Former Warde Gridiron Teammates Prepare to Battle Each Other for FCIAC Football Crown

Editor's Note: Former Andrew Warde High School football player Rob Trifone coached Darien High School to a 17-7 victory over Trumbull High School, coached by Trifone's former Warde teammate and Crimson Eagles' tri-captain Bob Maffei, for the FCIAC football championship tonight at Trumbull High School.

Rob Trifone and Bob Maffei were teammates on the Andrew Warde High School football team nearly 40 years ago. Today, however, they will be on opposite sides of the field as head coaches in the FCIAC championship football game.

Trifone's undefeated (9-0) Darien Blue Wave will battle Maffei's 8-1 Trumbull Golden Eagles at 7 o'clock this evening at McDougall Field in Trumbull for the league championship. Trifone, pictured above wearing number 20 for Warde Eagles, is hoping to win the school's fourth league title against Maffei, pictured above wearing number 22.

Maffei was a tri-captain on the 1972 squad along with Glen Hlvaty (#13), and Tom Davis (#30). The squad was coached by Tom's brother, Bill, after whom the Warde field was named and dedicated in 2006. Maffei is hoping to capture Trumbull's sixth FCIAC crown.

Trifone, pictured above making a tackle for the Crimson Eagles, has taken a measured tone since the season started. "The funny thing about this team is they either rise to the level of the competition or settle," he said. "They have struggled against teams under .500 and been kind of complacent. We tried to snap that. It's the type of group that likes a challenge."

Tom Davis searched through his photo archives and found several photos of Trifone and Maffei when they played for the Eagles. The first photo below shows Davis, Hlvaty, and Maffei, the 1972 Warde tri-captains. The next photo shows them standing alongside Warde coach Bill Davis.

"He would be very proud of them as he has been over the last 40 years," wrote Tom Davis about his late brother, Bill. "He would have been at the game and fighting to get on the field to congratulate both of them."

Tom Davis, who currently coaches girls' lacrosse at Warde, couldn't be happier for his former teammates. "I too am proud of them and know they both have put their lives into football," he added. "To get into a FCIAC championship is a coach's dream. I am rooting for a great game for both."

Good luck to both Rob Trifone and Bob Maffei this evening. It will be a memorable night for one of these two former Andrew Warde High School football players.

Paul