Hamden's defense swarms Cheshire QB Billy Ragone in last year's Class LL semifinal game. The Dragons have been Ranked No. 1 for the 2009 preseason by MaxPreps.com (Photo by Bill O'Brien, Southern Connecticut Conference)
HAMDEN IS NO. 1
Huh? What? Really? Already?
Most bloggers and certainly every reporter here in the Nutmeg state have yet to stir from their offseason hibernation, yet we already have the first peek at the 2009 football season.
Leave it to MaxPreps to do the job.
The nationwide leader in high school sports, MaxPreps has released its national high school football rankings.
If you actually care about high school rankings outside our fair corner it goes: No. 1 Byrnes (Duncan, SC); No. 2 Skyline (Sammamish, Wash.); No. 3 Longview, Texas; No. 4 Shiloh Christian (Springdale, Ark.); No. 5 Memphis University (Memphis, Tenn.) [huh?]; No. 6 Colerain (Cincinnati, Ohio); No. 7 Aquinas (Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.); No. 8 Allen, TX; No. 9 Cocoa, Fla. No. 10 East St. Louis, Ill.
But what about here? The MaxPreps rankings aren’t in list form (at least as far as I can see), so you have to cycle through the rankings, team by team. These rankings appear to be culled from offseason coaching surveys done by the MaxPreps northeast representatives, and they seem to have missed quite a few coaches. So, their preseason accuracy is always a question. Besides, lots can happen from now until September 16th (that’s a Wednesday, by the way… can we just start the season the week earlier please?)
So forget a grain, take these rankings with a big chunk of brine.
But its still fun what with just a few weeks left before camp opens.
Without further ado, the Connecticut Top 10 is… (drumroll).
No. 1 Hamden — The Green Dragons return nine on offense and seven on defense, off a surprising 9-2 playoff season. Guys like WR Josh Smart are gone, but the Dragons return Jr. RB Jordan Teague and QB Jason Lassiter. Experience and speed are listed at steam strengths.
No. 2 Seymour — An interesting pick for No. 2, since the ‘Cats have a new coach in Tom Lennon (Paul Sponheimer is still listed by MaxPreps) and lost bulldozer Mike Osiecki. But this is still a veteran group returning from last year’s Class SS runner-up (though no returning player info is listed by MaxPreps).
No. 3 Hotchkiss-Salisbury … Um, we’re going to ignore this one.
No. 3 Cheshire – An interesting pick. What’s in store for the Rams without do-everything QB/DB Billy Ragone. He practically carried this team on his back. RB/LB Dan Sweeney and big WR/DB Brian Havlicek return.
No. 4 Glastonbury – The Class LL champion Tomahawks take a 13-game win streak into 2009. I have a hard time believing this ranking. Top RB Jordan Brown is gone. So is TE John Pinone.
No. 5 New London — Now this is a stretch, and a clear indication that the MaxPrep rankings mean bobkus. After winning the Class SS title a year ago, coach Jack Cochran was fired. He subsequently found a new home in Monroe, taking his soon-to-be sophomore QB son with him. Rumors have been rampant this offseason that three other players have been looking at real estate opportunities in Monroe as well. So where would that leave the Whalers and new coach Jeff Larson? Not on this list.
No. 6 Cromwell — The Panthers lose the gears behind their Class S championship over Ansonia. LB/WR Shawn Holley, RB Tyshawn Prude and WR Dominique Carr. That’s plenty to say a No. 6 ranking is a stretch for Sal Morello’s team. They should be good, as always, just not this good.
No. 7 New Canaan — If there’s any team that disproves massive offseason losses means an off-year, it’s New Canaan. The Rams, who finished 13-0 and No. 1 in the state rankings, have now won three straight state championships in spite of annual high turnover. They lose a lot again, QB Nate Quinn, LB Nick DiRubio, LB/RB Chris Sciaretta and, of course, WR/S Kurt Ondash. Write this down: They won’t go 13-0 again. That’s about as far as I’m going to climb onto the limb. I’m sure coach Lou Marinelli will polish that off and tack it on the bulletin board. Anything to get his team’s gears going.
No. 8 Montville — Returns all of its top players, nine on offense, 10 on defense, including RB Tyler Girard-Floyd, LB Ricky Fort, FS Skyler McNair. Hmmm. Sounds good… Sure. OK. Not sure if I’m sold yet, but if you guys say so…
No. 9 Brookfield — Can’t see the Bobcats duplicating last year’s SWC/Class M championship season… unless they have another Treibt brother hiding in woods. This is a well-coached team, but, on paper, doesn’t nearly stack up to my preseason favorite: Masuk.
No. 10 Wilbur Cross — Omar Whittington is gone, Kendall Williamson is gone, Shaquille Marshall is gone… but the top stat guys are back, including leading rusher James Ward, QB Dontay Long and LB Tito Slaughter. Sure, this could be a pretty good team.
After that, the list goes as follows:
No. 11 Hand (This is QB Nick Merullo’s senior year); No. 12 Greenwich (the Cards had their one down year…and were 8-3 Time for a comeback); No. 13 Darien (Wheelock, Kosnik, Dysenchuk, Colandro … all gone); No. 14 Xavier (RB Julian Hayes is back as is a solid front line); No. 15 Masuk (Lost Bacarella, Guerrera, Conte, Baker and, of course, Cosmedy from the Class L champs. …but here come the reinforcements from New London. Will it just be Cochran? Or are all the other rumors true? I’ve been told by some sources no, and others say “absolutely.” Stay tuned. This is one team that’s going to be under an electron microscope this season); No. 16 Crosby (The Bulldogs lost all of their best players.); No. 17 Trumbull (Trumbull? Really? Jeff John, Mike Romano and Jake Sippel return. This group has been one or two plays from being a contender the last few years. Maybe the Eagles are due.); No. 18 West Haven; No. 19 King Low Heywood Thomas Hillhouse; No. 20 St. Joseph.
Ansonia chimes in at No. 21, Norwalk at 23, Staples 24 and Shelton 26.
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