Continuing our scrimmage coverage for the week, we present two significant game scrimmages (you know, the one run like actual games): Newtown at Seymour on Friday, Sept. 2. Then Masuk at Greenwich, Monday, Sept. 5.
NEWTOWN AT SEYMOUR
We’ll start with this one first. Played on the practice fields at Seymour high school, Newtown defeated the Wildcats 36-27 (or 5 TDs to 4). Notable was the absence of Seymour QB Luke Grabowski, who was just on his way back from an injury at the time. (He has since returned.) Mike Conlon started and, after a shaky start, the Seymour offense got itself into a groove behind RBs Jon Wilson (21) and Jimmy Vartelas (30).
Senior Greg Frattaroli (13), back from an injury, played QB for Newtown in the first half and threw a couple of TDs. Senior FB Lou Fenaroli (44) scored a touchdown, as did utilityman Dan Hebert (12).
WATCH
MASUK AT GREENWICH
Our second reel is bound to get a bit more attention. Defending Class L champion Masuk took a trip to face Greenwich at Greenwich Central Middle School on Labor Day morning.
This makeshift field was used while Greenwich determines if and when it can use Greenwich’s Cardinal Stadium, whose grounds are contaminated with toxic chemicals. The field is fine, the grounds around the bleachers are not. Greenwich athletic director Gus Lindine said the school has plenty of options if the field has to be changed. “We’ve had a lot of offers. Everybody’s been real nice,” he said, adding that he hoped to know for certain by the end of this week.
Greenwich coach Rich Albonizio might have preferred not playing in front of spectators for this one. Early in the scrimmage the coach stopped action to yell at parents and fans for criticizing the referees. “We’re trying to teach the kids sportsmanship! So we don’t need anybody attacking the officials!”
The clip, which can be seen here, is included in the highlight reel.
Masuk outscored Greenwich 5-1. Tom Milone (22), Colin Markus (28) scored touchdowns. Ryan Norado (17) and Brandon Cusmano (9) made outstanding catches. And we saw for the first time new receiver Jason Piontkowski (86), a transfer from New London (yes, the rumors are true for all those who asked me this week). He caught a few of passes, including one for a touchdown.
Masuk’s defense was fast, aggressive and punishing behind Matt Duignan (50), Pat Tripodi (30) and Shawn Flynn (87). Flynn was a menace all morning. He tipped a pass for an interception, forced a fumble after getting beat deep on another pass and, later, laid out Greenwich QB Liam O’Neil on a run play.
Flynn was penalized for leading with his helmet, one of a few penalties he picked up that morning. (“Yeah, I’ve gotta watch that,” Flynn said.) Greenwich’s players, of course, took exception and the scrimmage got chippy before concluding.
Though it didn’t score much, Greenwich did move the ball with a few big plays. They struggled to stop precision passing from Casey Cochran and running from Markus. We probably didn’t get to see Greenwich’s full potential since it was playing without captains C Will Trepp and RB/LB Shane Nastahowski.
(If you listen real close, you can hear MSG’s Mike Quick offering some commentary on the game. He says the talent invoice is in the mail.)
WATCH
I have not been to a Masuk scrimmage yet, but a friend of mine from Monroe has been to all 3. He says that they have outscored their opponents 20-4 and one of the TD’s that they gave up was a pick six while the back-up QB was laying against Shelton. I guess Cochran didn’t play in that game. He tells me that they look better than last year. That team was a machine last year, seems impossible to be better than they were. I’m looking forward to getting to a game.
Sorry for the typeo….I meant to write 26-4.
Axe,
Not better than last year but still a very good football team. Offensive line and defense have to improve quite a bit before you can make even a remote comparison to last year.
Special teams not close without Testani’s leg booming them. They will miss those touchbacks this year.
The Masuk Panthers are the best team in the state. Is there anyone even close?