By Andy Hutchison

WESTPORT — Staples High’s football team, the top seed in the Class LL State bracket, blanked No. 5 Southington 41-0 in the semifinals on a wet Sunday afternoon.

The host Wreckers scored the resounding victory over the same Southington team they defeated 34-27 in September.

Sam Petrosino set the tone when he returned the opening kickoff for a touchdown. Petrosino later caught a TD pass from quarterback Caleb Smith. 

Smith also ran for a trio of scores. 

Max Maurillo returned an interception for a score. 

The Staples defense forced six turnovers — one fumble and five interceptions. 

The win sets up another rematch with an out-of-conference opponent as the Wreckers square off against No. 3 West Haven in the championship game at Central Connecticut State University’s Arute Field at 5 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 9.

Staples fell 33-23 to West Haven in the season opener before reeling off 11 straight wins through the first two rounds of the state tournament.

West Haven advanced to the finals with a win over No. 2 Greenwich 26-13 on Sunday.

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