Tuesday night’s game against Ridgefield in the LL Quarterfinals was won by Staples’ running game with Jon Heil ’12 rushing for 366 yards and four touchdowns.

Today’s game, the LL Semifinal against no. 6 Newtown, was won in the passing game by Jack Massie ’14 and James Frusciante ’13.

Not to mention rock-solid defense in both games—it seems like this team can do anything.

“We’re going to take what teams give us, and we’re going to dictate what we do. Tuesday was a phenomenal night for Jon [Heil], they weren’t tackling him so we kept giving him the football,” Staples Head Coach Marce Petroccio said. “Today, they took some of the things we like to do and we felt like we had to throw the ball, and throw on first down. The offensive line did a great job on protection and James Frusciante played a great game.”

Massie had three passing touchdowns, two to Frusciante, of 54 and 20 yards and one 10 yard strike to Kelly, along with two goal line rushing touchdowns and Frusciante had 146 yards on 5 receptions on the day to lead Staples to a 44-20 bludgeoning of a strong Newtown team. Joey Zelkowitz ’13 saw action in the second half, and he took advantage, rushing for 121 yards on 10 carries and a score.

“You know, he’s not your typical 15-year-old. Out here he’s a sophomore, but he’s not really playing like a sophomore. I can’t give enough credit to Massie,” Petroccio said.

Though, the diversity seems not to help the overall strength of this team at the beginning of games. The Wreckers, yet again, had to come back from being down two touchdowns early after two straight Lou Fenaroli touchdowns for Newtown.

“It was not looking very good,” Petroccio said. “We got our act together once we scored, and away we went.”

Certainly, they did. After Newtown’s second touchdown of the game, Staples outscored the Nighthawks 44–6 (30 unanswered) and forced five turnovers, two interceptions by Peter Bonenfont ’12, one from Nick Kelly ’13, a fumble recovered by Lance Lonergan ’13 and a turnover on downs at the Staples goal line.

“The goal line stand was huge. Without it, it’s 21–10 and it’s not looking good for us. It’s almost like we have to get challenged and then we can come back and start playing again. Our kids don’t quit, and that’s why we’re 11-0,” Petroccio said.

Frusciante said some changes were made after going down 14–0 that helped things finish the way they wanted.

“Our defensive linemen stepped up and our linebackers stopped Fenaroli, and that helped us get back into it,” Frusciante said.

Xavier manhandled the Norwalk Bears today 55-14, which sets up a state title grudge match between the Wreckers and Falcons. Xavier, winner of 25 consecutive games, has not beaten a team by less than 22 points this season and has not lost since the 2009 LL Semi-Finals, where, by kismet, a Staples Wreckers team headlining Matt Kelly ’11 and Brendan Rankowitz ’11 took down the Falcons 31-28.

Petroccio spoke to the opportunity of playing against Xavier again.

“They’re a great football team. We’ve played great football teams in the past and they’ll just be another one. We’re going to be another one and be ready to go,” Petroccio said. “But it’s different kids, different schemes from the ’09 team, so it doesn’t mean all that much.”

With the amount of underclassmen playing on this Staples team, many are saying that the Wreckers were meant to be a “next year team,” but this group of tough-minded and strong student-athletes has made it clear that they are a “this year team.”

“They really just don’t know how to lose,” Petroccio said. “For us to be playing so many young kids and have the opportunity to go to Rentschler Field, we’re going to enjoy every second of it.”

Additional reporting contributed by Will McDonald ’14

Class LL Semifinals

Staples 44, Newtown 20

NEWTOWN 14 0 6 0—20

STAPLES 7 17 13 7—44

Newtown—Louis Fenaroli 14-yard run (Mike Lengel kick)

Newtown—Louis Fenaroli 17-yard run (Lengel kick)

Staples—James Frusciante 54-yard pass from Jack Massie (Robbie Wolf kick)

Staples—Wolf 22-yard field goal

Staples—Frusciante 20-yard pass from Massie (Wolf kick)

Staples—Nick Kelly 10-yard pass from Massie (Wolf kick)

Staples—Massie 1-yard run (Wolf kick failed)

Newtown—Justin Devellis 30-yard pass from Tarantino (run failed)

Staples—Massie 1-yard run (Wolf kick)

Staples—Joey Zelkowitz 18-yard run (Wolf kick)

Records: Staples 11-0, Newtown 9-3.