St. Luke's potent offense ground to a halt on Saturday when injuries to key starters Bryan Latorraca (wrist) and Myles Gaines (knee) in combination with costly turnovers resulted in the Storm's first loss of the season, 18-12 to King School (Stamford). The defeat gave the FAA football championship to King, but St. Luke's still got a post-season bowl bid to play Hyde-Woodstock (CT) School next Saturday at noon at Kingswood-Oxford School in New Haven.
It was senior day for both schools as St. Luke's said farewell to those playing their last home game on the New Canaan campus: Sam Drews, Myles Gaines, Ron Holland, Charlie Nelson, Blake Stroman, Andrew Sudano, and Noel Thomas, Jr.
A St. Luke's fumble on the second play of the game created a red zone opportunity for King, but the Storm defense held fast inside the five and forced a 24-yard field goal. Later in the game the stout St. Luke's D-line consisting of Robert Wood, Peter Baritz, Ron Holland, Sam Drews, BJ Buckle and TJ Simpson, again held the Vikings scoreless from inside the five when an apparent second field goal by King was nullified by a penalty. King did add a safety for a 5-0 lead.
Storm QB Charlie Nelson marched St. Luke's nearly 80 yards in six plays - including two passes for 73 yards - to take a 6-5 halftime lead and Noel Thomas added a TD late in the third frame to extend the Storm advantage to 12-11. But later, St. Luke's was forced to punt from its own end zone and after a 15-yard return, King launched its winning scoring drive from St. Luke's 17 yard line.
St. Luke's answered with a drive to the King 35, but with under two minutes left, the Vikings pulled in an interception to put an end to the Storm's perfect regular season.
St. Luke's Bowl opponent, Hyde-Woodstock finished its season 7-1 competing in the New England Prep School Evergreen Football League.
