Ludlowe defeats Warde

The Fairfield Ludlowe football team sent coach Matt McCloskey out on the winning side and brought the Gallagher-Baryas Trophy trophy back to its side of town with a 31-13 victory over Fairfield Warde at Tetreau-Davis Field on Thanksgiving.
Ludlowe finished its season with four straight victories, all coming after McCloskey let his team know he was resigning, a decision he made preseason.
“This is a great group of kids,” McCloskey said. “They went through a tough season [a year ago] and had a tough [1-5] start this year.
“I told them [of his decision] and they took the last four games and went off running.
“The kids were amazing.”
Matt White, who boasted the Mustangs to a 21-13 lead with a 52-yard touchdown run on their first possession of the third quarter, was Warde’s MVP.
Jimmy Gasper blocked and recovered a Warde punt in the end zone, and Victor D’Ascenzo made the first of four PATs, for a 7-0 lead with 1:21 remaining in the first period.
Warde (1-9), which suffered four fumbles to take away from a sustained offensive attack, drove to the Ludlowe four, where a bobbled handoff saw Ludlowe’s Ben Brzoski pick the ball up on the 11 and ramble 89 yards for a Falcon touchdown midway through the second period.
Warde put together a 69-yard drive to get on the board when Max Garrett scored on an 11-yard run and Conor McGuinness added the conversion kick with 2:50 left to play in the half.
White’s run up the sideline on an sweep to the left side put Warde in a two-score hole only 8:24 into the third.
The Mustangs countered with a 59-yard drive with Mustang MVP Mark Byrne catching passes of 18 and 34 yards to move the chains.
T.J. Gallagher scored on a two-yard run to make it 21-13 at the 2:25 mark of the third.
The Mustangs forced a punt and moved to the Ludlowe 14, only to give up another fumble.
Ludlowe drove 75 yards in a time-consuming 15 plays, and went in front 28-13 on Stephen Scholz’ 13-yard run.
D’Ascenzo kicked a 32-yard field goal in the final minute.
See the next edition of the Sun for complete game story.