New Canaan beats Darien to repeat as Connecticut football state champions: Live updates recap

Rematch of last year's CIAC Class L title game turns out similarly in 2024

New Canaan will try to wrap up another Connecticut high school football state championship Saturday against rival Darien. / Jimmy Zanor/NorwichBulletin / USA TODAY NETWORK

Meet the new finalists. Same as the old finalists.

The CIAC Class L Connecticut high school football state championship game comes down to New Canaan and Darien once again.

New Canaan won a close one in last year's title game and shut out crosstown rival Darien on Thanksgiving in 2024.

CONNECTICUT HS FOOTBALL SCOREBOARD

Follow along below for live updates from the Connecticut Class L state championship game between New Canaan and Darien, which is scheduled to kick off at 3 p.m. ET Saturday, Dec. 14.

You can also watch this game live on the NFHS Network (subscription required).

New Canaan vs. Darien, CIAC Class L state championship live updates

Darien wins the toss and defers, so New Canaan will start with the ball.

1ST QUARTER

Squib kick goes to the 23 and New Canaan goes backward to the 21.

Darien forces a quick three-and-out and will start its first possession on its own 34, 10:34 left.

FUMBLE! Ryan Brooks recovers the fumble on Darien's opening play. New Canaan ball on the Darien 30.

TURNOVER ON DOWNS! Darien gets it right back after giving up just 1 yard in four plays. 9:31 left, Blue Wave ball on their 29-yard line.

Darien QB Ben Rolapp dives for a first down and the Blue Wave are in New Canaan territory, 6:25 left, 0-0.

TOUCHDOWN NEW CANAAN! Chris Cuesta with a 36-yard jump-ball TD catch from Luke Robinson to make it 7-0 Rams with 1:39 left.

Darien goes three-and-out and New Canaan gets it back on its own 39 with six seconds left in the quarter.

END OF 1ST QUARTER: New Canaan 7, Darien 0

2ND QUARTER

TOUCHDOWN NEW CANAAN! James McInerney takes the direct snap and runs untouched up the middle for a 32-yard touchdown. 14-0 Rams with 10:41 left.

6-foot-9 Darien tight end Kevin Roche (Georgia Tech signee) gets his first catch of the game, down to the New Canaan 41 with just over eight minutes left.

TOUCHDOWN DARIEN! QB Ben Rolapp takes it himself for a 4-yard TD. A huge fourth-down pass from Rolapp to Thomas Herget set it up. 14-7 New Canaan, 6:29 left.

New Canaan has to punt after a penalty-filled drive. Darien ball on its own 1 with 58 seconds left after Connor Mazza pins the Blue Wave deep.

HALFTIME: New Canaan 14, Darien 7

3RD QUARTER

Darien starts the opening drive of the second half just past its own 20.

Trick-play throw to Thomas Herget gets Darien into New Canaan territory.

Will Sullivan leads the charge on a gang sack to force a Darien punt from midfield, just under eight minutes left. 14-7 New Canaan.

Rams get one first down but have to punt it right back. Darien ball on its own 34 with just over six minutes left.

TOUCHDOWN DARIEN! Thomas Herget gets left wide open on a 65-yard touchdown catch-and-run. It's 14-14. 6:09 left.

TOUCHDOWN NEW CANAAN! Andrew Esposito takes it to the house on a 55-yard wildcat run up the middle to get the lead right back. It's 21-14 New Canaan with 4:55 left.

Incredible diving catch by Kevin Roche has Darien on the New Canaan 30 with just under four minutes left.

TOUCHDOWN DARIEN! Charlie Thom catches a 6-yard TD pass from Ben Rolapp and it's 21-21 with 2:30 left.

Jack Crowell with a big kickoff return for New Canaan to the Darien 39.

END OF 3RD QUARTER: New Canaan 21, Darien 21

4TH QUARTER

New Canaan will start with a fourth and short after Darien's Wes Scallen made an excellent tackle on third down.

Michael Smith gets the first down easily. First and 10 on the Darien 15 for New Canaan.

TOUCHDOWN NEW CANAAN! Play fake works and Luke Robinson hits Jake Valente for an 11-yard TD. 28-21 New Canaan with 10:21 left.

New Canaan forces a Darien punt on fourth and 18. Rams ball on their own 23, 8:27 left.

TOUCHDOWN NEW CANAAN! Andrew Esposito makes the grab and takes off for a 64-yard touchdown. 35-21 with just over seven minutes left.

TURNOVER ON DOWNS! New Canaan pass rush dominates that drive and gets the ball back in the Rams' hands with 4:15 left.

INTERCEPTION! Michael Smith gets the pick with 2:45 left for New Canaan, and that should do it here.

FINAL: New Canaan 35, Darien 21

More Connecticut high school football news

Connecticut (CIAC) high school football state championships: Championship schedule, brackets, scores

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-- Mike Swanson | swanson@scorebooklive.com | @sblivesports