Typically you get a lot of offensive fireworks at the annual Masuk at Shelton scrimmage.
This year? Not so much. Both offenses sputtered like one of those silly Black Cat fireworks set on a rainy Fourth of July.
This year, the pyrotechnics came from defense.
Defense.
And more defense.
And Masuk was the star of this display.
From the second the teams moved into 10-play mode, Masuk’s defense harassed, hounded and pounded Shelton’s first teamers with bone-jarring hits, swarming tackles and electric interceptions. Yes, on this night Casey Cochran and Air Monroe took a seat at the back of the bus while Anthony Calabrese, Shawn Flynn, Jon Testani and the gang drove the Panthers’ point home.
Shelton’s defense, led by Mike Georgalas and Cody Kitson, wasn’t too bad either. After the touchdown on Masuk’s first drive, they pitched a shutout the rest of the way and earned some well-deserved kudos from coach Jeff Roy.
With the troubles Shelton’s offense is having adapting to the loss of Ryan DeAngelis for the year and finding a replacement for big lineman Patrick Gillen (the school’s three-time All-American wrestler who opted not to play this season) a strong defense will be essential, especially in that minefield they call SCC Division I.
Masuk’s offense wasn’t so hot either. But junior tailback Colin Markus sat this one out and it was their first scrimmage of the season. Once Cochran — who now has the attention of UConn, Oregon, Stanford, Northwestern, Rutgers and Texas A&M in addition to his offer from Boston College — gets in sync, Masuk’s offense should be pretty good.
That’s why the defense’s performance was so frightening. Hard to think anyone in the SWC is anywhere near their level at this point.
Lots more scrimmages to attend. Lots more to come as we inch closer to Sept. 15.
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Masuks defense looked scary. They have a lot of team spead. When the offense gets in gear they will be one of the top teams in the state.
Comment by HS FF Fan — September 3rd, 2010 @ 7:13 am
Masuk has a solid team and was way ahead of being ready for the season to start compaired to Shelton. Masuk could very well go 10-0 in the SWC. This is the first time in memory that Shelton is starting a season with out a proven running back. They have a long way to go to be ready for Cross. To make matters worse I heard that Georgalas has to sit that game out due to ejection against Derby.
Comment by Dave k — September 3rd, 2010 @ 9:12 am
I will be shocked if Masuk loses a single game this season, including States. Their defence is vicious. Flynn is a Beast. He’ll hit you just to hit you and he has great hands. No one is going to want to throw to his side of the field.
Shelton is in trouble, very weak at QB. The Junior Camerino should be the starter and the Sophomore Karcher should be starting at Tailback, but they know they are only going to win 4 or 5 games this year, so they are going to let the Seniors play their final season as the starters. Definately a rebuilding year, but they should be getting next years starters playing time. May even win them an extra game.
Comment by No Axe To Grind — September 3rd, 2010 @ 10:37 am
sheltons pay for play will take its toll
Comment by ray brown — September 3rd, 2010 @ 11:44 am
Monroe has awful pay for play too. Tragic. Masuk D looked good for sure. Can they stop Greenwich? ANyone going to this on Monday?
Comment by rer — September 3rd, 2010 @ 1:17 pm
Shelton wins 5 games maybe 6. Sheehan, Guliford, Amity,Prep, Derby and maybe Hamden. If reports are true that Hamden is down.
Comment by Dave k — September 3rd, 2010 @ 2:21 pm
I am going to the Masuk/Greenwich game on Monday. I will report back after the game either on this link or a new one should Sean have one up (more than likely)by then. Greenwich from what I hear has no offense like they are used to. SR QB never took a varsity snap and the backup from last year transferred to Brunswick. I think this team is a year away from being dominant. With that said they have a shot to go anywhere from 9-1 to 7-3 again with Joes, NC,Staples, Trumbull, Central all on the schedule.
Comment by Brian — September 3rd, 2010 @ 2:31 pm
were and what time is that masuk vs greenwich scrimmage….it sounds like a great scrimmage to watch…..
Comment by HSFOOT — September 3rd, 2010 @ 7:48 pm
You can never take out seniors who have worked as hard as those kids (shelton’s QB and RB) have to get where they are now. The underclassmen will have their time but it wasnt all the Q’s fault. they have a very young and inexpierenced line that theyre trying to work with over there. they’ll be a contender like always, my guess they pull out another 7 win season just because those shelton coaches dont accept losing.
Comment by @no axe to grind — September 4th, 2010 @ 3:36 pm
No axe to grind,
The Shelton QB is a good athlete, he maybe their best runner based on the StJoes scrimmage. Shelton ran the ball a lot out of the Spread formation with poor results in the second half. As far as running backs they lost the returning Senior 700+ yds) they were counting on so the position should to open to the best available player. As far as the O-line goes they have to fill a gap left by a player who was an all state type player. Too bad he has a different agenda.
Comment by Dave k — September 5th, 2010 @ 11:16 am
Went to the masuk/ghs scrimmage today and it was a waste of time. GHS has 3 starters out on D and 4 on O including the QB Dan Lombardi who got hurt saturday in a scrimamge at Iona Prep. Not sure it would make a difference though. I left late in the 4th it was 33-6 masuk. Cochran throws a nice ball and he has 2 really good WRs. Thier lines are big and strong and the kicker is fabulous. Number 3 and 10 are excellent intelligent football players.
GHS had a sophmore a QB filling in and many of his passes were underthrown mainly due to arm strength. it was only 14-6 masuk at halftime but GHS was very vanilla on O. Maybe a lot of that was due to losing the QB. Not a alot of speed on GHS and the lines were not your typical greenwich lines that are big. if season started today I would put masuk at 10-0. NO one in the SWC will stay with them for 4 qtrs as we speak. I think GHS would go 6-4 or 5-5 at this point. (Central, Trumbull,Joes, NC and Staples would all beat them right now). Someone also told me NC is not that good and it’s the worse NC team they have seen in the last 10 years. Not sure I believe that one but they will have a hard time keeping the state title streak alive this year with NDWH and Masuk in the way.
I usually don’t put a lot of emphasis into scrimmages but masuk looks like it’s in mid-october form. I also heard that West Haven was beating Ansonia 12-0 early and then starting the 4th it was 34-12 Ansonia UP.
Comment by Brian — September 6th, 2010 @ 1:02 pm
anyone see the Trumbull vs, Bunell scrimmage? How bout some info….?
Comment by HS Fball — September 6th, 2010 @ 3:15 pm
Masuk should win the SWC this year.
Comment by MasukRules — September 6th, 2010 @ 5:11 pm
was at GHS today who is 22 masuk
Comment by HSFBALL FAN — September 6th, 2010 @ 7:35 pm
Did Masuk destroy Greenwich?
Comment by rer — September 6th, 2010 @ 8:11 pm
cant feel bad for a school that has 900 boys
Comment by ray brown — September 6th, 2010 @ 8:34 pm
#22 for Masuk is Thomas Milone – He is only a soph. Lights out speed
Comment by HS FB FAN — September 7th, 2010 @ 6:36 am
Hey Dave
I agree that the QB is a good athlete, I just think that you play the kids that give you the best chance to win. If all things are equal you go with the Senior, but from what I have seen in practice and scrimmages, it isn’t equal. He cant throw the ball at all and even if you are going to be a run first team, you still have to have at least the threat of being able to pass. Teams are just going to load up the box against them…..and they can’t run with DeAgelis gone.
I don’t think that Gillen has any agenda, the kid is getting looked at by every top 5 wrestling program in the country, he is ranked 1 or 2 in the nation in every wrestling poll there is. You can’t blame the kid for protecting his future, he was just a really good football player with no shot at a scholarship in that sport. He is going to get a full ride to a great school to wrestle. Any smart parent would tell their kid to do the same thing…..I know that I would. You cannot risk a free education for a .500 football season.
Comment by No Axe To Grind — September 7th, 2010 @ 9:51 am
no axe to grind,
I agree with Gillen protecting his wrestling future, but why is he still going to play LAX ?
Comment by Dave k — September 7th, 2010 @ 8:52 pm
I don’t know Gillen, I’ve talked with his father at a couple of practices and games in the past and I do go watch LAX games in the spring, what a great sport, I wish that it had been around when I was younger. I think that he is a lot less likely to get hurt running up and down a lacrosse field than he is playing in the trenches on the football field. No cut blocks, no pile ups. You can always tear something, but lacrosse checks are body on body, no one is diving into your legs or rolling up on you. I think that is just less risk, but like I said, I haven’t asked anyone, but I personally think that it is a smart move.
Comment by No Axe To Grind — September 8th, 2010 @ 7:49 am
Shelton is in a lot of trouble if they are only going to use Groth, Mancuso, and Georgalas as the focus of there offense. I have been to both scrimmages and the offense is too predictable. There is other skilled and experience players like Holman, Guerrera and Leopold on offense that can be used to spread out opponents defense’s if used properly. Right now all plays go to the right side , they are one dimensional and easy to defend. If this doesn’t change, Shelton wins maybe 4 games this season.
Comment by Gaels Fan — September 8th, 2010 @ 12:52 pm
The Shelton comments are getting a little vicious. These kids are doing the best they can. Obviously, you guys are not the coaches and should give credit to the kids. Don’t put them down. Are your kids sitting the bench and that is why your angry. Show up at the meeting tonight and listen to what the coaches are saying: Let them coach your job is to cheer them on.
Comment by Have a Heart — September 9th, 2010 @ 9:55 am
@Have a Heart — Totally agree. I hadn’t noticed until you mentioned it. Let’s try not to disparage too much. Remember who we’re talking about.
Comment by Sean Patrick Bowley — September 9th, 2010 @ 12:33 pm
Guys, you have missed my point. By no means am I saying that they are not good players, because they are. Point is they use these players to much. They are easy to defend. Utilize all players in your offense, be creative in your play calling, this will keep defenses on there heals and you will get better results. Football is team game, so use the whole team. Masuk does, St. Joes does….. thats all
Comment by Gaels Fan — September 9th, 2010 @ 1:51 pm
Sean,
When are your rankings coming out?
Comment by Mike — September 9th, 2010 @ 5:06 pm
Rankings will start coming out Saturday or Sunday. I think I know enough now to do it.
Comment by Sean Patrick Bowley — September 9th, 2010 @ 8:19 pm
Gaels fan,
I agree with your point. I have followed the Shelton program for years and you are correct the offense gets a very narrow focus. They have always had a run first mentality, usually with some great tail backs. This has hurt them in big games where teams load the box. I hope that when the games count this year they open things up as you said.
Comment by Dave k — September 10th, 2010 @ 10:05 am
dear mr bowley,
my name is ginny marino, i’m from n billerica, ma
I am writing a fictional novel where windsor, ct
is the location of the story,
I have a character in the story who is a senior varsity
football running back-and he is up for a collegiate
sports scholarship at Syracuse University
Unfortunatly-he collaspes from a heart murmur-a pre-existing
condition -
my question is for research purposes only-
question-i assume he will lose his eligibilty for the
scholarship-but he can convert to a generic type
of scholarship
again-this question i realize is out of the norm
but-,i have to do a great deal of research on the
internet to get my facts right
thank you in advance
sincerly
ginny marino
Comment by ginny marino — September 10th, 2010 @ 10:48 am
Ginny, I believe it would be up to the school whether to honor the scholarship or not. Depends on when it happens and if he’d signed a letter of intent or just committed verbally. I’m sure others here would have some more insight.
ps> nice pick of university.
Comment by Sean Patrick Bowley — September 10th, 2010 @ 12:35 pm
thank you so much for your quick response
my Niece went to Syracuse,
great school for football
and Winsdor, ct-is an inspiring location for me-
from my teenage days.
this novel is taking a life on it’s own
and i’m already feeling sorry for this highschool
varsity player, i don’t won’t to ruin his potential
for the NFL-but i have too
your import-is greatly appreciated,
thank you
ginny marino
Comment by ginny marino — September 10th, 2010 @ 1:05 pm
SPB,
What day is the full preview coming out next week or is a daily thing now? I can’t miss those papers !!
Comment by Brian — September 10th, 2010 @ 1:08 pm
All next week, with the bulk Monday-Tuesday-Wednesday.
Everything will be organized neatly online, so no need to worry.
Comment by Sean Patrick Bowley — September 10th, 2010 @ 1:12 pm
Sean,
Where can I get a copy of the video for the Masuk Shelton Scrimmage?
Comment by Mike — September 10th, 2010 @ 3:35 pm
Can’t miss the Connecticut Post High School Preview papers.It’s a must for all High School Football Bibles.
Comment by Football Fan — September 10th, 2010 @ 11:40 pm
@Mike From me, I suppose? sbowley@ctpost.com
Comment by Sean Patrick Bowley — September 10th, 2010 @ 11:56 pm