After a ten-year hiatus due to league schedueling difficulties, Choate football once again faced the Hotchkiss Bearcats on October 23. The bleachers of J.J. Maher field were packed with an audience of students, faculty, and families on the edge of their seats, excited to watch the team compete. Taking place over Parents’ Weekend, the football team held Senior Day before the game, during which 18 senior players and managers were recognized for their commitment to the program. Coach LJ Spinnato presented bouquets to the seniors and families joined them on the field for a picture. Junior Varsity player Wayne Wang ’25 said, “As a freshman, watching senior day was a special feeling. The prospect of me being up there one day is truly motivating, and I’m ready to give it everything I’ve got.”
Although Hotchkiss forced a fumble early in the first, Harrison Keith ’23 was able to intercept the ball just two plays afterwards when Captain Damian Carrano ’22 tipped a pass high into the air. Getting the ball back, the Boars offense gained yards rapidly. Matt Buron ’22 caught a pass and broke four tackles, stopping two yards shy of the end-zone. Miles Jolly ’23 scored the touchdown, and kicker Cristian Castro ’22 scored the extra point, putting Choate on the board. After successful stops on defense and a good punt return, two rushes from Jon Marvan ’23 took the Boars back to Hotchkiss’ two-yard line, where quarterback Jaxon Carroll ’23 rushed into the end-zone for Choate’s second touchdown. An extra point attempt by Castro brought the score to 14-0. An interception by Malachi Wright ’22 in the red-zone returned the ball to Choate, which Carroll quickly threw to Ryan Villano ’23 for a touchdown. Immediately after, Castro nailed an extra point, and Choate brought the score to 21-0.
The Choate defense jump started the second quarter, making it difficult for Hotchkiss to advance. Owen Clarke ’22 and Gannon Haley ’23 came up with big stops, and Carrano logged a sack. Getting the ball back, Choate drove down the field, including a 26-yard fourth down rush from Jolly. The drive ended with a touchdown from Vincent Drolet ’23. Choate continued to pull ahead, the score now 27-0.
After half-time, the game devolved into a tug of war. Captain Mark Chapman ’22 noted, “we racked up lots of penalties and didn’t execute as well as we could have in the second half.” Carrano added, “We had great effort and played as a team, but we did get a lot sloppier as the game went on.” Hotchkiss got their first touchdown late in the third quarter, making the score 27-6, after missing the extra point kick. Coming back after a timeout, the offensive line and backs made short work of the Hotchkiss defense, gaining yards on every play. The push ended in a dramatic fashion, with Ben Wable ’23 vaulting into the end-zone, closing the door on Hotchkiss, 33-6.
When asked about his thoughts on the team’s performance, Mr. Spinnato said, “I think we’re playing hard and we’re playing for each other. The team was gelled in a nice way, but we’re still not disciplined enough. To be a more efficient and effective team, we have to minimize penalties and eliminate turnovers.” Reflecting on the day and the season, Mr. Spinnato said, “We’ve been through a lot of ups and downs together, and witnessing their growth these years has been nothing short of amazing. Senior day has always been an emotional moment to me, and I’m truly proud of each and every kid up there.”
