Archive for October, 2010

League playoff race update for Week 7

Sunday, October 31, 2010 by:Sean Patrick Bowley
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Things got pretty much back to normal Saturday with all of the favorites winning, restoring some sanity to Week 7.

So as we move on to Week 8, here’s a look at the local league playoff races.

Here are the FCIAC playoff standings through Week 7.

FCIAC PLAYOFF HUNT

(Through Week 7)

Team FCIAC Pts Avg
Darien 6-0 720 122.0
Staples 7-0 840 120.0
Trumbull 6-1 790 112.9
New Canaan 5-1 560 93.3
Greenwich 5-2 630 90.0
Central 5-2 570 81.4
Ridgefield 4-2 480 80.0

Darien (Westhill, Norwalk remaining) and Staples (Wilton, Trumbull remaining) are in the lead and control their own destinies. But so does Trumbull (Ridgefield, Staples remaining), which will likely clinch if it wins out.

New Canaan (Greenwich, Central) needs to win out and hope for lots of help, likely Trumbull to lose to Ridgefield and Staples to lose to Trumbull to get a shot at outpointing Staples with one-loss.

There’s virtually no chance of any 2-loss team to make it.

NOTE: The FCIAC Championship will be played Friday, Nov. 19 at Trumbull’s McDougall Stadium.

SWC PLAYOFF HUNT

(Through Week 7)

Team SWC Pts Avg
Masuk 7-0 970 138.57
Newtown 6-1 770 110.00
Pomperaug 6-1 730 104.29
Brookfield 5-2 600 85.71
Bunnell 5-2 590 84.29
Oxford 5-2 590 84.29

Masuk (Oxford, Immaculate remaining) will clinch a berth with just one more victory. Let’s be honest. They’re practically guaranteed a berth.

Pomperaug and Newtown are in a tight race for second place. If they finish tied, since they don’t play each other the tiebreaker will go down to CIAC playoff points. Newtown (Barlow, Stratford remaining) has decided slight point edge. Pomperaug (Brookfield, New Fairfield remaining) will need lots of help. The Panthers would likely lose out in a points race.

NOTE: The SWC championship will be played Thursday, Nov. 18 at Brookfield. Unless, the two qualifying teams play on Thanksgiving. In that case the Thanksgiving game is your championship. I’m told SWC changed this in the offseason.

NVL PLAYOFF HUNT

(Through Week 7)

Brass Div All
Ansonia* 5-0 7-0
Derby/O’Brien 3-1 3-4
Watertown 2-2 4-3
Crosby 2-2 2-5
Wolcott 2-3 4-3
Wilby 1-3 1-6
Seymour 0-4 0-7
Copper Div All
Naugatuck 4-0 7-0
Woodland 4-0 5-2
Torrington 2-2 5-2
Holy Cross 1-3 4-3
Sacred Heart 1-3 4-3
Kennedy 1-4 2-5
St. Paul 1-4 2-5

This is pretty simple. No playoff points involved here. *Ansonia has clinched the Brass Division title with its 33-32 victory over Derby/O’Brien Tech. The Copper Division title will be decided this week when Woodland visits Naugatuck.

If Woodland wins that game, the NVL Championship will be a Woodland-Ansonia rematch, Thursday, Nov. 18 at Municipal Stadium in Waterbury (Ansonia won the first game 41-36 in Week 1).

If Naugatuck wins, it’ll be Naugy-Ansonia on Thanksgiving Day.

Yes, indeed.

Friday Night Week 7: It’s getting scary out there

Saturday, October 30, 2010 by:Sean Patrick Bowley
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Montrell Dobbs (278 yards) slices through Derby/O'Brien Tech's defense in Friday's wild 33-32 victory at Jarvis Stadium.

If you thought Week 6 was nuts, let’s try to recap Week 7.

Derby/O'Brien Tech QB Ray Kreiger throws a pass in the first half of Ansonia's 33-32 victory Friday.

And this is just Friday night.

(ahem)

Ansonia beats Derby/O’Brien Tech 33-32 in one of the craziest (half) games I’ve witnessed.

Derby/O’Brien Tech, which was given virtually no shot by anyone outside of its own hamlet, came in throwing haymakers behind Ray Kreiger, Jake Tomczak and Rashawn Hendricks. The Red Raiders had Ansonia up against the ropes at halftime 26-13, yet Ansonia… refused… to die. Montrell Dobbs runs 50 times for 278 yards, scores and then punches in the winning a 2-point conversion run with 2:18 remaining, a play that coach Tom Brockett attributed to his team’s weak kicking game, rather than a bold move.

Derby needed one more haymaker, but got one from Ansonia freshman Arkeel Newsome instead, a pickoff at the 10 that ended the game, basically lifted Ansonia into the NVL title game and — and — punched its Class S playoff tickets.

I said Derby needed the upset to revive the rivalry. Well, Derby didn’t win, but the rivalry is revived with an extraordinary effort, a wild ending and gutsy efforts on both sides.

That was one game.

♦♦♦♦

Hand rolls previously unbeaten West Haven, 35-13.

More extraordinary efforts, this time coming from a team that basically looked lost in a 38-14 loss to Notre Dame-West Haven a few weeks ago.

It was the Westies that looked lost this time. Zach Miller completed 15 of 22 passes for 249 yards and four touchdowns, three of which to Alec Pacelli (6 catches 141 yards). The Westies got down 21-0, scores on fourth down with seconds left in the first half, only to let Hand march right back down the field and score again. It was 28-7 at halftime.

That was ballgame.

Chris Daniel catches a pass for McMahon in its 21-12 victory over Ridgefield Friday, Oct. 29, 2010.

How about this one: McMahon topples Ridgefield 21-12

Probably the shocker of the night, in fact. Ridgefield gets one touchdown following a McMahon turnover, and a field goal, and that’s it. Otherwise, the game was all McMahon. Damien Vega throws two touchdown passes and safety Marc Lugo picks off two passes and Ridgefield’s FCIAC championship hopes are all but dashed.

As for its state playoff hopes, well, the second loss drops Ridgefield into a large group of Class LL schools on the bubble. They’re in 12th place (as of Saturday morning) and still three weeks of football left.

♦♦♦♦

What else, what else…

Well, I took the fans’ suggestion and jetted over to Masuk-Bethel. As I feared, it was no contest. Joe Diaz returned the opening kickoff for a touchdown and Masuk beats another team by a 45-0 spot. (As promised, I was gone by 28-0 in the second, off to Ansonia-Derby).

This was a pretty key game for Masuk actually because of what happened at Bowen field in New Haven. Xavier, No. 1 Xavier, scored just one long touchdown pass, got a field goal and then leaned heavily on its defense to stop Hillhouse from pulling off the upset.

The Academics scored to pull within 9-6, then had the ball at the Xavier 20 with 30 seconds remaining. An incompletion in the end zone, a stop, a sack and then another incompletion (video at right), and Xavier survived 9-6 in a head scratching score that could sway votes (but how many?) someone else’s way.

♦♦♦♦

What else, what else…?

Naji Rucker runs the ball for Central in its 33-16 victory over Stamford, Oct. 29, 2010.

Shabashe McIntosh and Central beat Stamford to keep its state hopes alive. …Pomperaug’s state playoff hopes are looking rosier with its fifth straight victory. …Kyle Vignone helps Farifield Prep wins its first SCC Division I game since 2008 with a victory over Hamden …

Here’s the roundup from Friday night and lookit some of these, wild, wild scores, especially in the SCC.

Law 49, Branford 35 (congrats to Law for Win No. 1) … And, no this wasn’t a basketball game: Notre Dame-WH 55, Wilbur Cross 42 … North Haven outlasts Trinity Catholic, which was playing without coach Peter Stokes. Stokes was hospitalized with a heart problem, but we understand he kept in touch with his team throughout the night and is expected to make a nice recovery. …Brookfield killed Stratford by a rather shocking 49-7 score. …Naugatuck beat Kennedy 36-13 to keep pace with Ansonia as we head toward Thanksgiving. …But Woodland also won, setting up a showdown between the Greyhounds and Hawks for the NVL Copper Division title.

Lots more to come on this Saturday.

We already have one final, Staples defeats winless Ludlowe 35-10 in an intriguing game that saw Staples QB Chet Pajolek go down on one of Staples’ first possessions (and miss the remainder of the game), and saw Ludlowe on the Staples 1-yard line trailing 7-3 early.

But Tyler Jacobs put on a show, making four of  Staples’ seven interceptions (one for a touchdown) and the Wreckers ultimately put this one away.

Here’s your Infinite Live Scoring Blog for today.

Week 7 Primer: Masuk-Bethel it is (with a caveat)

Friday, October 29, 2010 by:Sean Patrick Bowley
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The masses have spoken on this Week 7: You want me at Bethel-Masuk.

Ask and you shall receive! …But this appearance comes with a warning.

Bethel has to show up, and I mean not be down by 3 TDs at halftime. It has to compete and give mighty Masuk a run. Otherwise I’m slinking off to catch Derby-Ansonia (which is really where I should go anyway). Deal? Deal.

Here’s the Friday Night/Saturday Primer. No long-winded speeches today. Just the bare essentials.

We’re keeping an eye on a few games tonight. Of course, we’ll see if Bethel can take down its second heavyweight of the season. …We’ll see if Derby/O’Brien Tech can keep its win streak going and shock the state by beating rival Ansonia. …We’ll see if West Haven coach Ed McCarthy can inch closer to Bill Mignault‘s record 321 victories with his milestone 300th (and, more importantly, if the Westies can keep pace in Class LL) when Hand comes to town. …We’ll be keeping an eye on Central-Stamford, even though it become increasingly apparent neither will be making a state playoff trip (especially the loser of this game) …We’re watching to see how Trinity Catholic fares against giant-killing North Haven (a good ol’ FCIAC vs. SCC tilt) … We’re watching if No. 1 Xavier will be able to brush the sleep from its eyes for a 2:30 p.m. matchup with Hillhouse at Bowen Field. …We’ll be watching Fairfield Prep vs. Hamden, and anxiously waiting to see if the Jesuits’ can get their first SCC Division I victory in two seasons.

On Saturday, we’ll be watching a lot of FCIAC games (What is this? 1998). No mega-matchups out there, unless somebody (Wilton? McMahon? Danbury?) decides to get up an knock one of the frontrunners off its perch.

Week 7 Schedule

State Playoff Points

The Elite 8 - Week 7

Week 7 State Polls

Week 7′s Guide to the Games

Games To Watch

Derby/O’Brien hopes to Spring Upset of Ansonia | FCIAC Notes: Central visits Stamford | SWC Notes: Revived New Fairfield takes shot at Newtown

ON THE AIR

FRIDAY
Wilbur Cross at Notre Dame-WH, 7 — Sportingnewsct.com or Gogreenknights.com
Hand at West Haven, 7 (Eddie McCarthy going for victory No. 300) — WELI 960-AM
Sacred Heart at Holy Cross, 7 — WATR 1320-AM

SATURDAY
Ludlowe at Staples, 10 am — WWPT 90.3-FM
Greenwich at Westhill, 1:30 — WGCH 1490-AM
Ridgefield at Norwalk, 2 — WSCT 1400-AM / WNLK 1350-AM
THE LIVE SCORING BLOG

Programming note on how the live scoring blog works: We allow comments, especially if you seem to have a score we don’t have. But since this is monitored by editors hard at work producing a daily newspaper, we typically can’t get to every comment.

What you see scrolling across on this live update window is, in fact, Twitter. Contrary to the opinion of the unsavvy among us (who think of it as being just some hourly update of what you had for breakfast, lunch and dinner), Twitter is a valuable source of information posted online on an infinite message board. Newspapers and reporters use to report breaking news. It’s what you see scrolling on the right-hand side of this blog.

For us, we use it as a universal scoring blog. So, while many of you have a buddy at some other game text-messaging updates, we use our phones to send our “text messages” to Twitter for everybody to see.

I’ve gone on ad nauseum about this, so just click here to see how it works

Guide To This Week’s Games – Week 7

Thursday, October 28, 2010 by:Sean Patrick Bowley
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Here’s your guide to this week’s high school football games. Week 7. Lots of good ones out there. Take your pick.

FRIDAY

VISITOR HOME

TIME

 SKINNY
Ridgefield (5-1) McMahon (3-3)

7

 Been pretty quiet up there, Ridgefield
Central (4-2) Stamford (4-2)

6

 These teams switch uniforms at midseason?
Derby/O’Brien (3-3) Ansonia (6-0)

7

 This rivalry could use a Derby upset.
Seymour (0-6) Crosby (1-5)

7

 How ‘bout this time, Wildcats?
St. Paul (2-4) Woodland (4-2)

7

 Win this, and Hawks get a Naugy showdown.
Hand (5-1) West Haven (6-0)

7

 Expect unexpected. Always a crazy game.
Amity (3-3) Shelton (3-3)

7

 Shelton put up quite a fight vs. Xavier.
Fairfield Prep (2-4) Hamden (0-6)

7

 Jesuits break D1 losing streak here.
Law (0-5) Branford (1-5)

7

 Defense, Law. Dee-fense.
Wilbur Cross (4-2) Notre Dame-WH (3-3)

7

 Both teams are sinking… fast.
Xavier (6-0) Hillhouse (4-2)

2:30

 This has upset written all over it (seriously)
Cheshire (3-3) Foran (3-3)

7

 No. Haven over ND gives hope to all SCC-2 teams
Bethel (4-2) Masuk (6-0)

7

 If anything, Bethel’s got size advantage.
Barlow (2-4) Pomperaug (5-1)

7

 Pomperaug’s just rolling right now.
Stratford (2-4) Brookfield (4-2)

7

 Hey. Stratford. Where’d ya go?
Weston (3-3) New  Milford (1-5)

7

 Watch out, Trojans. Wave’s much better.
Trinity Catholic North Haven

7

 Now watch Trinity win this game.

♦♦♦♦

SATURDAY

VISITOR HOME

TIME

 SKINNY
Ludlowe (0-6) Staples (6-0)

10 am

 What’s on the brunch menu, Wreckers?
Immaculate (0-6) Oxford (4-2)

1

 Oxford still has Donofrio.
Cheney Tech Abbott Tech (0-5)

1:30

 If Cheney crushed Bullard-Havens…?
Platt Tech (0-6) Bullard-Havens (4-2)

1:30

 Tigers oughta be fired up after last week.
Norwalk (2-4) Harding (1-5)

1:30

 Bears offense needs a pick-me-up.
Trumbull (5-1) Danbury (2-4)

1:30

 Trumbull’s whole team could use one, as well.
Bassick (0-6) Darien (6-0)

1:30

 See you in December, Blue Wave.
Warde (3-3) St. Joseph (4-2)

1:30

 Don’t be shocked to see Warde show up.
Wilton (3-3) New Canaan (5-1)

1:30

 Be advised: You can’t lose again, Rams.
Greenwich (4-2) Westhill (1-5)

1:30

 Welcome back, Greenwich.
Bunnell (4-2) Notre Dame-Ffld (0-6)

7

 Just hasn’t been Lancers’ year.
New Fairfield (2-4) Newtown (5-1)

7

 Get used to Brookfield’s stadium, Hawks.
Just in case.

What’s the High School Football Game of the Week?

Wednesday, October 27, 2010 by:Sean Patrick Bowley
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Pick where you want this smiling face to appear Friday night. (Photo by Christian Abraham)

I dunno. I dunno. I dunno…

Been raking my brains over this the last few days, but there’s no clear-cut ‘must-see’ game on this Week’s schedule.

Really. It’s a coin-flip.

Yes, there are a few rivalry games (particularly the one going on up in the valley), but there are also some pretty key games going on elsewhere.

So I figured I’d give you — faithful readers — a chance to decide my Friday night fate (Everybody else is doing ‘Game of the Week’ polls, so I guess I should get involved before the season’s up)

Which week 7 game has the most meaning? What’s the best matchup? What game has potential to be a classic?

Which of these games are the SouthWest Connecticut ‘Game of the Week’?

In other words: Which game should the Hearst Connecticut (One-Man) Video Team attend?

I’ve seen 33 high school football teams play this season, and I’d like to knock a few more off the ‘haven’t seen’ list — including Stratford, Barlow, Brookfield (though I did see them in a scrimmage), Bethel, West Haven (though I’ve seen them on TV), Derby/O’Brien Tech, Amity, Shelton (saw them in a scrimmage)… and plenty more.

So consider all of that when you cast your vote – You’re actually allowed to vote for your top 3 (in no order). (add: I guess you can only vote once).

Comments are welcomed, of course!

Annnnnnd, go!

High School Football Live Chat, Wednesday 8 p.m.

Wednesday, October 27, 2010 by:Sean Patrick Bowley
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We’re gathering together again to talk high school football with our distinguished panel of writers.

If you promise to get your home work done, and eat your dinner, we’ll promise to entertain you from 8-9 p.m.

Once again, we’re going to try to keep this from devolving into a free-for-all, so we’re going to be selective with comments and give our panelists time to answer. So make sure to come up with some good questions/comments.

See you then!

Wednesday Night Feature: Bunnell vs. Newtown (The Movie!)

Wednesday, October 27, 2010 by:Sean Patrick Bowley
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Welcome back to SPB “Masterpiece” Theater, where tonight we recap Friday night’s Bunnell-Newtown game at Pomperaug.

The game, which was a critical piece in the ongoing SWC race, was won by Newtown 27-12 on the strength of a 107-yard, two touchdown rushing night from backup QB Dan Hebert (making his first start in place of injured senior Will Arndt) and a big-play Nighthawks defense that made four interceptions, forced a fumble, blocked a punt for a safety and stopped Bunnell on fourth down in several crucial situations.

Thanks to Hebert and the D, Newtown built 20-6 lead by the fourth quarter. But despite all of its setbacks, Bunnell gamely battled back, made a few big stops, forced a few turnovers and finally pulled within six points late in the game.

Its final two drives of the night, however, ended with pickoffs, the last leading to Newtown lineman and basketball forward Matt Datin‘s 74-yard interception return touchdown that iced the game with seconds left.

It was a somewhat sloppy game, with lots of turnovers and missed opportunities on both sides, but an exciting one with a quite wild finish.

So Newtown, which has suffered more season-ending injuries to senior starters than most teams, hangs in there at 5-1 in the SWC, keeping pace with Pomperaug (5-1) in the race for second place and CIAC Class LL playoffs.

Bunnell, meanwhile, dropped its second straight game and fell to 4-2. The Bulldogs are pretty much out of the SWC race, which isn’t too big a deal. They’re still kicking in Class L (just a few percentage points behind 5-1 New Canaan, actually). Long way to go. But for a team of mostly underclassmen, not bad.

This concludes the video features for the week. It’s on to Week 7!

Tuesday Matinee: St. Joseph 28, New Canaan 27 (The Movie!)

Tuesday, October 26, 2010 by:Sean Patrick Bowley
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St. Joseph's Quinn Irwin celebrates a third-quarter touchdown catch with teammates in the Hogs' 28-27 victory over New Canaan, Saturday, Oct. 23, 2010.

Welcome back to SPB’s Masterpiece Theater (ahem), where for our Tuesday matinee we present to you our modest production of Saturday’s St. Joseph-New Canaan game.

You’ll see the media out in force for this Saturday FCIAC clash, but a late-arriving crowd. (Beginning of the game sounded like a mausoleum.)

You’ll see the triumphant return of senior back Tyler Matakevich from a foot injury and his first touchdown of the season, a 1-yard leap on St. Joe’s first drive of the game.

You’ll see St. Joseph senior Pat Mulligan pick off two New Canaan passes in the first half as St. Joseph takes a 7-0 lead at the break. You’ll see St. Joseph extend the lead to 21-7 heading into the fourth quarter on a pair of passes from Joe Della Vecchia to Joe Burns and Quinn Irwin. (You’ll also see Conor Hanratty get his hands on a Della Vecchia pass, with nothing in front of him but turf and the ball slipping through his arms on the last St. Joseph TD drive. Tough break.)

What you won’t see see is a tipped pass interception by St. Joseph’s Nick Adzima early in the fourth quarter (missed it). You won’t see New Canaan’s defense stiffen, keeping the Hogs from putting the game away (editing). You’ll only partially see the Matt Milano-to-John Brainard TD that pulled NC within 21-14 (I lost the play… yeah, this is hardly a masterpiece).

But you will see New Canaan rally to tie the game with a 5-minute drive late in the game. You’ll see the Rams set up for a 2-point conversion with 1:08 remaining, but call time out and kick the extra point.

You’ll see Mulligan return the ensuing kickoff 90 yards to put St. Joseph up 28-21 (and your cameraman getting swamped by delirious St. Joseph players). You’ll see New Canaan march right back, score and this time gofor the 2-point conversion pass.

You’ll see Jerry Kramer, victimized by a few passes on that drive, come up huge and bat the ball away from Patrick Newton at the goal line with 2.8 seconds left.

And, finally, you’ll see the onside kick recovery and one more New Canaan attempt to win the game.

Bizarre stuff. Great game.

We also have a few postgame interviews, including New Cananaan coach Lou Marinelli‘s explanation of the 2-point conversion at 28-27, not 21-20.

If you didn’t catch the replay elsewhere, see it now:

So, as well all know, St. Joseph’s season is taken off life support for the time being. Still plenty of toughies left, vs. Warde, at Norwalk vs. Greenwich, at Trumbull. But they’re sitting at No. 8 in the Class S playoff race.

Once ranked No. 2 in the state polls, New Canaan, now 5-1, finds itself in a precarious position in both the FCIAC and, more importantly, in the Class L race. The Rams are No. 12 in the Class L rankings but have a good shot at making up ground with plumbs like Greenwich, Central and, of course, Darien sitting behing next week’s game vs. Wilton.

There’s no room for error now, for both these teams.

High School Football Polls, Week 7

Monday, October 25, 2010 by:Sean Patrick Bowley
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The Top 10 Polls heading into Week 7.

New Canaan drops, but not far in most polls, everybody else moves up a notch. Masuk moves into the No. 2 spot in

NHR TOP 10 MEDIA

Rank Team (1st place) Record Pts Prev.
1. Xavier (15) 6-0 700 1
2. Masuk (7) 6-0 676 3
3. Staples (2) 6-0 634 4
4. Berlin 6-0 525 5
5. West Haven 6-0 506 7
6. Darien 6-0 455 8
7. Ansonia 6-0 361 9
8. New Canaan 5-1 287 2
9. Naugatuck 6-0 266 10
10. NFA 6-0 261 NR

Others receiving votes: Hyde (6-0), 198; Ridgefield (5-1), 194; Trumbull (5-1), 154; Bristol Eastern (6-0), 136; Hall (6-0), 133; Hand (5-1), 107; Glastonbury (5-1), 104; New London (5-1), 90; Windsor (5-1), 78; Southington (5-1), 70; Valley Regional/Old Lyme (6-0), 51; St. Joseph (4-2), 32; Pomperaug (5-1), 31; Montville (5-1), 23; Notre Dame-West Haven (3-3), 20; Cheshire (2-4), 12; Stamford (4-2), 9; Greenwich (4-2), 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-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; John Silver, Manchester Journal Inquirer; Tom Yantz, Hartford Courant; Jimmy Zanor, Shore Line Newspapers.

CSWA TOP 10 MEDIA

Rank Team (1sr Place) Record Points Prev.
1. Xavier (14) 6-0 402 1
2. Masuk (10) 6-0 397 2
3. Staples (4) 6-0 373 4
4. Berlin 6-0 320 5
5. West Haven 6-0 289 7
6. Darien 6-0 270 8
7. Ansonia 6-0 206 9
8. New Canaan 5-1 153 3
9. Norwich Free Academy 6-0 148 NR
10. Hyde Leadership 6-0 143 10

Also Receiving Votes: Naugatuck 6-0 120; Ridgefield 5-1 68; Trumbull 5-1 63; Glastonbury 5-1 58; New London 5-1 50; Bristol Eastern 6-0 49; Windsor 5-1 49; Southington 5-1 47; Hall 6-0 40; Montville 5-1 32; Daniel Hand 5-1 29; Valley Regional/Old Lyme 6-0 20; St. Joseph 4-2 9; Lyman Hall 5-1 8; Greenwich 4-2 5; Wethersfield 6-0 5; Coginchaug 5-0 3; Stamford 4-2 3; North Haven 5-1 1
Voters: Marc Allard (Norwich Bulletin), Bob Barton (CT H.S. Football Record Book), Jim Bransfield (Middletown Press), Ray Curren (Elm City Newspapers), Anthony Della Calce (New Britain Herald), George DeMaio (WELI Radio), Gerry deSimas (Collinsville Publishing Co.), Bill Donovan (WXLM 104.7 FM), Mark Fijalkowski (CT Sports Network), Dave Greenleaf (CCC website), Mike Guerrera (Southington Citizen), John Holt (WFSB Channel 3), Larry Kelley (Patch.com), Bob Lazzari (Valley Times), Greg Lederer (Cheshire Herald), Ken Lipshez (New Britain Herald), Eric Montgomery (Minuteman Newspapers), Sean Patrick Bowley (Connecticut Post), Dave Phillips (Shoreline Times), Pat Pickens (Fairfield Citizen-News), Mike Pucci (New Haven Register), Paul Rosano (Meriden Record-Journal), Dave Ruden (Stamford Advocate), Mike Suppe (Hersam Acorn Newspapers), Peter Vander Veer (Elm City Newspapers), Tom Yantz (Hartford Courant), Rich Zalusky (Willimantic Chronicle), Jimmy Zanor (Shore Line Newspapers)

DAY OF NEW LONDON COACHES

Rank Team (First Place Votes) Record Points Prev.
1. Xavier (9) 6-0 380 1
2. Masuk (3) 6-0 368 2
3. Staples (1) 6-0 338 3
4. Berlin 6-0 274 5
5. West Haven 6-0 262 6
6. Darien 6-0 238 9
7. Ansonia 6-0 212 8
8. Norwich Free Academy 5-1 202 NR
9. Naugatuck 6-0 185 10
10. New Canaan 6-0 126 4

Also receiving votes: Bristol Eastern (6-0), 115 points; Hyde-New Haven (6-0), 87; St. Joseph-Trumbull (4-2), 82; Wethersfield (6-0), 78; Hand-Madison (5-1), 64; Windsor (5-1), 54; Glastonbury (5-1), 49; Southington (5-1), 39; North Haven (5-1), 27; Tie, Hall-West Hartford (6-0) and Montville (5-1), 22; Tie, Ridgefield (5-1) and Trumbull (5-1), 20; New London (5-1), 18; Bridgeport Central (4-2), 11; Valley Regional/Old Lyme (6-0), 8; Tie, Pomperaug-Southbury (5-1) and Manchester (4-2), 7.
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.

The Elite 8 – Week 7

Monday, October 25, 2010 by:Sean Patrick Bowley
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The regional Elite 8 heading into Week 7:

TRENDING UP

Where to begin, where to begin:

STAPLES (6-0) From 3 back to No. 2 again. Wiped out Harding, as expected. Has winless Ludlowe and then Wilton left before hosting Trumbull for a trip to the FCIAC title game.

WEST HAVEN (6-0) Up one to No. 3. Got down early vs. Cheshire but came roaring back for the 34-29 victory. Somebody sign freshman Earvin Phillips (13 carries, 105 yards, 2 TD) to a long-term deal.

DARIEN (6-0) Up-up-up all the way from missed to No. 4. Red Lion Christian may not have been all it was cracked up to be, but the Wave make impressive comeback, earn an impressive victory vs. a team supposedly loaded with future D1 talent. The Wave just find ways to win.

ANSONIA (6-0) Up from No. 8 to No. 5. Can’t see anybody else in the NVL who can stop Montrell Dobbs and Arkeel Newsome. The Chargers are starting to look a lot like 2006 Ansonia, aren’t they?

RIDGEFIELD (5-1) Up from Missed to No. 6. Scored 17 quick points vs. Norwalk and hung on from there. Interesting game vs. McMahon this week, then Trumbull.

STAMFORD (4-2) Up from nowhere into the Missed. They have our attention. If they beat Central this week…

BROOKFIELD (4-2) Up from nowhere into the Missed. The Bobcats have beaten who they’ve had to beat. The Pomperaug game in Week 8 looms large.

ST. JOSEPH (4-2) Up from nowhere into the Missed. …Is this the team we’ve been expecting this year? We’ll find out with Warde, Norwalk and Greenwich up next.

TRENDING DOWN

NEW CANAAN (5-1) From No. 2 to No. 7, the Rams were down 21-7 to St. Joseph in the fourth quarter and rallied to tie with a minute left. Then they were down 28-21 with 47 seconds left and rallied again. Lou Marinelli rolls the dice, loses and New Canaan still gets another shot. Crazy game. They were just as good as St. Joe, just didn’t have the luck in the end. They don’t fall far, but now the road to the Class L playoffs got a bit steeper.

TRUMBULL (5-1) Drops from No. 5 into the Missed. The Eagles were utterly outplayed by the upstart Black Knights. They’re beat up physically (few concussions, an ankle and a shoulder or two) and maybe emotionally as well. Has Danbury next, then road games vs. Ridgefield and Staples. Safe to say the season is at a pivotal point.

CENTRAL (4-2) Drops from 7 to the Missed. This year’s Hillhoppers can beat up the less fortunate, but they just don’t seem to have it against the better teams on the big boys this year.

WILBUR CROSS (4-2) Drops out of the Missed. Coach John Acquavita is suspended for a game for last week’s brouhaha with a Cheshire parent. Govs get hammered by Hand. Now they get ticked off NDWH on the road before a crucial game at home vs. West Haven. As good as James Ward is, he can’t keep carrying the team on his back.

NOTRE DAME-WH (3-3), SHELTON (3-3) Both drop out of the Missed. The SCC is tough, but three losses in Week 6 is where we draw the line.

STAYING PUT

MASUK (6-0) Still the best team I’ve seen from the region, despite giving up a it’s first legit TD to Weston (btw, nicely done Weston). …GREENWICH (4-2) They’re not quite back yet. Beating Central was a start… NEWTOWN (5-1) Gutsy win vs. Bunnell. If the Hawks can survive vs. New Fairfield, Barlow and Stratford, they might be playing in the SWC title game. …POMPERAUG (5-1) Same goes for the Panthers, except sub Stratford out with Brookfield. … BUNNELL (4-2) Newtown loss was similar to New Canaan’s. Got down by couple of TDs, rallied but just didn’t have enough at the end. Still some hope for the young Dawgs, but not much.

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