By Andy Hutchison

WESTPORT — It may have been Kody Goldman’s birthday, but the Staples senior running back was the one giving the gifts — scoring four touchdowns — as he and his football teammates defeated visiting Maloney of Meriden 28-21 Friday night.

The Wreckers improved to 3-0 and sit atop the Class LL state rankings and Maloney fell to 1-2.

Goldman’s final TD of the night broke a tie on fourth-and-goal from a yard out with just eight seconds left in regulation. It was his third one-yard rushing score; the other came from three yards out.

Staples dominated in the early going, building a 21-0 lead in the first half. Goldman had a key 31-yard scamper to set up his second touchdown.

Maloney put together a late first-half drive to get on the board and trailed 21-7 at the break.

Staples seemed poised to put the game away in the third quarter, appearing to pad its lead but a touchdown was called back on a penalty and the Wreckers turned the ball over on downs.

Maloney scored late in the third to make it a one-possession contest going into the fourth.

Penalties slowed the Staples offense in the second half. A clutch interception by Callum McLean thwarted a Maloney drive at the Wrecker 33-yard line. Staples, however, was stopped again and punted away. Jesus Martell broke through a cluster of would-be tacklers to score on the punt return and Maloney evened things at 21 apiece with 7:43 to go.

Staples then assembled an impressive 70-yard scoring drive that took most of the remaining time off the clock. 

After a strong kick return by Shane Sandrew the offense went to work, led by several strong Anthony Armentano carries, as well as big gains by quarterback Nick Weil along with Goldman and Sandrew. Edward van der Merwe had a huge fumble recovery when the Staples offense nearly lost the ball on that game-winning drive.

Finally, it came down to fourth-and-goal, and the Wreckers put the ball back into the hands of Goldman to finish his big night.

“It was an insane game. That’s what we do — we fight ’til the end,” Goldman said.

Staples Coach Adam Behrends said the Wreckers want the ball in the hands of 

Armentano and Goldman in crunch time.

“I’m really proud of the kids — the way our kids responded with that big drive,” Behrends said.

Staples hosts Westhill of Stamford at 7 p.m. next Friday. (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.