Greenwich High's two-time defending state champion football team opened the 2026 season with a 42-0 shutout of Bridgeport Central on Thursday, Sept. 10, at Cardinal Stadium.
Junior quarterback Phil Tarantino needed just nine throws. He completed seven for 125 yards and three touchdowns, starting with a 60-yard strike to senior wideout Dan Black on the game's first play from scrimmage. Greenwich led 7-0 nineteen seconds into the first quarter.
"We wanted to be perfect and I think we were near perfect," Tarantino told Greenwich Sports Beat. "We ran the ball very well and we threw the ball just as well, if not, better."
The Cardinals scored on their first four possessions, putting up 28 points in the opening quarter. Sophomore running back Evan Beilenson punched in a 4-yard touchdown run in the first quarter. He broke a 30-yard scoring run 50 seconds into the second. Junior receiver Max Townsend hauled in two Tarantino touchdown passes, covering 9 and 22 yards. Greenwich led 35-0 at halftime, triggering a running clock in the second half.
The defense was just as dominant.
Bridgeport Central finished with negative total yards and went 0-for-9 passing, with three quarterbacks combining on the goose egg. Senior captain Justin Carroll, senior Gustav Pietryka, junior Daniel Powers and junior Harry Collier each recorded a sack.
Carroll, one of only two returning defensive starters alongside senior Colin Suvansri according to a preseason profile in Greenwich Time, has committed to Carnegie Mellon. He is one of four captains this season with Mickey Petrone, Casey Baker and Suvansri. A third straight CIAC title would be unprecedented in Greenwich program history, the profile noted.
Head coach Anthony Morello praised the offensive line, which returns three starters from last season's CIAC Class LL championship team: Baker, Petrone and senior Nick Vomvolakis. Juniors Danny Insinga and Nate Collins filled the two new guard spots.
Greenwich gained 251 total yards in just over 30 plays. Backup quarterback Collier saw extensive second-half action and connected with sophomore Theo Ho on a 45-yard touchdown. Placekicker Michael Galano, a junior, converted all five extra-point attempts.
The Cardinals finished 11-2 last season and beat Southington 45-6 in the Class LL final in December 2025 for the program's 11th state championship.
Greenwich travels to Veterans Stadium in New Britain on Friday, Sept. 18, for a 6 p.m. kickoff. The Cardinals then host Fairfield Warde on Saturday, Sept. 26, at 1 p.m.
