New Canaan football's Matt Milano heading to Middlebury College

Written by Dave Stewart
Saturday, 17 December 2011 16:00

Matt Milano, the New Canaan football program’s all-time leader in most major passing categories, will be taking his talents north next season as he begins his collegiate career at Middlebury College in Vermont in 2012.

Follow us on Twitter • Keep up on Facebook

Milano’s decision to join the Panthers became official Saturday morning, according to New Canaan Rams’ head coach Lou Marinelli.

Milano was a two-year starter at quarterback for the Rams after seeing some playing time in seven games as a sophomore.

During the past two seasons, Milano led New Canaan to a record of 22-4 and runner-up finishes in the last two CIAC Class L tournaments.

The senior co-captain also helped the Rams keep their stranglehold on the Coaches Memorial Trophy in the annual Turkey Bowl game against rival Darien. In the past two seasons, New Canaan routed Darien 42-14 and 42-21, with Milano earning the Jack Dempsey Memorial MVP Award this year.

Milano chose Middlebury over several NESCAC and Ivy League Schools.

The Panthers are coached by Bob Ritter, who has led the team for 11 seasons. In 2007, Middlebury won the NESCAC championship and Ritter was named both the NESCAC and the Region I AFCA Coach of the Year.

In 2011, Middlebury was 4-4, and overcame a 1-3 start with three wins in its final four games.

The Panthers’ roster already includes junior QB Matt Wheelock and freshman OL Charlie Kunze, both from Darien, as well as sophomore RB Brandon Pacilio and freshman WR Brendan Rankowitz of Westport, both of whom played for the Staples Wreckers.

Milano’s numbers while at NCHS are staggering.

In three seasons, Milano passed for 6,335 yards and 75 touchdowns, completing more than 60% of his passes with 807 attempts and 487 completions. All four of those numbers rank first in the NCHS record books.

Milano owns the top two spots in single-season passing yards with 3,128 as a junior and 2,980 as a senior. He also holds the Ram record for TD passes in a season with 42 last year, and ranks third with 32 this year. His attempts (424) and completions (257) in 2011 were single-season records.

Milano’s name is also dominant on the single-game records list, with five of the top 10 and 11 of the top 20 passing games. His 388-yard game against Bridgeport Central in 2010 ranks second to Kurt Horton’s 599 versus Rippowam in 1970.

Milano also ranks sixth with 362 yards against Masuk in the 2010 Class L final; seventh with 361 yards against Hand in the 2011 Class L final; ninth with 340 against St. Joseph on Homecoming this season; and 10th with 334 yards versus Wilton last year.

In the State record books, Milano is fourth in career passing TDs and eighth in career passing yards. His 42 TD passes in 2010 ranks first in the single-season records, while his 424 attempts this season ranks second.

Matt Milano By The Numbers