By Andy Hutchison

WESTPORT — Bye weeks are always welcome, but when you’re rolling along like the Staples High football team is that’s reason enough to look forward to returning to action as much as the time off.

The Wreckers, coming off a 47-0 trouncing of visiting Westhill of Stamford on Friday night and heading into a week off, are 4-0 for the season. They sit atop the Class LL State rankings, and are averaging nearly 40 points per contest. 

Coach Adam Behrends’ squad has kept the opposition to under 10 points per game and on Friday earned their first shutout of the campaign.

The Wreckers haven’t missed a beat since losing a lot in a strong graduating class from last year’s state champions. 

First-year starting quarterback Nick Weil continued his solid production both in the air and on the ground, completing 10 of 14 pass attempts for 163 yards and a pair of touchdowns along with three carries for 27 yards in the win over Westhill.

Nathan Smith had four receptions for 88 yards and a pair of touchdowns.

Shane Sandrew was a force both from his receiver position and on special teams; he caught six passes for 75 yards and returned a kickoff 91 yards to paydirt.

Kody Goldman was the workhorse in carrying the ball; he had five carries for 93 yards and two touchdowns.

Backup quarterback Liam Barry got into the game and completed a five-yard pass in two attempts.

The defense not only earned the clean sheet but contributed to the point total, too. Callum McLean had two interceptions, including one for a score. Michael Loya also had a pick for the Wreckers.

The team’s only tough test thus far came with the Wreckers’ 28-21 win over Maloney on Sept. 27, but they face another tough challenge in their next contest.

Staples returns to action Saturday, Oct. 19, with a 1:30 p.m. visit to New Canaan (3-1), ranked fourth in Class L standings. (Game schedules are subject to change; click for the latest updates.)

Andy Hutchison has been covering school sports — including Staples athletics — as well as news and feature stories in Fairfield County, since the 1990s.