SPB's High School Football

1. look for big west haven win————ansonia is picking up some steam—-pass defense is still shoddy though

   Comment by ray brown — November 13th, 2009 @ 8:16 am

2. Ok, so Seymour did not keep it close against Ansonia on Thursday night. Already 0-1 in predictions this week. Ha

   On to the Friday games….

   Comment by Bay — November 13th, 2009 @ 8:30 am

3. Let’s start in the FCIAC this week. Central and St. Joe’s both need to pull off upsets to keep their postseason aspirations alive. Can Central catch New Canaan nursing a big win hangover? Can Greenwich pull itself together after a classic, but heart-wrenching loss?

   For the sake of Class SS, I hope St. Joe’s can get the win here and give Montville some competition, because there is little evidence that Holy Cross or Wolcott can do it. More on them later. Greenwich should win this game at home, unless those dastardly referees with personal agendas conspire to screw them over again!

   There is concern that Ridgefield may make the playoffs mainly due to a weak schedule. They have contests remaining at Wilton and home for Danbury. And if you think those are easy games….well ok, those are easy games.

   Staples meets up with Trumbull, which would be a bigger game if Trumbull hadn’t pulled a Houdini after thumping Central. Still green Staples QB lines up against the vaunted Trumbull defense.

   Now ranked #10 in the media poll, Holy Cross takes on Naugatuck. The Crusaders have looked suspect the past few weeks. Good thing for them Naugy has looked suspect for most of this decade. Also of note, the Holy Cross-Wolcott game on Thanksgiving will serve as the NVL title game and will have huge implications on the Class SS field. No, really.

   Notre Dame of West Haven and Hamden should both continue on their collision course to an epic Green Bowl. A lot of hype building for the Green Knights and a lot of hype diminishing for the Green Dragons. Let’s just hope Hamden gets past Cross on Saturday afternoon and gets to Thanksgiving healthy.

   West Haven looks to continue its spoiler roll and knock off Xavier. Blue Devils had two weeks to prepare for this loss.

   Pomperaug only has Weston remaining before the long awaited battle against Masuk. You can knock the Pompy schedule all you want, but in the last three weeks they have played Immaculate, New Milford, and Barlow. If you think that was easy, then….well ok, that was easy. But they are still a very good team.

   St. Paul and Friends travel to Torrington. St. P trying to keep the Class MM playoff dream alive.

   Bunnell at Masuk. This game had 5% upset potential before the Bulldogs lost to ND-Ffd. At home. On Senior night. Now it stands at a resounding 0%.

   Let’s hope that Foran’s big television appearance didn’t go to their heads. They have Branford coming to town.

   Hand at Shelton reminds me of the college football Holiday Bowl. Two good programs with so-so records meet in a game that is essentially meaningless, but could still be fun to watch.

   Stratford plays a Bethel team that is fighting for its spot in the Class M field. Totally love the Alabama influenced uniforms on Bethel.

   Oxford defends its home “field” against New Milford. I don’t know what to think. Is it really impressive that the Wolverines have had a successful season for a second year team? Or is the SWC just not that strong besides the two Panther powers?

   Lyman Hall plays host to Cheney Tech. McMahon takes on Capital Prep. Note to all new coaches who want to pad their record or any teams on the cusp of making the playoffs: Schedule a CSC team. Pay them money. Buy them a new set of tools. Do whatever it takes. At the end of the day, a win is a win!

   And finally, Ludlowe was taking a lot of heat earlier this week for the Harlem Hellfighters fiasco. Sure, it’s easy to point the finger after the fact. But who could have seen this coming? How could they possibly have known that it was a bad idea to schedule a Harlem based barnstorming co-op team that had been kicked out of the PSAL and had not played a game in two years? They aren’t psychic.

   And besides, Ludlow had an open date. And a program with a history and a tradition as rich as Ludlowe is not just going to play the dregs of Connecticut.

   Comment by Bay — November 13th, 2009 @ 8:39 am

4. Bravo, Bay, Bravo…

   Comment by John D — November 13th, 2009 @ 10:07 am

5. I’m starting to look forward to your weekly musings, can’t wait for the playoff predictions, when can we expect those?

   Comment by John D — November 13th, 2009 @ 10:08 am

6. Bay, That was beautiful!! And Accurate. The Green Dragons have lost their zip lately but with playoff implications on the line they will line up toe to toe with NDWH.

   As much as I like Central, it would throw a big monkey wrench into the equastion if they beat New Canaan. The state will come out in full force to see New Canaan play Staples with both teams being undefeated. They won’t draw the crowd that a New Canaan vs. Darien would but it will be a monster crowd and a wild game.

   Not so sure if Pompy can stop Masuk’s offense.

   Cheshire is in serious trouble with huge games against West Haven and Southington looming.

   NDWH vs New Canaan would have been the MARQUEE game of the year. Too bad it didn’t happen!!

   Ansonia needs loads of help if they want to join the post-season.

   Has Staples played against a passing offense this year?

   Did Seymour lose any players to Oxford? If so then their program will never be the same. NVL needs to regroup.

   Comment by jjs — November 13th, 2009 @ 11:49 am

7. Still too early for playoff predictions. Like a good hobo chili, this needs time to simmer……

   Thank you for the props. If I was anywhere near as good at my job as I am at this, I probably wouldn’t have time to write these!

   Comment by Bay — November 13th, 2009 @ 12:27 pm

8. Why is the NC game at Central starting so early at 6 pm? By the time most of us get out of work in NYC, we will be very late to the game, stuck in traffic. This game should have been at 7, like our home games are.
   And I don’t want to here any snide jokes about how most New Canaan people are there own bosses any pick there own time to leave work whenever they want. That’s a stereotype.

   Comment by NCHS guy — November 13th, 2009 @ 3:18 pm

9. There is almost no hype leading up to this week’s Masuk/Bunnell game. The Panthers will defeat their toughest rival this decade for the second straight year. It’s embarrassing how people are not supporting Bunnell this year. Where are all the people who were supporting the Bulldogs in week four? They are almost as bad as the Fairfield Prep fans. I have been the only person here talking about this game. It’s a sad cry from the lead up to the game last year which Masuk won 42-20.

   Comment by MasukRules — November 13th, 2009 @ 3:31 pm

10. 6 is early, must be because it gets darker an hour earlier now….just kidding

    Comment by John D — November 13th, 2009 @ 3:48 pm

11. NCHS Guy: I believe all the Central night home games this year have been at 6 pm. Get the football flu and leave work early.

    Bay: Well thought out post but I think you are were a little harsh on the Cards. I think 100% of high school football teams anywhere would have felt similarly had the same set of circumstances occurred to them.
    HL

    Comment by Hank L — November 13th, 2009 @ 4:29 pm

12. The early games at some of the FCIAC city schools are done intentionally. Earlier start typically means an hour’s less trouble.

    Comment by Sean Patrick Bowley — November 13th, 2009 @ 4:32 pm

13. jjs-being a self described expert ——–you should know seymours atheletes are all from oxford-seymour drew students from seymour,oxford ,beacon falls and even monroe———–honeymoons over -why do you think oxfords winning in the overrated swc——-not to mention maria conlons transfer from derby to seymour—-they havent won a game since she left

    Comment by ray brown — November 13th, 2009 @ 6:55 pm

14. I’m still here old buddy. What are you looking for, bold predictions from the fans of a 3-5 team? Let’s get serious. I hope that Bunnell musters up some pride and beats Masuk tomorrow night. That’s as good (or bold) as its gonna get. Sorry to not provide the hype that carried the last few years. This year its Pompy, Masuk and Bethel providing the excitement. By the way, the freshman game was a good one yesterday. Did you see it?

    Comment by Bunnell Booster — November 13th, 2009 @ 10:16 pm

15. It’s just you and me Bunnell Booster. I went to the Bunnell/Pomperaug game and it was the least amount of people I had ever seen there. I don’t expect there to be a big crowd on Saturday either. I hope the Panthers play well and don’t look ahead to the SWC Championship.

    Comment by MasukRules — November 13th, 2009 @ 11:04 pm

16. There used to be alot more Bunnell fans on here and that’s a fact. Are they fairweather fans?

    Comment by MasukRules — November 13th, 2009 @ 11:05 pm

17. I wouldn’t call them fair weather fans, they just don’t have much to say. The college kids are busy and the local fans are having a tough time digesting some difficult losses. As for the game tomorrow night, we’ll see what the Bunnell team has in the tank. No question, though, the crowds have been disappointing and I wouldn’t expect a big one tomorrow, especially because of the weather.

    Comment by Bunnell Booster — November 13th, 2009 @ 11:48 pm

18. Ansonia got the help they need, Win on Turkey Day vs. naugy and they’re in…again

    Comment by NewHavenCounty — November 15th, 2009 @ 3:25 pm

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