SPB's High School Football

We’re using this space to get you the latest updates from the CIAC Playoff Races. A full breakdown of scenarios will be forthcoming after all the games are in.

Here are today’s Finals:

Here’s in and who’s still alive.

CLASS LL
Clinched — Xavier (9-0), Norwich Free Academy (9-0), Glastonbury (9-1), Trumbull (8-1).
On the bubble – Southington (8-1), Newtown (8-1), Staples (8-1), Conard (8-2), Hall (8-2), West Haven (7-2), Pomperaug (7-2).

Hall’s 41-0 loss to Conard has made this class a lot clearer. Staples, Newtown and Southington are all in with wins. (Not easy for any of the three). Conard is finished and is hanging onto the No. 8 spot, with 50 bonus points waiting.

Conard’s in halfway decent shape at 1110, but it’s bonuses are dicey.

Hall’s in trouble. Hall probably won’t get the 1120 or 40 they need. (They almost have the exact same bonuses).

If Newtown loses to Masuk, it’s going to be close. They’ll need two of these: Barlow over Weston or Oxford over Pomperaug or Stratford over Bunnell, to get to at least 1130.

West Haven needs a win, and even it’s bonuses are a little uncertain. They’ll need Amity over North Haven, Wilbur Cross over Hillhouse to get to 1120. Most of all it would prefer Cheshire over Southington, which would give them a team above knocked out and bonus points to get to 1130.

CLASS L
Clinched — Masuk (9-0); Darien (9-0)
On the bubble — Hand (8-1), Wethersfield (8-1), Naugatuck (8-1), North Haven (8-1), Maloney (8-1), Bristol Eastern (8-1), Windsor (7-2), Avon (7-2), Middletown (7-2).

Avon’s loss to Gilbert has put Darien in.

New Canaan is practically guaranteed (but not quite) a spot with a victory over Darien on Thanksgiving.

Hand, Naugatuck and Wethersfield are all in with victories.

North Haven, Maloney, New Canaan will most likely get in with a victory. Bristol Eastern is the wildcard, but in order to get to 1200 points to make a run at the final spot, all 80 of their bonuses need to come in.

Bristol Eastern needs a win and somebody to lose (except Darien)

Windsor and Middletown need to win and one or two teams ahead to lose and bonus help. Avon needs bonuses and a couple teams to lose.

CLASS M
Clinched — Berlin (9-0), New London (8-1), Plainville (8-1).
On the Bubble — Brookfield (7-2), Lyman Hall (7-2), Coventry/Windham Tech (7-2), Gilbert/Northwestern (7-2), Cheney Tech (7-2), Putnam/Tourtellotte/Ellis Tech (7-2), Hillhouse (6-3), Platt (7-2), Enfield (6-3), Waterford (6-3), Ledyard (6-3), Bethel (6-3), Watertown (6-3), Wolcott (6-3).

This looks like a job for the Mad Playoff Scientist. We can say Brookfield is in with a win over Bethel. As is Gilbert/Northwestern.

Bethel needs to beat Brookfield and then pray a bunch of top teams lose (like six or seven. They’re pretty cooked.)

CLASS S
Clinched — Valley Regional/Old Lyme (9-0), Ansonia (9-0), Montville (8-1), St. Joseph (7-2).
On the Bubble — Hyde (7-2), Woodland (6-3), Sacred Heart (6-3), Sacred Heart (6-3), Coginchaug (7-2), Cromwell (6-3), North Branford 5-4.

Hyde’s practically in. Woodland, Sacred Heart and Coginchaug are in with victories. You can put the first three in. The winner of Coginchaug/Cromwell is in. The only way the loser gets in is if Woodland or Sacred Heart loses. Even then it comes down to bonus points.

North Branford needs to win, have Coginchaug beat Cromwell and then Woodland or Sacred Heart to lose.

Darien's Clay Barker catches a 49-yard pass from Chris Allam to set up a touchdown in the fourth quarter of Darien's 17-7 victory over Trumbull in the FCIAC title game.

Graham Maybell runs for yardage during Darien's FCIAC championship victory.

All season long, Darien silently seethed beneath the talk. They heard the whispers. They read the clippings.

They had a good team, those of us supposedly in the know said, but they weren’t boss. They couldn’t be boss.

Just look at the schedule. Not one heavyweight among them. You beat St. Joseph? Yeah, but not at full strength. Red Lion Christian? Wasn’t that a glorified JV team? Just wait until they played a real squad.

They champed on their mouth guards. They wrung their hands. They lifted a little harder in the weight room, paid closer attention to their game plans. And then took inventory of all who slighted them. They were 9-0, but felt disrespected.

They plotted their vengeance.

On Friday night at Jerry McDougall Stadium, the home of the very same Trumbull football team they were to face in the FCIAC championship game, the Blue Wave did what they always did: They patiently waited for their moment and pounced… full force.

“Yeah, people underestimate us, but that’s what we thrive on,” senior defensive lineman Jake Weil said (singling out this space as one of Darien’s motivational targets). “We read the press. It gets us fired up. …We just had to come out, prove everybody wrong.”

Darien won its first league championship in 12 years, beating big, bad Trumbull on its own field with a methodical second half that resulted in a 17-7 victory.

Their staunch and stingy defense, led by Charlie Kunze and an otherworldly effort from Weil, held down the fort until Graham Maybell, Clay Barker and Chris Allam got the offense in gear.

They went back to their basic offense, riding Maybell in the single wing down beneath the shadow of the Trumbull goal line. Then Allam struck the unsuspecting Eagles with a 12-yard touchdown pass to Peter Gesualdi.

That’s been Darien’s formula all year long. Play tough, disciplined football. Check the fence for weaknesses, plot the breakthrough. Darien did it to take its 7-0 lead. They did it to make the score 14-0. They did it to add the clinching field goal.

With Trumbull (and, by proxy, the rest of the league) vanquished and no one remaining on top of the heap, they looked around the field and collectively asked Does anybody want to doubt us now?

The answer should be a resounding no.

That’s because Darien proved the most important believers are the teams that believe in themselves — from the starting 11 down to the very bottom of the roster. From there, anything can happen.

“I know our schedule’s not the best, no offense to the teams we played,” Kunze said. “But we played Red Lion, and it was the most physical game I’ve ever been a part of. So we were confident coming into this one. We knew what kind of team we had and we knew we didn’t have to prove anything. It only matters what we think of ourselves and we knew we had a great team.”

They believed, and now they’re 10-0. Undefeated — the last of their kind in the FCIAC, one of seven left in Connecticut.

There’s no doubt about it, in 2010, Darien is one of the top teams in the state.

Yes, there’s still the matter of New Canaan in the Turkey Bowl on Thanksgiving. And — as far as the standings look now — they still must defeat New Canaan to assure themselves a spot among the state’s elite.

The FCIAC title game victory will look nice in a display case, but perhaps the most important thing to take away from the game is message this victory sends — a message to all that may stand in front that the Blue Wave from here onward (beginning with New Canaan next week).

They haven’t just arrived, they’ve been here all season.

“We’re really looking forward to it,” Kunze said of the coming week. “We’ve got practice bright and early tomorrow morning. We’re going to start getting ready for them (New Canaan) and we’re really excited.”

Trumbull could only lament the things that might have been. Five times they were in Darien territory in the first half, three times inside the 20, but didn’t score a point vs. Darien’s defense. Trumbull fails to ‘cash in’ during first half

They’ll go back to the drawing board with a short week before taking on St. Joseph on Thanksgiving Eve back at Trumbull.

THE CLINCH IS IN

Here is some good news for Trumbull fans: Enough happened around the state last night (namely Glastonbury beating Simsbury ) to allow Trumbull to clinched a berth in the Class LL playoffs.

Yes. Trumbull is in. …And so is St. Joseph. They also clinched a spot when North Branford rallied to beat Coginchaug.

So the Thanksgiving Eve game means only for seeding in Class LL and S.

Also clinching in Class LL was Glastonbury, whittling that field down to four spots — including the winner of Hall/Conard. So if you’re scoring at home, that’s just three spots for Newtown (win and in), Southington (win and in), Staples (win and in) …and West Haven or maybe even Pomperaug, should twp of the above falter.

In Class M, Plainville joins the field alongside Berlin and New London (now just five spots for about a dozen and a half teams.

Hyde, despite losing to Valley  Cromwell last night, is very close to clinching in Class S along with Valley Regional, Ansonia, St. Joseph. That would leave four spots. Woodland and Sacred Heart are closing in on playoff berths.

Class L is and remains an absolute mess. No guarantees for anyone.

The Mad Scientist is ready to reveal his formulas this week.

Until later.

Add: We’ll have much more to add to the video above, including interviews, later this evening.

Trumbull's Phil Terio (left) and Darien's Peter Gesualdi

We’ve come to the portion of our schedule where small champions are crowned. We’ve reached the final, frantic few weeks of the high school football season and that odd week, where, with a handful of stragglers still playing, the state playoff picture clears as much as it’s going to clear.

That’s mostly more for the upstate teams. The ones in far off places with compound names. Down here, we reserve this space for league championship games. They’re not required. They don’t count toward state playoff points and the criteria for qualifying has become skewed as our local leagues have become large and practically unmanageable in a 10-game schedule. They are, for all intents in the grand scheme, pointless — especially when we resume the regular season next week.

But, man, you wouldn’t know it.

Every year, as it draws closer and the teams are whittled down to two, we actually cast aside our criticisms and embrace the game. The anticipation grows. They hype intensifies. When we reach the field, and see all the other teams and coaches from around the league gathered like dignitaries at a title fight, we can’t help but get wrapped up in it.

Typically there are three of these bouts. Thanksgiving has accounted for two of them. This year there is only one. So tonight cram ourselves into McDougall Stadium to witness the showcase game of the FCIAC.

Last year, we were treated to an absolute war between Central and Staples. The upstart city team vs. the established power.

What do we have this year? No upstarts. Just two old-fashioned FCIAC football programs butting heads for the right to add the first 2010 football trophy to the school’s display case.

On one side, we have Trumbull (7-1, 7-1 FCIAC), making its second league championship game in six years. Trumbull has been a feisty bunch. Led by a potential all-state receiver and defensive back, a typical compliment of big hulking linemen and fullbacks and a couple of other tough hombres. They haven’t looked pretty at times this season, they’ve looked undisciplined a few other times. Once they looked downright awful. But they’ve taken out some of the league’s biggest schools and then answered the bell last week against one of the best teams to punch their ticket home.

On the other side, we have Darien (9-0, 8-0 FCIAC). With a talented and dominant defensive front coached by former McMahon star Idris Price and a offense, led by a steady QB Chris Allam, that doesn’t overwhelm but picks the perfect spots to make big plays, Blue Wave have shrewdly and quietly gone about their business and piled up victories despite some criticism over their resume. No Staples, Trumbull, Central, Greenwich or Ridgefield on the schedule. They play New Canaan, but that’s is next week. The biggest FCIAC game on the schedule was St. Joseph, and Darien won 13-10. But that was with Tyler Matakevich on crutches.

Of course, Darien defeated Red Lion Christian Academy, a nationally notorious program from Delaware with an 8th-grade USC recruit at quarterback and a cadre of big boys around him. It was a team that scared the bejesus out of two scheduled opponents so much they forfeited their games rather than play.

Darien coach Rob Trifone has said Red Lion was as big and physical a team they’ve faced all season. People questioned his sanity for scheduling a behemoth. Guess what? Darien beat them, too. That’s gotta count for something.

We have an idea about Trumbull. Now we get to find out what the Wave is really all about in a big FCIAC game.

Game time is 7 p.m. tonight. 5,000 is expected to attend so get there early.

Couple of quick notes: Since this is Trumbull’s field, Trumbull will occupy the home sideline. …They will be represented by the “Eagles” beneath the scoreboard. …However, Trumbull will be wearing white befitting the No. 2 seed. …The Trumbull cannon will not be fired after Trumbull touchdowns.

Here’s our FCIAC Championship Game Primer:

Trumbull vs. Darien
Radio: WSTC 1400-AM/WNLK 1350-AM
TV: MSG Varsity (Cablevision only)
And, of course you can follow on our live blog below.

Trumbull, Darien clash for FCIAC championship

• Capsule look: Trumbull vs. Darien

RUDEN Darien eager to prove it belongs

Game Videos:
Trumbull vs. Staples
Trumbull vs. Danbury
Trumbull vs. Central
Darien vs. St. Joseph
Darien vs. Fairfield Warde

And now, we’d like to have your thoughts:

AND, FINALLY, THE LIVE BLOG:

Southington coach D.J. Hernandez

The CIAC board of control has spoken.

The CIAC has fined Southington High School $1,000 and placed the football team on a year’s probation for head coach D.J. Hernandez‘s use of a Manchester playlist against that team in a 28-14 Southington victory on October 22.

In addition, Hernandez will be required to take the Sportsmanship/Ethics Coaching Education Class prior to the start of the 2011 football season. Southington’s probation will last until the end of 2011. The team is not being required to forfeit.

Here’s the full press release from the CIAC.

CHESHIRE, CT (November 18, 2010) – At its meeting today, the CIAC Board of Control addressed information received regarding ethics and sportsmanship concerns resulting from the actions of Southington High School Head Football Coach D.J. Hernandez during his school’s varsity football game against Manchester High School on October 22, 2010.

After reviewing information received from both schools involved the Board ruled that:

A) Southington High School will be fined $1000 for violation of the CIAC policies on ethics and sportsmanship;

B) Coach Hernandez will be required to take the Sportmanship/Ethics Coaching Education Class prior to the beginning of the 2011 football season;
C) The Southington High School football program will be put on probation through the end of the 2011 football season.

This news, already nationalized on ESPN, hit the back pages of Sports Illustrated this week, with columnist Selena Robers (formerly of the New York Times) pontificating about the issue. She pretty much says the same thing as the Courant’s Jeff Jacobs did a week or so ago and asks why hadn’t the issue been resolved.

Some people are going to call this a wrist slap (on Twitter today, Jacobs has already said he would have rather seen a forfeit.)

Others will say it’s fine. The punishment fit the crime. Southington’s investigation says he only did it for four plays, Manchester scored on that same drive anyway and it didn’t have a serious affect on the outcome of the game, etc.

I’ve been torn on the issue of actual punishment. What D.J. did was wrong, but it was the young coach’s mistake, not his kids. So I really don’t think the CIAC should (or could) have handed down an actual forfeit in this case. Then again, this is an organization that suspends coaches for beating teams by more than 50 points in the name of sportsmanship. A little inconsistency there, no?

Again, I think the onus falls on the school over sportsmanship and ethics. If Southington really wanted to send a message, to their students and employees, they’re the only ones that could have offered to forfeit. But, of course, there are playoffs to consider…

ADD: But if you think this kind of stuff (or worse) hasn’t happened anywhere else, then you’re not paying attention. D.J. got caught. And he’s pretty high profile around these parts.

I’m going to agree with one of my other colleagues, Michael Guerrerra of the Southington Citizen has the best take on this whole thing. This is the best take I’ve seen on this issue.

That’s it in a nutshell.

Finally, the Elite 8 for Week 10.

This week was a struggle, especially ranking the Top 4 FCIAC teams. Where to put Darien, which has impressed with its unbeaten record, including a victory over Red Lion Christian Academy of Delaware, but hasn’t played anybody of consequence in the league except a Matakevich-less St. Joseph squad in Week 3?

Where to put Trumbull, which lost to Stamford but handed Staples its first loss of the year in a thriller to reach the FCIAC title game alongside the Blue Wave?

And where to put New Canaan, which has dominated of late and was a 2-point conversion away from adding FCIAC championship to the Turkey Bowl marquee.

Honestly, with the exception of Masuk, all of the Elite 8 teams are very close in stature.

In the end, we decided to give Darien the benefit of the doubt. 9-0 is 9-0. They’re good.

We’ll find out Friday night just how good.

TRENDING UP — Darien, Trumbull.
TRENDING DOWN — New Canaan (slightly), Staples.
STAYING PUT – Masuk, West Haven, Ansonia, St. Joseph.

Also, we’re trimming back on the ‘Just missed’ category. There are only four teams I found this week that deserve mention — the Newtowns, Brookfields and Pomperaugs of the SWC. And, the only other worthy SCC team, NDWH.

Otherwise, you can see the cream rising to the top.

I’m probably flying solo for tonight’s chat. But feel free to join in. We’re talking FCIAC championship and the state playoffs.

Tonight at 8 p.m.

We now take you in the Wayback machine up to Middletown’s Palmer Field on Friday night where jilted No. 1-ranked Xavier — admittedly sick of the bad press they’d been getting on inconsistent, sometimes dreadful, offense — took out their frustrations on West Haven to the tune of 522 total yards and six touchdowns.

Bulling behind powerful (not to mention ticked off) offensive line, Mike Mastroianni led the way with 206 yards and two scores, he also threw an 84-yard strike to Gerry Basadonna. Pat D’Amato caught a touchdown pass from sophomore quarterback Tim Boyle and then took over for Boyle and threw a touchdown pass as Xavier put the game away.

It was a pretty dominant performance. Yes, there were a few offensive blunders that almost turned the game in West Haven’s favor. The Westies, no slouches themselves, made three interceptions (one for a touchdown) and used a couple long passes from Nick Nieves to Tremayne Barnes to put up the most points any team’s scored against Xavier all year.

I know this is the SCC, where any combined game score less than 60 points is cause for celebration, but still… 500 yards of offense for Xavier? It was impressive enough that one Xavier assistant coach let me have it in the post game, How do you like our offense now, Sean? (Maybe he was talking to coach Sean Marinan?)

“It was a statement game,” Mastroianni said. “Hopefully everyone in the state realizes that, hey, they’re the number one team in the state. We should be afraid of them.”

OK. OK. I get it. This was a statement game that a) The No. 1 ranking is not bestowed frivolously on this team and b) They’re gearing up for a championship run.

“They got every weapon,” West Haven coach Ed McCarthy said. “They got it all.”

Is this team better than Masuk? That’s the prevailing opinion from our state scribes, although I suspect many of them haven’t even seen both.

I’ve seen Xavier three times. I’ve seen Masuk four times. It’s still very tough to accurately judge. On the whole Xavier plays stiffer competition and has emerged unscathed regardless of the final score. Xavier’s also bit bigger than Masuk. But Masuk is every bit as good — especially defensively. Masuk’s significantly better offensively. Still… tough call. I’ll admit I’ve voted both No. 1 at alternating times this season. We’re just going to have to see who looks the most impressive in the postseason and against whom.

There are still some teams out there with a part to play in all of this. And, don’t look now, it just might be the Westies if enough breaks their way on Thanksgiving.

Norwalk's Pete Tucci

“I just think it’s time. I’ve been doing this a long time and I love what I do,” Tucci told The Hour’s Matt Doran.

Tucci sites personal reasons, spending more time with his family, which is a sentiment compounded greatly by the sudden death of his son-in-law, Marco Monteiro, who died of a heart attack at age 38.

Tucci, who also once coached the Norwalk baseball team, has a 52-72 football record in 13 seasons with one game to go.

He coached his first team in 1997 to a 9-3 record, including appearances in the FCIAC championship game and the Class LL state semifinals. Norwalk followed that with an 8-2 record in 1999. But over the last 11 years, the Bears have had just three winnings seasons, 6-5 in 2003, 6-4 in 2007 and 7-3 in 2008.

Norwalk ended 2009 2-8 sourly, allowing a miracle, last-second touchdown and 2-point conversion to McMahon in a 14-13 loss — a game from which Tucci took a lot of flak.

This year Norwalk’s outlook strengthened considerably after a thrilling 19-7 victory over Greenwich — the school’s first over the Cardinals in 33 years with Tucci lightheartedly suggesting he blew the McMahon game to motivate the kids for this year.

But the team has since struggled to a 3-6 record heading into what will be his final game vs. McMahon.