Let the debate begin… or at least continue for a few more days.
Masuk shook off a dicey second quarter, in which it relinquished two long pass touchdowns to Kevin Macari and allowed 20 points,
and got back to work in the second half with a dominant effort — just 29 total offense allowed — and an eventual 50-20 victory over the four-time defending state champion New Canaan.
Here are more opinions on the state champions’ performance vs the once four-time defending champs.
Ruden: New Canaan gets hammered by Masuk
Elsberry: Defense does it for Masuk in second half
A few of the state voters attending last night’s Xavier-Trumbull Class LL final — won 24-13 by Xavier – anointed the Falcons the top team in the state, regardless of today’s finals. But will the majority follow their lead? That was the question last night and it remains the question right now, with the confetti still unsettled from Masuk’s victory.
We wonder what you think? Did Masuk do enough to snatch the top spot?
Columnist Kevin Duffy of the NewsTimes thinks so.
Meanwhile, in an even better story, St. Joseph survived a absolutely heroic effort by back Montrell Dobbs and won its second-consecutive state championship, 49-28.
The season’s over. But we’re far from done.
Videos and highlights from both our regional state championship games coming Sunday.
ADD Sunday: We’re just about ready to start adding videos. Masuk-New Canaan up first.
And, how’d I forget to put this to a vote?
Masuk is hands down no 1….. no one could keep up with them all year….. and its not gonna stop next year either DYNASTY MODE
Congratulations to two very good football teams that have put in an enormous amount of time and sweat to get where they are. It is a shame they can’t finish this debate on the field. My personal opinion, if Masuk played the same schedule that X did this year, they might, and that’s a HUGE might, have a loss. With that said, if Masuk had played X head to head in the states, Masuk wins by 3-4 TD’s. Masuk, a PUBLIC class “L” school, would be facing X, a “LL” school able to draw from a number of towns but having seen tonight’s demo of NC, I vote Masuk #1….
Masuk. period
OK, from my name you know i’m biased. but how can masuk NOT be #1?? what more do they need to do? xavier beat trumbull by 11 points, masuk beat nc by 30! just because xavier has been #1 all season doesn’t mean they shouldn’t be toppled. what kind of argument is “they haven’t done anything not to be #1.” well, masuk HAS done evertything TO be #1. undefeated season. swc champs. class l state champs. winning by an average of over 40 points a game. stop the “weak season” garbage. masuk IS the number 1 team in the state. period. amen.
Masuk #1 absolutely. They are the best team in Connecticut. Sorry Xavier you’re a good team but these last 2 weeks have proved Masuk better. And just because Xavier has been #1 you can’t use the arguement “oh well they didn’t lose so they should remain there” No. Masuk is the better team. Xavier has not put on performances the way Masuk has. The question is who is the number one team in the state and the answer is Masuk. Xavier should not just stay at number 1 because they didn’t lose. And 24-13 win over Trumbull? That’s an awesome accomplishment I’m not taking anything away from them (except that #1 spot) but not nearly as dominant as the stats Masuk put up and the way they won games you cannot deny them the #1 spot
The main argument put forth for Xavier to be #1 is that to be #1 you have to dethrone #1, which no team has done. Since Xavier and Masuk have never played each other, this entire argument hinges on the polls. As the chart below proves, the reason Masuk was not able to surpass Xavier in the polls was a lack of early respect: Xavier was preseason #2 vs. Masuk weighing in at #6. Xavier simply needed to beat #1 ND WH in week one to be #1 while Masuk had to prove itself over the first six games to get to #2. From that point on, as Xavier never lost, Masuk never had a chance to take over #1.
Xavier fans would then argue that Xavier played a tougher schedule, thus its wins were more impressive, thus it never deserved to relinquish the #1 spot. True, Xavier played a tougher schedule. Let’s even agree that their 9-6 wins over five loss Cheshire and three-loss Hillhouse were more impressive than Masuk’s shutout blowouts of New Fairfield and Bethel (92-0 combined) those same weeks. But if we go down this road then we have to evaluate the strength of their playoff competition. Masuk destroyed FCIAC champion Darien. They put up 50 on New Canaan that arguably was even better than Darien. Meanwhile, Xavier merely beat W Haven, a team that doesn’t play defense, Glastonbury, that barely escaped a crippled Staples, and Trumbull which lost to Darien.
Pre 9/14: X(2)/M(6): 424/362
1. 9/21: X(1)/M(4): 608/448 (X-NDWH 22-15 / M-NMilford 49-7)
2. 9/27: X(1)/M(4): 668/572 (X-Foran 37-0 / M-Pomp 42-0)
3. 10/4: X(1)/M(4): 672/588 (X-Cheshire 9-6 / M-NFair 47-0)
4. 10/11: X(1)/M(4): 702/616 (X-Amity 41-7 / M-Brook 49-7)
5. 10/18: X(1)/M(3): 702/634 (X-FPrep 34-0 / M-Bunnell 45-0)
6. 10/25: X(1)/M(2): 700/676 (X-Shelton 14-7 / M-Weston 56-7)
7. 11/1: X(1)/M(2): 664/656 (X-Hillhouse 9-6 / M-Bethel 45-0)
8. 11/8: X(1)/M(2): 664/552 (X-Hamden 46-0 / M-Oxford 69-28)
9. 11/15: X(1)/M(2): 702/684 (X-WH 42-28 / M-Immaculate 54-14)
10. 11/22: X(1)/M(2): 702/686
11. 11/29: X(1)/M(2): 700/688 (X-Middl 27-14 / M-Newtown 42-0)
Playoffs:
11/30 (X-WH 28-7 / M-BristE 49-23)
12/4 (X-Glast 24-13 / M-Darien 41-0)
12/11 (X-Trumbull 24-13 / M-New Canaan 50-20)
I’m by no means saying that the sportswriters made a mistake with the pre-season rankings such that Masuk was shorted. It’s impossible to precisely gauge teams that turn over the vast majority of their roster, let alone most of which you can’t possibly have seen play a real game. What I am saying is that the end of the season can’t be any less subjective if two teams with equal records have not played each other. Therefore, the only fair thing for sportswriters to do is determine in their own minds which team, Xavier or Masuk, would prevail if they played each other next week. It’s an argument with no right answer, but the only argument that can be made.
I think that the message is clear…..Masuk is the number 1 team in the state! Hands down! If you look at the margin of victory all year vs. Xavier‘s, Masuk has man handled all of their opponents, Xavier has not! Many on this blog stated that Masuk had not been tested and that New Canaan would be that test. Well test over and Masuk gets an A+. Xavier won all of their games yes but some by a slim margin. Masuk has ruled their games in every aspect, offense, defense and special teams. These two teams will never get to face one another so it is up to the sports writers, coaches and other voters to do the right thing and vote Masuk as the true number 1. If you watched Masuk and Xavier play this year (and I have) then you know that Masuk is the best team in the state. Masuk is #1! END OF STORY!
I should add that if Masuk were to play Xavier next week, I’d have predicted Masuk by 2-3 TDs.
Masuk. Blew out two best teams in FCIAC. I was at the Masuk New Cannan game and it was not as close as the score said it could have been 30-7 the half if #2 doesn’t drop pass. people is stands were saying they would not be able to handle being tested like this at the half because they did not play anybody but they came out and scored two quick Tds and got three and outs and it was over. I would have like to see Masuk vs. Stjoes.
^ Very well said couldn’t agree more. Masuk has defiantly proved them selves tonight. Xavier has been in first since week two I do not think that they will change that and take it away from them. But obviously Masuk deserves it the most. I do not care what every one else says. Masuk won 50 to 20, 30 points. Xavier 24 to 13, 11 points. Bigger win I think top spot. If we really need to decide have them play each other wouldn’t that be great. Then we can say that the winning team is better. Obviously if Xavier only won by 11 then they would have a hard time beating Masuk, don’t you think?
Xavier played a tough schedule all year, remained unbeaten, was rated # 1 all year. Xavier is # 1 hands down, flat out. I would love to see the two meet on the field to end all the flap. Go XAVIER!!
Xavier #1.More Quality wins in a tougher league.In 2010 if you combined the SCC with the SWC and Ranked the teams Xavier and Masuk would be tied for 1 and the next 4-5 teams would be from the SCC.
Seems to me that being voted #1 is be all and end all for everybody down here in Fairfield county. As a follower of high school football in the New Haven area I certainly have an interest in who comes out #1 in the final poll but I am not consumed by it. I would like to see Xaxier voted #1 because they beat my alma mater ( Notre Dame )where I played football. But now I have a better reason, it seems it will drive all of you insane. I for one am happy that 2 teams from the SCC have won their divisions. You people just can’t be happy to have a great team like Masuk just win the L division crown. It all means nothing unless they get voted #1. Mabey if your real good Santa will bring you an early present.
And on the subject of teams drawing from surrounding towns like Xavier, Notre Dame, Fairfield Prep, how come it only comes up when 1 of those teams has a great year like Xavier this year and Notre Dame last year. But it’s perfectly ok for Cochran to hand pick a school for his son to play football at and of course it was ok when he went to New London and brought another player or 2 to live with him.
HYPOCRITS!!!
For the record, I know that Masuk could never put up the points against Xavier that they have put on the schools this year. Xavier is the best defense that I have seen in the state in quite a few years. But I don’t think that Xavier would score many points on a very good Masuk defense either. Xavier tends to shoot itself in the foot with stupid penalties like no other team that I have seen this year. I think that if they played Masuk would win a game that would be a lot closer than you think.
the good news, Xavier is a junior and sophmore team that will return all of their skill positions but 1 end, almost the whole offensive line and 7 starters on defense next year. Thinking that we can do this all over again next year and won’t that be fun. See ya in 2011.
I’ve seen a lot of football this year. I’m a New Canaan fan, but I go to many games all over the state, including a few Xavier games and a few Masuk games. Saw both teams play again this weekend. Both excellent football teams. I feel very comfortable saying that Masuk is the best high school football team in Connecticut. And I’ve been saying that for about two months.
after masuk and xavier name the two best teams in each league
1- Masuk
2- Xavier
BIG dropoff
3-ST. Joe’s
4-New Canaan
(a lot of people will have NC 3 and Joe’s 4, and that’s understandable, but Joes’s beat NC and won a state title)
Another BIG dropoff
5-10
NC Rules, don’t feel so bad, at least NC put up a fight for a little while. I actually thought they had a shot at half time.
Xavier beat Trumbull by 11 points. Trumbull lost to Darien by 10 points. Darien was destroyed by both NC and Masuk. And Masuk manhandled NC all second half. I have no doubts that Masuk is better than Xavier.
The Panthers rolled over NC’s defense after the first half. It was just plain ugly, the Rams D was on the field all night, and completely gassed. Their offense show’d that it could both run and throw against a decent defense, which while not the best, has certainly gone under the radar most of the year. Masuk’s run game got better as the game got on, and both the minds and bodies of their opponents broke down. They got into the NC players head’s really fast in the 2nd half.
NC’s offense crumbled. They simply weren’t able to run the ball against Masuk’s blitz’s and stunts, they confused both the line and RB’s. I give the Rams Offensive line credit for showing a pretty strong pass block game, but later on (excluding Hanratty, who performed well both ways), they crumbled. The ‘high octane offense’ suffered from a inability to run the ball, a lot of drops by the WR’s, and a lot of stupid penalties. And Testani crippled the Rams with his kicks. It almost seemed unfair.
I thought it would of been a better game based off that 2nd quarter, but the Rams crumbled and Masuk proved its doubters wrong. Masuk is definitely my #1 team in the state, they were simply on another level this year. I still have an immense amount of respect for the Rams, and especially their legendary coach. Marinelli has proven his schools worth with consistent winning records. I’ll be very interested in how both teams do next year, to see if Masuk starts its own championship streak dynasty, and if the Rams try to start another one.
final thoughts on 2010 class s final and other topics.dellavechia and a experienced st.joes team the difference.fciac fans were right dobbs would never rush for 300 yards vs. fciac team,he ran for 313—gatorade ,orangeade, kool aid hes the best offensive player in ct. bar none.my choice is masuk as no.1. st.joes will go on another 8 year hiatus before return to finals—ansonia will be there next 5 years put it in book.though it had no effect on game, the officiating, the p.a. announcer and the pricing for food and ticket were a perfect clown act for the C.I.A.C. circus. ST.JOES saved face
for the (MISTAKES ON THE MERRIT CONFERENCE),WHIHC WAS A COUPLE OF PLAYS AWAY FROM GETTING SWEPT.
Xavier is very powerful (300+ yards rushing against a tough Trumbull defense). Masuk’s offense is potent (30 point margin against a 3rd-ranked, high-octane NC). We all wish it could be decided on the field. Voters likely to lean to Xavier based on strength of regular season schedule and dominance in the playoffs, but a very close vote. Two great undefeated teams … congratulations to each!
Who is # 1 ? Let’s do the right thing. Xavier is a great team but can not compare to the success of masuk. Masuk # 1.
One final word–does it really matter who is No. 1? I like a friendly debate as much as anybody, but let’s not take away from anything these Masuk or Xavier players did all season long via the court of public opinion. They won state championships, and that was their goal since the summer. Same for Hillhouse and St. Joe’s. Congrats to all four of those teams. And, yes, while it would be fun if they could play each other, NO NO NO it is not a good idea. That is what the “Class system” is for in Connecticut (as well as every other state and every other sport). You win your class and your season is over. That’s the way it is. Why did we need to see who is the best of the best and extend the season even longer? Also, this is based on enrollment. Every state does it this way. Heck, even the famed “open” Indiana High School basketball state tournament changed to the “class system” about 12 years ago. We don’t need a “true” state champion. That would be a shame for the other three schools who won their respective “Class state titles” and had to come back the following week (or two weeks later) only to lose. What kind of taste would that leave—”You’re champions, but not really.”
^Completely agreed. What more does Masuk need to accomplish? I’m sure all other CT high school football fanatics would love to see a Masuk vs. Xavier match up but in my prediction, Masuk would still win by at least a 2 touchdown margin. Masuk has completed a perfect season, beaten every time by at least 40 points, routed the FCIAC Champion Darien, and dominated yet another FCIAC powerhouse. Tonight was a statement game, Xavier is a great team but hands down #1 to Masuk
MASUK 91 FCIAC 20
Masuk vs X-men,both teams are at the top of their classes.They both remained undefeated through out the season and the finals. The X-men played hard all year and had some close calls with cheshire and shelton but thats okay,its the scc and anyone can have an off day. The Panthers played hard all year and had no close calls and putting to rest in peace’s the blue wave and raising hell in the next station to heaven by upsetting the four score in a row class L state champions. Let the bias voting begin in the favor of the scc as it always does,GOD forbid if a team from the swc ever gets shown any respect in the polls,its all about the ego and the pride of the scc and thats the way its always gonna be. X marks the #1 spot!!! R-MAC
Xavier has not played a team of NC’s caliber all year.
This is a squad that ripped apart the SCC’s second best last week, 39-21. This is a team with multiple Division 1-bound seniors and one of the state’s best junior classes.
Masuk beat that team by 30 points.
I’m a NC homer, admittedly, but there is no way Xavier is better than Masuk. That Panthers team that stepped out of the tunnel at halftime was amongst the best in recent Connecticut football history – great offense, great defense, great special teams. A Masuk-Xavier final would have ended the same way as the Masuk-NC “dream matchup”…with Cochran in the victory formation.
I’d like to see Masuk deal with Xaviers size and speed. I think Masuk could handle it. I did see Cochran get slower the more he gets hit and Masuk’s front 7 will do all kinds of things to that boy. Too bad we cant get one more game as fans.
I don’t love Masuk or Coach Murphy, but after what they accomplished this season and post-season how do you deny them #1? The margins of victory in the regular season and in the playoffs against big-time competition seal the deal for me. It was a historic year.
I attended the game last night and was shocked to see that Coach Murphy’s team appeared far better prepared to start the second half than Coach Marinelli’s team. New Canaan’s second half offense looked little different than that of any SWC opponent of Masuk’s this year. Unrelenting pressure on the quarterback, team speed, and big hits, the hallmarks of the Masuk D, were on full display.
Masuk deserves to be ranked #1. They would beat Xavier by 30 points.
This was the greatest Masuk football team in school history.
I agree that Dobbs effort was heroic but why is he running the ball 52 times in one game.Ansonia has no other skill players?It almost borders on abuse by Brockett.So he averaged 6 yards a carry.Give any of the top running backs in region like Phillips,Markus,Ward and give them 50 carries they might have 400 yds in the game too.I know the kids a warrior but 50 carries is too many for a coach to give one player
The SWC is like a JV league compared to the FCIAC or the SCC. However, no matter what league Masuk was in they would go undefeated and should be ranked # 1 overall. Lets stop comparing Masuk to the FCIAC. Does everyone realize that Darien had about 6 players suspended for the Masuk game. Darien is probably the third best team in the FCIAC behind New Canaan and SJ.
masuk is hands down best team in the state. to win a state championship 50-20 over a strong fciac team is ridiculous. by far number one in the state
Even though an SCC fan, It’s hard to deny Masuk being #1. And the only way to settle it, is a game with X, which is’nt going to happen. It’s VERY obvious the influence of Coach Cochran on that team. Especially the Defense. He won’t be officially given any credit, but he should get credit for another state championship, because Masuk would’nt have been the same without his help the last 2 years, plus his son, but it’s that defense that won it for them. Great recruiting job, better than catholic school Xavier.
SCCFAN – Jack Cochran had nothing to do with the defense this year. That was all Chris Gueli
Masuk should be hands down the #1 team in the state.Review the entire season on what team has done.Both teams are undefeated, however the difference to me is from start to finish Masuk has blown every team out unlike Xavier.
Please do not try to make the arugemnet that Xavier plays in a tougher league.SWC has good teams but not as balanced as the SCC.Masuk proved the did not play cupcakes during the season when they destroyed 2 of the FCIAC’s top teams.NC was lucky to score those 2 long TD’s before halftime or it would of been a 50-7 final.Look at Ansonia years passed taking the #1 spot, they play in a watered down NVL league.
Sorry if Masuk faced off against Xavier Masuk would blow them out of the water to.
This years new playoff system proved that teams like Ansonia, NC, Darien who have won multiple state titles in the past(Class S, M & MM) that there is no more easy title games you will face teams who are as good or better than you.If it wasn’t for the tradtional Thanksgiving football games along with the League title games the State could even open the field up to a bigger bracket by getting an earlier exta week for play.
The determination of who is the number one team will be argued through the off season. Everyone has an opinion some with logic some with out. Here is my opinion and logic. First of all Masuk and Xavier are two very different types of teams. Masuk runs a spread no huddle offense designed to pass about 80% of the time and to score quickly and often. They will throw the ball deep with a 5 touch down lead. On the other hand Xavier likes to run the ball , eat up clock and control field position and pass only when necessary. Both teams have outstanding defenses, Masuk’s is based on technique, Xavier’s on strength. This brings us to strength of schedule. I ranked the opponents of both teams 1 thru 13 and compared them thus giving an advantage to either Masuk or Xavier to establish a logical strength of schedule which justifies Xavier as the number one team in the state:
Xavier Masuk Advantage
Trumbull New Canaan Even
Glastonbury Bristol Eastern Xavier
WHHS (1) Darien Xavier
WHHS(2) Newtown Xavier
Hillhouse Brookfield Xavier
NDWH Pomperaug Xavier
Cheshire Bunnell Xavier
Shelton Bethel Xavier
Middletown New Milford Xavier
Amity Oxford Masuk
Prep Weston Mausk
Foran New Fairfield Xavier
Hamden Immaculate Masuk
If in fact there is an Eleventh game next season how about Xavier Vs Masuk in week one since they both have the majority of their starters back.
Maybe you should have gone to Masuk practices the last 2 years.
Masuk, and the Town of Monroe for that matter has always had it’s fair share of haters and I don’t know why.
Masuk may play in a weaker SWC, but their is no denying the skill level of teams like Newtown, Pomperaug and Brookfield who all play in the SWC.
The SCC is a great conference but let’s be real here, they had a down year. The SCC has some horrible teams just like the SWC, but they also have a great teams. NDWH, Xavier and Prep draw from towns all over the region, it automatically puts them in a better position to field a better football team. Towns like Cheshire and Shelton are LL schools, large towns that have a much bigger selection of high school aged males to draw from. We forgot Monroe is somewhat considered a relatively small town in comparision to a large number of the SCC schools.
What Masuk did was amazing. #32 says the SWC is garbage compared to the FCIAC and SCC. Masuk just dominated the top 2 FCIAC by a combined schore of 91-20.
The scary part? They are returning a good amount of players next year and I think they can repeat.
I saw Xavier play and let me tell you that defense is great, but I personally think Masuk is faster and that’s what matters in high school football, speeed. Xavier is a great team but I honestly think Masuk would beat them by 2 TDs atleast, they are that good.
Xavier look extremely shaky against a Trumbull team that was manhandled by Darien.
@ James{Post #26}
Xavier has not played a team of NC’s caliber all year.
This is a squad that ripped apart the SCC’s second best last week, 39-21. This is a team with multiple Division 1-bound seniors and one of the state’s best junior classes.
Did you notice That Hand lost by even a larger margin {24} vs Notre Dame.Also your Lines played Pathetic and Weak yesterday and were the reason the Rams got blown out.Xavier would push the Rams all over the field.Notre Dame,West Haven would fare well against the Rams and a few others Cheshire,Hillhouse,Cross would give the Rams a tougher game than about 7 cupcakes on your schedule.Speaking of Cupcakes take a look at you 2011-2012 schedule.A complete joke even weaker than this years.Good luck vs Bassick
Coach Cochran had zero involvement with masuk’s succes this season. Don’t you dare deny the masuk coaches the credit they deserve. And please stop calling him “coach”, it’s disrespectful to all the coaches who are doing it the right way.
Jack Cochran was not involved officially as a coach but if you think he did not have some direct dealings with a fair amount of players and coaches that helped improve their performances you are sadly mistaken.All his dealings were totally legal by CIAC Rules and Regulations.
Dave why should New Cannan be ranked #4, what did they prove for that ranking. That the FCIAC’s best team can get smacked by Masuk. They dont Deserve the 4 spot at all. Dobbs is a monster and so was Cochran. I think the FCIAC saw the two best players they saw all year yesterday in Cochran and Dobbs. Those two easily start for any team in the FCIAC. I dont know why you guys say Ansonia cant play in the FCIAC, you guys play no defense, not saying we played any at all. That game was close until the final two scores late. Coach Brockett even said it in the interview we can go toe to toe with these guys and they can. FCIAC proved nothing to me today as far as competition wise, you claim how dominant your league is but up against the good teams you faltered, and then played no Defense against a very young Ansonia team. That is not impressive to me at all. Sportingnews CT guys spoke to me at halftime and said I talked to a Boston College recruiter and asked him who he was here to see and he said who else but Dobbs?
Masuk whooped New Canaan BADLY after halftime. I witnessed one good drive by New Canaan, which scored with 2 seconds remaining in the first half. Other than that, the Masuk defense was unbelievable. It gave up two long passes (Macari caught both and one was for the TD) but that was in the first half. Masuk came out storming in the second half on both offense and defense.
Although in various years the selection of the elite 8 teams in the State would be subjective, this year all Formulas and or Opinions would have put Masuk and Xavier in the top 8.Take the projected top 8 teams out of enrollment status and opt to play in an open division void of enrollment Status.Thusly in 2010 the Masuk/Xavier debate would be settled on the field of play.Xavier and Masuk are most definitely deserving of the top #1 ranking.Unfortunately,unless you have a split poll,one of the teams must finish #1 and one #2.
Also, congratulations to St. Joe. Awesome performance last night against Ansonia. That team has a lot of talent.
The 4 State Champions are all #1 in their divisions- period. These outcomes were decided on the field of battle, not on this blog, or through the subjective voting of coaches, writers, etc.
The only truly meaningful “rankings” are by division and as decided by the outcome of the games. Any other ranking or grading of these teams is based on opinion, which will of course include preferences, bias, and politics of all sorts.
Therefore, while fun to talk about and debate, the final “State Rankings” are about as important as the pre-season rankings that will come out next fall (and we saw how accurate those were). What happened during the season, and post season ON THE FIELD is what is most important to these kids and that’s the way it should be. I also like not naming MVP’s for these games for the same reasons.
Thanks SPB for a huge effort all season and for all the technology advancements that have been made and tried- amazing coverage for HS football- I had to travel out of state for some of it and my colleagues from the Chicago area couldn’t believe the on-line coverage for HS sports in a “little” state like CT. Awesome job!
Ray Brown, SJ saved face? Here we go, the valley people are gonna start this stuff now. Ray your team got drubbed and thats the bottom line. Although I think Dobbs is a great player, he carried the ball 53 times…300 yards on that many carrys is not that impressive. What is impressive is that he continues to get up everytime. That being said, take your beating like a man. Nobody has hung 49 on Ansonia in a title game since Bloomfield dropped 50 somthing. As for the league, your right it did almost get swept. Two teams played the 1 and 2 teams in the state. Its to bad they all couldnt play NVL teams in the final.
@HS Football Fan – He was involved in the game planning with the team last year and ran a passing league this summer. He was *not* involved in coaching the team this year. Believe me when I say this.
All year long its been Xavier but anyone from the western end is going to say Masuk – well St. Joe’s will have something to say about as will Hillhouse. And as it always is – 4- State Champs – there is only one true way – settle it on the field.
Otherwise WHO CARES ….
One question – how quickly will Jack Cochran move out of Monroe when he son graduates? So, Masuk recruits among the best. Remember all the kids from Oxford and Beacon Falls?
Masuk and Xavier are both great teams. It does prove that the FCIAC wasn’t a great league, especially when St. Joe’s was your best team.
The one point – Masuk was never tested playing in the SWC…. seriously, when you are practically resting with off weeks throughout the season, and especially in Week 9 with a fluff game against Immaculate… there’s no reason to be rested up and on full gears in the playoffs.
Why doesn’t Masuk ever consider joining the SCC or FCIAC?… its obvious that the SWC is a joke league and hurting them (if they don’t get #1). Would love to see Masuk play New Canaan or Trumbull every year, or Masuk-Shelton instead of Masuk-ND Fairfield or New Milford, pullease.
Also, 8-2 Newtown and Pomperaug would have gotten smoked in the playoffs in the quarterfinals if by chance they made it. SWC stinks.
Can Xavier & Masuk share the states #1 spot or does the #1 state ranking have to go to one team???????????????
Disclaimer…. as stated previously, hard core Masuk fan here, make no bones about it.
Masuk and Xavier are two great football teams, period. We can pontificate all we want about who played who, strength of conference, strength of schedule, blah blah blah. The cows will have come home a multitude of times and we’d still be out here debating.
I know one thing. This was the best team that Masuk High School has ever put on the field. Xavier is a great defensive team however I don’t think they could match the balance that Masuk brings.
With this being said, here is my short debate on who is number one. First, the preseason polls don’t mean a thing (see NDWH if you don’t believe that) so you have to chuck the “defending” their number one ranking out the window. Masuk started number six. It shows you how imperfect that system is.
Second, if you examine just the “good teams” that Masuk played (Newtown, Brookfield, Pomperaug, Darien, New Canaan, and even Bristol Eastern)you can see that each opponent was incredibly overmatched.They didn’t beat these teams, they embarrassed them. In fact, they probably could have hung 55-65 points in some games (including Darien where they went to the knee with 8 minutes left) if we didn’t have to deal with the dogcrap 50 point flag football rule. Xavier’s body of work against good teams just isn’t that impressive. I happen to think that Masuk would take Trumbull out behind the shed and beat them by 5 or 6 touchdowns. You can’t keep going back to the SWC being the weak link, blah blah blah ad nauseum.
Lastly, in my opinion New Canaan is very close to Xavier in ranking. That was a damn good football team that Masuk clobbered yesterday. Masuk even went to the double wing “rock” offense and still moved the ball down the field. Simply put, the Masuk offense is unstoppable. The defense made some mistakes in the first half and then clamped down in the second half, allowing just 29 yards and no points. I think I saw a statistic that New Canaan had -51 yards rushing for the game. Masuk absolutely had their way with the class of the FCIAC, the crowned champion and the team that most believed was the best(New Canaan)
Regardless of the backroom politics, popularity contest, and subjective votes that are sure to be cast, I wouldn’t trade this season or my team for Xavier ever. Congratulations to the best football team that I have ever seen play in person. You are number one regardless of how this vote goes. Major kudos to #24′s son who’s hard work and selfless dedication to this team helped them to hoist the hardware.
Imagine if Matakavitch(spelling?) was healthy the entire year? The Cadets(Hogs) would have a say in this as well. Congrats to all the champs.
I agree with post 31 and 48.Give me the ball 52 times and I ll run for 300 yards every game especially in NVL.
Enough of the sniveling about Jack Cochran. Any one of you clowns would kill to have him behind your program. John Murphy has a great staff supporting him and Jack is not on that staff.
None of you know him as a human being which means….. YOU DON’T KNOW JACK!!!!!!!!
What a spectacular weekend!
I was at all four games. You have to hand it to the CIAC. They along with the UCONN/Rent event staff did an outstanding job. I thought it was first class all the way. The parking attendants, ticket takers, concession staff were all so friendly and accommodating, The bathrooms were clean and WARM!! I loved the music and scoreboard graphics. Call me kooky, but I loved the PA Announcer. Heck, the field even held up!
I agrees the crowds were down a bit, but the staff tried to herd/consolidate them, closing the top tier and endzones. But you know what, it is kind of like getting married in a grand cathedral instead of a chapel. Yes the chapel is warm and quaint, but give me a majestic building that takes your breath away.
About the games:
Trumbull v Xavier – Xavier by far brought the biggest fan base. Each section of the stadium seated 400 and X’s student body & band filled at least two sections. They were awesome. X’s offensive line were massive, synchronized machines – a joy to watch. Unfortunately Trumbull continued their perplexing, erratic play. The game was never really in doubt.
Hillhouse v New London – I was on the NL side for this game. I want of those harpoon hats. NL has a lot of rugged, passionate, old-time sailor fans who were shocked and heartbroken to loose this title game. NL really had the best of play and dominated most of the game. They joust couldn’t punch it in. Congrats Hillhouse!
New Canaan v Masuk – That first half was crazy!! NC showed tremendous character making that late 2Q charge. They scored with 2 seconds remaining in the half, what a gutty play! Who would have a thunk it, but Masuk comes out with the correct adjustments and just dominates the second half. The old-timers on Masuk’s side loved it, screaming “ROCK” when they were forced to go the double wing (looked it up – its not a wing-t or single wing). What’s not to love, they pounded NC into submission with it, to the delight of their delirious fans.
SJ v Ansonia – I am so glad I stayed to watch this game. I’ve seen SJ play several times, but they finally had a healthy Matakevich, what a talent he is. He made one play at the goal line snagging a low swing pass with his finger-tips and then instantly cutting in the opposite direction, it was subtle and beautiful. On the other side of the ball it was the first time I saw Dobbs. What a magnificent runner he is. He looks like Gayle Sayers (look him up youngins’)with shoulder pads shrugging, the hurdle-cuts, speed and grace. Ansonia did the town proud, but SJ had too many playmakers in addition to Tyler. SJ saved their best game for last, and deserved the victory and the Championship.
Who is Number 1 – Like I’ve said before, personally I like Xavier’s style of play better. But after watching Darien fail to beat Masuk using a controlled running game, and NC failing with a controlled passing game. With Cochran and that diversified offense scoring at will. There is doubt in my mind that Masuk would score more points than Xavier, and that my friends is the name of the game. Masuk #1.
Ray Brown – its a shame that you are the face of Ansonia to so many people outside your area. Sorry nobody responded last night, they were all celebrating. The AHS team and coaches presented themselves professionally all week – you clearly are not part of that staff, unless you are a hanger onner. Man up – your team got beat. I guess having your guy run for 300 yards is another one of those moral victories you are so fond of tracking.
UTAH, as much as ray brown is biased, you are equally so…to say that Ansonia was drubbed is simply ignorant. The game was highly competetive, a blast to watch, and could have went either way with a couple different calls or bounces. In the end, St. Joe’s was extremely skilled, poised, well-coached, and well-balanced…and while Ansonia played with tremendous heart, they didn’t do the little things a team has to do to win the close ones (special teams and red-zone breakdowns in this case). Congrats to St. Joe’s on a well-deserved title nad here’s hoping that the young Chargers learned that attention to detail is their key going forward.
St. Joe’s 1-0 against Ansonia. Undefeated against the NVL. If St.Joe’s switched to the NVL they will be in the playoffs next year. Great playing calling by Ansonia. That really takes a lot of preparation. Ray Brown’s BOYS took a beat down. Lost by 3 TDS. Don’t vare what anyone else says. I love how the NVL guys love moral victories.(We played with New Canaan…We almost beat St. Joe’s). Ray Brown…I love that your team got WHOOPED. I bet you were one of the people that left before the game ended. Like Dave J was saying…YOU are the reason people don’t like Ansonia. Remember Ray…You talked smack all season about St. Joe’s and your team is the one that got smacked…Have fun going 10-0 in that tough league next year. Hopefully you guys can play Hyde or Cromwell for the title. LOVE IT RAY. YOUR ALMIGHT CHARGERS GOT SMACKED DOWN. SAVE THE ONLY 1 SENIOR THING FOR SOMEONE WHO CARES. YOUR 1 SENIOR WAS YOUR TEAM. went with the all caps Ray Brown style. Last thing…Is 90% of the Ansonia fan base senior citizens?
@SPB {Post#49}
Let me rephrase.Jack Cochran may not have “Coached” at Masuk but his coaching experience and knowledge has influenced some decisions of the Masuk players and Coaches.Its all good and legal.It’s the same logic as a friend or coworker that discusses the way you perform your work duties and such and suggests an easier/more efficient way to perform a task .Would you totally agree with someone 100% of the time on their suggestions ?
Absolutely not but every once in awhile the thought passes through your mind and you try something new and it improves your performance.
I am sure the passing camps and Leagues and such that Jack Cochran is involved with are positives that help Masuk being a better team.
SPB, thank you for you great work all season long.
If Masuk is not voted #1, and if Masuk believes it is a snub because of the conference they play in, it would only be logical for them to accept the SCC’s standing offer to join the league, right?
Xavier is number 1 case closed. The pollsters voted them number #1 all year and they won each playoff game wthout a problem. U cannot take it from them now just because masuk beat NC. Yes I believe Masuk would have beaten every team xavier beat but they didn’t play them. Xavier did nothing all year or in the playoffs to lose the spot where the voters put them after the week 1 defeat of the then Voters #1 NDWH.
thanks to those who made this season on the blog fun and enjoyable for all and thanks to SPB for all his hardwork and passion for HS football that each of us also share. Happy Holidays to everyone!!
To add to # 60 response to # 49, Try not only practices, but locker rooms, weight rooms, camps, passing leagues. Masuk coaches good, but not as good as Jack. They all learned from Jack, and were better from it. Give him some credit, football sense only, he’s the best, and he definetly worked with that staff, and helped them all become better. Barely, but legal. He could have won states this year with quite a few teams if he was coaching them. Deny all you want, the truth’s the truth.
@ #43 titletown
While I am a New Canaan fan, nothing drives me more insane than blind FCIAC supporters. I don’t praise the conference like everybody else down here does, and I thnk they need to get rid of the conference title game. I’ve always aid that state are more important than a silly league title. The FCIAC, yes, is often overrated, despite going, I believe, 8-4 in this year’s postseason with one of the four state titles. So, I just want to let you know that I’m not your typical FCIAC blowhard. I can’t stand those people! LOL.
Having said all that….I think the media/coaches will rank New Canaan #4 in the final poll which is about to come out. Not so much that New Canaan was good this year, it’s just the way things fell in place this year, particularly in the state playoffs. Would else are they going to pout ahead of them? NC entered the playoffs ranked 3rd annd they lost to Masuk (albeit by 30!) in the finals. I say they drop to fourth–even though some people may still (unfairly) have them at third.
Here is how I see the final polls looking in the 5-10 spots (not in any particular order):
NFA
Berlin
Ansonia
Hillhouse
Hand
Darien
Trumbull or Glastonbury might even sneak in there over Darien. But, really, what do rankings really matter?
Also, I love watching Ansonia. Dobbs is a beast. I agree with you 100%. I’m on your side. He would be a star in ANY league….first-team All-FCIAC. Same with Cochran.
That’s the thing I like about Ansonia—when they have a Dobbs or an Alex Thomas, they give him the ball over and over and over. They make sure they win and lose with the ball in the hands of their best player. I wish the same could be said of Macari yesterday. All of us New Canaan fans were BAFFLED why they didn’t even look his way in SINGLE-COVERAGE in the 2nd half yesterday. Right fromn the opening drive of the 2nd half, he had single-coverage on him (I don’t care what the coaches said in the newspaper–it was SINGLE coverage—we ALL saw it!) Instead, they don’t even look his way, when Macari is the best talent on the field, as everyone saw in the first half (8 catches for 192 yards, 2 TD’s.) Second half? 2 catches for 5 yards. They didn’t change coverage on Macari. Yes, they blitzed Milano and that had a HUGE difference, but, when you have a star, throw it his way.
Regardless, Masuk still puts up a half a hundred and wins the game! But that was frustrating to see as a Rams’ fan. But, again, that’s what I admire about Ansonia—win, lose, or draw, they go to their best player—-and Dobbs was something VERY special.
I’m not an Ansonia hater. I respect them very much.
Masuk never recruited from Beacon Falls or Oxford, I don’t know what SWC Stinks is thinking. Yes, kids from those towns went to Masuk when they didnt have a football team but I don’t think many of them or if any actually played football.
Masuk is great at football because look at their feeder program. The Pop Warner teams were down in Florida this week for AYF Championships, and they’ve been down there before.
Coach Murphy as much as people dislike him is a great football coach and Masuk has had a tradition since way before Cochran and his family moved to Monroe.
There is a reason Cochran moved to Monroe. Murph ran the spread offense and he ran it extremely well. Jack Cochran wanted his son to succeed and get as many D1 looks as possible, Masuk has the best and most potent offense in the state with many weapons every year. Why wouldn’t want your son to throw the ball 45 times a game with the ability to put up the numbers he does? At this time next year Casey Cochran will most likely have A LOT of D1 looks from big time programs. I mean the kid already got a an offer from a great school…
As for the SCC is better. Like I said, the SCC has Hamden, Shelton, Cheshire, West Haven, three private schools (Xavier, Prep, ND-West Haven). These schools are much bigger and the towns are much bigger than Monroe. There isn’t a person in here who couldn’t tell me they would not compete year in and year out in the SCC, they would COMPETE. Would they be perfect? Maybe not, but there is a reason for that. Monroe doesn’t have the resources (Population, ability to draw ffrom larger sizes of high schoolers) as the schools in the SCC. The funny thing, Masuk’s program is so good that they would still compete aand perform extremely well. That’s saying something.
Why doesn’t Masuk join SCC? Because they play schools that are much more similar in demographic to theres. And plus, why would Masuk drive all the way to Middletown? With the economy the way it is, towns can’t afford that. Prep can afford to drive that far because they are a private instiution, same goes for Xavier. If anything, atleast joining the FCIAC would make more sense as Darien and Greenwich are closer than Middletown. But why would Masuk join the FCIAC after what they did to the top two teams this season?
Masuk and the Town of Monroe always had it’s naysayers. 3 State Championships and 9 Finals apperances since 1998. That’s a program there, regardless of conference.
co champions
Yes, Masuk blew out teams this year but that proves NOTHING!!! The teams they played were nowhere near the quality of the teams Xavier played in LL. Proof? Hillhouse won THEIR division – other powehouse teams in LL very successful. Xavier has has the #1 DL all season and their OL dominated the second half of the season. Hands down…..X #1. Masuk is an excellent #2
I enjoy reading SPB’s blog and the accompanying comments. Sean does an incredible job covering and promoting high school football, and readers’ comments, even when written by passionate and partisan fans of a school or conference, are usually thoughtful and observant, reflecting a good base of football knowledge.
But I have to take issue with a couple of the more rabid St. Joe’s and FCIAC fans above regarding their comments about Ansonia and Dobbs.
It’s true that any good running back is going to amass significant yardage if he is getting 30 or more carries a game. But it is also true that it is a helluva lot easier for a back to find holes when he is running out of spread offense and surrounded by other weapons in balanced run and pass schemes that keep defenses guessing.
Dobbs was essentially Ansonia’s only serious weapon on offense. He had to run against defenses that had nine, ten and sometimes eleven players in the box to stop him. And STILL he was rarely consistently held in check. All anyone had to do was watch him in person to see this was an extraordinary athlete, a sensational running back who never left the field, yet never seemed to wear down.
Ansonia was a very young team this season, with some speed but not much size or experience. They were not expected to have the success they achieved. Even hanging in with a talented, experienced St.Joe’s squad deep into the fourth quarter was a surprise.
It’s not that Xavier did anything to lose the #1 ranking…it’s the fact that Masuk did something to take it away from them and earn that spot
Here is how I see it.If you could have co champions that would have easily been Xavier and Masuk and then a big gap between all other contenders or in some cases pretenders.These rankings will look silly to some but head to head matchups definitely carry alot of weight in my opinion.
1}Xavier
2}Masuk 3}New Canaan
4}Hand
5}Darien
6}Trumbull
7}St Josephs
8}Hillhouse 9}Glastonbury
10}Ansonia
11}NFA
12}WestHaven
13}Notre Dame{WH}
14}Naugatuck
15}Staples
16}Montville
17}Berlin
18}North Haven
19}New London
20}Brookfield
Hillhouse won their division. Fantastic. The top eight or nine teams in the FCIAC all would have won M in a walk, too. Ditto for a number of SWC squads. I don’t want to take anything away from Hillhouse, because those kids went out and did what they were supposed to do, but beating a “state champion” means significantly less when that “state champion” is from M.
Masuk would beat Xavier by 3 touchdowns if they played. However, the biggest problem we have here is that Xavier plays in such a tough conference. Every week you are playing good teams that beat each other up. During that process, players get injured and beat up every week. Masuk reminds me of a hulk like version of Boise State with their weak schedule. Masuk could of started scouting for New Canaan in week two and they probably did. I really don’t think the FCIAC was weak this year I just think Masuk is that much better than everyone else.
so u think pomp bunnell brookfield bethel, and newtown cant hang in the scc. god you people truely do not have a clue. just accept the fact that the swc is better than thought. top to bottom they might not be the best but those teams listed can hang in any league. to say the swc is a joke or a jv league is ridiculous and really insulting to the kids, remember you are talking about kids.
Garfy, I agree with u that the game was entertaining, but Sj had complete control the whole time and in the end it was a drubbing. Ansonia had no shot.
X’men held on to #1 spot all year because they didn’t lose ( but they also didn’t win convincingly ) two wins by 3 pts and two wins by 7 pts against so,so teams……get real. Masuk plays in a weaker division but the final vote should be based on the question….if these two team would play tomorrow, who would win. I would say both defenses are great but Masuk has the better offense……Masuk should get the number #1 ranking or at least share the #1 spot.
M may have been possibly the easiest Class to win but don’t forget New London defeated[30-12} a top tier SWC team{Brookfield}to get to the Finals
I like you Dave. I’m just like you. I root for my team, I’m part of a #1 Ansonia team and I’m just disgusted with some of the things people write about the FCIAC on here. You guys have over 1000 boys in most of your schools. You come to a town like Ansonia we have 250 boys to choose from and we still put dominant teams year after year. The person WHAT!! is a joke he keeps praising St Joes when the FCIAC was thouroughly? embarassed yesterday. No defense was played. Your league is solid but after watching St Joes last night and watching Derby yes Derby, they would hang 35 on St Joes. Very solid offensively but they need a defense. Masuk proved their point to the SCC and so did Xavier. People in Fairfield county are the reason CT gets the rep it does because of stuck up rich people like WHAT!!! He probably sat on the sideline last night and hoped his mom took a picture of him with a trophy. Good for St Joes cant take anything away from them. We have a very young team and ill tell you what Newsome(#2) for Ansonia is going to be a player he is only a freshman. SCC proved their more dominant that FCIAC last night. Still though Berlin should not be rated. I hate Berlin they suck
@ NOT!!!, masuk is #1,PROOF? masuk killed daian 41-0 who beat trumbull, xavier beat trumbull by ONLY 11 points, imagine what masuk would of done to trumbull probly49-0 at end of 3rd, annd yes xavier has a good d but their o doesnt score and wouldnt againts masuks d who has has 8 first string shutouts,the only reason some schools score because there were all sophmores out there againts a varsity line up
I think people are getting too hung up on strength of conferences. A dominant team from any conference can play with anybody any given year.
Admittedly, the SWC was probably not as strong as recent years, but neither was the FCIAC. Masuk didn’t just squeak by to an unbeaten record, they completely dominated teams, including qiality playoff opponents. They were clearly the best all-around team in the state.
I agree the SCC is the strongest conference top to bottom in most years in the state. But other leagues have had their days in the sun, because great teams come out of those conferences, too.
Pomperaug in recent years walloped the SCC’s Branford in a title game, and last season badly outplayed ND-West Haven in the finals, only to be stymied by bad breaks and bad officiating.
Ansonia and Holy Cross arguably played for the overall state title in the NVL Championship of 2006, both schools going on to dominate in the playoffs.
Ansonia crushed the ECC’s New London in 2007, a team that was led by Jordan Reed (who played a lot of QB for Florida this season) behind a line that averaged nearly 300 pounds.
Any given year….
@#70… if head to head carries a lot of weight in your opinion… than why is New Canaan above St.Joes. Also, than why is Hand above St.Joes if New canaan beat hand and st.Joes beat new canaan
Whats going to happen when Xavier and Masuk both go 13-0 next year ??
” How can you say Bristol Eastern, FCIAC Champion Darien and former 4-time defending State Champion New Canaan are weak teams. The arguments people use for why Masuk shouldn’t be number one are really lame. I agree that Xavier shouldn’t lose its ranking since the won all their games but to say Masuk’s opponents were really weak isn’t as true as everyone says they are. If Masuk was to play Xavier I have no doubt in my mind Masuk wins by 2TDs. Their line is too big and will give Casey Cochran plenty of time to find his wideouts. The final score would be 27-14. Xavier is good, but this year Masuk is just a little bit better. “
A poll is subjective.This year was a very difficult one to construct a solid poll and an overall kind of a “screwy year”in terms of game results and League schedules .
I rated New Canaan over St Josephs for the following reasons:
St Josephs lost 3 games
New Canaan lost 2 games with 1 loss coming against a team that is far superior than all teams in the State other than Xavier.Only speculation but I believe St Josephs would be no threat to defeat Masuk{New Canaan’s 2nd loss}
I rated Hand over St Josephs for these reasons.
St Josephs had 3 losses
Hand only 2 losses{Notre Dame very strong but inconsistent this year and New Canaan who defeated Darien who beat St Josephs}
I think the 2nd half 31-3 performance on Thanksgiving Eve vs Trumbull really sticks in my mind.Also not sure how strong the S class was compared to LL and L field.
Titletown, Derby would hang 35 on SJ? Why because they torched Ansonia? Once again the FCIAC played the 2 best teams in the state and lost. Three out of four games had FCIAC teams in it. That’s hardly an embarrassment. What is an embarrassment is the fact that Ansonia shows up in a championship game with no kicker. Your telling me at this point in the season u can’t get a kid to kick extra points? The best part is u call Ansonia a football town. U people really do make for great entertainment.
New Canaan deserves that its 2010 performance be dismissed as insignificant.
I do not believe that, but that would be the conclusion reached by Ansonia partisan Mr. Brown were he to use the same reasoning he used in dismissing the 2010 performance of Valley Regional.
Valley Regional stayed with eventual Class S champion St. Joseph through the first half of their tournament game, before being dominated by St. Joseph in the second half. On that basis, Mr. Brown, with his sarcasm, dismissed the season-long achievement of Valley Regional (“CIAC Semifinals: Southwestern Hospitality (updated)”, post #14).
Similarly, New Canaan stayed with eventual Class L champion Masuk through the first half of their tournament game, before being dominated by Masuk in the second half.
Neither New Canaan, nor Valley Regional, nor Ansonia won class championships. All of them, nevertheless, had fine seasons.
I cant believe people are saying that the FCIAC does not play any defense. The SCC and the FCIAC are the only leagues that play defense. SWC is a joke. The NVL is also a weak league. Masuk is in a league of their own this year so stop comparing the FCIAC’s defense by looking at Masuk. Dobbs is a stud and he ran for 300 on every team this year. SJ put a smack on Woodland this year and Holycross last year, both games over at the half. New Canaan played Masuk 23-20 at the half. Masuk was done with every SWC team at the half. Just because Masuk comes out of the SWC does not make the league good, Just because Ansonia is always good does not make the NVL good.
Utah!, what gives? Did you eat a bad cheeseburger in Ansonia or something?
Ansonia did not have a kicker for the last two playoff games because the kid had a concussion. Small schools with little depth seldom have backup placekickers.
St. Joe’s should have and did torch a defense that was mediocre all season on its best days. And the Cadets were a veteran, talented, big, well-coached offense.
But I didn’t expect Ansonia to repeatedly drive down field on the St. Joe’s defense, when the Cadets KNEW Dobbs was coming, packed the box, and run blitzed on almost every down. Again, this was a small Charger team that fielded just one senior.
But wasn’t that the a pattern in most playoff games for the FCIAC?
FCIAC teams have every advantage: large student bodies, outstanding facilities,and coaching staffs that rival the NFL in numbers.
Maybe if they also had the grit and determination of the Ansonia kids, whose hearts outweighed their size this season and who never quit, FCIAC schools would have had a less disappointing postseason.
Both Masuk and Xavier deserve praise. Having graduated from a WCC school more than 30 years ago, I have no vested interest in supporting either of these squads for a mythical state title, so take what I’m about to say in that light.
Leaving aside whether the SWC is weak (which I tend to doubt given the tournament successes of a number of their squads in recent years), I question the argument that the SCC is so powerful that a squad from any other conference, or one that wins against teams outside of the SCC is somehow less powerful, less valid a candidate for the state title.
Leaving aside the specious argument regarding head to head (each match-up is different, making direct comparisons mostly invalid), the question of who’s “best” remains fundamentally qualitative.
In my view, it seems the consensus here and in the newspapers is that if Xavier were to play Masuk on a neutral site Masuk would be favored, possibly heavily so. Indeed, statistically, there’s little question that they’re the best team in the state this year.
On the other hand, I think we all must recognize that neither tihngs like statistics or relative conference strength put “W”s on the board.
We will never know who’s better this year – and if we were all always right about the things we believe, there wouldn’t be a need to play the games now, would there?
So, consensus aside, I think the idea of co-champions is a good one. The boys at both schools worked very hard to achieve perfect records, records they have every right to be proud of.
Why not give them the credit they deserve? A public, subjective and comparative #1 vs #2 result serves no useful purpose in the case of these two teams!
There’s absolutely no upside, given the fact that they won’t play another, to give one set of these boys a mythic title while simultaneously denying the title to the other, a title the boys on both teams must feel they deserve.
There’s no shame in naming them “co-champions.” Both sides did everything they could to earn where they are – they should both enjoy the laurels. Indeed, naming them co-champions would seem the fair, the equitable, the wise…the “right thing” to do.
It may even teach them, and us, a life lesson worth learning.
#80 New Canaans two loses were to state champions while St. Joes lost to Wilton-Darien and Trumbull. I’m not saying NC is better but thats how pollsters look at things.
As an observer of the St. Joes-Ansonia game i was so proud of the way both teams played. St. Joes only had the ball a total of 14 minutes while Ansonia was on the offensive all game. The quick strike offense of Joes was very impressive and I compared their offense to that of a Masuk or New Canaan. Big plays every time Joes touched the ball. Terrific skill players throughout the St. Joes team.
Joes had nine in the box trying to stop Dobbs but somehow he kept moving the chains. The final score was not indicative of how close Ansonia was to winning that game. When they cut the lead to six midway through the final quarter Delvechia threw a dart to a wide open receiver on the run to secure the game. Just loved the way Ansonia said we will run Dobbs all game now try to stop it. St. JOes could not stop him. Joes defense was tested but made some key stops when they had to.
As far as the Masuk-New Canaan game the first half was so exciting-big play after big play by both teams. No one this year has thrown a scare into Masuk but even the most die-hard Masuk fan knew their team was being tested by a tough New Canaan team. In the second half the defensive line of Masuk wore down New Canaans offensive line and dominated the entire half. No one has an offense like the Panthers and their defense is awesome. Weapons all over the field on both sides of the ball. The first possession of the second half by NC set the tone. They didn’t even look to their superstar Macari and a bad snap on third down started the demise. Cochran, Markus, testani etc were unstopable. Three quick touchdowns sealed New Canaans fate.
Who cares who the number one team is. It’s decided by people who are not on the field. All i know is Hillhouse, Masuk,St. Joes and Xavier are all champions.
Thank you SPB-We need more people with your passion and enthusiam in the sports world. You have made high school sports so interesting for the players and fans. To all my fellow bloggers-we had a lot of fun this year-we have dissected every league and even though we have
seconded guessed every coaches decision they have our utmost respect for what they do for our youth.
The whole margin of victory argument is crap. Xavier and Masuk are completely different teams. Xavier doesn’t have the high octane offense but If your down by 10 to Xavier you might as well be down by 50 points.
SJ is the best FCIAC team. Masuk has the best SWC team and Xavier has the best team in the SCC. Masuk #1 Xavier #2 and SJ #3 New Caanan #4 and Hillhouse #5 Remember Sj is 9-1 with 44 healthy. And when I say healthy thats 80 percent. Trumbull left out of top five because of being so inconsistent all year. Trumbull did beat SJ, but the Jets did beat the Patriots. We have to look at overall play.
To all of the SWC bashers, I would love to compare what schools SWC player attend after high school to any SCC schools. In fact lets compare FCIAC and SWC to SCC schools??? lets see who the real number 1 schools are!
If St. Joes ran the ball 52 times like ansonia, they would have had more rushing yards than them. Ansonia rushed the ball nearly twice as much as SJ but only rushed for about 90 more yards
So Masuk beat New Cannan, not to take anything away from Masuk and Cochran, but didn’t St. Joes beat New Cannan too? Plus Matakevich was playing with his foot still broken. A Masuk vs. St. Joes game would be great. The top 2 QB’s in the state (Della Vecchia and Cochran), the 2 out the top 5 best RB’s in the state (Matakevich and Markus), and probably 2 out of the top 10 all around players in the state (Mulligan and Testani. Now this would be a game I would love to see.
Now with everyone debating who should be #1, even though it’s not possible, we should just have Xavier play Masuk. That would be the only way to clear up this debate. I know everyone is saying Masuk because of Cochran and because they killed everyone that they played, but regardless, you can’t take anything away from Xavier. Yes, they have had some close call and all but a win is a win no matter what the score is. Xavier even has great players like Masuk like Stewart and Mastroianni. This would be a match up for the ages, just like a St. Joe Masuk match up as well.
Xavier should and probably will still be #1,but not by much margin-just like during the year when they had a ugly win,other teams(masuk here)will get many of the other votes avail,whoever put ndwh ahead of staples in their final poll is nuts
@ #93 Fred:
There’s a big difference with St. Joe’s accumulating yards on the ground versus Ansonia’s rushing yardage.
St. Joe’s is an awesome team and is very well-balanced on offense. Which means, Ansonia can’t afford to play St. Joe’s tight at the line of scrimmage because DellaVecchia would light them up through the air on every play. Although Hunt and Matakevich are outstanding RBs, it just proves that Dobbs is even more outstanding because there are constantly 8+ defenders in the box trying to stop Dobbs.
I am not so sure that many RBs in this state have the balls or the endurance to carry the football 50+ times a game, let alone, have to play every snap on defense and special teams…every game of the year. It’s a credit to the kid [Dobbs].
Any St. Joe’s guys here know if St. Joe’s will be a contender in Class S next season? I don’t know too much about the Cadets other than their stars (DellaVecchia, Matakevich, Hunt, Kramer, Irwin). Are the newcomers replacing DellaVecchia and Matakevich any good?
@Remmy – Their fall will be significant, I’m told.
I meant to finish my sentence in the first paragraph on my previous comment with:
“Although Hunt and Matakevich are outstanding RBs, it just proves that Dobbs is even more outstanding because there are constantly 8+ defenders in the box trying to stop Dobbs, Dobbs still gets his yards.”
The only team that has been able to contain Dobbs this season was Naugatuck.
The P.A. announcer at The Rent couldn’t compare to me. He tried to editorialize a bit like me, but he was no homer like me.
Say it with me one final time in 2010:
“See ya, Wreckers!”
titletown and Go Noles – you Ansonia folks are late to this party. Your boy Ray Brown started in Sept. singing the praises of Ansonia and the NVL – mocking the FCIAC and St. Joe’s – and assuring everyone who would listen that SJ wants no part of Ansonia in the playoffs, but said after week 3 that Sj had no shot to get their anyway. First you guys say there are no down years in “titletown”, but when the showdown comes you have every excuse in the book why you are in a rebuilding year, under staffed, underfunded, hurt kickers, etc., etc., etc…..
Ray Brown blames the venue, the refs and the PA announcer. Also he can’t afford the food, but that didn’t have an impact on the game, he says. Maybe Ray should get a job.
Now, titletown is saying that there is a disparity in student body size? Is that not why they have classes?
So, after 100+ years, the “most storied program in CT HS History” gets the matchup they say they’ve been dreaming of, but uh-oh, can’t back it up and are in CYA mode. I would expect the “hard-nosed”, blue collar guys you claim to be to just man up and stop taking the loss like beachessss.
All-time (2009-2010)SJ vs. NVL 5 wins, 0 losses. 232 points for, 68 points against. I’m sure they’ll take all of your devisive critique to the bank.
Dave J,
If you have a problem with Ray Brown, then take it up with him.
I don’t live in Ansonia, and my kids go to high school in the Berkshire League. But I have watched high school football, including Valley football, for many years.
St. Joe’s and Ansonia are two of the most successful programs in the state, and it was great to see them finally square off. It just so happened that this year it was an experienced Cadet team with a lot of weapons in a balanced offense against a very young, small Ansonia team with one, count it, one legitimate weapon. It was nonetheless a very entertaining game. Who knows what the outcome will be if they meet again next postseason?
So instead of acting like a little namecalling boy who hijacked Mommy’s computer, why don’t you objectively give credit where it is due and join the adult discussion on this blog.
Great comments by all. Congrats to all 4 champions.
Interesting debate re: X vs. Masuk. My only caution is that the team with the gaudiest stats and flashiest style does not necessarily win a head to head match up. It’s clear that no team is going to outchuck Masuk. OTH, a bruising team just might be able to do score a lot and control the clock. Huh?
Ex. Bristol Eastern fullback had a 70 yd run against the ultra agressive Masuk D… they run blitzed with 7 guys every play. If you could make it past 4 yds, it was 6 pts. A better team with much better O line might be able to score a lot… and that’s what makes this debate an intriguing thought experiment.
Football still being football, the team that controls the LOS usually wins the game. Examples… Nebraska over Florida in 1995 national title game, Trumbull over ND-WH in 1986 LL state final. It’ll be interesting to see how the vote goes. I’m thinking possibly a split poll but it’s late and I don’t feel like looking up the last vote tally. I predict Coaches for X, writers for M.
I’m manning up and taking the loss, I have my #1 State ring from 2006 so I can careless. My team would have made your Bible study class cry.
I have a quote from Montrell Dobbs’ facebook from your own Tyle Matawhatever…good shit last night bro…by far the best player i ever played against keep your head up kid you got something special …i dont know how you care the ball 50 times a game im shot after 20 lol.
If Thomas and Kuraczea ever lined up against that team. Your mom and dad would sue the CIAC. You got your rings this year. Its about time you Catholic schools were a joke. You are so lucky you sucked for those few years our team played. You FCIAC boys think you’re so tough, we have gritty hard-nosed kids. We have 16 state championships, learn some respect you tool. You lined up 9 guys in the box and still couldnt stop Dobbs. Ray Brown is a fan, I enjoy his posts, I dont need to sit here and fight with you stuck up fairfield county people. You got one ring this weekend. Football in this state has progressively gotten worse. These teams would ge buried by my Ansonia team, Greenwich, and Holy Cross in 2006. Our team in 2003 with Kenny Tinney would have made a mockery of you FCIAC kids. I guess Ray Brown gets under you skin, wow you won a state championship, you have 10 now act like you been there before.
Let’s cut the crap everyone.
First of all, thanks SPB for a great year and great debate. Knowing this would never happen but thinking how great it would be this year with four great championship teams. What if you had the four class champions play in a state playoff for the ultimate number 1 – 4? This is how it would look
Class LL Xavier 24
—————-
Class S St Joes 21 Xavier 17
——————- Masuk
Class L Masuk 49 Masuk 42
—————–
Class M Hillhouse 0
SPB – Do you think this would ever happen?
This is how the last post should have looked.
Class LL Xavier 24
Class S St. Joes 21
Class L Masuk 49
Class M Hillhouse 0
Class LL Xavier 17
Class L Masuk 42
Masuk – Champion
#93 Remmy:
Your question about who will be replacing the stars for SJ next year. The only true fact I know is that Joe Burns, SJ’s running back, will most likely take over the starting QB position. As for the running back position, my guess would be Kyron Crawford, he was a sophomore this year, carried the ball 23 times. As for other players I wouldn’t be suprised if they moved Mike Pulaski, the younger brother of Pete and Nick Pulaski, to maybe fullback to replace Matakevich, the kid’s got talent and started on defense as a Sophomore. As for everyone else, your guess is as good as mine.
Easy Titletown- Your 2003 team would have gotten beat by New Britain that year. No question about it. No one beat New Britain during the Cochran years….No one. When you guys had Thomas I really woulde have liked your team to play Greenwich because I remember those teams and saw both play, Greenwich was better than you guys no doubt about it. They were really good. Eventually Thomas would have been stopped and you guys would have lost.
Did not see Xavier so I can’t really compare. I will say that Masuk was really impressive all around. QB was fantastic. Was he that good when he played on Monroe’s youth teams?
First, Masuk did have a few players that were major contributors from both Beacon Falls and Oxford. Dean Robinson was a starting nose guard on the 1999 SWC Championship team and Jimmy Parkins was a captain of the 2002 team. Beacon Falls had a handful of players including an offensive tackle named Matt Hutvagner who started for two years on Murphy’s early teams and two brothers named Scarpati who you may have heard of. Did it make or break the program? No, but those players were big contributors during Murphy’s first four or five years.
Second, isn’t amazing that a guy named Jack Cochran moves his son to town and now look, Masuk is in the running for the #1 team in the state. Taking nothing away from coach Murphy, he is a great coach, but Jack Cochran is such a winner. The guy walks on your field and you already feel two touchdown’s better. Nevermind the fact that he brings his Quarterbacking kid who is the best QB in CT since Dan Orlovsky. He isn’t just good, he’s unstoppable, because the hardest thing to stop is a prefectly thrown ball and he does it on almost every throw.
Lastly, all year Masuk crushed inferior SWC competition, but as we found out, even the mighty FCIAC was inferior competition. If anyone who watched both Masuk and Xavier play really believes that Xaveir would win, they are truly mistaken. Four quarters of Masuk’s relentless defense (a trademark of Jack Cochran teams…hmmm) and unstoppable offense (great line, awesome running back who would have gone for 2,000 yards and about 35-40 td’s in any other system, outstanding recievers, and an awesome QB)and I can’t see Xavier winning.
Tiletown, that last post was great. Now your stalking Dobbs on fcebook. This is great stuff.
St Joe’s also has Julian Rosa in the wings at running back. He was a nice piece of a Monroe national champion in youth football a couple years back. Needs to get the grades up, but could be a factor if he does- he’ll be a junior next year.
@jacked up– no disrespect to Casey or his Dad at all, he’s the best I’ve seen maybe ever, but let’s please not forget that Masuk just won a state championship in 2008 with Bobby Baker at the helm, while Casey was winning one in New London as a freshman. Masuk’s been in the final game 9 times – just one of those was with the Cochran’s.
It’s easy when you don’t have a rooting interest. I have seen Masuk 5 times including Saturday and Xavier 4 times including Friday night, and like I said all Season, Masuk is the best team in the State by at least two touchdowns. They would beat Xavier by at least two touchdowns. At least. I talked to a Shelton coach Saturday morning. He laughed when I said Masuk 42-14 over New Canaan. He said that that there was “no way Masuk was beating New Canaan by 28, this is Lou Marinelli, not some SWC coach”….lol….he was right, they beat them by 30 and it could have been much worse were it not for what everyone would have to agree were two questionable calls on two 3rd and VERY long plays that resulted in first downs and TD’s a couple of plays later. Not to mention the Masuk kid dropping TD passes on two consecutive plays and three missed extra points. My point is that this game could have easily been 60-14 or worse, New Canaan could and maybe should have only scored 7. That spearing and roughing call were very weak. And what was up with letting Marinelli walk all over the field screaming at the refs while the clock was running, especially when he was getting all the calls. I can’t believe that he didn’t get flagged. Am I missing something? Are the refs afraid of him for some reason. It was like watching a Pop Warner coach. Bizzare…..
As for Friday….Totally unimpressed with either Xavier or Trumbull. Good defense against bad offense. Very hard to watch. Never felt like Trumbull had a chance, but I also didn’t feel like Xavier was much better than them either. Strange game.
First game Saturday: I cannot imagine watching a worse State Championship game. Maybe the kids were all tired….I don’t know…It was awful. I could see a defensive struggle….but the offense on both sides was completely inept. It was hard to figure out how either one of them got that far.
I didn’t stay for the Ansonia/St. Joes game….I was freezing, tired and hungry. Stopped at Ruth’s Chris on my way home….Got a nice filet and a baked potato the size of a football…Listened to the game on the drive home. Sounded like I missed a pretty good one.
My top 10: ( ) time’s I saw them play
Masuk (5)
Xavier (4)
St. Joes (3)
New Canaan (4)
Ansonia (2)
Hand (2)
Glastonbury (2)
Trumbull (3)
Hillhouse (2)
ND West…Just Kidding…New London (1)
Have a GREAT Off season everyone…and fantastic Holiday Season.
Same time….same place next year.
Thanks Again SPB…..you are simply the best at this. A class act.
It’s interesting to read everyone’s ideas about why their thinking is so right. I have my own opinion and I know I am right too! Xavier over Masuk…here’s why. Public school football programs have an enourmous advantage over school like Xavier. By the time the players enter HS they have been likely playing together for 2- 3 years already. Poistions are solifified and the kids know and play as a team – already. Xavier gets what they get and have to make a team of it pretty quickly. There have been years when the incoming freshman teams have 6 – 10 QB’s – never played anything else – or a few DL players – rest OL. Not easy to solidify. Public schools have an advantage. There is a lot of noise about Masuk blowing out their competition – - not a valid argument – in fact, I think it adds the argument in favor of Xavier – weaker teams – Xavier would have blown them out too. Xavier has been ranked #1 all season for a reason – it isn’t that they haven’t done anything to lose that ranking – but – they have done everything to keep it. Masuk is a great team but Xavier is #1. The DL is unmatcable and the OL proved these last several weeks that they are just as good!! Xavier #1 in the State!!
Just another State Championship for Coach Cochran. Masuk RECRUITED him and his son to town, mission accomplished. Masuk team did great, his kid did great, and Coach Cochran taught them how to play defense.
No doubt Jack Cochran is a master of building winning programs wherever he has coached, though his bending of the rules and abrasive personality won’t win him any popularity contests.
And Jack’s New London team got destroyed in the 2007 state championship game, despite being QB’d by Jordan Reed, a Florida Gator recruit (who played a lot as RS freshman this season).
Don’t diminish the successful program run by the Masuk coaches before Jack arrived on the scene. This season, the right blend of size, experience and talent (yes, including Jack’s son) happened to bring the Panthers to an even higher level.
@CCC That’s nonsense.
Both Xavier and Masuk are extraordinary teams.But as a few posters have mentioned that both teams are complete opposites on the offensive side of the ball in their approach .Xavier would only fare well against Masuk if they could control the ball and the clock with their running game with their very physical big line and keep the Masuk possessions on the low side.They would also need to put pressure on Cochran with their very physical and athletic defense. I personally think they would present Many problems on both sides of the ball that Masuk never encountered this year.If my assumptions are wrong and Xavier was not able to due the above for the majority of the game then Masuk wins by a few scores.Matchups{Teams/Players} make the outcome of the games.
To add to the above post.Take a look at the Xavier time of possession vs Trumbull,34 minutes nearly 70% of the game.
Thoughts on Class L final
1. What’s up with Testani- he missed 3 xtra points? Did not have a touchback ..
2.Hanratty absolutely manhandled #92
3.Masuk’s offense is unstoppable.
4.Macari is very good.
5.Three dropped passes by #2. Game would have been over in the 1st half.
If Masuk crushed FCIAC’s two best teams what would have been the outcome if they played the so called lesser teams-blow-out -blow-out hmmmm… just like the they did in the so-called weak SWC…
Pomp- Newtown- Bunnell and Brookfield would do just fine in the FCIAC…
Really SPB ? What part is nonsense ? The recruitment part ? Of course that happened. The defense part ? Masuk never played better defense. He may not have a winning personality, may bend ( or break ) rules. But Coach Cochran is the best high school football coach in the state, period. Masuk made the decision to get him and his son,and was willing to take whatever criticism came with it. And it paid off. You actually think he did’nt have a part on that team, just stayed out of it for 2 years ? Be serious. They would’nt be the same team without Jack’s help.
@no axe to grind.
The New Canaan coach called a time-out to speak to the officials because he felt Masuk was given five plays to score rather than four. At first the offficial signaled that Masuk was short on a
third down attempt but was overruled by another official and given the first down. That’s why when Masuk ran another four plays the coach objected.
#16. You are way off-base. Private schools have a big advantage over public schools. They might not have the depth but they can get the front line players.
I think it would be terrific if you had a catholic league state championhip game. Here is how I would rank them.
1. Xavier
2. NDWH
3. St. Joes
4. Sacred Heart of Waterbury
5. Northwest Catholic
6. Holy Cross
7. Prep
8. Trinity Catholic
People on this blog might be offended that I have NDWH over St. Joes but if truth be told they are a better team.
The recruiting part is nonsense, Jack picked where he wanted to take Casey.
The defense part is nonsense because Jack wasn’t involved with the coaching of the defense.
He was involved last year, absolutely. He wasn’t involved in the team this year, outside of running passing camps.
This was Chris Gueli’s defense.
Connecticut Football Royalty. That is what the name Cochran has become ladies and gentlemen. Has Masuk had an outstanding program prior to Coach Cochran and Casey moving into town? Yes, but this was by far the best Masuk team ever. This was a Masuk team that could say they should be ranked #1 in the Register Top Ten Poll. Murphy, hasn’t had a team yet that contended for #1 in the state. Jack, only knows how to be in contention for #1. He has won four as a coach, some say it should have been six or seven, with his 1997 and 2000 Bloomfield teams getting snubbed, along with his 2004 New Britain team.
Congrats to Masuk, they would have beaten Xavier by two or three scores. It, like saturday, may have been a contest till the half, but Masuk’s depth, passing, and speed on defense would have won out in the end. Plus, I can’t figure out how people could say that Masuk would have lost a game if they had played Xavier’s schedule? To who, NDWH…nope…Hillhouse…that team I saw on saturday…next….Cheshire….nope….Hand…are we kidding? Look at the facts people, the FCIAC couldn’t put up more than a Piston Honda to the SCC’s Glass Joe. How do you think Hand would have done vs Masuk? The Register has a love affiar with their SCC and will make sure that Xavier finishes #1, because they didn’t want to suplant the team that was #1 all season because they beat a 7-3 team that was ranked #1 to start. Masuk, had a great pre-season and should have been ranked higher than just about everyone. However, the SWC stigma hurt them and made them start the pre-season sixth, instead of fourth or third. Next year, Masuk will start #1, because they have Casey and co., which will help their quest for a #1 ranking, but it should happen tomorow. The New Haven Register should be taking a giant picture of Masuk making a number one. Instead, they will be at Xavier, shooting a video and lauding a very good team, from a very good conference, that just wasn’t better than Masuk in 2010.
Don’t be surprised if Xavier starts and finishes #1 in 2011.People just don’t get it about the SCC.Its not that the SCC has all great teams ,it is by far the most competitive league in the State week in and week out with as many or more quality teams than any other League.Their schedules are made for weekly competition not like in certain Leagues where they try to “qualify” as many teams as possible for post season play.Masuk would be favored against ALL SCC teams in 2010 with maybe the exception of Xavier but would have been challenged and beat up many more times than in the SWC.Also enough with how big enrollments and the amount Private schools in the SCC.We are discussing a Leagues strength overall and how it pertains to its elite teams not winning by 42 points every week of the season.
@Frank Costanza. I am not offended. ND-WH finished the season at #8 in the MaxPrep computer rankings. I expect them to remain in the Top 10 in the Massey rankings (which also filters out any BS sentiment) when they are updated this afternoon, too. (disclosure: Masuk is ranked #1 by both computers).
Yes, ND came out of the gate shaky this year, but the way they finished the season, I have no doubt that if they were slotted in New Canaan’s Class L seed they would have been in the final, too. I’m not sure why No Ax thinks it so absurd to rank 3-loss Notre Dame over 3-loss New London?
Anyone voter who publicly flaunts voting Xavier #3 and slots a 3-loss team from their favored conference at #2 for the sole purpose of skewing the final outcome, loses any credibility when he cries of New Haven bias.
The Masuk Defense, as taught by Jack Cochran, the year before, and from sidelines at every practice. That is, if you want to believe other coaches, and Masuk parents. Sounds more believable than the best coach in the state hand picking his school, then just being quiet, with no input. His influence is all over that team.
@CC If you think you know more than me about this, then why don’t we switch jobs.
@Frank….I could hear what he was screaming about. I was sitting on the New Canaan side in the far corner of the endzone…everyone could hear what he was screaming about…..and he was wrong. I’ll give him that, even though you cannot call a timeout and then walk to the middle of the field and scream at the refs during a timeout, you can only address your team. To speak with an official you need to speak to him on the sidelines. Not show him up at mid field in a screaming rant, that you are wrong about, so the entire stadium can hear it. But what about in the third quarter when he went on the field for a second time, while the clock was running, to berate to the officials again….when the whole stadium starting booing….was that ok? I could not hear him over the boo’s, but it seemed by his hand motions that he was complaining about a push or a hold. Should have been 15…still don’t understand why it wasn’t. I’m curious as to if anyone else here saw it the way that you did…speaking to the officials and not screaming at them in the middle of the field…twice.
I’m curious as to your final top 10, being that you will be ranking ND West Haven above the State Champion St. Joes team. I mean, if you think that they are a better team then you should. I put 8 teams ahead of State Champion Hillhouse because in my heart I believe that they are better, despite not being State Champions, but I imagine that you will be the first to have a team that didn’t even make the playoffs ranked ahead of St. Joes.
@CCC Chris Gueli coached an amazing defense in 2008, and there was no Cochran then. Masuk had one screwup vs. Brookfield that year and that was it. People wanted Masuk New Canaan in 08, well we got it in 2010 and Masuk dominated and is the best team in the state of Connecticut. 24-13 over Trumbull you have got to be kidding me. This is an insult to Coach Murphy and his staff, and most of all to the kids, who deserved #1. Masuk was #3 in 08 behind #1 New Canaan and #2 Glastonbury, which was also a joke. Glastonbury only got #2 because they went undefeated and everyone knows the way Masuk was playing at the end of 08 they would have crushed Glastonbury. That’s why everyone wanted to see Masuk New Canaan it would have been epic. I guess that’s how polls go though.
Congrats to Xavier #1. You beat #5 Trumbull by 11 points you really showed a dominating performance.
CCC-
This years defense is very different than last years defense. Last year they changed things weekly. This year, they stuck to the same thing and it worked out for them. Give credit to Gueli who has spent endless hours working with the defense and making them the best in the state. Can’t we be done with giving all the credit to Cochran. He hand picked the school because it is what he felt was best for his son.
#126, couldn’t say it better myself. Super post.
SPB, you did a phenomenal job once again this year. Your perspective and unbiased opinion creates great balance on the board. Now, if you only hadn’t picked Conard to win that semifinal game in ’09….. just kidding. Appreciate all you do for high school football in these parts. Happy Holidays!!!!!
Looks like Masuk got screwed on this one, probably will happen next year too!
justathought – Sean thought the 11 points was a pounding!! He even referred to it as a carnage – go figure.
@ the Voice – Why didn’t Rosa go to Masuk?
@THS Fan – It was a physical pounding, not a scoreboard pounding. Just ask the Trumbull players. That’s what Xavier does.
Sean – I thought the Trumbull players held their own. They should be very proud of themselves making it to the championship!
I was meaning to ask you how you overlooked them in the beginning of the year??
@THS Fan – Given the way they had performed at the end of 2009, I took a conservative wait-and-see approach to Trumbull. The Wilton game wasn’t encouraging, so I continued to wait on Trumbull. It was really hard to get a read on Trumbull until the end of the year. I voted them in the Top 5 of my final poll. Bob Maffei did a great job with those kids.
SPB, you do a great job, and can keep it ! But to think Coach Cochran did’nt have an impact on that team the last 2 years, sounds very defensive of the Masuk coaches, who are good, but not Jack good. Just does’nt make sense, he deserves some credit, not all.
No doubt – it was a great season! This year was amazing in regards to the championship games being held at the “Rent” as well as the effort made by the CIAC to make it extra special for the teams! Great job!
SPB, shouldn’t a writer or media personality eliminate themselves from voting if they haven’t seen these teams play?
@CCC The only think Jack deserves credit for is rearing and coaching his son. Casey Cochran is an excellent quarterback, and an exceptional young man. Jack should be proud. I know he is.
Again, Jack was heavily involved in last year’s team. He was not this year, for a variety of reasons.
@big guy -no clue on Rosa’s decision to go to St. Joe’s maybe Masuk’s backfield was too crowded for him?
whatt?? youll dissappear like therest of st.joes bloggers the next five years. would love to see a rematch next year,but it wont happen because st.joes will have to wait another 5 years.smackdown?it looked like dobbs smacked st.joes defense around.matakevich made a bundle of tackles, most of them down field.if thats the best.st.joes has to offer with 26 SENIORS I FEEL PRETTY GOOD BOUT THE FUTURE good thing the qb had a great game or the (Fairies In Atheletic Clothing) would have been embarrased
The rest of Connecticut hates Masuk and Monroe for that matter.
I’m serious. If you ever tell people from around the state your from Monroe its like they respond to you by giving you an evil look.
It’s weird.
Masuk deserved the #1 rating, but don’t worry with Cochran and Markus coming back they’ll get it next season.
Also, #142 if the Masuk coaches aren’t good why was their former defensive coordinator who is now the head coach at Weston one of the most sought after coaches in the state a few years ago?
thats funny i didnt even know monroe had a football team till the last two years
I love you Ray…Bottom line and you hate it, St. Joe’s 1-0 over Ansonia. If St. Joe’s gets an invite to your league then they will see you in the playoffs. Great play calling by Ansonia. I bet the coaches stay up all night coming up with the game plan. See you on the blogs next year Ray.
see- that’s just it Ray- you and the rest of the state seem to have missed the fact that Masuk just won the Class L State Championship in 2008! That was with an entirely different team of kids and the same coaching staff-AND they’ve appeared in 9 State finals out of the last 20 or so and won three now- time to stp talking about Masuk as a “Johnny (Cochran)come lately”- they’ve been a good to great team for a long while now in and out of the SWC.
I love the comment that said the SWC is like ‘a JV league’ compared to FCIAC. Newsflash- re Xavier, who I saw play 3 times: Beating Trumbull 24-13 means nothing. That’s convincing? Masuk would beat them 50-7 if they played. Who would logically think otherwise? Nobody can stop Masuk’s offense and nobody can score on them. Masuk destroyed a very solid Newtown team 49-0 in the SWC league championship. Newtown should’ve made the LL playoffs. Masuk would’ve beaten Trumbull like they crushed Newtown. I’ve seen all these teams play at least 3 times a piece. Newtown vs Trumbull would be a toss up. Masuk beat Brookfield 45-0 and THEY would’ve given Trumbull all they could handle. Pomperaug, another SWC school with a huge student body, would be a toss up vs the vaunted FCIAC power, Trumbull. Masuk humiliated them. If Masuk played Xavier [who I watched barely get by a mediocre Shelton team] they’d win 40-10. And, for anyone who’s delusional about the FCIAC, you need to get it through your head that if Masuk played in the FCIAC, they would’ve gone undefeated, pounding every team including a healthy Darien, Staples, whoever. That’s how good Masuk is. New Canaan is an excellent, talented program. They did WELL only losing by 30. Stop commenting on teams you have never seen. I have no allegiance to ANY of these teams. A neutral opinion is it’s not even close. Masuk is the best team this state has seen in 20 years.
Enough with the recruiting Cochran. Many programs are a little dirty. X and St. Joes are private schools that give “tuition aide”. They are loaded with players from other towns. What about NC and the great Turner Beaty. All we hear about is 4 in a row from NC. For the old timers don’t forget that Ag/Tech program in Trumbull that got Darrel Parlor to Trumbull from the big city.
come on cousin Clyde you remember the last one. Come out and post!
Rosa went to St. Joes on a FOOTBALL SCHOLARSHIP! The private schools can give those the public’s can’t. Cochran chose to move to Monroe and attend Masuk. For the record the 2008 Masuk team was 12-1. They made one minor mistake that year but still won the Class L Championship 56-13 The Masuk program is coached by a great staff. Chris Gueli is a great defensive coach and has improved each year that he has been there. Attempting to give Coach Cochran the credit is an insult if the blogger is imformed. Not so in this case as your ignorance is only a laughable…..what a joke! Stay tuned to watch Masuk 2011 Class L champions!!
Ray – it was said before, your team’s coaches and players acted with great sportsmanship and respect before, during and after the game – its really too bad you are the ambassador for your team and league to so many.
Rosa actually started out at ND-Fairfield then transferred to St. Joes this year. From what I know he did not play any offense this year or even get any touches on offense. I know he played a little defense but from what I heard from the players on the team was he got hurt then vanished. I don’t even think he was on the field for the state championship game. If he plays like everyone says he does, I might consider going to some SJ games next year even though they are losing everyone. If doesn’t play up to his potential then he could just be another SJ bust. For now on though, this is Joe Burns’ team, he will have to carry them on his back if they want to win.
@ roto
once again…you are CORRECT.
The guy who runs the FCIAC Football Blog should never be able to vote again.
But that’s him.
And he wonders why people…..
St. Joes cannot give football scholarships you just sound dumb.
OK, Now I understand. Coach Cochran was heavily involved last year, not an influence this year. So all the work, coaching , teaching, he did for the coaches and players last year, was forgotten or disregarded this year. That clears it all up. Masuk coaches may be good in their own right, but they, like most, still can learn from Jack.
The so called weak “JV” SWC has won 4 of the last 5 Class L state titles and was very close to making it 5 in a row with Pompy vs. NDWH last year. Not to mention they have also had a team represent their league in the Class L championship game each year dating back to 2005. In 2007 Bunnell and Masuk played eachother in that game as well making that 7 SWC teams in the championship game since 2005.
What does that me, weak “jv” SWC???? I find that offensive. Just because Masuk wins a title you think you can denegrate the rest of the league?
Marcus you need to read all the blogs to understand thats what many think of and call the SWC. Read the post again and keep in mind that I was sticking up for the league not trying to bring it down.
I know how you feel SWC, Ansonia was #2 in the mid 1990′s and proved they were better than Chesire(SCC#1)by beating mighty Bloomfield Cockran coached 2 years in a row but were dissed because they were from the NVL.
81]above
“Whats going to happen when Xavier and Masuk both go 13-0 next year ??”
Comment by High School Football Fan — December 12th, 2010 @ 6:29 pm
Xavier stays #1 unless they lose.