New Fairfield Falcons

New coach helps Falcons rally for fallen teammate

By Ben Walpole • bwalpole@communitypress.com

It’s two weeks before the start of a new high school football season, and the Aiken Falcons already have faced more adversity than most local teams will see all year.

Wallace Scott, a popular, charismatic senior, was killed in a car accident last month, leaving a hole on the team far greater than simply his position as defensive back, kicker and punter.

“He was our brother,” classmate and middle linebacker Eric Veal said.

Barely a month after the accident, the Falcons were back on the field for a scrimmage at Goshen High School, Tuesday, Aug. 9.

Seniors James Brown, Keionte Earley and Veal have taken leadership roles on the squad, and part of that means making sure Scott’s memory is kept alive.

It isn’t difficult.

They said whenever they lack motivation or feel tired at practice they think of their fallen teammate.

“You use his strength,” Earley said. “You think you’re doing this for Wallace. He’s looking down on us right now, so we’re dedicating this season to him.”

Scott was especially talented on the baseball field, where he earned first team all-Cincinnati Metro Athletic League honors this past spring.

But he also excelled in football. When new Aiken football coach Guy Westmoreland met the team in April, Scott made sure to introduce himself. He wanted the new coach to know that the team wouldn’t have to go for two-point conversions after touchdowns; Scott had the kicking duties handled.

“He had a tremendous impact on the kids because he had such a great personality,” Westmoreland said. “Of course you don’t want to see that happen to any kid, but especially not to such a nice kid who worked so hard.”

The school gave Scott’s parents his home and away No. 6 jerseys. The Falcons also will wear decals bearing Scott’s initials on their helmets this fall.

Boys' Lacrosse: Rankings (5/1)

This blog is all about high school sports in Connecticut. I do not cover every sport but I cover mainly girls vball, girls bball, football, boys bball, boys ice hockey, boys lacrosse and occasional posts on running (all 3 seasons), girls field hockey, wrestling, and boys soccer. I have a special interest in boys vball since I play that sport. I am a contributing writer for LaxPower; you should check out the link below! -No surprise here, the Blue Wave are as ridiculously good as everyone thought they were going to be coming into the season with six division one athletes!  For their resume, they have wins over St. Joseph, Greenwich, Wilton, Brien McMahon, and St. Anthony's (NY) one of the better teams in the entire nation.  Also for impressive out-of-state wins they beat Yorktown (NY) and Niskayuna (NY) while their two losses have come against the #1 team in the nation, Haverford (PA), and then Manhasset (NY).  Coming up this week they have two away games at a good Fairfield Ludlowe (Tuesday) team and New Canaan (Saturday). -Also undefeated in-state, the Jesuits have some people arguing they should be the number one team in the state.  It is certainly hard to argue with the quality wins they were getting week in and week out at the beginning of the season but one must remember Darien has a ton of good wins too with similar margins of victory and they play in a better conference.  Prep has beat Hand, defending Class L champion Cheshire, and Glastonbury.  Their out-of-state win against Chatham (NJ) was statistically their best opponent (that they beat).  However, Prep is currently on a two-game losing streak after falling to a mad good Delbarton (NJ) school and by one goal to a just as good, if not better, Chaminade (NY) team.  The Jesuits can get back to winning with Cheshire at home Monday, a trip to Greenwich on Thursday and then a home game against Xavier on Saturday...all very good teams!

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