Scoring in several ways, Greenwich High’s football team upends Norwalk on the road

By David Fierro on October 12, 2026 • ( Leave a comment )

**06878 Photography by Antonio Monteiro**: Greenwich High School varsity football players react after Bobby Stanley (No. 4) scored a touchdown on a reception off a pass from quarterback Phil Tarantino during a road game against Norwalk.

With its offensive, defensive and special teams units each reaching the end zone, Greenwich High School’s varsity football team certainly created touchdowns in a variety of ways during its Week 5 game against Norwalk.

The Cardinals scored on plays through the air, on the ground and off the opposition’s turnovers, all of which resulted in a one-sided road victory.

Amassing 35 first-half points, Greenwich continued its undefeated season in emphatic fashion, earning a dominant 49-6 triumph over Norwalk in an FCIAC matchup held at Brien McMahon High School in Norwalk on Oct. 10th.

Junior quarterback Phil Tarantino was on target throughout, completing 10 of 12 passes for 179 yards and three touchdowns for the Cardinals, who upped their record to 5-0, heading into their bye week. Tarantino added a touchdown run to his impressive game.

**06878 Photography by Antonio Monteiro:** Greenwich High School senior wide receiver Dan Black reacts after scoring a touchdown on a reception off a pass from quarterback Phil Tarantino during a road game against Norwalk High School. The Cardinals won the game, 49-6, to improve their record to 5-0.

“Our defense did a great job and special teams as well,” Tarantino said following the win over the host Bears. “We were clicking on all cylinders and I feel like this was our best game of the season.”

Greenwich, which was coming off a 24-0 win over non-conference opponent Newtown, has allowed only 13 points through five games, while scoring 167 points.

The Cardinals’ defense limited Norwalk, which has a highly productive offense, to 130 yards. Junior quarterback Easton Pace completed 7 of his 13 passing attempts for 98 yards and rushed for a score for Norwalk, which trailed 21-0 after the first quarter and 35-6 at halftime. Pace was, indeed, the focus of Greenwich’s defense.

**06878 Photography by Antonio Monteiro:** Greenwich junior quarterback Phil Tarantino runs for a touchdown against Norwalk at Brien McMahon High School in Norwalk on Oct. 10, 2026. The Cardinals won, 49-6.

“That young man burst on the scene last year in Week 2, he gave us fits last year, so he was the focal point of our practice, we had some of our fastest skill guys play quarterback this week, not so much worrying about the throws, but really worrying about what he does when he gets free out there,” Greenwich head coach Anthony Morello said. “We sent a lot of pressure at him.”

Said Greenwich senior defensive lineman Joshua Alexandre, who once again, made his presence felt at the line of scrimmage: “We came firing out and were physical. We didn’t blitz a lot and tried to keep the QB in contain.”

“It a great defensive performance we played well up front,” Alexandre added. “We did our job and listened to our coaches.”

The Cardinals scored on the game’s first possession. Senior wide receiver Bobby Stanley got open, then scored on a 69-yard pass play from Tarantino. Junior placekicker Michael Galano kicked the extra point, giving GHS a 7-0 lead with 9:36 remaining in the opening quarter.

**06878 Photography by Antonio Monteiro:** Max Townsend of the Cardinals (No. 1) is congratulated after returning a punt for a touchdown during Greenwich’s 49-6 win over Norwalk at Brien McMahon High School in Norwalk.

On the scoring drive, senior running back/linebacker/captain Justin Carroll had a run for a first down and Stanley also had a 7-yard reception. Stanley described his long touchdown catch.

“I started off with a pretty bad kickoff return, I was disappointed and knew I had to make up for it,” Stanley said. “Phil threw me a perfect pass and I took it to the end zone for a touchdown.”

Stanley helped pace Greenwich’s receiving corps, totaling 76 receiving yards. After the Cards’ defense forced Norwalk to punt on the ensuing possession, the squad’s special teams unit lit the scoreboard.

Junior Max Townsend caught the punt and returned it 53 yards down the left sideline for a touchdown, showcasing his speed and elusiveness on the play, which took place with 7:52 to go in the first quarater. Townsend brought a punt to the end zone in the Cardinals’ 24-0 Week 4 win over Newtown, but his TD was called back by a holding penalty.

**Photo by Antonio Monteiro/06878 Photography**: Cardinals placekicker Michael Galano kicks off to Norwalk.

“Last week I had one and it got called back,” Townsend noted. “Justin (Carroll) and I talked about how I got to get one this game. First play, perfect blocks, just went up the sideline – very good blocks by the team.”

Townsend, a wide receiver/cornerback, also had four receptions for 49 yards, while providing strong pass coverage on defense.

“Max has been helping us in a variety of places,” Morello said. “He’s been playing a ton of corner for us, he’s our returner and he also does some special things on offense. It was nice to see that unit get into the end zone for real.”

Greenwich’s special teams unit came through again, this time forcing a fumble on the ensuing kickoff, setting the squad up in the Red Zone. Sophomore Luke Baker recovered the fumble for the Cards.

**Photo provided by Antonio Momteiro/06878 Photography:** Max Townsend, a Greenwich junior wide receiver, looks to escape from Norwalk defensive players during an FCIAC varsity football game at Brien McMahon High School in Norwalk.

Tarantino completed an 11-yard pass to sophomore running back Evan Beilenson, then threw a 5-yard scoring strike to senior wide receiver Luke Langhorne, putting GHS ahead by three scores. Galano converted another PAT, making it 21-0 in favor of the Cardinals at the 7:01 mark of the second quarter.

Dan Black, a senior wideout, broke loose from the Bears’ secondary and Tarantino found him, lofting a 36-yard touchdown pass to him with 9:30 left in the second quarter, putting Greenwich on top, 28-0. Seven different players caught passes for GHS during this FCIAC matchup.

“It was great to see the offense get into a rhythm right away, right out the gate,” Morello noted. “I didn’t call a great game last week. We have great weapons this year, we have great receivers, between Bobby and Max and Dan and some of our young guys as well.”

**06878 Photography by Antonio Monteiro**: Greenwich’s defense swarms a Norwalk ball carrier during an FCIAC varsity football game at Brien McMahon High School on Oct. 10, 2026. The Cardinals won the game, 49-6.

“We tried to stretch the kids vertically last week (against Newtown, Week 4), we tried to force the ball down field as opposed to doing what we do best, which is just take what the defense is giving us,” Morello continued. “We went back to the basics with the passing game and we really focused on our timing, on our routes, on our spacing and we really wanted to give Phil a nice template to do what we do best. He did that today, completing 10 of 12 passes in the first half for 180 yards and three touchdowns. It’s really great to see our offense get going.”

Said Tarantino: “We just had to get back to the basics at practice, that’s what we were looking to do. A great catch by Bobby Stanley really set the tone of the game. We ran the ball great, the offensive line held up very well and executed very well.”

Norwalk (1-4) had its best drive late in the second quarter, going 80 yards in 11 plays for its only touchdown. It was just the second TD that Greenwich has yielded all season. Pace scrambled right for a 5-yard touchdown run with 2:37 remaining in the second quarter. The extra point attempt was blocked and Greenwich led, 28-6.

**06878 Photography by Antonio Monteiro:** Greenwich sophomore running back Evan Beilenson (No. 10) in action.

It took only five plays for Big Red to march 53 yards for the game’s next score. Tarantino capped the drive with a 12-yard touchdown run up the middle, giving GHS a commanding 35-6 halftime advantage. Townsend caught passes of 21 and eight yards during the scoring drive, which ended with 57 seconds left in the second quarter.

“We’ve been waiting for a break out game like this,” Townsend said. “Phil played great today.”

On the opening possession of the third quarter, the Cardinals forced a Bears turnover, resulting in a touchdown. Senior linebacker intercepted a pass by Pace and returned it 37 yards for a touchdown, putting the Cards ahead, 42-6 1:52 into the third quarter.

Hughes recently returned to action from an injury and has made a significant in the two games he’s played.

“He has a relentless motor, a nose for the football and he always knows where the ball is,” Morello said of Hughes. “We haven’t had a defensive touchdown all season and this is only his second game back. He’s a great kid, he’s paid his dues, he’s been huge for us the last two weeks.”

**06878 Photography by Antonio Monteiro:** Norwalk High School Easton Pace attempts to throw over the outstretched arms of Greenwich senior defensive lineman Anthony Cebanos, while being pressured by senior Nathan Hinton. GHS won, 49-6.

Pace, who was held to 24 yards rushing on 13 carries, was pressured throughout by Greenwich defensive linemen Anthony Cebanos, a senior, Alexandre, senior Gustav Pietryka and senior Nathan Hinton.

“We knew their quarterback was going to be quick, so we knew all week the defensive ends had to contain,” Pietryka said. “We knew they hung tight in every single game, so we had to stuff them right away. We had to apply pressure while keeping them contained.”

Carroll sealed the Cards’ scoring, scooping up a Norwalk fumble and returning it 20 yards for a score with 8:59 remaining in the third quarter.

Carroll registered five tackles, two assists and one sack, while senior Ray Petrone recorded five tackles, two of which resulted in lost yardage and had one assist to help lead Greenwich’s defense.

**Photo by Antonio Monteiro/06878 Photography:** Greenwich quarterback Phil Tarantino runs toward the end zone against Norwalk. In front of Tarantino, who reached the end zone on the play, is wide receiver Dan Black.

Senior defensive back/captain Colin Suvansri, Pietryka, Alexandre, Cebanos, senior defensive back Luke Wells, Hughes and senior linebacker Josh Agreda were among some of the Cardinals’ athletes making tackles throughout the victory.

Greenwich is on a bye week, then hosts FCIAC rival New Canaan on Oct. 23rd at 7 p.m. in what will be a much anticipated matchup.

“I’m very, very excited, we’re going to work very hard and hopefully, we can get that win,” Stanley said.

06878 Photography by Antonio Monteiro: Greenwich’s Evan Beilenson carries the ball during a win vs. Norwalk. Blocking for him are teammates Luke Langhorne, left and Max Townsend.

“Our defense did a great job and special teams as well,” said Tarantino, who was well protected by the offensive line consisting of senior captain Casey Baker, senior captain Mickey Petrone, senior Nick Vomvolakis and junior Nate Collins. “We were clicking on all cylinders and I feel like this was our best game of the season. We have a really tough schedule coming up so we really have to lock in to get to that next level.”

Here are some more scenes from Greenwich’s win vs. Norwalk.