Greenwich's unbeaten season ended Friday, Oct. 23, at Cardinal Stadium, where top-ranked New Canaan rallied with a punishing second-half ground game to beat the No. 2 Cardinals 23-19.

The loss drops Greenwich to 5-1. New Canaan improved to 6-0 and extended its state-best winning streak to 29 games, as first reported by WTNH.

As we previewed Oct. 22, the matchup pitted the state's top two teams and top two defenses before a packed house.

New Canaan senior Jackson Crowell set the tone early, intercepting Greenwich quarterback Phil Tarantino and returning the ball to the Cardinals' six-yard line. Two plays later Crowell scored on a short rushing touchdown to put the Rams ahead 6-0. Greenwich blocked the extra point.

The Cardinals answered. Justin Carroll punched in a two-yard rushing touchdown to give Greenwich a 7-6 lead. New Canaan kicker Neel Arora drilled a 38-yard field goal to put the Rams back on top 9-7 after one quarter.

Tarantino rushed for a nine-yard score in the second quarter, and Greenwich took a 13-9 lead into halftime.

That lead did not last.

New Canaan switched to a jumbo running package to open the third quarter and wore Greenwich's defense down. The Rams ran the ball 22 consecutive times across two scoring drives, covering 54 yards on one and 57 on the other, according to CT Insider.

Dallas George scored on a 14-yard run out of the wildcat to give New Canaan a 16-13 lead. Crowell added a four-yard rushing touchdown, his second of the night, stretching the advantage to 23-13.

Greenwich coach Anthony Morello said the Rams' size up front was the difference. "We played two great quarters but you've got to play four to beat New Canaan," Morello said, according to CT Insider.

Tarantino found Bobby Stanley for a 16-yard touchdown pass in the fourth quarter to pull Greenwich within 23-19, but New Canaan blocked the extra-point attempt. The Rams blocked two Greenwich kicks on the night.

Injuries compounded the Cardinals' second-half struggles. Greenwich lost Alex Neitzell to a concussion and linebacker Jacari Hughes to cramping, according to CT Insider.

The Oct. 23 game marked the second straight season the two programs met as the state's top-ranked teams. New Canaan won last year's meeting 14-7 at Dunning Field.

Greenwich travels to Ridgefield on Friday, Oct. 30, at 7 p.m. The Cardinals then host Wilton on Nov. 6 before road games at St. Joseph on Nov. 14 and Staples on Nov. 26.