Tonight, we begin.
Tonight the first high school football teams will make their final preparations, pack up their equipment, load up their buses and settle in for the ride up to Rentschler Field in East Hartford for the first of four state championship games.
Trumbull (11-2) and Xavier (12-0) face off in the Class LL title game tonight at what is expected to be a frigid, but snow-free championship game.
Tomorrow, we kick off at 11 a.m. with Class M, followed by our first dream final in Class L and then wrap it all up with our second dream final in Class S.
Without question, we can say these teams are the best of the best. Unlike previous years, we know there aren’t any deserving teams sitting home. We’ve whittled away the pretenders, leaving only the contenders to duke it out for a coveted state championship in one of this state’s finest football facilities.
This might be the best CIAC state championship round since the tournament’s inception 34 years ago. Those who wear the crowns this season can truly say they are among the elite.
In the post below, we go in-depth to all four state championship games and pick our winners. If you haven’t picked yours, you may do so below each capsule. Give us your picks, tell us your reasons.
At right is our video player, with interviews from many of the championship game participants. We’ll continue to add new videos throughout the day and into tomorrow, so keep checking back for interviews and highlights.
Here’s a running list of stories and previews written by the staff of Connecticut Post and Stamford Advocate in advance of the title games:
- Schools get in the spirit of CIAC championships
- Trumbull looks to make most of Class LL final vs. No. 1 Xavier
- Ansonia, St. Joseph a battle of high-powered offenses
- Family Feud: New Canaan’s Shullman, Masuk’s Duigan finally meet on a football field
- RUDEN: New Canaan has few peers in Connecticut football
- State finalists eager to play at Rentschler
Then either bundle up and head to Rentschler for the title bouts. Or you can choose to stay home, plug your computer into your TV and watch the games and the live blog here courtesy of Sportingnewsct.com and Birdseyesports.com.
Or you can let “The Coach” George DeMaio and Nick Aprea take you through the action on WELI 960-AM (weli.com).
And, finally, a quick poll before we get started, because we’re so curious.
If you can’t watch the games live for whatever reason (technical difficulties hampered our efforts in the semifinals) you can always stay on top of the action on the trusty live blog:
No doubt the expanded playoffs with the 4 classes have been a huge success and will bring us fanatics 4 very good matchups to end the 2010 season.
Lou’s desk could use a little straightening.
@Nostran – Bingo.
…and Lou’s won eight titles at New Canaan, including 4 straight and going for a fifth straight. I think he’s entitled. ;)
I think he’s entitled to this at this point:
http://cache.boston.com/bonzai-fba/Globe_Photo/2007/11/10/1194720444_2567.jpg
Second best LL team in state is West Haven.Next year Westies rule with best running back in CT.Who? Oh I forgot we have 7 tailbacks.
Top three in CT in this order Masuk ,Xavier, West Haven.Westies led Xavier going into 4th quarter scoring 28 pts .What did FCIAC best do.Goodbye gold coast big takers.Masuk beats NC by 4 tds. Ansonias Dobbs scores 5 tds .That would not happen in SCC.
R-Mac said that we will never know best team in state becaause of Ansonia- SJ matchup is too late.They arent even in equation.Xavier has no losses playing in toughest league against LL and L schools.Ansonia would be like 7-3 or 6-4 in SCC.Is some something in water of Housy or Naugy rivers that make people delusional?
Xavier beat Trumbull as bad as Darien beat Trumbull. Wake up. Masuk was taking knees halfway through the third quarter against Darien.
Seems like FCIAC fans do all the talking and SCC teams win all the titles.Masuk is going to beat NC like 42-14.Ansonia runs Dobbs every play and are too fast for St Joes.Game is over at half in Ansonias direction. Hillhouse beats New London by 3 tds.
“Masuk is going to beat NC like 42-14.”
There is many a slip twixt the cup and the lip.
Masuk has destroyed ever team they have faced this year.So if Masuk blows out NC Saturday like they did Darien & every other team they have faced through out this year Masuk should be the clear #1 in the state.
If the Masuk/NC game is close & Masuk wins than you have to give the #1 to Xavier>like I said the only way I can see Masuk getting the #1 spot over Xavier would be to blow NC doors in.
Terry and Frank, you seem angry. Is the Q Bridge backed up again? I don’t recall anyone talking negatively about the SCC on this blog, ever. SWC and NVL, yes. Pequot, definately. But we all know your league is strong and you are probably a handsome well-endowed man, so start feeling a little better about yourself.
All I see on this blog is Masuk 23 point favorite,Masuk by 5 and 4 touchdowns.No contest, over by half time etc.New Canaan no shot.
Seems to me NC is in a good position if they lose, well they were suppost to but if they win, just think how bad this will make Masuk look.Masuk I hope you win, if not this could be the biggest choke in state history!!!
GREAT DAY FOR HIGHSCHOOL FOOTBALL!SORRY TO SEE IT END SOME PREDICTI0NS
NL VS HILLHOUSE
HILLHOUSE 20 NL 14 THEY ALMOST BEAT XAVIER – PLAYING WELL – TOUGH TO BET AGAINST THEM
MASUK 42 NC 21 I LIKE NC BUT I DONT SEE MASUK LOSING(NEXT YEAR TOO)
ST JOES 34 ANSONIA 24 COACH DEL FIGURES OUT HOW TO CONTAIN DOBBS
SPB
I KNOW YOU ARE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR THE AUDIO AND VIDEO. BUT LAST NIGHTS GAME ONLY THE AUDIO WAS WORKING IN THE 1ST HALF ONLY AND THE VIDEO NEVER WORKED
Masuk and New Canaan are playing for # 2
bottom line is new canaan is not a 4 score dog to anyone. so anyone who puts new canaan as a dog by more then 10 is out of their minds. not only is new canaan not going to lose they are going to beat up on masuk. darien (the fciac’s best) did not even win their division. new canaan is and has been the patriots of the past decade. you can never put new canaan out of a game like that. and if new canaan can find a way to get macari the ball 20-25 times today the game wont even be close. 4 state titles in a row and a 56-6 record over the past 5 seasons, with only one game out of 62 being a blowout of new canaan. it was a monsoon that night. looks pretty nice today. I’m not saying new canaan is going to smash masuk because masuk is a great team, but they are not new canaan yet. they can win, but no body beats new canaan like masuk has beaten everyone. masuk better be ready for a war. because of the stupidity of some bloggers now even if new canaan doesn’t win and its close you people lose all your credibility. at least SPB had the dignity to keep his score within 10 points. im sure he would have liked to put it as more but he respects the program. ill see everyone at the rent today. good luck masuk. good luck new canaan. may the best team win, and do it with class and without any excuses.
Can people grow up the nvl is a small league with small towns. If they had bigger populations those towns would have more players and more funding to compete with the scc and fcaic.
Congrats to the SCC for Xavier and Hillhouse but seriously the M class has to be the worst, at least S has St Joes and Ansonia. Ansonia beat the same Hillhouse team last year 41-12 I think and we pumped a much better New London team than what was shown today. Yes a much better New London team. After the hillhouse game last year when Dobbs was the second of a two headed monster those kids were saying “#5 is the best RB in the state”. That was as a junior. Montrell has made great stides in his life the past 4 years I hope he excels today as the only senior he deserves it. The kid plays balls to the wall every play. St Joes is a very good team. Let’s go Chargers!
Remember best team ever played in Class ‘S’, hope you folks dont forget that. 1998 Bloomfield team
congrats to hillhouse—–ecc is baseball conference,i guess. hate to be a downer but class m was very weak this year.battle of scc-fciac heavyweights goes to scc.masuk has no absolutely no chance of finishing #1. The registers good ole boy scc parochial league people will make sure of that.did you hear george demaio last nite?you would have thought he was in booth with god himself.
great post terry—-dobbs scored 4 tds vs.westies in ooooppps scrimmage