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Here’s your guide to all of this week’s regional games:

FRIDAY

♦♦♦♦

SATURDAY

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It’s that time of the week again. Eat your dinner, take out the trash and do the dishes, then get your homework done early.

Join myself and NewsTimes’ writer Kevin Duffy for a live high school football chat tonight at 8 p.m.

We’ll be going for an hour so get your questions ready. Hot topics will include this weekend’s Ridgefield-Staples, St. Joseph-Darien matchups and other notable Week 3 games.

Just add your questions in the window below. We’ll try to get to as many as possible within the time frame.

Thanks, and see you there.

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Disheartening news out of Trumbull today where Trumbull student newspaper Editor-in-Cheif Brett Rosen reports that senior DB and KR Frank Gaines is out for the season with an ACL injury.

The report was confirmed by one other source at Trumbull High School, but Trumbull coach Bob Maffei denied the report Tuesday evening. “He was supposed to get an MRI. We haven’t heard back yet,” Maffei said. “I hope he’s not out. We’ll see.”

Gaines, one of the FCIAC’s best return men who figured to be a key component in Trumbull’s new offense as a senior, was injured in the second half of Trumbull’s 13-9 victory over Wilton and missed all of last week’s 48-0 victory over Westhill.

At right is a video of an interception Gaines made in the first quarter of Trumbull’s win over Wilton.

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New Canaan High School's Connor Kilbane carries the ball with pressure from Trinity Catholic High School's Sammy Dominguez in football action at Trinity in Stamford, Conn. on Saturday September 25, 2010

For tonight’s activity, campers, we’ll take a look at Law’s Friday trip to New Haven to face Wilbur Cross — and the crazy first half the ensued, thanks to Cross’ electric back James Ward — and then Saturday’s New Canaan at Trinity Catholic game from Alumni Field on Saturday.

So grab your popcorn. Let’s go…

We’ll start with Law at Wilbur Cross first.

We kinda figured Wilbur Cross’ James Ward would have a day in this game. The speedy senior was in true form Friday afternoon at the Wilbur Cross Athletic Complex. He scored five touchdowns in a variety of different ways: long runs, short runs, short passes, long passes, kickoff.

At one point, you’ll hear a witness exclaim, “Every time he touches the ball…”

What surprised us was Law’s response. The Lawmen have an offense, directed by QB Ryan Falaguerra, that answered almost every Ward strike and we ended up with one of the few entertaining SCC Division I vs. II games of the week.

Cross did a nice job pushing through Law’s massive line to consistently stuff backs Mark Elliott and Josh Patterson for minimal gains. So, Falaguerra took to air and, when he wasn’t throwing TD passes to his brother Connor, he was setting up TDs with some well-placed throws to him and Elliott out of the backfield.

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Good evening and yes! it’s Poll Day here on the High School Football Blogs.

And — heaaaaaaayyyy — lookit this:

I’ve been counted!

It’s a happy week when the “Longest Running High School Football Poll in Connecticut History” accepts your votes (sent multiple times through multiple accounts and internet venues, just to be on the safe side).

Of course, it didn’t seem to help much. The NHR’s poll, in my humble opinion, is the worst of the bunch. Coaches were the most in-tune with my selections. The CSWA gets a No. 2 vote from me.

Yes, I’m ranking the polls. Yes I’m know-it-all.

(ahem)

Here we go…

The MEDIA (NHR) TOP 10

Dropped out: St. Joseph (4).
Others receiving votes: Ridgefield (2-0), 200; Windsor (2-0), 186; Hyde (2-0), 174; Wilbur Cross (2-0), 153; Darien (2-0), 111; St. Joseph (1-1), 98; Wolcott (2-0), 68; Bunnell (2-0), 66; Southington (2-0), 45; Ansonia (2-0), 42; Holy Cross (2-0), 34; New London (1-1), 29; Trumbull (2-0), 26; Naugatuck (2-0), 19; Hillhouse (1-1) and Valley Regional/Old Lyme (2-0), 8; Hall (2-0) and Norwich Free Academy (2-0), 7.

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

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THE CONNECTICUT SPORTS WRITERS ALLIANCE

Also Receiving Votes: Hyde Leadership 2-0 112; Ridgefield 2-0 111; Conard 2-0 104; Wilbur Cross 2-0 70; Darien 2-0 40; St. Joseph 1-1 39; Southington 2-0 30; Ansonia 2-0 27; Holy Cross 2-0 21; Wolcott 2-0 17; Daniel Hand 2-0 16; New London 1-1 16; Trumbull 2-0 15; Norwich Free Academy 2-0 11; Bunnell 2-0 8; Naugatuck 2-0 8; Avon 1-1 5; Northwest Catholic 0-2 5; Bethel 1-1 4; Cromwell 0-1 4; Valley Regional/Old Lyme 2-0 4; Hillhouse 1-1 3; Pomperaug 1-1 3; Platt 2-0 2; Stratford 2-0 2; Weston 2-0 2; Bristol Eastern 2-0 1; Hall 2-0 1; RHAM 2-0 1; Wilton 1-1 1
Voters: Bob Barton (CT H.S. Football Record Book), Bill Bloxsom (Hersam Acorn), Don Boyle (Sporting News CT), Jim Bransfield (Middletown Press), Ray Curren  (Elm City Newspapers), George DeMaio (WELI Radio), Gerry deSimas (Collinsville Publishing Co.), Bill Donovan (WXLM 104.7 FM), Mark Fijalkowski (CT Sports Network), Tim Gaffney (Litchfield County Sports), John Goralski (Southington Observer), Dave Greenleaf (CCC website), Mike Guerrera (Southington Citizen), John Holt (WFSB Channel 3), Bob Lazzari (Valley Times), Greg Lederer (Cheshire Herald), Ken Lipshez (New Britain Herald), Andrew Lovell (New Britain Herald), Eric Montgomery (Minuteman Newspapers), Tim Parry (FCIAC Football Blog), Sean Patrick Bowley (Connecticut Post), Dave Phillips (Shoreline Times), Pat Pickens (Fairfield Citizen-News), Mike Pucci (New Haven Register), Jesse Quinlan (Greenwich Time), Paul Rosano (Meriden Record-Journal), Dave Ruden (Stamford Advocate), Mike Suppe (Hersam Acorn Newspapers), Patrick Tiscia (Litchfield County Sports), Peter Vander Veer (Elm City Newspapers), Tom Yantz (Hartford Courant), Rich Zalusky (Willimantic Chronicle), Jimmy Zanor (Shore Line Newspapers)

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THE DAY OF NEW LONDON COACHES

Dropped out: St. Joseph-Trumbull (9).

Also receiving votes: Wilbur Cross-New Haven (2-0), 98 points; Naugatuck (2-0), 86; Ansonia (2-0), 76; Darien (2-0), 75; Conard-West Hartford (2-0), 66; Tie, Southington (2-0) and Trumbull (2-0), 63; Hyde-New Haven (2-0), 39; Hand-Madison (2-0), 38; Ridgefield (2-0), 33; Norwich Free Academy (2-0), 31; Bunnell-Stratford (2-0), 29; St. Joseph-Trumbull (1-1), 27; Wolcott (2-0), 18; Holy Cross-Waterbury (2-0), 16; Norwalk (1-1), 10; Bristol Eastern (2-0), 9; New London (1-1), 8.
The following coaches voted: 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; Sean Marinan, Xavier-Middletown; Sal Morello, Middletown; John Murphy, Masuk-Monroe; Marce Petroccio, Staples-Westport; Bob Zito, Maloney-Meriden.

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Of course, many of you out there may think we’re all nuts.

So, let us all have it:

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St. Joseph's Joe Della Vecchia tries to fend off a tackle by Wilton's Rob Keers, bottom, and Mark Peidmont during the second half of their football game Saturday September 25, 2010 at St. Joseph's Dalling Field in Trumbull.

We returned to normal, somewhat, in Week 2.

Masuk's 32, Colin Markus, makes his way upfield as Poperaug trys to tackle during the football game at Southbury Sept. 24, 2010.

Staples put a cap on the groundswell of Norwalk intrigue (at least momentarily).

Masuk sent a message to the rest of the SWC (Frankly, not that anyone needed reminding).

Greenwich isn’t feeling very well.

St. Joseph is in big trouble.

New Canaan is a late riser.

Bethel’s demise has been exaggerated (by me). As has Newtown’s rise (also by me). And we just might have a new No. 2 contender for the SWC Heavyweight Crown: Hello, Bunnell.

The progressive SCC’s conservative crossover week is a pointless endeavor (SCC1 9, SCC2 1 — by a combined score of 274-97. Only North Haven struck a blow for the IIs with its 13-2 victory over Hamden. Law put up the most fight in a losing cause, hanging with James Ward and Wilbur Cross before falling 4).

And finally, I ask the proponents of the 50-point policy to meet me at Camera 3:

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Lots to get to today, so we won’t waste time with a recap of last night.

Here’s the short version:

Masuk: Good. (check the video at right for an awesome play by junior Colin Markus in the first quarter.

Staples: Good.

Greenwich: Not so much.

Prep wins!

Your Friday roundup

Here’s the live scoring blog for today. We’ll be back later with video highlights an analysis of the weekend:

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Here  is your guide to this week’s high school football games…

TODAY

SATURDAY