angelo for a score and senior placekicker Julian Ravina kicked two field goals for the Cardinals, who received a dominant defensive effort. For the game, Greenwich rushed for 257 yards on 39 carries, with D’Angelo and junior running back Hector Lopez powering the ground game.

“The defense played great, special teams played great – when all facets of the game are going well, you’re going to have a scoreboard looking like that,” said Greenwich senior center/defensive lineman/captain Peter Vomvolakis, who was a force at the line of scrimmage on both sides of the ball. We’re going to keep at it and hope the season keeps on going.”

Vomvolakis signed a National Letter of Intent to attend the United States Naval Academy, where he will further his academic and football career. The special signing ceremony for Vomvolakis was held today at Greenwich High School.

The Cardinals held a 14-0 lead on New Britain after the first quarter, led 17-0 at halftime and brought a 27-0 advantage into the fourth quarter.

“It’s playoff football now,” said D’Angelo, a captain. “We’re really coming together as a team and jelling. We lost to Staples last week, we had to prepare quickly to prepare for this team. They are a good football team, a solid football team, but we responded and that’s all you can ask for.”

After struggling in its previous game against Staples, Greenwich’s offense was stellar versus New Britain. The Cards gained key first downs behind their running game and D’Angelo also connected on several key passes, finishing with 93 passing yards.

“Not every drive was perfect, but when we put points on the board and the defense stops them from putting points on the board, that’s how you play football,” D’Angelo said. “Special teams as well, they got us some great spots and it was a really good team win.”

The Cards wasted little time in lighting the scoreboard against New Britain, behind their effective running attack. D’Angelo broke loose for a 54-yard touchdown run down the left sideline, capped a 63-yard drive and giving Greenwich a 7-0 lead with 10:09 remaining in the first quarter.

New Britain senior quarterback Donovan Campbell completed a long pass on the visitors’ opening possession, yet the Cardinals’ defense stiffened, forcing a punt and the hosts proceeded to build their lead.

Greenwich’s defensive unit was powered by linebackers Santi Parra (junior), Jack Kelly (junior), lineman Kyle Ebanks (senior), linebacker Justin Carroll (sophomore), cornerback Noah Steele (senior), defensive back Jack Carroll (senior captain), defensive back Chase Inesta, Vomvolakis up front and a host of others.

“The defense was outstanding we had 11 hats to the ball,” Morello noted. “That’s a really good running game that New Britan brings and it’s a really short turnaround. So, for our defense to be clued in on everything and come out the way they did and give us as many opportunities as they did – the same with our special teams giving us short fields.”

Steele intercepted a pass from Campbell, New Britain’s quarterback, and Ebanks recovered a fumble, pouncing on the ball, to end another Golden Hurricanes drive.

Parra also had a fumble recovery in the winning effort. Leading 7-0, GHS added on to its advantage in the opening quarter.

Protected well by Vomvolakis and fellow offensive linemen Colin Falla, Henry Wahl, Frank Kingsley and Richie McMurray, D’Angelo dropped back to pass and lofted a deep pass down the left sideline that was hauled in by Martin, who sprinted to the end zone, completing a 55-yard scoring play and giving GHS a 14-0 advantage at the 2:31 mark of the first quarter.

“It was a fake screen. M.J. pumped it and threw it,” Martin said of his touchdown reception. “The DB looked in at the quarterback and it was just easy from there. We repped that in practice all week and we were ready to go.”

Displaying his strong leg, Ravina booted a 40-yard field goal as time expired ending the opening half and putting the Cardinals in front, 17-0. D’Angelo added a 13-yard run for a score, catching New Britain’s defense off guard with a well-executed fake with 3:53 to go in the third quarter, making it 24-0. Ravina split the uprights again, this time from 39 yard out, upping the Cardinals advantage to 27-0.

The visitors touchdown came with 11:49 left in the fourth quarter with Campbell throwing an 11-yard scoring strike. That’s all New Britain could manage off Greenwich’s defense.

“It was a great way to start the state tournament,” Vomvolakis said. “Last home game as a Cardinal, a great experience getting my last win on this home field. We worked so hard in practice, so we knew we were going to have a good outcome. We didn’t make many mistakes today and we put points on the board.”

“Right after Thanksgiving we were in the weight room, we were back watching film,” Vomvolakis continued. “We used that game as a learning experience. We kept learning from that game, what we had to fix and I thought we did that really well. Coming into this game, we were prepared and got the job done.”

Sunday’s state semifinal between the Cardinals and Wreckers will be Round 2 of their 2024 rivalry.

“It was really just survive throughout,” Martin said. “It’s win or go home. It was our motto this week, to live through Wednesday and we did that. That’s what we wanted – we wanted another chance at Staples. We thought we didn’t play our best game at all and we think we have a better shot this time.”