By Andy Hutchison

WILTON — The Staples High football team put a damper on Wilton’s homecoming with a 29-22 come-from-behind victory on a rainy Saturday afternoon. 

With the win, the Wreckers improved to 4-1 and the Warriors fell for the first time this fall and stand at 3-1.

Staples seized the early lead in this back-and-forth matchup. The Wreckers opened the game with a balanced drive capped by quarterback Caleb Smith rushing for a touchdown. 

Staples quickly capitalized on a Wilton turnover to jump out to a 14-0 lead in the first quarter. 

Wilton scored a pair of TDs and got to within 14-13 after junior Charley Leahy made a critical block on a Wilton extra point attempt on Wilton’s first touchdown. 

Staples added a score on another Smith run for a TD and it was 21-13 Wreckers at the break.

Staples opened the second half with the ball, but fumbled and gave Wilton good field position to start the half. Wilton quickly scored, but failed on a two-point conversion leaving the score 21-19. The Warriors held the Staples offense in check throughout the third quarter and eventually put up a field goal to go ahead 22-21.

This set up a dramatic fourth-quarter drive by Staples that featured a third and long first-down conversion and a clutch fourth-down conversion to move the chains. The drive ended with a TD pass from Smith to senior captain Sam Petrosino. Smith and Petrosino also connected on the two-point conversion to make the score 29-22.

Late in the game, the Warriors drove the length of the field, aided by three pass interference penalties, to put themselves in the red zone. Staples’ defense held strong, highlighted by a key sack from senior captain Tanner Chlupsa to force Wilton to turn the ball over on downs. 

The Warriors had another chance, but Staples senior Max Maurillo helped seal the victory with an interception.

The Wreckers return home Friday, Oct. 20, when Stamford visits at 7 p.m. (Game schedules are subject to change; click for the latest CIAC updates.)

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