WILTON - The Wilton football team knew this season would require a fast start with one of the more daunting schedules in the state, especially late in the year. The team felt it needed a victory on opening night against Norwalk, another FCIAC team with CIAC playoff hopes, and that is just what the Warriors got.
Wilton had to hold on down the stretch but ultimately took care of business, beating Norwalk 35-21 at Fujitani Field behind three touchdown passes from Colton Smith and three touchdowns from senior running back Dennis Dustin.
"If I was ever to say the first game of the year is a must-win, this was one," Wilton coach EJ DiNunzio said. "The schedule is a beast with Southington and all the other ones. We needed this win and we knew we needed it."
DiNunzio feels this is the toughest schedule he has seen in his time at Wilton, which was 10-2 and reached the Class MM semifinals last season, losing 21-20 to Bunnell. There are seven playoff teams from last season on the slate, including 2025 state champions Berlin (Class M), Greenwich (Class LL) and New Canaan (Class L), and Class LL runner-up Southington.
Wilton's final five games are all against playoff teams.

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