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Staples (Connecticut) gets by Fairfield Prep in high anticipated playoff rematch

The Wreckers exacted revenge in handing the Jesuits a loss, advancing to semifinals on Sunday
Andy Villamarzo|
Staples (Connecticut) gets by Fairfield Prep in high anticipated playoff rematch
Staples (Connecticut) gets by Fairfield Prep in high anticipated playoff rematch

When Staples High School football coaches and players woke up this morning, it was one year ago exactly when their season ended against Fairfield Prep in 2022. 

A heartbreaking 23-22 loss ended a special year for Staples. The Wreckers went ahead and repaid the favor in similar fashion. 

Staples used a strong defensive effort and timely offense to edge out Fairfield Prep 13-12 Tuesday night in a Class LL quarterfinal. The Wreckers will now hit the road and play in Sunday’s state semifinal against Southington on the road. 

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The Jesuits (4-7) opened up the game with a field goal to go ahead 3-0, but their lead wouldn’t last for long. Staples quarterback Caleb Smith came up clutch once again, scoring on a 60-yard scamper into the endzone to put the Wreckers ahead 6-3 in the second quarter. 

From there, both defenses began to dig in on the frigid evening in Westport, with neither side showing any give. It wouldn’t be until midway in the second quarter that Fairfield Prep would finally answer on a Tyler Smith 10-yard touchdown pass gave the Jesuits a 9-6 advantage. 

Smith would give Staples the lead back late in the third period when he would run it in from 15 yards out to score what ended up being the go-ahead touchdown. Up 13-9 and needing their defense to hold, the Wreckers got a a game-saving tackle in the final quarter.

Wreckers’ senior safety Sam Peterson made a touchdown saving tackle with around nine minutes left in the game as the Jesuits were threatening to score. Staples’ defense held Fairfield Prep to a field goal with 8:46 remaining in the game and would help hold on for the emotionally charged victory. 

-- Andy Villamarzo | villamarzo@scorebooklive.com | @sbliveconn

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Andy Villamarzo
ANDY VILLAMARZO

Andy Villamarzo has been a sports writer in the Tampa Bay (FL) Area since 2007, writing for publications such as Tampa Bay Times, The Tampa Tribune, The Suncoast News, Tampa Beacon, Hernando Sun to name a few. Andy resides out of the Tarpon Springs, FL area and started as a writer with SB Live Sports in the summer of 2022 covering the Tampa Bay Area. He has quickly become one of Florida's foremost authorities on high school sports, appearing frequently on podcasts, radio programs and digital broadcasts as an expert on team rankings, recruiting and much more.

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