SPB's High School Football

In case you haven’t been visiting our site over the past month (and, if so, where’ve ya been?!), here’s where you can get all of the scoring updates you need from tonight’s high school football games.

For the uninitiated, here’s how it works:

Our correspondents and staff writers will be at quite a few high school football games. Armed with our mobile phones, we will text or Twitter (Tweet) updates from our games as they happen live. Those updates will appear on the live feed below in real time.

Of course, we can’t be at all the games. So we ask you, Joe or Jane Fan, to help us out.

If you have a Twitter account, you can send updates from your game to all of those who, for some reason or another, are stuck at home. Just remember to add #ctfb at the end of your updates. Internet access is good, but you can also set up Twitter to send updates via text message.

Already, we have quite a few people getting their games onto the live blog. ItsMeKGill, Spartans97, 548mjs, WWhippets, pjr14… But we can always use more (Especially from Masuk and the rest of the upper SWC teams).

Afterwards, the CIAC’s high school football Twitter feed will give us the official, final scores here on the blog. We will also do our best to respond to comments, if you have any.

Update: Games we likely will have covered via these updates — Greenwich-Trumbull, Ansonia-Wolcott, Woodland-Holy Cross, New Canaan-Seymour, Branford-Hamden, Amity-Lyman Hall (we expect), North Haven-Hand (we expect), Derby/O’Brien Tech-Watertown, Newtown-Pomperaug, Stratford-Notre Dame Fairfield.

While we’re at it, you can also listen to the many games being broadcast across the state by the various radio/internet stations.

Here’s FRIDAY’S lineup

Foran (3-1) at West Haven (1-3), 7 p.m. — Sportingnewsct.com

Naugatuck (2-2) at Notre Dame-WH (3-1), 6:30 p.m. – GoGreenKnights.com; Sportingnewsct.com (LIVE VIDEO)

Sheehan (3-1) at Cheshire (3-1), 6:45 p.m. — ESPNRadio1300.com (1300 AM)

Greenwich (4-0) at Trumbull (4-0), 6:45 p.m. — WGCH.com (1490 AM)

Woodland (3-1) at Holy Cross (4-0), 7 p.m. — WATR.com (1320 AM)

SATURDAY

McMahon (2-2) at Staples (4-0), 1:30 — WSTC/WNLK.com (1400 or 1350 AM)

“Okay, campers, rise and shine, and don’t forget your booties ’cause it’s cooooold out there today. It’s coooold out there every day. What is this, Miami Beach? Not hardly!”

It certainly doesn’t feel like midseason, it’s more like postseason here in Connecticut high school football land.

What a miserable, miserable, miserable forecast we have for the weekend. Rain, cold, snow??? We’ll be covered in all of it tonight and tomorrow as we hit the midpoint of #ctfb.

(That means “Connecticut High School Football” for you not following on Twitter. By the way, some official Twitter site has actually defined #ctfb as “Connecticut Football” …So you technically shouldn’t use it for anything else. We’re all honored here.)

Anyway, not too too much going on this week in the way of Big (BIG) games. Part of the reason is the full slate of SCC Crossover games (103-22 and counting). And, if Wilbur Cross’ 54-12 wipeout of East Haven, in the cold, wet slop at WCAC yesterday was any indication, we’re in for quite a few more blowouts in that league.

And this includes Notre Dame-West Havens’ game vs. Naugatuck at Veterans Memorial Field in West Haven. If the Green Knights are as strong as I believe they are, that’s not going to be a pretty sight. The NVL has a great record out of conference so far (5-1), but that was against the likes of Killingly, Putnam, Cheney Tech, Platt Tech and, yes, Hillhouse. But this is Notre Dame-WH and (for Seymour), New Canaan… much, much different animals.

(By the way, something that should have been discussed a bit more in-depth is New Canaan’s explanation of why it didn’t bite the bullet and schedule that Notre Dame-West Haven game. From what I’m told, New Canaan wanted a two-year agreement to shore up its two years of open dates, but since SCC can’t guarantee NDWH a second bye, the Green Knights couldn’t commit. That was all on New Canaan to schedule the game, and then look for another out-of-conference game in 2010. Yeah, it’s a pain, and yeah, Seymour looked like a decent second option at the time but… New Canaan-Notre Dame. That’s a game that has to happen.)

(sigh).

So we’re stuck with two potential routs…

So what else do we have?

Greenwich at Trumbull: Ah, yes. Very nice. An (ahem) FCIAC Division I game that’s drawn plenty of inside and outside interest and enabled at least one prognosticator to proclaim a Trumbull victory. Is Greenwich for real (I think it is) or is Trumbull not getting enough credit (TBA)?

Here’s a point to reiterate: Everybody loves to pump up Trumbull’s defense because it has posted three straight shutouts, two against relatively mediocre competition. Central was a big test and, yes, they passed with flying colors.

But people are forgetting Greenwich’s first-team defense has been just as good — if not better. Why all the points? Well, the Greenwich offense has been so dominant so far, it has been pushing the 50-point barrier. Their games are over in the second quarter. Trumbull, meanwhile, hasn’t dominated on offense enough to put their games away. It only beat Wilton 13-7, Trumbull took its time building a 28-0 halftime lead over Westhill, and Norwalk … well, that game was played in monsoon, so a pass there.

I have to see something more out of Trumbull’s offense to give the Eagles a legit chance against a pretty darn good Greenwich team.

Of course, Phil Terio could pick off passes for TDs and Alex Roque or Matt Hajducky could have several key sacks to knock off the Cardinals. …But that’s my point. Trumbull’s defense is good, but good may not be good enough. We need a great performance.

Ansonia at Wolcott: An intriguing game, suddenly. Wolcott’s never beaten Ansonia and, so far, it’s been rolling through its opponents despite being a pretty young team (sophomore RB in Bonvillian). And now comes word that junior TB Montrel Dobbs(among a few others, according to coach Tom Brockett) might not play due to nagging injuries.

Ansonia, which has had its offensive struggles in recent weeks, is going to have to reach into its magical bag of talent. Will they find the next Alex Thomas?

Could potentially be a tough one up at Joe Monroe Field? Yes, but…

I laugh at Tom Brockett‘s quote to our new writer, Henry Chisholm in today’s SCC/NVL Notebook “Obviously, I’d have to say they’re the best team in the NVL. They’ve blown everybody out.”

“Ansonia’s not used to being the underdogs…”

Underdogs? Underdogs?

Nice redirect, guys.

I don’t care what anybody says, you’re STILL Ansonia.

I’m positive sure Tom and the boys will figure out something.

Newtown at Pomperaug: Personally, I’d love nothing more than Newtown to make this a game. I know the 4-0 Nighthawks are ‘dogs in this one and a lot of people (based on polls) expects this to be nothing more than a Pomperaug rout. But, for the sake of pure theater, we need the Nighthawks to show the SWC isn’t just a two-team race between Pomperaug and Masuk.

Unfortunately, Newtown doesn’t get Masuk until after the title game and, of course, Masuk doesn’t play Pomperaug this season. So, this game is the ONLY one on the SWC schedule that will have any bearing on who gets to play for the championship. SWC = bizarre league.

JUST THINKING OUT LOUD HERE but, if your league absolutely insists on having a championship game, it’s time for somebody to put their foot down and say, Well, then you have to push all of your Thanksgiving Games up to Week 10 and play your title game on Thanksgiving.

Given the sheer size of these leagues, and their apparent inability to divvy up into two Divisions (FCIAC because of odd teams, SWC because they insist on getting everybody to play everybody over a four-year period), the criteria for the title games is all out of whack.

You can’t just leave off one game and believe you have a fair system of determining championship game participants. The SWC mess is a case-in-point. Some teams’ schedules are stacked, others aren’t.

There are SWC teams that play Masuk, Pomperaug and Newtown as their SWC title game road (Hello, Barlow). Masuk, meanwhile, gets neither Pomperaug or Newtown on its road.

What is that?

Same goes for the FCIAC.

Here for example, is Norwalk‘s Road to Boyle: Greenwich, Staples, Trumbull, Ridgefield, St. Joseph.

Foof.

Here, by comparison, is Staples‘s primrose path: Ridgefield. Trumbull.

That’s it. No Greenwich, because that’s on Thanksgiving. No New Canaan. No St. Joseph. No Central. …heck, not even a Darien.

Leaving that Thanksgiving game off makes no sense anymore, like it once did when we had two static divisions.

So, if you INSIST on having a title game, move those Thanksgiving Games up to the Saturday before and play the title game on TDay. …Teams are all playing their Thanksgiving games closer and closer to that date and plenty of people are home beginning that weekend anyway. In the case of the true-true Thanksgiving rivalries (of which there are few in the FCIAC and SWC), you’re going to draw a crowd regardless.

So, SWC, FCIAC: do something progressive on these title games or don’t play them at all.

Frustrates the heck out of me.

Add: I don’t know what to say about the NVL’s format. I mean, one year we get Holy Cross-Ansonia, an epic battle. Another we get Kennedy-Ansonia. …Not sure this league needs a title game.

End rant.

FRIDAY

SATURDAY

It’s that time of the week again, the Connecticut Post/The Advocate of Stamford/News-Times of Danbury and Greenwich Time live high school football chat with Dave Ruden and me.

We’ll kick things off at 8:30 p.m. Get your homework done, kids put to bed, yada, yada, yada.

See you then!

(Ahem)

Here is the game action from Friday’s 21-0 Trumbull victory over Central in an FCIAC clash of unbeatens at McDougall Stadium, complete with postgame interviews et. al.

Enjoy. Comments later.

Yes, it’s the anticipated film on Trumbull’s 21-0 victory over Central in a clash of FCIAC unbeatens at McDougall Stadium.

Just getting this out there now for your perusal, comments later…

Update: The entire video didn’t make it over, unfortunately, so I’m taking it down (even though it got 25 hits within a half hour). Much of the end, including Will Melvin’s 2nd TD and the post interviews were cut out inexplicably. I’ll figure it out Wednesday.

While… You’re…. Waiting… Watch this sick, sick highlight reel from Notre Dame-WH’s thrilling, 40-36 victory over Cheshire on the Notre Dame-WH high school site (via our friends at Birdseye Sports).

No snappy lead-in this time as we unveil the state polls heading into Week No. 5:

MEDIA POLL

Dropped out: Cheshire (5), Cromwell (9).
First-place votes in parentheses after record.

Others receiving votes:
11. Berlin (4-0), 210
12. St. Joseph (4-0), 186
13. Cheshire (3-1), 177
14. Simsbury (4-0), 176
15. Holy Cross (4-0), 166
16. Trumbull (4-0), 144
17. Xavier (3-1), 63
18. Wolcott (4-0), 44
19. Fitch (4-0), 41
20. Cromwell (3-1), 22
21. Ansonia (4-1), 21
22. Avon (4-0), 18
23. Ridgefield (3-1), 12

The following voted: Marc Allard, Norwich Bulletin; Bob Barton, New Haven Register; Bill Bloxsom, Hersam-Acorn; Sean Patrick Bowley, Connecticut Post; Don Boyle, SportingNewsCT.com; Bryant Carpenter, Meriden-Record Journal; Henry Chisholm, Connecticut Post; Garrett Dale, Register Citizen; George DeMaio, WELI; Mike DiMauro, The Day of New London; Matt Doran, Norwalk Hour; Noah Finz, WTNH-8; Ned Griffen, The Day of New London; John Holt, WFSB-3; Mark Jaffee, Waterbury Republican-American; Ken Lipshez, The Herald of New Britain; Mike Madera, Elm City Newspapers; Joe Morelli, New Haven Register; Paul Nichols, Middletown Press; Mike Pucci, New Haven Register; Dave Ruden, Stamford Advocate; Tom Yantz, Hartford Courant; Jimmy Zanor, Shore Line Newspapers.

SPORTS WRITERS ALLIANCE
Week #4
Released October 12, 2009

Also Receiving Votes:
11. St. Joseph 4-0 120;
12. Notre Dame-West Haven 3-1 99
13. Cheshire 3-1 97; Holy Cross 4-0 81
14. Simsbury 4-0 73
15. Trumbull 4-0 72
16. Xavier 3-1 45
17. Avon 4-0 27
18. Cromwell 3-1 23
19. Wolcott 4-0 18
20. Newtown 4-0 14
T21. Ansonia 3-1 11
T21. Fitch 4-0 11
23. Conard 4-0 10
24. Bloomfield 4-0 9
25. New Britain 2-2 8
26.  Ridgefield 3-1 5
27. Bristol Eastern 3-1 4
T28. Bridgeport Central 3-1 2
T28. Northwest Catholic 3-1 2
T30. Farmington 2-2 1
T30. Southington 2-2 1
T30. St. Paul/Goodwin Tech/Lewis Mills 3-1 1

Voters: Bob Barton (CT H.S. Football Record Book), Bill Bloxsom (Hersam Acorn), Don Boyle (Sporting News CT), Jim Bransfield (Middletown Press), Johnny Burnham (Bristol Press), Bryant Carpenter (Meriden Record-Journal), Henry Chisholm (Connecticut Post), Ray Curren (Elm City Newspapers), Garrett Dale (Torrington Register Citizen), George DeMaio (WELI Radio), Gerry deSimas (Collinsville Publishing Co.), Bill Donovan (WXLM 104.7 FM), Dave Greenleaf (CCC website), Mike Guerrera (Southington Citizen), John Holt (WFSB Channel 3), Mark Jaffee (Waterbury Republican), Larry Kelley (Times Community Newspapers), Greg Lederer (Cheshire Herald), Ken Lipshez (New Britain Herald), Andrew Lovell (New Britain Herald), Matt Norlander (Darien/New Canaan News-Review), Tim Parry (FCIAC Football Blog), Sean Patrick Bowley (Connecticut Post), Pat Pickens (Fairfield Citizen-News), Mike Pucci (New Haven Register), Jesse Quinlan (Greenwich Time), Paul Rosano (Meriden Record-Journal), Mike Suppe (Hersam Acorn Newspapers), Peter Vander Veer (Elm City Newspapers), Tom Yantz (Hartford Courant), Jimmy Zanor (Shore Line Newspapers).

DAY COACHES POLL

Dropped out: Cheshire (5).
Also receiving votes:
11. St. Joseph-Trumbull (4-0), 113 points
12. Holy Cross (4-0), 110
13. Berlin (4-0), 95
14. Notre Dame-West Haven (3-1), 88
15. Wolcott (4-0), 72
16. Trumbull (4-0), 67
17. Cheshire (3-1), 62
18. Xavier-Middletown (3-1), 51
19. Newtown (4-0), 49
20. Bloomfield (4-0), 29
21. Avon (4-0), 26
22. Ansonia (3-1), 24
23. Conard-West Hartford (4-0), 22
24. Ridgefield (3-1), 10
25. East Lyme (3-1), 9
26. Ledyard (2-1), 8
T27. Fitch (4-0)
T27. Wilbur Cross-New Haven (2-2), 7.

The following coaches voted: Scott Benoit, Hamden; Tom Brockett, Ansonia; Jim Buonocore, Ledyard; Dave Cadelina, Bridgeport Central; Chuck Drury, Pomperaug-Southbury; Steve Filippone, Hand-Madison; Tanner Grove, Montville; Jude Kelly, St. Paul-Bristol; Tim King, Valley Regional-Deep River; Bill Mella, Southington; John Murphy, Masuk-Monroe; Marce Petroccio, Staples-Westport; Bob Zito, Maloney-Meriden.

This was supposed to be a few quick tidbits, but has developed into so much more than that as I wrote the thing.

Regardless, here are some thoughts and soliloquies for you to chew on as we delve into Week 5.

1. Bassick defeated McMahon 34-7.

Let’s run that by you again.

BASSICK WON, 34 (THIRTY FOUR) to 7 (SEVEN)

As one observer pointed out via text: “I know Idris Price isn’t playing for McMahon anymore, but that has to be the most stunning FCIAC score I’ve ever seen.”

Look, we knew Bassick was better (READ: “Suddenly, Bassick’s no pushover” in the Guide), but 34-7? And who in tarnation is Davonte Franklin and is it too late to pick him up on the waiver wire of my high school football fantasy league? Six carries, 99 yards, 90 yard TD and a kickoff return touchdown. Sheesh. Have a day, young man.

I’ll admit, I chuckled a bit at posts going on about McMahon’s 2-1 start. They beat Stamford and Harding (combined 0-7 at this point). But I never thought they’d lose to Bassick… and never in my wildest imagination would I think — if they did actually win — that it would be by 27 points. 8-7, maybe or, 13-12. But not 34-7.

Unbelievable.

2. Trumbull’s defense is good

I don’t have the raw stats in front of me, but Trumbull must have stopped Central on at least five fourth down plays, maybe four inside the 25-yard line. It also forced several  turnovers at key moments against Christon Gill. Trumbull’s Alex Roque is a player among his many talented teammates. This club has now posted three consecutive shutouts. So, yes, it’s a pretty good defensive unit.

Now, the offense could use a little work. It didn’t score until halfway through the third quarter and only added a late touchdown just while trying to run the clock out in the fourth.

So the jury’s out somewhat on Trumbull. Still, it should be a doozy next week at home vs. Greenwich, another team that, yes has been ranked high all year and has just bullied its first four opponents this year. Their defense? Not too shabby either. I can’t recall one game where an opponent scored against Greenwich’s first team yet. Very underrated unit so far.

But, like Trumbull and Central until last week, these opponents haven’t exactly been anything to write home about. Greenwich’s first four wins have come over teams that are a combined 2-14.

Right now, I give the edge to the Cardinals because they seem to be clicking on offense as well. Should be a good game.

3. I can’t see anybody in the SWC on Pomperaug’s level

Yes, including Masuk, which is a good team, well coached and has good players (Alex Trump and Christian Allen come to mind). Masuk, which plays more than the normal allotment of sophomores, is still figuring itself out.

Pomperaug, meanwhile, made mince meat of Bunnell, Bethel, Stratford and Brookfield. Ben Crick is well on his way to an all-state season and their are a ton of other ferocious players on that squad. They look like they’re on a mission right now.

Ask me right now (and you have), these guys are on course for a Masuk showdown.

Right now, they look like the better club.

Then again, the SWC title game is played in mid November. Not now.

We.

Shall.

See.

Another tidbit: Not counting the SWC title game, these clubs are virtual locks to reach the Class L playoffs with unbeaten seasons. Could be in for a rematch in a Class L title game, folks. Hold onto your hats.

4. The NVL is not as strong as in previous seasons

Sorry. It just isn’t.

Seymour is way down due to injuries, Ansonia is not its usual dominant self (that Hillhouse win doesn’t look as impressive with the Acs struggling at 1-3). Watertown looked like a decent enough team, but then  got smacked by Woodland (which got hammered the week before). Naugatuck, everybody’s darling team after winning over Seymour in Week 1, has suddenly gone silent. The two teams to which it lost, Derby/O’Brien Tech and St. Paul, are decent teams who have been more than competitive in their new digs.

Holy Cross is good. It’s 4-0 and beat Ansonia, after all. But the Crusaders have not been truly dominant.

Crosby has been good enough in starting 2-2. But, again, that 37-0 loss to St. Joseph in Week 1 looks more and more telling about the state of the NVL as the season goes on.

The only true state player right now is Wolcott. This looks like a team on the fast track. With Dominic Gambino, Gregg Jackson and DeVante Bonvillian leading the charge, none of their wins have been close. It’s outscored its opponents 171-54 (125-35 in NVL competition).  It killed Crosby and Woodland… now it has a chance to make a big statement against Ansonia this Friday at home.

This looks like a vote-worthy team. Big game up there in Valley land. We’ll see what they’re made of this week.

I’m not saying the NVL is any worse than, say, the bottom half of the SCC, FCIAC or … heck, most of the SWC. And it’s certainly a wide-open, competitive league filled with theater and intrigue enough to keep the good folks at the Waterbury Republican-American busy. I am saying it’s just not legit the way it was a few years ago, is all.

Meanwhile, we’ll get to see the NVL tee it up against two of the state’s best teams this week. New Canaan is at Seymour (looked like a much better game a few months ago) and Notre Dame-WH hosts Naugatuck.

Lotsa luck gentlemen.

5. Speaking of which… Notre Dame and New Canaan should be ashamed of themselves.

We’re not going to start pointing fingers but… this game should have happened this week. Somebody had to step up. Nobody did.

6. The SCC is the best, most exciting league in the state

Of all the shuffling going around these past few years, the SCC is the only league to get it right.

This, my friends, is how a football conference should be run.

After a string of blowouts in 2002 and 2003, the league recognized (or, more to the point was forced to recognize)  there are are vast discrepancies between a majority of their small school and large schools. So when the SCC realigned in 2004 with Law and Foran, it split its large and smalls in half (with some adjustments). Now we have the largest and most diverse schools in the league and the smaller demographically similar schools facing off against each other almost exclusively.

The results have been astounding. Week to week, there’s not one gimme game on the schedule and the league is so thick with intrigue you can barely chew it.

In Division I, Hamden is 4-0, but has had to fight, scratch and claw to get there. Tonight’s 37-27 game with Shelton  is a perfect example. Shelton is 1-3, West Haven is 1-3, but they are still very talented teams, capable of beating anyone on their schedules.

Notre Dame, Xavier, Cheshire… these teams take turns wacking each other in weekly slugfests. Xavier beat ND, ND beat Cross, Cross beat Xavier, Cheshire beat Cross, Notre Dame beat Cheshire… And we still have no clue which is truly the best of the bunch.

At the bottom, it’s the same thing. When they’re not tangling with their bigger brethren, the SCC Division II  teams are competitive against each other and we really don’t have a handle on which is truly the best of the bunch.

Excitement. Adventure. Really wild things.

Almost every week.

This, my friends, is a football league.

Unfortunately, these clubs aren’t in a race with each other for a league championship (Division titles… over four other teams? Who the heck cares?)

The winner of the SCC doesn’t automatically qualify for the state playoffs (though it typically will do so). No, these teams are in a state playoff race with like-sized schools in other leagues — leagues, incidentally, which typically do not subscribe to the SCC’s progressive thinking.

Naturally, this has left a few coaches in the league a little antsy about the configuration as far as playoff possibilities go. For example, Notre Dame-WH is shaping up to be a great team this year, but one more loss might kill them in a Class L field that’s already practically half-full with Pomperaug and Masuk ripping up the SWC.

So naturally, there’s been serious talk about realigning again, especially now that the league is down to 19 with the loss of Derby to the NVL.

I’m apprehensive about what kind of setup the league can possibly come up with this time. It won’t solve the problem of having bye weeks. Why ruin a good thing?

Playoff considerations aside (that’s the CIAC’s problem), we really can’t go back to the old ways. Not now.

Case in point: This week is crossover week in the SCC, part of the concession that ultimately made the Division I and II split work. Commissioner Al Carbone is adamant that these crossover games are necessary to preserve the integrity of a league. If they scheduled strictly by enrollment, one half of the league’s schools would never play the other half.

Again, I’ll argue that you’re already halfway there. The SCC I West teams will never face the SCC II East teams in your setup. The SCC I East teams never face the SCC II West teams. And, when you realize that SCC Division I is a whopping 102-22 against Division II (including Thanksgiving games), what’s the point in playing these games… ever?

Last year, during crossover week (the second set of the crossover games are sprinkled about the schedule) SCC Division I went 9-1 and outscored Division II by an average of 42-15. Last week, Xavier beat Branford 48-0 in a crossover. Law did beat Prep up a couple of weeks ago, but still: 102-22… those Division II wins are are few and far between.

Meanwhile, we don’t get Cheshire-Hamden or Notre Dame-Shelton this year. Instead, we’ll get Cheshire-Sheehan (42-0 last year), Hamden-Branford (31-0), Shelton-Law (62-14).

That’s no fun for anybody.

Just cave, SCC and give us nine weeks of Division I vs. Division I; and eight weeks of Division II vs. Division II  (It could be nine if you make a smart move and finally get New Haven Public Schools to add Hyde into the mix).

Call the best record your SCC division champion. And, after a two or three year stretch, bump the top one or two Division II teams into Division I and the bottom two Division II teams down, like English Premiere League soccer.

In fact, this is how all state leagues should do it. This is how the whole state should do it. Power divisions, like hockey back in the old days.

I’ll even concede that instead of two divisions, we could divvy all of our football schools into three, and then base our playoff points on that.

Hmmm… These are radical thoughts, but intriguing ones. The big brain’s cooking on this. To be continued.