Greenwich takes on Fairfield Prep Thursday evening for the Connecticut single-school boys state championship in a game where the #8-ranked Greenwich team has to be heavily favored.

Fairfield has had their moments, and Greenwich Head Coach Joe Kelly said he expects the game to be a difficult one.

“We expect Fairfield Prep to bring their best effort, and while we beat them pretty handily a month ago, I know the game will be much closer this time around,” said Kelly.

Led by a passel of HS All American players and prospects - Luke Bienstock, Jack Freiheit, Mike McTiernan, Patrick McTiernan, Ian Pearson, Jack Weigold, and Soh Nakayama - Greenwich has enjoyed something of a breakout season from lock forward Parker Kelly (no relation to the coach).

The junior has grown to 6-6, and has been a force in the lineout and at the breakdown.

“He’s the sort of lock coaches wish they had,” said Kelly.

The key for Greenwich is that, unlike most of the teams in Connecticut, they have played outside their region. They played Xavier twice - both close losses - as well as Herriman, Gonzaga, and St. Thomas Aquinas. That experience has seasoned their players.

“We’ve played about 20 games since mid-March, which is a lot,” said Kelly. “But it puts us in a position to play our pattern, play our game. All of the game plan in the world can’t prepare a id to tackle those big ids from Herriman - until they do it.”

The multi-school final for Connecticut is slated for Saturday, with Cheshire looking for a Boys-Girls double. Cheshire is undefeated in league and playoff play this season - they take on Fairfield. And while Fairfield has two losses on their record, they were against Greenwich and Fairfield Prep, teams Cheshire did not play.