The Staples Wreckers varsity football team lost 7-0 to the Ridgefield Tigers on Saturday, Sept. 28. 

Senior quarterback Jake Thaw ’20, briefly playing in place of Jackson Zager ’21, threw an interception at midfield with three minutes left, ending Staples’ potential game-tying drive.

The Tigers’ touchdown with 6:49 left in the third quarter gave Ridgefield a 7-0 lead and proved to be the only score by either team. Wreckers running back Henry Beck ’21 ran in a 30 yard touchdown on the subsequent drive, but it was negated by a block in the back on Sam Milberg ’21. 

The 1-2 Wreckers had several chances in the final quarter to tie the game, but a Zager interception with 8:30 left and the Thaw interception allowed Ridgefield to improve to 3-0.

Henry Beck ’21 led the offensive attack for Staples, finishing with 154 rushing yards. 

“[The] line played really well, holes were wide open for me to run through,” Beck said.  

Throughout the first half, Staples relied on their run game, as the Ridgefield defense was all over the pass. The half ended scoreless for both sides. 

“We ran the ball well in the first half, but we were unable to convert,” offensive linemen Sam Milberg ’21 said.

Entering the second half, the game plan for the Wreckers didn’t change. 

“We wanted to keep running the ball, we did a good job of that in the first half, but penalties killed us,” tight end AJ Konstanty ’20 said. 

While it was technically a “home game” for Staples, it was played at Norwalk High School due to field renovations. This lack of a true home field has led to a recent petition from Wrecker fans, parents, and players alike, and Staples will play their first “true” home game on Oct. 25.

Staples beat Brien McMahon in their next game to improve to 2-2 and will play at North Haven on Oct. 18.