DANBURY – For the final decade, the Danbury soccer group has been searching for the signature win within the FCIAC that proves it belongs among the many league’s elite. It lastly received that win Friday evening as quarterback Jake O’Keefe used his arm and his legs to carry the Hatters to a 17-10 win over No. 6 Staples, knocking the Wreckers from the ranks of the unbeaten.
It was Danbury’s first win over Staples since 2014.
Danbury celebrates beating No. 6 Staples in Danbury on Oct. 9, 2026. (Scott Ericson/Hearst Connecticut Media)
“It feels nice and feels prefer it has been 4 years coming,” stated O’Keefe, who has began for Danbury since halfway by means of his freshman season. “I’m simply so happy with them, and it’s one thing we’ve at all times had on our thoughts and we knew we may come out and beat them, and we did it.”
Commercial
O’Keefe ran for the sport’s opening landing on an 11-yard run, capping an 85-yard drive earlier than Staples ever noticed the ball.
“I do not assume we’ve scored on the primary drive this yr, and we did it,” O’Keefe stated. “We knew it might set the tone for the remainder of the sport.”
O’Keefe was out for final week’s loss to Ridgefield due to a concussion suffered towards St. Joseph.
Danbury moved to 2-2, however this win was about greater than being .500.
“It means all the pieces,” stated Danbury coach Augie Tieri, who took over this system in 2018. “These boys have labored so onerous for this and we all know that nearly each week we’re enjoying a top-10 group as a result of we play within the FCIAC and we’re proud to do this.”
Commercial
The Wreckers, who fell to 4-1, haven’t been 5-0 since they went unbeaten within the 2012 common season.
Staples coach Matty Jacowleff put the loss on himself.
“Credit score to Danbury, that could be a enormous win for that program,” Jacowleff stated. “They’d a plan, they have been ready they usually have incredible gamers. I must do a greater job placing our gamers ready to achieve success. I really feel like if I did a greater job making ready our gamers, we’d be in a special place than we’re proper now.”
Staples received a first-quarter area objective by David How from 35 yards for its solely factors earlier than halftime.
Commercial
Danbury pushed the result in 14-3 on a 20-yard go from O’Keefe to John Callari within the second quarter.
The Wreckers minimize the result in 14-10 on an 80-yard go from Grant Bozeman to Levi Belzer within the third quarter, however couldn’t maintain any extra drives the remainder of the sport.
Belzer additionally had two interceptions for Staples.
Staples’ solely fourth-quarter drive to achieve deep into Danbury territory ended with an interception by JJ Reyes with 4:14 left. Reyes’ return helped arrange a 17-yard area objective by Jorge Ceballos, Danbury’s solely rating of the second half.
Participant of the sport
Jake O’Keefe, Danbury:
Commercial
His two touchdowns have been enormous, however his poise is what gained the sport for Danbury, particularly getting the Hatters off their very own objective line on two separate events.
Quotable
“(O’Keefe) is simply so powerful. He hung within the pocket and made some unbelievable throws tonight, and there will not be many children within the state that may make these throws. The poise he confirmed the 2 instances we needed to dig out of our personal finish zone, we do not win the soccer sport with out getting out of these conditions. He made some large performs down the stretch, and that is why he’s a big-time quarterback.” – Danbury coach Augie Tieri.
Danbury 17, Staples 10
STAPLES 3 0 7 0-10
DANBURY 7 7 0 3-17
Commercial
D-Jake O’Keefe 11 run (Jorge Ceballos kick)
S-David How 35 area objective
D-John Callari 20 go from O’Keefe (Ceballos kick)
S-Levi Belzer 80 go from Grant Bozeman (How kick)
D-Ceballos 17 area objective
Data: Staples 4-1; Danbury 2-2.
Join the Connecticut Briefing from CT Insider. Get the largest headlines of the day from our community of journalists across the state.
This text initially revealed at Danbury soccer beats No. 6 Staples for 1st time since 2014, will get signature FCIAC win.