The votes have been cast, the decision made.
It’s Xavier.
By a nosehair.
The Falcons earned the No. 1 spot in the New Haven Register’s Top 10 Poll today, earning 14 first place votes and 700 points to beat Masuk in the court of public opinion.
Masuk received 10 first-place votes (including mine) and finished with 692 points.
First place votes are 30 points each. Second place votes are 28 each.
New Canaan, St. Joseph, Trumbull, Hillhouse, Glastonbury, Hand, Ansonia and Norwich Free Academy rounded out the Top 10.
In the other two polls … Xavier edged Masuk by a mere two points in the Day of New London Coaches Poll.
But Masuk did managed to salvage No. 1 the Connecticut Sports Writers Alliance poll.
Here’s the final poll tallies.
NHR STATE MEDIA POLL
|
Team
|
Record
|
Pts.
|
LAST
|
|
|
1
|
Xavier (14)
|
13-0
|
700
|
1
|
|
2
|
Masuk (10)
|
13-0
|
692
|
2
|
|
3
|
New Canaan |
11-2
|
564
|
4 |
|
4
|
St. Joseph
|
10-3
|
529
|
NR |
|
5
|
Trumbull
|
11-3
|
528 | 9 |
|
6
|
Hillhouse
|
10-3
|
455
|
NR
|
|
7
|
Glastonbury
|
10-2 | 353 | 10 |
|
8
|
Hand
|
10-2
|
308
|
5 |
|
9
|
Ansonia
|
11-2
|
364
|
NR
|
|
10
|
Norwich Free Academy
|
11-1 | 298 |
6
|
| Other teams receiving votes: Darien (11-2), 284; New London (10-3), 223; Staples (9-2), 217; Berlin (10-1), 201; West Haven (8-3), 91; Naugatuck (9-2), 78; Valley Regional/Old Lyme (11-1), 74; Montville (10-2), 58; Notre Dame-West Haven (7-3), 43; North Haven (9-2), 41; Cheshire (5-5) and Southington (8-2), 8; Conard (8-3), Gilbert/NW Regional (9-3) and Windsor (8-2), 7. | ||||
| The following voted: Marc Allard, Norwich Bulletin; Bob Barton, New Haven Register; Bill Bloxsom, Hersam-Acorn; Sean Patrick Bowley, Connecticut Post; Don Boyle, Sporting News CT; Jim Bransfield, Middletown Press; Bryant Carpenter, Meriden-Record Journal; George DeMaio, WELI; Mike DiMauro, The Day of New London; Matt Doran, Norwalk Hour; Kevin Duffy, Danbury News-Times; Noah Finz, WTNH-8; Ned Griffen, The Day of New London; John Holt, WFSB-3; Mark Jaffee, Waterbury Republican-American; Ken Lipshez, Valley Publishing Co.; Mike Madera, Elm City Newspapers; Joe Morelli, New Haven Register; Dave Phillips, Shoreline Times; Mike Pucci, New Haven Register; Dave Ruden, Stamford Advocate; John Silver, Manchester Journal Inquirer; Tom Yantz, Hartford Courant; Jimmy Zanor, Shore Line Newspapers. | ||||
♦♦♦
Day of New London Coaches Poll
|
Team
|
Record
|
Pts.
|
LAST
|
|
|
1
|
Xavier (7)
|
13-0
|
378
|
1
|
|
2
|
Masuk (6)
|
13-0
|
376
|
2
|
|
3
|
St. Joseph |
10-3
|
313 | NR |
|
4
|
New Canaan |
11-2
|
292 | 4 |
|
5
|
Trumbull
|
11-3
|
268 | 8 |
|
6
|
Hillhouse
|
10-3
|
263
|
NR
|
|
7
|
Hand
|
10-2 | 199 | 5 |
|
8
|
Ansonia
|
11-2
|
192 | NR |
|
9
|
Glastonbury
|
10-2
|
186 |
NR
|
|
10
|
New London
|
10-3 | 121 | NR |
| Other teams receiving votes: Darien (11-2), 119 points; Berlin (10-1), 118; Norwich Free Academy (11-1), 115; Naugatuck (9-2), 110; Staples-Westport (9-2), 81; West Haven (8-3), 39; North Haven (9-2), 32; Valley Regional/Old Lyme (11-1), 29; Bristol Eastern (9-2), 25; Tie, Montville (10-2) and Notre Dame-West Haven (7-3), 21; Conard-West Hartford (8-3), 17. | ||||
| The following voted: Marc Allard, Norwich Bulletin; Bob Barton, New Haven Register; Bill Bloxsom, Hersam-Acorn; Sean Patrick Bowley, Connecticut Post; Don Boyle, Sporting News CT; Jim Bransfield, Middletown Press; Bryant Carpenter, Meriden-Record Journal; George DeMaio, WELI; Mike DiMauro, The Day of New London; Matt Doran, Norwalk Hour; Kevin Duffy, Danbury News-Times; Noah Finz, WTNH-8; Ned Griffen, The Day of New London; John Holt, WFSB-3; Mark Jaffee, Waterbury Republican-American; Ken Lipshez, Valley Publishing Co.; Mike Madera, Elm City Newspapers; Joe Morelli, New Haven Register; Dave Phillips, Shoreline Times; Mike Pucci, New Haven Register; Dave Ruden, Stamford Advocate; John Silver, Manchester Journal Inquirer; Tom Yantz, Hartford Courant; Jimmy Zanor, Shore Line Newspapers. | ||||
♦♦♦
CONNECTICUT SPORTS WRITERS ALLIANCE
|
Team
|
Record
|
Pts.
|
LAST
|
|
|
1
|
Masuk (19)
|
13-0
|
453
|
T1
|
|
2
|
Xavier (12)
|
13-0
|
445
|
T1 |
|
3
|
St. Joseph |
10-3
|
366 | NR |
|
4
|
New Canaan
|
11-2
|
365 | 4 |
|
5
|
Trumbull
|
11-3
|
327 | 9 |
|
6
|
Hillhouse
|
10-3
|
301 | NR |
|
7
|
Ansonia | 11-2 | 217 | NR |
|
8
|
Glastonbury |
10-2
|
195 | 10 |
|
9
|
Hand |
10-2
|
185 |
6
|
|
10
|
New London
|
10-3 | 168 | NR |
| Other teams receiving votes: Norwich Free Academy 11-1 162; Darien 11-2 156; Berlin 10-1 152; Staples 9-2 88; Naugatuck 9-2 32; Montville 10-2 30; Brookfield 9-3 21; Valley Regional/Old Lyme 11-1 17; West Haven 8-3 15; Notre Dame-West Haven 7-3 14; Bristol Eastern 9-2 4; North Haven 9-2 4; Conard 8-3 1; Gilbert/NW Regional 9-3 1; Windsor 8-2 1 | ||||
| The following voted: Marc Allard (Norwich Bulletin), Bob Barton (CT H.S. Football Record Book), Bill Bloxsom (Hersam Acorn), Jim Bransfield (Middletown Press), Kyle Brennan (Waterbury Republican), Ray Curren (Elm City Newspapers), Anthony Della Calce (New Britain Herald), George DeMaio (WELI Radio), Gerry deSimas (Collinsville Publishing Co.), Bill Donovan (WXLM 980 AM), Mark Fijalkowski (CT Sports Network), Dave Greenleaf (CCC website), Mike Guerrera (Southington Citizen), John Holt (WFSB Channel 3), Larry Kelley (Patch.com), Bob Lazzari (Valley Times), Greg Lederer (Cheshire Herald), Ken Lipshez (Valley Publishing Co.), Tim Parry (FCIAC Football Blog), Sean Patrick Bowley (Connecticut Post), Dave Phillips (Shoreline Times), Pat Pickens (Fairfield Citizen-News), Mike Pucci (New Haven Register), Paul Rosano (Meriden Record-Journal), Dave Ruden (Stamford Advocate), Elliott Schickler (Westport News), Mike Suppe (Hersam Acorn Newspapers), Peter Vander Veer (Elm City Newspapers), Tom Yantz (Hartford Courant), Rich Zalusky (Willimantic Chronicle), Jimmy Zanor (Shore Line Newspapers) | ||||
♦♦♦
Colin Markus bulls through New Canaan during the Class L championship game Saturday. Masuk won 50-20 and was voted No. 2 in the state writers' poll.
Some final thoughts on this:
I voted for Masuk, No. 1. Because it was one of the most complete, most dominant, and flawless teams I’ve seen in this state during the 10 years I’ve been covering football here.
I saw Masuk seven times this season, and they amazed me every time.
Offense, defense, special teams. Opponents, including two of the FCIAC’s best teams, threw everything they had at the Panthers. And the closest they could get was 23-20 at halftime in the
- Xavier’s Ryan Jacobucci breaks up a pass intended for Trumbull’s Phil Terio during the Class LL championship game, won by Xavier 24-13. Xavier was voted No. 1 in the state writers poll compiled by NHR Monday.
Class L championship game. None of Masuk’s second halves were even remotely close. What they might have lacked in size (compared to Xavier), they made up with speed, discipline and flat-out talent.
Masuk trailed just three times this season, only twice in the playoffs (early to Bristol Eastern). It racked up the most
yards, allowed the fewest points, and thoroughly demoralized teams with big plays on offense and defense.
Casey Cochran was the best QB in the state (with St. Joseph’s Joe Della Vecchia a close second). Few teams ever touched him, thanks to his offensive line. His receivers were some of the best in the state.
The defense was one of the best in the state, right up there with Xavier. They pressured, they swarmed, they created countless turnovers and actually contributed to Masuk’s 638 total points with at least one touchdown a game.
And then the special teams. Jon Testani kicked 54 touchbacks this year, pinning opponents at and around the 20-yard line each time. He kicked field goals and boomed punts. Joe Diaz was an incredible kick returner.
No team this year could leave a Masuk game and legitimately say they had a chance to win except, maybe, New Canaan. But Masuk had been bleeding the four-time defending state champions to death until Kevin Macari, one of the state’s top 5 football players, heroically put the dying team on his back. In the second half, after a couple of adjustments, Masuk continued its typical course.
Six sacks, three interceptions, negative-51 yards rushing (negative-2 if you discount the sacks), 29 total yards in the second half against one of the state’s best offenses.
And this was against New Canaan. Four-time defending state champion New Canaan.
You really had to see Masuk in person to gain an appreciation of how good the Panthers were.
I realized just how good it could be the day Masuk scrimmaged Shelton in the preseason. It wasn’t the result – which I believe was 1 score vs. 0. They were without RB Colin Markus and still adjusting the offense. The timing routes were off, Casey Cochran wasn’t on his game yet.
But it was the defense, coached by Chris Gueli … yow, was it good.
Once the season started, and you saw how this team hit and how it smothered opponents, how it scored almost at will — in all three phases of the game — and how put most teams away before the second half kickoff.
After watching teams from all over the SCC, SWC, NVL and FCIAC this season (40 games in all 42 teams) I soon realized nobody was touching this group. When the season was over and I looked back at the wreckage, I could say it was one of the most complete football teams I’ve seen in 10 years.
Xavier might have been just as good, but very different. It was a team that relied on its brute strength, intimidation and big plays to wear down all comers in the SCC — which I believe is the most competitive league in the state because of its proactive scheduling.
Xavier had a college-sized front, tough and aggressive linebackers and defensive backs and a brick walls linemen. It was old school, using its strength to just pound teams into submission. And when the Falcons needed a big play, they always seemed to get it.
Xavier won every week because no team it played could match it physically, and that made it a damn good football team.
My problem with Xavier is this: It far too often shot itself in the foot, many times not of the opponents’ doing, and let lesser teams hang around instead of running them out of the building, like they could have.
Still… I love the SCC, I think it’s the most competitive league in the state. Every week is a big game and teams in the SCC make each other better. Coming out of the SCC 10-0 and then winning a state championship is an impressive, impressive feat.
Their No. 1 ranking is well deserved.
I saw Xavier four times, I saw Masuk seven times.
Personally, putting the two teams together in my head I still think Masuk was better.
And that’s how I voted: Masuk, No. 1.
In my 10 years covering high school football, I’ve come to a couple of conclusions. Excellent teams are excellent teams. Any team that goes 13-0 and wins a state championship is an awesome team. And I also believe the league-vs.-league comparisons, while useful sometimes, can be misleading. It should never be X team plays in a better conference, therefore it’s better than Y.
In 2004, Branford came into the Class MM championship game as a heavy favorite over Pomperaug. There was no way, we said (me included), an SWC team could matchup with a battle-tested team from the SCC (Branford was Division II, but handily beat both Shelton and Fairfield Prep). I was wrong. Pomperaug 35, Branford 7.
In an even better example, in the 2006 Class L title game we all thought two-time defending state champion Staples, out of the mighty FCIAC and a team coming off a 24-7 beat down of West Haven in the semifinals, would wipe the floor with poor-little Bunnell out of the SWC – a team that just barely got into the state playoffs after losing to Stratford 40-8.
Wrong again: Bunnell 28, Staples 26
I learned a valuable lesson that evening at Ken Strong Stadium. Your premonitions are never as good as you think. They’re never as bad as you think. Great teams are great teams.
Masuk’s location in an too-often disregarded league killed them in the eyes of those beyond this region. Masuk was product of their schedule. They won big because the other teams were weak. They couldn’t possibly do that in the SCC or FCIAC.
A few SCC coaches said under their breath that Masuk wouldn’t amount to jack in their mighty league and couldn’t dominate the playoffs like they did the regular season. I actually had one SCC coach scoff at me when I said the Masuk would beat New Canaan by at least two touchdowns in the state title game.
“What?” he said. “No way. Not against New Canaan.”
We were both wrong: Masuk won by four touchdowns.
The next day, the same SCC coach apologized: “I was wrong. I’m awestruck.”
To be dismissive of Masuk solely because of where they come from is wrong, and in my opinion, ignorant unless you watched them, live and up close. What they did to two of the best teams in the FCIAC was incredible: Masuk 91, FCIAC 20.
And didn’t New Canaan just beat up the SCC’s second best team to get to the title game?
It wasn’t proof, just validation for me as I cast my final vote.
The bottom line is this: These were two excellent football teams. A majority of voters believe it was Xavier.
I disagreed. I think I’ve seen enough teams and enough games this year to have an educated opinion on the matter.
But of course, nobody’s really wrong. Nobody’s really right. There’s no clear-cut pick. Both teams won state championships Both were fabulous teams in their own way.
And, like the Ansonia-Greenwich debate from 2007 (I voted Ansonia), we’ll never know the answer.
So stand proud, hold that championship trophy high, and show off your rings for the rest of your lives.
No votes can take away your State Championship.
How many points do each first place vote account for?
Unbelievable. Very upset. Congrats to an amazing season by all the state champs and thank you SPB for covering this season, you always do a fantastic job. You put a lot of effort into this and you know your stuff and it’s very much appreciated. You’ve made high school football very easy to follow and keep up to date with, and you do a fantastic job. Plus, you voted for the RIGHT #1 team. Thank you
As for Masuk #2, they did everything in their power to earn #1 and there is not a doubt in my mind that Masuk is the best team in Connecticut. This won’t take anything away from the best team in Masuk history, and they will handle it with class. The voters screwed up.
I agree with most of the poll except I would have reversed one and two.
How do you beat the #3 team by 30 pts and not finish #1? Anti-Cochran backlash if you ask me. SPB, how could this happen? Your the biggest Masuk guy this side of John Murphy, you know they got robbed. I didn’t agree with your voting of Greenwich as the #1 team in 2007, or your voting of Ansonia as the #1 team in 2003, but come on dude, how can people just vote a team #1 because they feel bad unseating them for a better team? Anti-Cochran backlash I’ll tell you. This guy is too good for his own good sometimes. I feel bad for these kids, yea, they still won the Class L title, but come on, Murph and Masuk got a couple of those, we wanted the real hardware, The #1 in the Register. Well, see yea next year.
Plus, if the Register vote is ever a close call between two teams, you will noticed that the SCC team gets the nod almost every single time. 1997…Hand edges out Bloomfield…2004 Hand over New Briain…2001 was the only exception, with New Britain beating out NDWH, but that was a little easier than most votes, as both teams had one loss and NDWH had lost to West Haven, and New Britain had beaten them.
When does the coaches poll come out?
Hand wasn’t a top ten team in CT. Who did they beat that was a good team??? They played an SCC team in their quarterfinal game and then got punished by NC in the state semi’s. What business do they have being ranked? And NFA, come on!!!! that team stunk, they beat a terrible Hall team who only made the playoffs because they play in the weaker than weak CCC. NFA played in the ECC which had a major dud in Montville and in NFA.
1. Masuk
2. Xavier
3. St. Joseph’s
4. New Canaan
5. Hillhouse
6. Glastonbury
7. Ansonia
8. Trumbull
9. Naugatuck (at leas they showed up vs NC)
10. Pomperaug (hey 42-0 to Masuk can’t be too bad)
Well WELI’s “Coach” had announced his pick on Broadcast TV after the Xavier game and before Masuk had even played NC. So not a surprising result.
I saw Masuk play for the first time on Saturday and I had the belief that New Canaan was going to embarass them. Well, after watching the game I couldn’t believe how good Masuk was/is and I told everyone I was watching the game with that whoever won this game (Masuk-New Canaan) should be number 1, with the idea that Masuk had no shot. Masuk 1, Xavier 2, SJ 3, New Canaan 4. And lets not forgot about the true snubbed team this entire season, Central, who should have been in the playoffs
@jacked up re: Register rankings. Not always. In 1991 (pre-SCC era), the Register gave #1 to New London and the Courant (who then ran the coaches’ poll now run by The Day) gave #1 to Notre Dame-WH.
To rephrase my comment, I did not mean to mention Central, I got carried away and confused this year with last year for Central
Like I said in a previous post, this #1 thing sure seems to be blown out of porportion down here in Fairfield county. I played at Xavier and had 2 sons attend Xavier and could care less if Masuk had been voted #1. They have a great football team and I honestly don’t know if Xavier would beat them. I can also tell you that I am not alone up up here in Xavier land. Attended 4 games this year and talked to lots of fans who are big fans of what the CT POST and SPB do during the football season with this blog. By far the best coverage in the state. I have read posts not that different than my own who can’t understand why everybody has thier panties in a bunch over this #1 vote and still have not seen a post come out from your area explaining why it is so important. Gonna go thru the whole thing next year because both teams return most of their players next year. I am looking to see hoe the coaches poll comes out and can’t decide what i want more, a vote of Xavier or Masuk #1. Either way, I am lookinf forward to he deluge of hand wringing ove the decision.
Not a Bad poll,again very subjective .Tough year to get a complete feel for all teams.Two great teams in Masuk and Xavier and then a Big drop from #2 down.I am thinking I would switch Trumbull to #4 and St Joseph’s to #5{Head to Head}.Add Darien{Defeated Trumbull and St Joseph’s} somewhere between #6-#9 and drop NFA just outside of the top 10.
@HS FBALL JUNKIE – why in the world would you not care about being ranked #1? Does that even need an explanation? Yes there are 4 state champions congrats to all of them a championship is an amazing rare event but come on #1 is a big deal
First of all how did X lose to Staples last year – I ‘ll tell you – out coached. Masuk would crush X. Saw them both play. Who in the world decided NH Register is the paper of choice ? All the voters are up that way. BOOOOOOOOO.
All boy’s school. I’m sure they have fun at the pep rally.
Did the City of Bridgeport count the votes?
TO JUST A THOUGHT. I am not saying that I do not want to see Xavier voted #1. I am simply saying that if Masuk was voted #1 I would just shrug my shoulders an accept it . When I said earlier that I am not alone up here in X land, I meant in our overall thinking that the #1 thing is overblown. I am as competitive as the next guy and played on a very good if not great Xavier football team but I am telling the truth when I say that I think that this vote is the be all and end all most important thing in both Masuk and Xaviers season. And I still have’nt seen the post explaining why it is so very important to be voted #1. Would love to hear Seans opinion and why this poll can be this important and why we all can’t be happy with our 4 division champs.
It’s all about the tailgate for Xavier!
One more thing while I have the time. I have no more respect for the winners of the 4 final games than I do the losers. The kids that played for New canaan and Ansonia etc. played their hearts out and deserve all of our respect. I was proud as hell as a Middletwn resident to watch how tough Middletown played Xavier on thanksgiving. Xavier played at least 5 superior teams to Middletown during the year but Middletown certainly played up to the competition. Lets not forget that all these teams play hard and want to win. Thats what should be most ipmportant.
I swear if it wasn’t so cold – they would have shown up with their togas on….
Nice to see Gbury getting some respect, even though they’re in the “weaker than weak” CCC. They beat a top FCIAC team in the qtr final (Staples) and they played #1 Xavier tougher than Trumbull. Though the score of the each game was the same, check the total offense according to the media:
Xavier/Gbury – 382/282 total offense
Xavier/Trumbull – 499/209 total offense
By the way, anyone know who played powerhouse Masuk the closest of anyone this year?? Bristol Eastern. Though 49-23 isn’t much to be proud of, even the mighty New Canaan couldn’t do better against Masuk. Maybe the CCC isn’t so bad after all.
guys this is a TOTAL conspiracy. the polls are TOTALLYYYY out to get Masuk, just like the NCAA is out to get Cam Newton…the government may or may not even be involved.
The poll is what it is-very subjective. Numbers 2 thru 5 are all Fairfield County teams which speaks alot about the respect people have for the teams down here.
Ok all this complaining is getting ridiculous. Xavier has been ranked #1 the entire season and did what they were supposed to do WIN. I agree that masuk was a very dominating team this season, but you can not take away the #1 ranking from xavier just because masuk put up a lot of points in the championship game. Even though xavier had several close games this year they found ways to win. Everyone wants to talk about how masuk dominated during the season, but everyone in the state knows that the level of competition in the SWC is inferior to the SCC. Every year the competition for the best conference is between the FCIAC and SCC and will continue to be that way. Would masuk have beat xavier if they played? maybe, maybe not we will never know. But what everyone knows is xavier has been #1 all season, finished undefeated and the final poll is correct. Now going forward, I believe that the final #1 ranking should never be left up to writers. My solution would be to add one more championship, call it the superbowl and that would be a tournament between the top 4 teams in the state. There would not be a quarterfinal round for these teams and allow them to decide who the #1 team is on the field the way it should be done in football.
Hartford courant poll is in. Now just waiting for the New London Day coaches poll. Can’t wait till all hell breaks loose if those stupid football coaches vote Xavier #1. No actually. I hope they vote Masuk #1 just to keep the peace.
Saw both teams, which most if not all of you, didn’t (at least until Rentschler).
Xavier is the better team. Beat 4 ranked teams, 5 LL teams & 1 state champ during regular season. Masuk went 0,2,0.
When you factor in the playoffs, Xavier is 7,8,1 & Masuk goes 2,2,0.
Masuk beat 2 smaller schools in playoffs – Darien basically gave up their season & New Canaan has a 150 LB. NOSEGUARD.
Xavier has the best front 7 in the state – in the last DECADE at least & their guys go 230 & up. Their O line took a 175 kid who runs a 4.8 & made him into a 200 yd / game rusher.
And, although Casey Cochran feasted on bad opponents THIS YEAR, Tim Boyle (X’s BACKUP SO. QB) has a DIVISION 1 ARM.
Their Sr. class goes into next year having lost ONE GAME IN THREE YEARS against the best competition. They’ll be ranked #1 NEXT YEAR and most likely, the year after.
SPB – you need to GO TO SEE SOME GAMES OTHER THAN DOWNSTATE – I mean, X-NDWH game was only 20 min. away. The scores may have been close, but Xavier D dominated EVERY GAME & their offense basically ran the ball the entire 2nd half of games & took a knee – they still rolled up 1100 yds. on WH & 500 on Trumbull. If the coach went for the throat, or for style pts., they could’ve named the score.
Masuk was highly impressive in going out & scoring 4 TD’s on NC, but get real, that team was S-M-A-L-L…Xavier is H-U-G-E.
The only thing wrong with the poll is that Xavier should’ve won 16-8 or thereabouts…
Oh, and for those at Masuk who are reading challenged.
NC may be ranked #3, but Xavier beat #’s 5,6,7.
You’re #2.
@ Jeb Post#22
Agree to a point.The FCIAC teams ranked in the top 10 were aided by questionable regular season schedules.How many FCIAC teams in the Playoffs or top 10 if the divisions were balanced,or if games like below were played in 2010:
New Canaan/Staples
Darien /Staples
St Josephs/Staples
Trumbull/New Canaan
@DrewCT, I should see more game beyond downstate?
You must be new here…
VIDEO: Xavier vs. Trumbull
VIDEO: Xavier vs. West Haven
VIDEO: Xavier vs. Notre Dame-WH
Saw Masuk on Saturday for the 1st time this year. Was very impressed with Cochran. Just wondering, would Masuk beat NC without him? He is a difference maker. Throws the ball better than any QB I have seen in a few years.
Also, all those who would love to see Masuk-Xavier match up next year here’s what you can do: convince your friends with high school aged boys to move to Monroe to increase their male enrollment up to LL levels. Then we can put this all to rest!! (I’m only kidding of course).
How is St Joes ranked above Trumbull when Trumbull Handled them? They have to same record and Trumbull had a tougher Schedule and beat them head to head. they played pop warner teams to win a state championship. Trumbull is the better team no questions asked
ctfootballfan—-trumbull beat st.joes by a point and got embarrased by xavier—thats why.who did trumbull beat in the playoffs?
Agree with 30 these polls are subjective. They are just an opinion. After New Canaan, I would have it glastonbury-trumbull- st. joes- hand- ansonia- hillhouse. Saw Hand and Hillhouse and would be surprised if Hillhouse beat Hand this year. New Canaan is a very good football team but that was not a typical Hand performance in the playoffs.
@DrewCT- Saw them both play Drew, X deserves all the credit for going unbeaten in a tough league. You are correct, they are big and physical. Masuk is also big and physical. Not sure if you saw, (or did you leave ?) when Masuks O line pushed around NC’s 280 and 300 lb (Notre Dame bound no less)linemen in the 4th QTR when forced to run on every single play due to clock management and Cochran self inflicted injury. Both teams are excellent with superb coaching. I would love to see X’s big men try to stay composed and not get gassed when Masuk hits them with the no huddle spread with 4 receivers and a back that can flat out fly. I’ll take speed over size my friend…Not sure about the reading challenged comment, most bloggers on here do a pretty good job of keeping the comments football related and respecful. Neddless to say both teams are very, very good and polls are subjective. SPB- Great job, you keep high school football on the front burner and get exposure for all these kids, thank you for all your efforts.
If we vote based on perceived toughness of the schedule, Xavier gets #1. If we look at things like points scored vs. points given up you have to give it to Masuk.
No one on planet earth can argue that Xavier plays a much tougher schedule week in and out. But it isn’t like anyone gave Masuk trouble ever. Even the big guys from the FCIAC.
I think head to head (as long as Mr. Cochran doesn’t celebrate too much) Masuk handles X. Just an opinion.
Very special team in 2010 in Monroe. I don’t care what league they compete in.
Xavier was the number #1 team coming into the state playoffs they won all three games. They should be #1.
I saw both teams play, Masuk does look like the better team but until both play each other we will never know what the outcome would be…….and its unfair to rank a team higher when the other did nothing wrong…..
So next year, if Masuk and Xavier go undefeated again, then what? Even if Masuk is blowing out every team they face, dominating every aspect of the game, with the best qb in the state and possbily the best RB in the state next year, they are still #2? Ok, and lets say Xavier is still beating .500 teams by 3 points, Its justified because they are in the SCC? and Masuk is still #2?
Screw the polls and all this garbage, get them on the field flip the coin and lets play some football! take the top two teams and let them play for #1 then there is no BS, #1 is #1
HSfoot…have you seen both teams? Who do you think would win? That is the question here. It is the states best team, not the team who played the better schedule. Not to mention the NHR poll was horribly inaccurate in the preseason because it favored a couple more of its home SCC schools. You sound like those homers Demaio and his lapdog Aprea. “You have to vote Xavier number one because they have been number one” ARE YOU SERIOUS? What if they won every game 7-6? Is there ever a point where the better team passes them? Or do you continue voting them #1 just because thats what you have been doing. People make me laugh. Good season to all!
Trumbull had a tougher schedule?? Central and Ridgefield ended up being medocre this year, They got to play Staples with a Freshman QB, they didnt even play New Cannan, got beat by a very overrated Darien team and should have lost to Greenwich. They had a great year and I take nothing away from them but they did not play a tougher schedule than Sj. I would say it was pretty even. As far as playoffs, Trumbull didnt play anyone either until Xavier.
As the old saying goes “offenses win games,defenses win championships” Xavier has the better defense and the voters got it right. #1 Xavier!
SPB,
Fair enough – you are right.
I am in Southbury. I came to this site late in the season when I saw you did live updates.
Otherwise, I’m a Waterbury Republican reader.
Since you stated your case very eloquently, having seen both teams, I have no argument.
I too saw both teams – 3x each.
I went to Darien & saw their ’79 team, which to me, was dominant in exactly the same way Xavier was. When they went head-to-head with teams with superior skill players – most notably Greenwich – with Steve Young and Kenny Bell in the backfield, the skill guys got their yards, but Darien beat them up.
This is the way I saw Xavier this year – but, beyond that, they have an impeccable record in a tough conference, against ranked opponents – 7x this year. In the final poll, they beat teams #5,6,7.
Yes, I’m new here – but I also know that downstate (FF County) thinks that they have ALWAYS had the best football & have, in the past, voted as a bloc. Further, the FCIAC football parents are always vocal with their “outrage” when things don’t go their way.
I apologize for making an “assumption” (one should never “assume”… something about making an…out of “u” and “me”). But, in the absence of a “playoff” between the 2 teams, the criteria is “body of work”, “stength of schedule”, “common opponents”, “conference record”, etc.
And here, Xavier wins hands down.
Much like Pomperaug has in the past, Masuk proved it can play with the big boys come playoff time. But, in this case, a team that started the year ranked #2, moved up to #1 and ran the table was ahead of them. They could’ve won each of their playoff games 100-0 and it still wouldn’t / shouldn’t have made them #1.
Masuk was the best team in the state. This is bull.
the real treat would be masuk vs. last years’ ndwh team!
Bad call on the voters this year.Masuk destroyed teams all year long all the way up till the end against a 4 time state champ NC who some consider one of the best football teams along with staff in the state every single year.
OH well 86 the league title games, trash the T-Day games start a week earlier & have the 2 top teams play each other the week are the finals are over to see who is #1.
Masuk/Xavier matchup would fill Uconn’s field for sure.I would drive the 45 mintues just to watch that game no matter what the weather was.
I am going to keep this clean because I respect SPB and therules he has on this blog:
How can Tim Parry vote Xavier #3?????!!! You read that right, the guy who runs that FCIAC blog voted St. Joseph #2 and Xavier #3 in his final poll and he actually gets a vote in one of the major polls! His votings rights should be taken away forever! Forget about all the other INSANE and INSULTING things that Tim Parry says and writes about on a daily basis (attacking people, calling people idiots, threatening them, etc)—-but actually voting for a 3-loss team AHEAD of a ZERO-loss team that is widely considered either the best,or at the very worst, 2nd best team in the state??!! RIDICULOUS!
I’m a New Canaan fan, but his FCIAC bias is SICKENING! No wonder why people all over the state have disdain for this conference down here. It’s people like him.
I’m not kidding…Here is Tim Parry’s final vote in the writer’s poll:
1-Masuk
2-St. Joe’s
3-Xavier
4-Hillhouse
5- New Canaan
This guy rips people when you don’t agree with him and then threatens you with “I have your IP address and I know who you are!”
And he wonders why nobody can take him seriously.
Listen, St. Joe’s is a GREAT football team, and I would have ranked them THIRD in the state (ahead of NC, because they beat NC AND won a state title), but there is NO WAY you can rank St. Joe ahead of Xavier.
I will leave you with this comment Tim Parry made about St. Joe’s vs Xavier on his blog:
“If (St. Joe’s) play Xavier 10 times, St. Joe’s wins nine of them.”
I am NOT making this up. He really said that.
Talk about an FCIAC bias.
@DrewCT – Fair enough. I don’t believe in the “Well, I voted them No. 1 all year and they did nothing to take it away.” I believe in seeing the teams on the field multiple times, and then judging the entire season after it’s over. …But that’s just me.
SPB – When are all-state and all-ct post teams released?
I’m an SCC homer with no vote in any poll. I am a fan. I have no beef with anyone who votes Masuk #1 in the final poll. SPB laid out an eloquent case for why they should be ranked #1.
I do find it beyond contempt than an FCIAC homer with a blog gets a vote, and uses that privilege to vote Xavier #3 in hopes of manipulating the final outcome. I’m not sure he made any difference, but a man that intellectually dishonest has lost all credibility with me.
Good give and take in the above comments, with some thoughtful arguments on both sides. But SPB’s explanation on why he voted for Masuk as Connecticut’s best team, after seeing both teams multiple times along with innumerable other high school games, is great analysis and impossible to argue with in my opinion.
Great job, Sean, in getting to the crux of the debate. And awesome job all season long.
Jeez Trumbull got hosed.
I guess beating St Joes Head to Head (a win is a win) beating Staples and making the LL Championship don’t account for anything. These polls show how out of touch the “upstate” coaches are with the rest of the league. The whole point of these polls is to evaluate teams based on their body of work. 3 losses all season and both were in Championship games. Granted Trumbull did not play their best brand of football on Saturday. If Trumbull plays that game at 100% of what they’re capable of, they beat X by at least a touchdown. Trumbull really got screwed by the voters in the polls.
The media polls got it best. While Trumbull SHOULD be ranked higher than St Joes, it was only by 1 pt. Ill take that.
HS FBALL JUNKIE-
Why is important to Be #1 – Because we’re American!!
What are you some kind of bed-wetting, thumb-sucking, pinko, commie, liberal. Geez, where is the GEICO drill-sargent therapist when you need one.
This isn’t mamby pamby land. We love to compete and dominate. We love our Champions. In CT HS Football we have league champions and state champions. We have all league, all county and all state teams. In the off season we have passing league and weight lifting champions. Just do it, doesn’t cut it. We play to win. That’s why the CIAC 50 point is so disdained in this state
But you know what pisses us off more than anything else, is when we think the fix is in. The NHR poll was just that. It reminds me of the Olympics, when Soviet Bloc judges conspired to screw America out of medals. However, instead of protecting the “Evil Empire” the New Haven Poltiburo is protecting the archaic SCC brand of football. Mr. DeMaio, tear down that wall!
Well any way, that’s why it is important, and no you won’t get a trophy for your participation in this blog you jack-wagon.
Pretty bummed that the NH Register poll, which is usually considered the POLL, opted to stay with X from its early stages back in September. Was equally disappointed that voters declared their #1 teams after Friday’s game instead of waiting until all of the championships were completed. A win by New Canaan could have given them sone consideration for the top spot, But, after Masuk embarrassed New Canaan in the 2nd half, I wonder how anyone could have not thought that Masuk should be the #1 team. While X was always touted for their strong defense, I doubt even the Falcons could hold Masuk under 50 points. 1. Masuk 2. Xavier 3. St. Joeseph 4. Trumbull 5 New Canaan 6. Hillhouse 7. Ansonia 8. New London 9. NFA and 10. Hand.
btw, unoffically Montrelle Dobbs had 1,029 yards 3 games in the state tournament. amazing…
WOW!!! i have read it all now theman1050 leave it alone…. you lost and in voters eyes Ansonia is a state power that’s it… you just have to wear that.
I have been asking thru posts why it is so god awful important for the people down in this area to get Masuk voted #1. So far I have not had an explanation. Now I hear about this Parry guy who decided that Xavier was’nt even worthy of #2. Sounds like a right fine fellow and just the kind of guy I would like to meet. Feel free to give him my IP address Sean. No worries!!
Easy everyone. Please.
maybe the masuk head coach should go back during the middle of the game again and try to wave his hands and get the crowd pumped up…. or start Masuk is #1 chants….
for class reasons only am i glad Xavier is number 1.
however, upstaters hate fairfield county and anything close to it, so it doesn’t surprise me that Masuk got snubbed.
trumbull beat st.joes by 11 points not 1 point
Fair enough re: Tim Parry, everyone, but that’s not FCIAC bias at work. First, he’s allegedly “manipulating” the vote in favor of Masuk, a SWC team. And second, he puts Hillhouse, a SCC team, at #4 – ahead of NC, who would make absolute mincemeat of them.
Call it crazy, sure, but don’t call it biased.
Its too bad the voters of ffld county voted for masuk number 1 in this bogus cswa poll. This team did nothing for sportsmanship. I blame the coaches. They just piled on the scores to influence the voters. just like college pollsters. Was masuk influenced By former coach Cochran. Why beat teams by 56 to 7 or 45 to 0 or 42 to 0? I hope these teams come back at masuk.
@canon – “the masuk head coach” is John Murphy and he has done amazing things in Monroe. He went to pump up the crowd when the win was pretty much sealed with a few minutes left in the game. Masuk has always been a class act don’t get it twisted.
It really angers me to hear that people already had their #1 vote with Xavier before they even saw Masuk play New Canaan. What a shame. Those kids deserved #1.
Still though, 13-0 SWC Champs Class L State Champs is still gonna look pretty on those rings. Second time in 3 years at that.
and also, @what a joke -
what an awful comment. piling on scores to influence voters?? what a ridiculous post.
On the other hand, maybe you’re right. Maybe Masuk needed to beat a 5-5 Cheshire team by a sick score of 9-6 in order to really capture those votes for #1. “Quality win” right there.
I’m not saying Xavier isn’t an unbelievable team, either. They just don’t deserve #1.
The final poll needs to be changed starting next season. I don’t know how, but the wrong people are voting.
@ James
Tim Parry elected to vote the four state champions as his top four teams. He even said he was going to do that!
But he was making a STATEMENT by putting St. Joes’s– an FCIAC team with THREE LOSSES (Wilton, Darien, Trumbull) ahead of Xavier—an SCC team with ZERO LOSSES.
This was a Fairfield County bias and an FCIAC bias.
My final word about Tim Parry, because I want to respect Sean’s rules on this message board about being nice to others:
If you disagree with Tim Parry, than, in his eyes, you are a wrong and an idiot.
Tim went out of his way (wrongfully) to prove that.
I also agree that Masul is the best team in the state. But dropping Xavier to #3 becaause of personal reasons??!
I’ve said enough about this guy over the years—it’s time to move on. I’m glad everybody is seeing what I’ve been seeing for so long now. Out of respect for SPB, I will cool it now.
Not really sure how St. Joes is ranked ahead of Trumbull. Trumbull beat them by 11 and then St. Joes played 3 pop warner teams in class S to win the title. Trumbull would have rolled through S. As for the X/Masuk debate, theres not much I can add to the 60 or so posts above. There’s no fair way to decide who is better unless they play. They both have their arguments for #1 but somebody has to be #2. My Final top 10
1) X
2) Masuk
3) Trumbull
4) St. Joes
5) New Canaan
6) Glastonbury
7) Hillhouse
8) Hand
9) Darien
10) Staples
@#29 LOL. But Masuk is a public school. Enrollment is based on whoever moves into or out of town. Xavier is private. They can limit enrollment. Just take 77 less boys (non-athletes obviously because, well, they can, unlike public schools). Better yet, replace 100 boys with girls. As a guy who once went to high school, I guarantee adding girls would help recruiting. Then perhaps we will have Masuk play Xavier next year in Class L. Or, heck, make the place half girls and then they can play Ansonia :).
@ justathought… Jack Cochran did amazing things at Bloomfield, New Britain, and New London as well… doesn’t meant he was a class act.
Have you ever seen Richie Albonizio, Lou Marinelli, Marce Petrocio, Rich Angerano.. just to name a few class, been around the block coaches, oh and steve fillipone… have you ever seen any of them do what he did? to answer it for you… no.
act like you’ve done it before. Xavier gets the class vote to put them at #1.
@SPB.
Coming from a previous high school football player, I have to say that I greatly appreciated all the coverage you provided this year. Being 500 or so miles away from home makes it tough to keep up on all the high school football statistics and whatnot. I was fortunate enough to come back home to watch my brother play in the conference championship and then in the state game up at Uconn. And I must say that my opinion on you has drastically changed. During my years in high school, I must admit I thought you were quite biased in some of the things you said. However, after reading some of the stuff you have written on Masuk vs. Xavier at number one and even the stuff about comparing the strengths of different conferences, I quickly learned that I was mistaken. Every point you make is legitimate and I just wanted to express my appreciation for all the coverage and videos you provided. Keep up the great work!
The voting was right on. Even though I believe Masuk could beat Xavier head to head, the fact is that Xavier went undefeated in the toughest conference in the state. They are deserving of the number 1 ranking. There is no way to tell unless both teams played eachother. I congratualte Masuk and Xavier on theie Championships and perfect seasons.
oh and by the way the guy that voted Xavier #3 is incompetant and in my opinion an idiot
Both Xavier and Masuk will be strong again next year. Justice will be served only if Masuk is ranked #1 preseason and Xavier #2.
Common Sense – following your logic, SJ should be ahead of New Canaan, and Darien and Stamford should be ahead of Trumbull. The polls are going to reflect your team’s performance in the big games.
FYI: My top 8
1) Masuk
2) X
3) New Canaan
4) Trumbull
5) St Joes
6) Darien
7) Glastonbury
8) Hand
actually, Lou spent a good part of the game on the field screaming at the refs– I mean on the field — inside the hash marks! All the way to the middle of the field on at least two different occasions. Had to be his “flawless” reputation that allowed him to avoid getting two 15 yarders for that display which would have resulted in an ejection for the fabled coach in a championship game where he was badly outcoached at half time and visibly frustrated with the absolute pounding his team was taking. I’ve seen them all do it- it’s easy to “have class” until you get frustrated and embarassed- then it all comes out.
I think SPB should start a computer ranking for CT high school football so the voters can double-check their views before they make that final vote. Strength of schedule is more important than running up the score.
Canon,
I can recall either an FCIAC championship or state championship game in which Greenwich lost. One of Albonizio’s staff slammed the runner up trophy to the ground, shattering it. This was done in front of everyone. Thats class and good sportsmanship to boot.
Get your facts straight when you use other coaches as an example.
Petroccio and Marinelli are in a class by themselves.
@cannon -
Based on the pre & post game video interviews, Coach Murhpy handled himself extraordinary well and represented the Monroe Education System admirably.
I have no problem with him, in the exhilaration of the moment, leading the fans/parents in their appreciation of their players/sons efforts and their hard-fought justly earned accomplishment. I’m sure the fans/parents were thankful of the reminder & the opportunity to show their affection.
This nit-picking, irrelevant dissection of the persona of our public servants is something that has to stop. We will drive the best, most well equipped people out, and be left with the bland, weak and incompetent.
Well, I don’t know much about Xavier. Masuk clearly has an across the board group of good players who have taken it to another level in the weight room. As far as I could tell from broadcasts and video replays, they beat New Canaan soundly in every one-on-one matchup in the line and elsewhere. NC needs to consider attending the Masuk seminars on strength and conditioning.
Hey Commonsense, I didn’t know that Ansonia was a Pop Warner team? Darien and Hand lookd more like Pop Warner teams in the playoffs than they did. However, people like yourself only believe that football is played in two leauges in this state and those are the FCIAC and SCC. Naugatuck also gave NC a great game in the quaterfinal round, a heck of a lot better than the mighty Hand Tigers of the SCC did. Hand and Darien were two of the worst 9-1 teams I’ve seen in awhile.
First, it was the defensive coordinator that went over to the crowd. What is the problem with being excited and it was done away from the New Canaan side? I noticed Masuk was voted number 1 in the Max Preps computer rankings and the Hartford Courant poll. Masuk was ranked 6th in the tri-state area before the championship game. New Canaan had been ranked number 11 in that poll.
@ what a joke-
The players don’t practice and work hard all year long to play half a game, because your team is excelling. It’s disrespectful and humiliating to your opponent to stop trying after 24 minutes. It diminishes their efforts.
Ask Darien’s players how they felt when Masuk was forced to take a knee. That team has pride. They wanted Masuk to try to score again, and they wanted an opportunity to stop them. That’s the essence of the game.
The 50 point rule is a travesty, it mocks the efforts of our sons. For the good of the game and for the well-being of the athletes this well intentioned but mis-guided rule and most be repealed NOW!
Xavier beat 7 teams in Register top 25.Masuk beat 2. Who deserves to be #1?
Mr Bowley, I thought that your article was very accurate & introspective and most of all; Very well written! Nice job, as always, covering HS football.
WOW! What a crock! I don’t even know where to start. How stupid to insinuate that Masuk loaded up the scores in their games to influence the polls? Are you kidding. “What a joke” asks why beat teams by a large margin? The only way Masuk would not have run up scores this year would have been to start their freshman for varsity games!! Masuk varsity is that good so get over it! As for Coach Murphy he is a class act 100%! His excitement at the end of the NC game was a pleasure to see. Murph is normally very reserved. It was great to see him join the crowd in their celebration. The best argument for Masuk being voted number one was made by SPB in this article. SPB is a professional sports reporter who’s unbiased opinions are written each week. He has no skin in any of these games and he calls it the way he see’s it and most of you have agreed that he is correct most of the time. SPB got this one right! That said, congratulations to Xavier. Two of three polls have you as number one in the state and you played great football all year. Next year is going to be fun! Thanks Sean Patrick for a great season!
I’ve argued myself in circles with what to do with NC/Trumbull/SJ. I think this is the order I’ve settled on.
SPB, I thought I read yesterday how you voted them. Can you post it again along with your thought process?
I find this converstaion most interesting. I’ve been following SPB for some time and I have to say he’s one of the most erstwhile fellows I’ve read in some time. Sean’s passion for his work is duly noted and admired. However, I’m reading this particular blog and it’s “touchy” topic and I feel I might be able to point out a problem with the “Masuk #1″ logic. By Sean’s own admission, and through his own descriptives, Xavier’s defense is “college-sized” and very good. Since Xavier has been number one throughout, maybe the fact that Masuk blows-out opponents, the dreaded and despicable “style-points” of these “blow-outs” may factor into SPB’s decision. I hope not, because SPB has always appeared “above” such things.
@Yikes – Most of Masuk’s games were over at halftime. And, if not, they were quickly over in the third quarter (even in the state title game). This isn’t a team that was up a TD in the fourth and then scored four more. You can argue, and sometimes know for sure that there have been a few times where the first team was out on the field well after the game had been decided, absolutely. And I know a few SWC coaches who would agree.
But I look more at how a team got to that point. The rest doesn’t matter.
Sean, thank you for the best explanation that I have read on this blog for voting Masuk #1. Saw Xavier numerous times this year both when they dominated and when they just could’nt put teams away usually by shooting themselves in the foot. So the main difference between Masuk and Xavier is that Masuk always brought their A game and on a few occasions Xavier certainly made it difficult on themselves. Xavier playing their A game against Masuk would just be an outstanding game that I would like to think would be won by Xavier. Masuk would easily win against the Xavier team that I saw a couple of times this year. So based on your very convincing argument, I would have to agree that Masuk might of deserved #1. This from a Xavier grad that lives less than 4 miles from the school. Should be another great year for both of these teams next year.
xavier would not goo undefeated in the FCIAC… If they played New Canaan, St. Joes, or Staples the way that they played a down(5-5) Cheshire team, they would get beat badly. The Fciac teams and their spread offenses are known for being able to put points up on the board fast. Most of the time, you would not be able to put 9 points on an fciac team and still win.
@Canon (67)- in response to your question, yes, I have personally witnessed a coach you mention by name fire up his crowd. Done in the same manner as the Masuk coach as the clock was winding down in an important game. I did not think twice about it, nor did anyone else outside, I guess, of you. As far as voting Xavier #3, Parry is way out of bounds and in my opinion, his vote damages his reputation.
Xavier’s line would destroy any in the FCIAC.Only 1 team could line up with Xavier up front and that is Masuk.I also thought New Canaan could give Masuk a game because of New Canaan’s line with all that size.Unfortunately their line was a big reason they got rolled in the 2nd half.When Masuk went to the Wing T type offense they basically embarrassed the line of New Canaan.
I have also witnessed some coaches doing the same. The game is supposed to be about emotion and passion, especially at the high school level. The Masuk staff was excited and got caught up in the emotion of the game. I have no problem with it, in fact I think we need more of it sometimes. I don’t think he was being disrespectful as I know both coaches have a lot of respect for each other. While I understand what canon is saying I feel that all the coaches above mentioned are class acts, and that includes coach Murphy.
HS FB Fan – Masuk went to the Wing T with the game in hand and NC mentally beaten. Nothing can be extrapolated from that.
Masuk 57 Newington 13 2008 Class L Final
Masuk 50 New Canaan 20 2010 Class L Final
107 points for 33 against
Both of these teams should have been voted Numero Uno.
The 2008 team was great. This year’s team was arguably the best team in the history of CT High School Football. And that includes that great Bloomfield team that featured Andrew Pinnock and Jamel Lewis.
^No way the Masuk team in 2008 was going to get voted #1. They were not even considered. Not when New Canaan went unbeaten at 13-0 and were the state’s only undefeated team. Masuk had a loss that year. 2008 was never up for debate—New Canaan received EVERY first-place vote, as it should have. C’mon now—let’s stop that silly talk. Masuk had a loss—in the SWC, no less!
This year, however, is a different story. Masuk has a case for #1.
dear Master of M.
The Bloomfield teams you just mentioned had three freshman on the bench that weighed three hundred lbs.
Did the bench break?
That Trophy slam was in the LL final against West Haven @ Kennedy Stadium.
I may have gone with the more coventional vote, but SPB is the oracle. A tough call, but he calls it as he sees it (and he sees more of it than most). Thanks for the great season ! Your coverage was outstanding.
Both Xavier and Masuk should be proud of their undefeated seasons … very difficult to accomplish in high school football.
Why all the bad mouthing about jack cochran, am i missing something? Did he commit a crime,kill someone,rob a little old lady,steal candy from you crying babies on this blog? The man was very good at running up the score and yes he has a winning attitude and by judging the way his son casey has turned out,i would say he’s a damn good dad also. It goes to show all that you haters dont know JACK !
Jack Cochran has a “winning attitude.”
That is definitely a nice way to put it.
SPB thnaks for another great year of covering HS football in CT you are the best….now give us the 2011 Elite 8 !!!!!!!!!!!!!
To Post 95. Maybe New Canaan deserved the #1 ranking…they were undefeated. However, if those two teams had the opportunity to play each other, the result would have been similiar to this year’s outcome. After the Brookfield loss that year, they played just like this year’s team. Not one team came close to beating them.
Can we talk about hockey now?
Well don’t know why being from the SWC should hurt Masuk in any way. That league has certainly proved themselves come state time especially in Class L. The 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.
Congratulations to Wisconsin OL and Notre Dame-WH grad John Moffitt on being named first-team AP All-American.
i love this entire “poll” thing. When you don’t actually play out who is one and who is two ON the field, these polls are opinion, and should hold No weight for really anyone, but specifically the schools.
Do what they do in most states, like PA (where I am from originally) – Crown the champion for each class, and that is it.
Thanks for listening…
Guys 2010 football in Conn is OVER give it up, move on, the player are moving on to other winter sports. 2011 football is 8-months away Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night!
SPB – If you would be so kind as to refer back to post’s #86 and #87, I would be appreciative. I believe I “get” from you that Masuk didn’t “run-up” scores. My memory isn’t what it used to be, so I’ll accept that unless we get another point of view from someone who disputes your claim. Now, can you tell me about the “strength-of-schedule” of both Masuk and Xavier? Someone mentioned the 5-5 Hand team as being “down”. Does anyone believe Hand would go 5-5 in the SWC? In other words, I contend that Xavier was ranked #1 going into it’s state championship game, PROBABLY because most would consider it’s weekly competition “tougher/harder” than Masuk’s. Since Xavier came out victorious and unbeaten, respectfully, SPB, I wonder if your locale/newspaper distribution area, clouded your judgement in claiming #1 for Masuk.
@108
u sound like a hoopster that knows basketball will never get the hype foots does in our great state!
@93
NOTHING could be extrapolated from the fact that Masuk mentally BEAT New Canaan in three quarters of football? the four time defending state champ New Canaan?
@all cochran posts. He is a good father/coach to his son. And an annoying parent/fan to everyone else. That’s it.
Oh and Masuk would beat X by 3-5 tds. But I voted X number one just because I have been doing so since week one. HAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAH
Yikes –
The SCC is “tougher” in the sense that Masuk would be forced to play teams it would only beat by 30-40 points, not 50. There isn’t a team in that conference, Xavier included, that would give the Panthers a game.
The second-best team in the SCC was pulverized by NC. And to be honest, I think NC’s a better team than Xavier – more weapons, less mistake-prone, more big-game experience. The Rams lasted a half against Masuk. A D1 linebacker and a “big” line will only get you so far against a great football team, and that was Masuk this year.