An outstanding performance from its first-season varsity quarterback, a tenacious defensive effort and standout efforts from its running backs all added up to a resounding victory for Greenwich High School’s football team, which begins the season with its usual sky-high expectations – especially after winning the CIAC Class LL Tournament in 2024.

Performing well beyond his years, sophomore quarterback Phil Tarantino passed for 171 yards and three touchdowns, senior running back Hector Lopez rushed for 131 yards and their Greenwich teammates played effective defense in a convincing 31-14 win over Fairfield Prep before a spirited crowd of more than a few thousand spectators at Cardinal Stadium on Sept. 12.

Greenwich, which defeated West Haven for the CIAC Class LL state tournament title one season ago, capping a memorable 11-2 campaign, entered its 2025 season with numerous new starting athletes since graduation claimed plenty of talent from last fall’s championship squad. The first-season starters and players stepping into expanded roles fared extremely well, resulting in a significant win for the Cardinals against a Fairfield Prep team they are accustomed to facing in the postseason.

“Overall, the energy was great out here, the sideline, the crowd – it was everything you want from a Week 1 game and it’s what I expected from a Week 1 game,” said Greenwich head coach Anthony Morello, whose Cardinals beat West Haven, 14-0, for the Class LL state championship last season. “For us to be able to face adversity and soar beyond it and come back from another score – that’s what I was most excited about tonight, the resiliency.”

Tarantino used his strong right arm to throw two touchdown passes to senior wide receiver Hudson Squires and one scoring strike to senior tight end Michael Golden. Well-protected by the offensive line, Tarantino, who posted three touchdowns and two interceptions, exhibited poise and precision in his varsity debut as the Cards’ quarterback.

“I don’t think it could have gone much better,” Tarantino said of his first start as the Cardinals’ varsity quarterback. “Besides those two interceptions, the defense had our back. It’s just a real thrill being out there playing with these guys. Going forward, I think we’re going to build a stronger bond and hopefully, we can win the championship.”

Greenwich scored the game’s first touchdown with 4:28 remaining in the first quarter. Tarantino dropped back to pass and connected with Squires in the right corner of the end zone for the touchdown. Sophomore placekicker Michael Galano split the uprights with the point-after-attempt, giving Greenwich a 7-0 lead. Senior holder/defensive back Lauren Judge, Greenwich’s first female varsity football player in recent memory, perfectly held the ball for the extra point attempt.

“That play, we’ve been working on it a lot in practice,” Squires said of his touchdown reception. “We knew what kind of coverage they were going to do and we hit that play so many times – maybe five or six times and it worked out.”

At the 1:07 mark of the opening quarter, the Cardinals padded their lead. This time, Tarantino completed a 12-yard pass over the middle to Golden and following a Galano PAT, it was 14-0 in favor of GHS. Lopez had a pair of runs for first downs on the drive, including one of more than 15 yards, putting the ball in the red zone. Greenwich’s offensive line of senior captain Colin Falla, junior Nick Vomvolakis, junior Mickey Petrone, junior Casey Baker and senior Frank Kingsley provided excellent run and pass blocking throughout this FCIAC-SCC rivalry matchup.

“It was great today, we put in so much work in the offseason,” said Lopez, one of the Cards’ captains. “Eight months of work in the weight room and it all led up to today. I told these guys from the start, it doesn’t matter who we line up against. I take us 100 percent of the time. I believe in the work we put in, I trust these guys with all my heart and we came out on top and took the victory.”

Linebackers Justin Carroll and Santi Parra helped solidify Greenwich’s stellar defensive effort. Carroll, a junior, sacked Fairfield Prep senior quarterback Robert Manning and got into the backfield to stop several running plays, while Parra, a senior, excelled defensively throughout.

“I thought the defense did great,” Carroll said. “There were some mistakes, some penalties, but it’s always something to build, it’s Week 1. I thought overall, we did great. We worked as a team, we made adjustments.”

Senior Jacob Mobley, junior Andy Stedam and senior Isaiah McDonald were among some of the defensive linemen that flourished for the Cardinals against the Jesuits. Junior defensive back Colin Suvansri intercepted a pass for Greenwich (1-0).

“I just try to dominate in the backfield,” Carroll said of his performance. “The D-Line, they do their work and it was just great.”

The Jesuits cut the Cardinals’ lead in half when senior Vincent Lombardo broke loose down the left sideline for a 37-yard touchdown run, bringing the visitors to within 14-7 with 9:50 remaining. Greenwich responded with a 3-yard touchdown run by senior captain Jack Kelly with just 36 seconds to go in the second quarter, taking a 21-7 advantage.

Prep made it a one-score game again at with 9:01 left in the third quarter, with Manning throwing a 15-yard touchdown pass, slicing the lead to 21-14. Yet the Cards had another response.

Tarantino hooked up with Squires again, this time for a 26-yard touchdown pass, upping Greenwich’s lead to 28-14 at the 2:46 mark of the third quarter.

“The second touchdown, it was actually kind of a funny play,” Squires explained. “I was really sure we were going to run the ball, but Phil was telling me press, 1-on-1 he threw it up and I was lucky enough to come down with it.”

“I want to say thank you to the offensive line, special teams and defense,” said Squires, who had 81 receiving yards on four receptions. “I couldn’t have done it without any of those guys, without their blocking, the defense played amazing. We’re going to have such a great run.”

Morello appreciated his squad’s response each time Fairfield Prep closed to within one score.

“For us to take 14-7 into 21-7 and then to go 21-14 and immediately make it 28-14 – the response to the offense had was the most encouraging thing tonight,” Morello noted.

Galano booted a 36-yard field goal, sealing the Cardinals’ scoring with 2:34 left in the fourth quarter.

“The line did a phenomenal job,” Tarantino said. “Especially that last drive sealing the game. That just shows all the hard work we had in the offseason. We’ve been working on that since January and I think we showed it tonight. Prep’s a great team and I thought it would be a good game and it was. Our team just stood out and we did a good job.”

Morello was impressed with Tarantino’s first start under center for the Cards.

“He’s got a lot of guts, I’ve known Phil since he was a kid,” Morello said. “I’ve watched him grow up from our GYFL – our youth league in town – and I know he doesn’t have highs and lows, he’s very level-headed, which is exactly what you want from a quarterback.”

“We’re not afraid to take our shots,” Morello said of the passing attack. “We worked on our deep ball concepts all summer long, all 7-on-7 long. He’s (Tarantino) a gutsy player, he wears everything on his sleeve. This is game one for him, so I’m looking forward to what he’s going to do next.”

Lopez, who rushed for 131 yards, was also an offensive standout for the victors.

“Hector has worked so darn hard, he’s been such a good leader, such a good captain, I’m so happy it’s paid off for him tonight in Week 1,” Morello said. “I know he was over 100 yards tonight and he’s going to credit his offense line. A lot of those yards were hustle yards, extra yards after contact. He was spinning and juking and lowering his shoulder at times. He runs with a lot of authority.”

The defense especially keyed Big Red, which Morello noted.

“I thought the defense played great, albeit a lot of penalties,” he said. “We certainly need to clean up the discipline but it’s one of those things if you are playing with relentless motors and you’re going absolutely nuts out there, sometimes you are going to need to sacrifice a few penalties for an aggressive style of defense, which we ran tonight. Everybody was running all over the place, we had red jerseys swarming to the ball – it’s everything you want to see from a defense.”

Morello credited the impact Judge has made in her first varsity season.

“Lauren has been vital to this whole process,” Morello noted. “She’s played with us for four years. She’s the only female athlete that’s made it for four years, to my knowledge in this program. She holds for us, she plays corner for us and she was one of our signalers the entire game. She knows everything inside and out, she knows the system. She’s a vital part of our offensive system and we’re really glad to have her.”

Greenwich is in action again on Sept. 20 against Norwalk at Cardinal Stadium.

“I think we can be the best Greenwich team yet,” Caroll said. “Our potential is through the roof, we have so much talent on both sides of the ball.”

For more pictures of Greenwich’s victory against Fairfield Prep, please visit: https://www.06878photography.com/football—greenwich-high-school-vs-fairfield-prep-at-greenwich-high-school-on-september-12th-2025