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Kickoff Return For Score Ignites Darien To Big Second Half And Win Over Norwalk

Jeff Jacobs Reporting From Darien

10.05.2024

When Norwalk quarterback Mason Riina fit a perfect pass over Thomas Hall, into the arms of Phoenix Diurno, with 5:48 left in the third quarter this afternoon, the Bears — almost out of nowhere — were one score down to Darien.

The 27-yard touchdown strike was a massive momentum change.

One that lasted all of 14 seconds.

Hall took the ensuing kickoff 95 yards for a touchdown as the No. 6 Blue Wave ran off four unanswered TDs for a 49-14 FCIAC victory on an unseasonably warm Saturday afternoon.

“On their touchdown, I didn’t get good enough leverage and (Diurno) beat me,” Hall said. “It was a good ball and I just didn’t punch through. Good touchdown by them.”

A defensive back’s biggest asset is the ability to forget the previous play. As a kick returner it can be a source of great motivation.

“I guess I was mad at myself,” Hall said. “I thought I’ve got to do something to get us back in the game. I got the ball and I’m just like, ‘I’m going to house this.’ ”

And house this he did.

The house landed hard on the other sideline.

“We scored, it’s a great feeling to be 21-14,” Norwalk coach Mike Forget said. “Let’s kick the ball off, play a little defense, get the ball back. Instead they scored on special teams. That’s just deflating.” 

Darien coach Andy Grant used six words to describe Hall: Very fast. Very athletic. Very poised.

“Thomas Hall, he’s a competitor,” Grant said. “Last year in the state championship game, same thing, tough play against him and he bounces back.”

Darien quarterback Ben Rolapp, who hit Tyler Spellman with a 48-yard touchdown pass on the game’s first possession, struck for his second passing score to make it 35-14. This one was 25 yards and it was a beautiful throw lofted to Tommy Karczewski in the back of the end zone.

Rolapp also scored on a three-yard run in the first quarter.

Patrick Gately, whose 9-yard run had sent Darien into the locker room with a 21-7 lead, followed an interception by Chase Lane with a 6-yard run. And when Ryan McGahren struck with a pick-six from 20 yards — just like that — it was a 35-point lead with 11:02 remaining.

From a one-score game to running time in six minutes, 32 seconds. Wow.

“After the (kickoff return), mistakes start to happen and they manifest and it ends up being what it is,” Forget said. “We have the ability to be here with this team. There’s no doubt about that. Just too many mistakes on both sides of the ball.” 

Forget is building a two-platoon system at Norwalk. With some injuries he said there were some guys who went both ways and they wore down a little.

What really helped Darien was a strong performance by the defensive line that sacked Riina a handful of times. Brandt Kiser had a big game, with three of those sacks.

“A lot of the credit has to go to the D-Line,” Hall said. “They had a really good game and made it much easier for the DBs in coverage.”

“They were really dialed in,” Grant said. “They worked the edges of guys really well and had an aggressive pass rush. They sort of had a real sense when the pass was coming and rallied down for the run.”

Norwalk, which defeated Wilton in its second game, dropped to 1-3. The Bears have Ridgefield next.

“I take out that we can play with anybody,” Forget said. “There shouldn’t be anyone we’re scared to play on our schedule. We’ve got lots of games left and we just have to put some wins together.”

After serving eight years as Darien’s defensive coordinator, Forget took over as Blue Wave coach and promptly led it to the state title in 2021. He finished 6-4 the next season, missed the playoffs and “resigned” with an 18-5 two-year record.

Asked if it was emotional returning to Darien for the first time, Forget said, “Not at all.”

His feelings walking into the stadium?

“No feelings whatsoever,” Forget said. “I’ve turned the page.”

The state poll shakeup, meanwhile, was significant last week after No. 1 New Canaan was shut out by Masuk and No. 2 Darien fell in double overtime to Windsor in Connecticut Football Alliance games.

FCIAC rival Greenwich moved into the No. 1 spot, while Darien dropped to No. 6 and New Canaan fell into a No. 7 tie with St. Joseph.

The poll will be further complicated by No. 4 Masuk getting shut out by Bunnell on Friday night.

After a bye week, the Blue Wave will face St. Joseph on Oct. 18. It will be a huge game for both teams. And then there’s always the Turkey Bowl with New Canaan.

“This is going to be a fun year,” Hall said.

That it will be.

Darien had a terrible first half at Windsor before rebounding in a major way for three unanswered touchdowns to force overtime. It was going to be interesting to see how they responded to a loss complicated by star tight end Kevin Roche missing Saturday’s game with a knee injury.

“I thought it was one of our more focused weeks of practice,” Grant said. “We wear people down. It happened in the Windsor game. It happened in the McMahon game. We’re not fast starters for some reason. We talk a lot about that as a staff and program. We’re getting everyone’s best shot. Obviously the word was out early. We had a target on our back. One of the best things we’re doing well is responding in the second half.”

Nobody responded any faster in the second half than Thomas Hall.

“I think we worked harder than we did last week,” Hall said. “We just wanted to come out, wanted to beat them well, kick them down.”

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