Wreckers secure first win of season against Conard

Nina Bowens '25, Paper Features Editor and Sage Cohen '25, Staff Writer

September 14, 2022

Wreckers defensive line marks up on the 25, quarter 4 score 42-6.

The Staples Wreckers football team sprang into their first game of the season, defeating West Hartford’s Conard Chieftains in the annual white out game on Sept. 9. A sea of white cheered on the home team, as the game ended with a whopping score of 42-13 in favor of the Wreckers.

A Wrecker player watches his defense make a tackle mid first quarter. (Photo taken by Nina Bowens ’25)

Caleb Smith ’24, who played his first game as the Wreckers’ starting quarterback and one of the only six returning starters this year, kept the crowd engaged and the team encouraged by scoring three touchdowns. Wide receiver James Hillhouse ’23 scored the first Wrecker touchdown of the season, with just about 5 minutes left in the first quarter.

Smith’s third touchdown, a 65 yard run in the third quarter, was a big highlight of the game. At first and 10 on the Wreckers’ own 45 yard line, Smith faked a handoff to the running back, Alex Fiala ’24, and dodged the Chieftain’s tackle. He began his run up the field and left the Chieftain’s entire defensive line, as well as their secondaries, in the dust.

“For me, I took the opportunity,” Smith said. “I saw the defense was unsettled and used that to my advantage. The original play was a read option but as I got past the 50 yard line there was no one there. Great blocking downfield allowed for me to make that happen.”

The Wreckers defensive line sets up on the 25 in the fourth quarter with the score 42-6. (Photo taken by Nina Bowens ’25)

Smith found success multiple times with wide receiver and Captain Tyler Clark ’23, who also scored a touchdown in the third quarter and served as an outlet for multiple plays.

“Caleb and I have great chemistry. On certain plays, I know he is going to throw me the ball just because we have practiced so much together,” Clark said. “He has a great arm and always finds the open receiver, whether that’s me or someone else.”

The Conard football team is ranked #12 in Connecticut’s L Division according to MaxPreps CBS Sports. Staples’ head coach Adam Bearings notes Conard’s talents, but says he still felt prepared.

“They are a good football team. They have some talented players and their quarterback can throw pretty well, but they had the players we were expecting,” Bearings said.

Coach Adam Bearings (center with headset) is seen talking through plays and watching from the sideline.
(Photo taken by Sage Cohen ’25)

The coaching staff were not the only ones prepared for the contest. The Staples fans continued the tradition by crowding the stands to show their Wrecker pride. They chanted along with the cheerleaders and shouted words of encouragement towards the field while following the white out theme.

Staples mascot Wrecker Bob is seen hyping up the student crowd, decked in white, early on in the game. (Photo taken by Nina Bowens ’25)

“I think the crowd had great energy, everyone was so excited about it being the first game. It’s so fun having everyone cheering for the football players as well as getting into the cheers,” cheerleader Katherine Phelps ’25 said.

Staples Cheerleaders performed an extra point kick tradition, holding up crossed fingers as a sign of goodluck to the kicker, Jack McColl ’23. (Photo taken by Sage Cohen ’25)

Fans can continue to show their support for the Wreckers at their next game at St. Joseph, on Sept. 17.

“The fans were awesome. It is demoralizing for an away team to get scored on and hear the roar of hundreds of students and fans,” Clark said. “It means a lot to me and the team when so many people show up.”