When Joe Della Vecchia talks about the seniors on his St. Joseph football team, one word consistently pops up: “fun.”
At times, maybe too much fun.
“It’s been a fun group, but sometimes it can get a little annoying at practice because they’re having too much fun,” Della Vecchia said with a smile.
“They’re best of friends and they roll with the punches in the way they give it to each other. It is a pleasure to come here every afternoon to be with them.”
“Fun” isn’t likely the word the opposition would use to describe the Hogs, who are an impressive 25-6 during the past three seasons. St. Joseph won a championship in 2024, when the current seniors were sophomores, and is eyeing another this season.
They own a spotless 6-0 record this fall, lead the Class MM standings and are ranked No. 2 in the GametimeCT Top 10 Poll heading into a showdown at No. 3 New Canaan at 7 p.m., Friday. When they met last year, there were no offensive touchdowns and the Rams won 7-3 on a pick-six by Andrew Esposito.
That matchup was nearly a 1v2 game, but the Rams (6-1) dropped a 34-31 decision to Ludlowe last Friday and the Falcons then sailed up the rankings past five teams, including St. Joseph, and in-to the No. 1 spot.
In a change from last year, when St. Joseph reached the Class M semifinals, the Hogs’ offense has been more explosive this season, with the ability to go deep and stretch the field with the likes of Justin Daniels, Jake Rios and Joey Baskin, as well as grind it out on the ground with Michael Charland. In six games, the Hogs have scored 254 points, just 49 behind their total for 12 games last year.
Still, this is a team that will go as far as the defense takes it. And the players are loving every minute of it.
“I’d describe this defense as fast, physical and relentless,” said Will Zaccagnino, a 6-foot-5, 275-pound lineman with a ticket to Wisconsin. “We’re always flying around to the ball. You’re going to see 11 people around the ball all the time. You’re going to see people trying to punch out the ball, coming in and making tackles, and making big plays.”
The heart of the defense features the Hogs’ own version of the “Core Four.”
They cover each level of the defense, with Zaccagnino on the line, Finn Kilmartin and Kyle Wicker at linebacker, and Jake Rios at free safety in the secondary. They grew up playing together in the Shelton youth leagues, and are three-year starters for the Hogs, giving them a unique connection.
This season, the Hogs have allowed just 40 points in six games. That’s a 6.67 points per game average, which ranks third in the state behind Greenwich (5.14) and Plainville (6.57), and includes a pair of shutouts. They’ve allowed more than eight points in a game just once, that coming in a 49-18 win over Danbury.
“Our three main goals for defense are pitching a shutout, no runs over five yards and no passes over 10, and three turnovers a game,” Wicker said. “We’ve strived to hit those marks and we’ve been pretty successful.”
One other word Zaccagnino used jokingly in describing the defense during the preseason is “violence,” meaning fast and physical.
Kilmartin put that in context, adding the word “controlled.”
“Knowing where you’re aiming in on, and what you have to shut down,” Kilmartin said. “For some teams, you’re not going to focus on the pass because maybe that’s not their strong suit, so you focus on the run. It’s knowing what you’re doing and not losing your head.”
Zaccagnino and Rios were New Haven Register All-State first team selections last year, with Rios – “Bugs Bunny” with his versatility – named as a punter. Wicker and Kilmartin were on the second team.
Rios also starts at wide receiver, Zaccagnino is on the O-line, and Kilmartin at times is in at running back.
The connection between those goes even deeper with family. Zaccagnino is Kilmartin’s godfather after the latter converted to Catholicism in 2025.
“He’ll bust my chops a little bit and try to pull that card,” Kilmartin joked earlier this season. “I mean, he’s also 6-5, so it’s a little intimidating on both ends.”
That goes beyond those four, with the majority of the defense comprised of seniors.
“A bunch of us have been starting since our sophomore year, so we’ve been out here and we’ve gotten the experience, definitely,” Wicker said. “Honestly, it’s a team bonding thing. A lot of us have been together since youth (leagues) and it’s always great playing with all the boys.”
There’s plenty of pop beyond those four in the Hogs’ defense.
The line features Senior Sajiah Hay (6-0, 205), who has a team-best six sacks, and senior Michael Rudini (6-2, 235). The secondary has another veteran alongside Rios with senior corner Paul Karafa, and Justin Daniel, a transfer from McMahon, has pitched in with three interceptions.
Having the imposing figure of Zaccagnino up front helps open things up for the rest of the defense.
“Mike Rudini and Sajiah Hay have benefited the most from Will,” Della Vecchia said. “They’re doubling (Zaccagnino) or running away from him and (Rudini and Hay) are doing a good job holding their end of the bargain on their side of the ball. And then we have Kyle and Finn at backers and they’ve been playing well.
“The experience those guys have from a year ago, they’re stepping up big and making plays all the time.”
The schedule is leveling up for the Hogs in the next two weeks. Following Friday’s game at New Canaan, St. Joseph will face No. 4 Greenwich (6-1) at home on Nov. 14.
“I would say there’s a different vibe,” Kilmartin said. “It’s just knowing that you’re going to have to really get on film, know what’s happening and be prepared. Maybe going after it a little bit harder.
“Those are top teams and if you want to prove yourself, you have to show up in these games.”
This article originally published at No. 2 St. Joseph football’s ‘Core Four’ leads dominant defense into showdown with No. 3 New Canaan.
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