Thursday football nights are always hectic. It’s deadline day for the Friday football section and I usually get up early and work late into the evening trying to write stories, compile statistics, organize and write the ‘Games to Watch’ capsules, the ‘Guide to this week’s games’ and, of course, The Elite 8.
That’s the long way of saying: if there are games to see on Thursday night, chances are I’m not going to make it..
This time, I was anxious to catch one of two games: Foran’s SCC Division II game against Sheehan, which essentially was for the small East Division title. Or Amity’s SCC Division I game against 6-1 Xavier in Woodbridge.
But, miracle of miracles, I finished all of my homework by 6:45. Since kickoff was just 15 minutes away and Woodbridge, my hometown, just an exit away on Route 15, the decison was easy: Amity-Xavier.
While I sincerely thought an Amity upset wasn’t completely out of the realm of possibility (hence why I went), I was shocked at the final score. And here it is: Amity 48, Xavier 16.
Yes, the same Xavier which defeated both Shelton (21-14) and Hamden (21-14). But those two wins were up at Palmer Field in idyllic and picturesque Middletown of Middlesex County, where Xavier is 3-0 this season.
Down here in lower New Haven County, however, the Falcons have looked like mere mortals. They lost at Wilbur Cross 28-2 in Week 2, barely beat Branford on the road 27-25, and now this…
Amity led 7-0 after the first play from scrimmage. But Will Tye, Xavier’s best player, sacked Amity QB Bill Choiniere for a safety and later caught a 36-yard touchdown pass from QB Alex Pace. Xavier led 9-7 late in the first quarter.
Then Choiniere, who failed to complete his first six or seven passes, and his cadre of receivers finally started connecting. Amity, which failed to score on two trips inside the Xavier 10-yard line, finally struck just before halftime to take a 20-9 lead. It was 34-16 after three. It didn’t help that Xavier committed five of its six turnovers in the second half.
Choiniere finished 18 of 29 for 359 yards and threw five touchdown passes — two to Kevin Casoria, one to Jay Binkowski, one to Cole Crotta and the other to Kyle Kalanta, who also ran for a pair of touchdowns.
Amity, which has won four straight, travels to play Shelton next week.
ELSEWHERE:
Jake White, Tyler Hames and Foran did indeed win that SCC Division II East title. We all thought this game was a toss up. It wound up being a toss out. Foran 60, Sheehan 29.
The Lions rolled up almost 700 yards of offense before pulling its first team from the game with eight minutes to go. And they never gained another yard after that. Seven hundred? Yow.
Now the Lions will get back to business and try to somehow earn a state playoff berth in Class SS. It’s going to be tough.
Finally, no surprises in the NVL as Tristan Roberts and Ansonia defeated Torrington and Mike Osiecki and Seymour defeated Holy Cross.
We’re just getting warmed up.
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Xavier is a different team on short grass and referees that let the players determine the outcome. I take it there were no TD’s called back.
Comment by Dave k — October 31st, 2008 @ 7:58 am
Way to go Spartans!
Comment by hamden football — October 31st, 2008 @ 8:01 am
hey sean, just wanted to ask a quick question about your elite 8. i was just wondering how you still have greenwich on the “just missing out” they are 4-3, yes i am aware they lost to an elite team, but its not like they even started that high up on your polls. is it because they have been to prestige, or are you just that big of a fan?
Comment by Peter — October 31st, 2008 @ 10:53 am
again——————the scc is overrrrated.amity by 5 tds? lol
Comment by RAY BROWN — October 31st, 2008 @ 11:53 am
WOW!!! How ironic was this game. Just as previouly stated by a host of people. 20-1 at “Palmer Field” give me a break. SPB your absolutely right, away from Palmer Field, the falcons look average at best. Smoked by Cross,struggled with Branford and now Amity made them look like the the team they really are. ” They are who we thought they were.”(The famous quote of Dennis Green). Listen, Xavier won both games against Shelton and Hamden, I can’t dispute that. However, I can not put into words the terrible job the referees did and do at the almighty “Palmer Field.” I didn’t see the Shelton game but heard about it. Now the Hamden game, C’mon…. Both Shelton and Hamden are “HANDS DOWN” better than Xavier but somehow the “Average” Xavier Falcons at “Palmer Field” beat them both and held them both to 14 points. Go figure.
Comment by Football Fan — October 31st, 2008 @ 12:17 pm
That was certainly a topic on the sidelines, football fan.
Tye is a singular player. I thought Xavier was smaller than most top teams I’ve seen. Amity played out of its mind.
We’ll see who the best team in the SCC is tonite.
Peter: I hear what you’re saying about the elite 8, but who would you have me put in their place? (I need 8 just missed)
Comment by SPB — October 31st, 2008 @ 12:51 pm
Ansonia’s opponents so far this year are 20W and 37L while Xavier’s opponents are 33W and 24L. See in the SCC if you start to rest on your press clippings from the week before, you will get smacked around as Amity showed last night. That is competition. Now in the NVL a quality program like Ansonia just has to put their uniform on and they won the game.
Comment by jt — October 31st, 2008 @ 1:54 pm
Ray Brown
Another boring night in the Non Violent League
Comment by Dave k — October 31st, 2008 @ 2:04 pm
Winning is not boring.
Comment by Rob — October 31st, 2008 @ 3:38 pm
go gaels—-and lets not for get the hand powerhouse———-the scc stinks for the size of its conference———derby beats east haven?neither one would win a game in nvl
Comment by RAY BROWN — November 1st, 2008 @ 12:00 pm
going into a game every single week and knowing that you are going to win gets borring.
Comment by Fp Sam — November 1st, 2008 @ 12:45 pm
news flash for Ray Brown
having seen Hillhouse and Ansonia both play Shelton I can only come to one conclusion:
Hillhouse would blow out Ansonia.
Comment by Dave k — November 1st, 2008 @ 3:39 pm
so dave, you’re going to sink to ray brown’s level? i was also at both games and i did not come away thinking hillhouse was superior to ansonia. both teams handled shelton on both sides of the ball…and ansonia did it very early with an inexperienced team. i was impressed with hillhouse, definitely the most complete squad in the scc, but the scc is not what’s been in the past. here’s a small example: hyde was beaten by both wilbur cross and cromwell in very close games. we’re talking a pequot squad comprable to a scc contender.
Comment by hs football fan — November 2nd, 2008 @ 5:14 pm
Wilbur Cross will also lose between 4-5 games this year.In the NVL they would easily go 9-2 or better.Ansonia and Seymour are the only 2 teams in the NVL that would be in the top 10 in the SCC.Have fun beating inferior teams week in and out and then join the Pequot for its postseason playoffs.You can do alot of talking when you need not play the best teams (Regular Season..haha)from the FCIAC or SCC.
Comment by Football Fan — November 5th, 2008 @ 8:34 pm
cross is 6-2 as of my post, oh wise one…you really think that ansonia and seymour would make the SCC’s top 10, lol…thanks for the credit. have you noticed the nvl has had state champions annually…or is that fact de-emphasized by your inability to perceive events objectively?
Comment by hs football fan — November 6th, 2008 @ 8:05 pm
hs football fan can you actually try for once to put your so called knowledge of Ct High School Football to use ? I know Cross is 6-2 as of this post.But to mention Cross as of 11/5 is not atrue test of a season accomplishments.Their end of the season record is more of atrue indicator.And as I said before ,I believe Cross will be a 4-5 loss team in the SCC in 2008 and could have finished 9-2 or better in this years NVL.Your comment on NVL state titles is true but with as many classes as we have the NVL is also guarnteed a few playoff spots.With the smaller schools usually qualifying it sometimes sets up NVL teams with some favaorable Matchups in the playoffs.
Ansonia vs A 1st year Cromwell team in (2002 0r 2003)Seymour vs Tolland 2007.Woodland vs Seymour a few years back.
Comment by Football Fan — November 8th, 2008 @ 10:47 am