Prediction: Familiar foe will stifle Staples (Conn.)

The 2025 high school football season will be getting underway in less than six weeks, which means it’s officially preview season. Rivals High School will be breaking down the nation’s top teams from coast-to-coast, and today we head to Connecticut to take a look at Staples. The Wreckers have won five state titles in program history and will be taking aim at No. 6 when they open their season on Sep. 12.

Player Spotlight: QB Nick Weil

There’s a lot of pieces to last year’s offense that graduated, but one key component that’s returning is the team’s starting quarterback. Nick Weil did a superb job running the Wreckers’ offense in 2024, finishing with 2,174 yards and 24 touchdowns on 162-of-282 passing.

Now Staples is going to need Weil to ramp those numbers up and then some as he will need to help bring along an inexperienced receiving corps in the early going of the season.

Others to watch: WR/DB Justin Halky, K/P Mickey Ross

Season Prediction: 8-2

Staples’ regular season slate appears very manageable in September and October. Things get much tougher in November, with the Wreckers facing off against two state champions from a year ago in Greenwich (Class LL) and New Canaan (Class L).

The rivalry matchup with the Cardinals on Thanksgiving is of particular importance. Staples enters the fall campaign riding a three-game Turkey Bowl winning streak over Greenwich, but the Cardinals got the last laugh in 2024 by ending the Wreckers’ season in the state semi-finals.

Game-By-Game Predictions

Sep. 12 – at Glastonbury (Conn.) Guardians – W
These two clubs didn’t meet a year ago, but the Massey Ratings say the Wreckers roll in a 35-13 victory.

Sep. 19 – Stamford (Conn.) Black Knights – W
Last season’s meeting was a 27-0 win for Staples and we should see a similar result in Week 2.

Sep. 26 – West Haven (Conn.) Blue Devils – W
We see this game being Staples first true test of the regular season. The Wreckers will escape with a two-point victory.

Oct. 4 – at Darien (Conn.) Blue Wave – W
As the Wreckers get into the meat of their schedule, Staples faces a tough Blue Wave team and comes out on top.

Oct. 10 – Wilton (Conn.) Warriors – W
The Warriors give the Wreckers a run, but Staples remains undefeated after a 28-14 win.

Oct. 24 – at Fairfield Warde (Conn.) Mustangs – W
Another week, another win as the Wreckers rout Fairfield Warde.

Nov. 1 – St. Joseph (Conn.) Cadets – W
Things begin to get tougher as the calendar shifts to November, but Staples pulls off a six-point win over St. Joseph.

Nov. 7 – New Canaan (Conn.) Rams – L
It’s déjà vu for Staples as the Rams ruin the Wreckers’ unblemished record, just like they did in 2024.

Nov. 14 – at Fairfield Ludlowe (Conn.) Falcons – W
The Wreckers bounce back from their first loss of the season with a three-touchdown win over Ludlowe.

Nov. 27 – at Greenwich (Conn.) Cardinals – L
Despair in Westport as Greenwich snaps Staples’ three-game Turkey Bowl winning streak.