Windsor was already missing its quarterback, junior AJ Robinson, who left the game against Simsbury Sept. 20 with a bruised shoulder.
Now the Warriors were playing Darien, tied for No. 1 in the Courant state coaches poll, and their star running back John Manning got hurt in the first quarter (also a bruised shoulder).
“We game plan so we’re prepared if we don’t have our starters,” Windsor coach Rob Fleeting said. “We do a good job of rotating kids around in practice.”
Windsor (3-0) went on to beat Darien 41-35 in double overtime Friday. The Warriors overcame a lot, including almost blowing a third-quarter 28-7 lead.
Windsor, which was ranked sixth in the Courant state coaches poll last week, moved up to No. 2 after Greenwich (3-0).
The Warriors started a freshman quarterback but then moved to the wildcat formation when they needed to run down the clock. Then Manning got hurt. So Shaun Adams ran the ball, but then he was injured so Cashmire Lewis took over.
There’s a new No. 1 in the CT High School Football Coaches’ Poll for Week 3
“Shaun was still in the game but Cash was running the ball so well we kept him back there,” Fleeting said. “Then we put Shaun back there in the overtime and he did an excellent job.”
Adams ended up with 17 carries for 130 yards and four touchdowns and Lewis had 24 carries for 160 yards and an interception for an 80-yard touchdown.
Darien rallied to tie the score at 28 at the end of regulation.
“Defensively, they found some holes at the end of the third, beginning of the fourth quarter,” Fleeting said. “But we made a few changes, a few adjustments and in overtime, they did an excellent job of stopping them.
“It was a really good team effort. The younger guys stepped in and stepped up. In the fourth quarter, Dom Jenkins, he’s a first-year starter at corner, he got beat on a route but in the last play of overtime, he knocked a pass down. They worked hard and fought.
“This year, I believe we always have a chance. Because I believe in any level of football, if you got guys up front, you got a chance. We have some good guys up front, some big guys, who really move people.”
Here are some of the top performances from last week:
Shaun Adams, Windsor: Adams had 130 yards and four touchdowns, including two in overtime, in Windsor’s double overtime win over Darien Friday.
Paul Calandrelli, Hand: Calandrelli threw four touchdown passes in a 44-14 victory over Berlin Friday.
Cam LaValley, Rockville: LaValley made 13 tackles in Rockville’s 27-20 win over Granby/Canton Friday night.
Joseph Mugovero, Manchester: Mugovero, a senior receiver, made nine receptions for 186 yards and two touchdowns in Manchester’s 27-21 win over Xavier Thursday.
Brady Ramsdell, Rockville: Ramsdell completed 11 of 22 passes for 246 yards and three touchdowns in the Rams’ 27-20 win over Granby/Canton Friday.
Emanuel Sampel, Manchester: Sampel, the senior quarterback, went 16 for 22 for 351 yards and four touchdowns.
Tyler Wolf, Stafford co-op: Wolf had three receptions for 76 yards, a touchdown and six tackles in a 35-6 win over the Coventry co-op Thursday.
