Football weekends won't be the same without Coach Jerry McDougall on the sidelines. (Photo by Sean Patrick Bowley)
Welcome to Week 5, the midpoint of the 2011 high school football season.
And the big news of the day is, what else? Rain. Rain. And more rain. This is — what? — the third week of heavy rain forecasts already? (Check here for the latest)
So get ready for a few postponements tonight and possibly tomorrow as a front moves through our area. Notre Dame at Hand has already been moved to Saturday at 5 p.m. Masuk-Notre Dame to Saturday, 7. There will be others as we move closer to kickoff. So keep checking back here.
Of course, the big, big news of the week is the passing of Trumbull great Jerry McDougall, who will be on the minds of many this weekend, especially the Trumbull football players and coaches as they head to Darien.
Coach Bob Maffei, who was on McDougall’s football and baseball staff for almost 20 years, said the Eagles will wear stickers in McDougall’s honor and are dedicating this season to him. “We’re going to go out there and play our hearts out for him,” Maffei said. “I’m sure he’ll be watching. We’ll give him our best.”
Staples coach Marce Petroccio (Trumbull ’78) said the FCIAC will name the league’s championship trophy in McDougall’s honor. St. Joseph coach Joe Della Vecchia says the St. Joseph-Trumbull Thanksgiving Day trophy will be named in McDougall’s honor.
Finally, memorial services have been set: Calling hours are Sunday, 1 – 7 p.m. at Cyril F. Mullins Funeral Home (399 White Plains Rd. Trumbull). The funeral will be Monday, St. Theresa Church 5301 Main Street Trumbull, CT.
“I remember when he retired, there were so many testimonials. I was proud of every single one of his testimonials, but I joked with him, I was sick of talking about him,” said best friend Dick Whitcomb, who will read the eulogy. “He whispered to me the other night, he wanted his funeral to be about his life, not his death. That’s what I’m going to do. This will be like one of his testimonials. Like the old days.”
Read the official obituary here.
Now. On to the games!
Postponements: Notre Dame-WH at Hand, Saturday, 5 p.m. | Notre Dame-Fairfield at Masuk, Saturday, 7 p.m.
Featured Stories
- Norwalk has somehing to prove vs New Canaan
- FCIAC Notebook: Ridgefield’s defense a pillar of strength
- Bullard-Havens faces Capital Prep in battle of unbeatens
- SWC Notebook: Pomperaug to face Bunnell without Reel; Tarantino at QB for Newtown
- Jerry McDougall, Trumbull and Connecticut coaching legend, dies at 76
- Sean Patrick Bowley: McDougall’s lessons will live forever
Goodies
On The Air
- Guilford at Shelton, Friday, 7 p.m. — WELI 960-AM (960weli.com)
- Notre Dame-WH at Hand, Saturday, 5 p.m. — sportingnewsct.com or gogreenknights.com
- Ludlowe at Greenwich, Friday, 7 p.m. — WGCH 1490-AM (wgch.com)
- Torrington at Naugatuck, Friday, 7 p.m. – WATR 1320-AM (watr.com)
- New Canaan at Norwalk, Friday, 7 p.m. – WSTC 1400-AM / WNLK 1350-AM (wstcwnlk.com)
Week 5 Live Blog
<a href=”http://www.coveritlive.com/mobile.php/option=com_mobile/task=viewaltcast/altcast_code=0e4167a1bf” mce_href=”http://www.coveritlive.com/mobile.php/option=com_mobile/task=viewaltcast/altcast_code=0e4167a1bf” >High School Football Live Scoring Updates</a>
Any word on injuries? Last I heard, of the big names, the following were doubts to play today or tomorrow: Reel (Pomperaug), Vega (McMahon), McDonough (New Canaan), Moore (Trumbull)
All I hear about in this blog is about how Ridgefield fails to win the preverbal “Big” game. In reality, what should be “blogged” about is how the Tigers never disappoint against the SPB Darlings…Stamford-down, Wilton-down, Warde-down….Norwalk, your next
@jizzrizz
hey congratulations your big win was against a 2-2 fairfield warde. yeah that was the big one. don’t get me wrong i think ridgefield is good but i would hardly call that a marquis victory. beat norwalk and i’ll jump on the bandwagon, a little bit. don’t be too cocky too fast.
oh by the way great win for mcmahon. if anyone deserves that comeback win you guys do. win out boys!
Not to rain on the Ridgefield parade, actually I think you guys are quite good, but I learned tonight with my own eyes that Norwalk is a pretender not a contender and beating them will prove nothing. McMahon will determine if you go 9-1 or 8-2, but let’s be honest that as good as McMahon has been this year, they are still no NC or Staples or even Greenwich, the teams you gotta beat to get the respect you want.
I am with Honus – interesting how we see posts by players that have no impact on the game while the guys who do all the work and put teams in place to win are never blogging about kicking somebody’s _ss or using other profanity. Talk less until you win and than talk even less by letting the work you do on the field speak for your game. Team’s don’t need bulletin board material – stop yapping! I will be the first to congratulate the Tigers but focus on the team and not making it about you making noise – it has become annoying. Maybe the reason you don’t see some of the elite FCIAC teams blogging about how they “are back in town” is because the upperclassmen and coaches of these steady performers police their own. Maybe the perennial winners know how to let their play do the talking -
@Win before you yap (sick name brah) “it has become annoying”, glad my first post has had such an impact on you.
@Win before you yap (sick name brah) “it has become annoying”, glad my first post has had such an impact on you.
Is Coach McCarthy okay? I didnt see him on WH sideline.Looked at Playoff pts and it looks like there might be 3 or 4 2 loss teams getting in LL.Class L is gouing t be very intersseting to say the least.Masuk is at # 11.I would love to see them have to go to Surf Club on cold DEc. night to see what SCC teams go through.On another note WH has to go 4-1 in last five and I dont see that happening with Cheshire,Hand, and X_Men on slate.It doesnt seem fair when you look at some of the other teams schedules like Conard and NFA for example
Beating a legit 4-1 team in Norwalk would be a big win for Ridgefield. Beating a 2-3 Warde team is not. Sorry, those are just facts.
@Dave – Coach McCarthy is OK, I’m told. He missed due to some health problems. I hear he’s in good spirits, missing football. Hoping to get him back soon.
Pretty good chance if norwalk gets by ridgefield(they have been a thorn in years past),they go into their thanksgiving game with 1 loss and something to play for.Hopefully for them they learn from their loss,you guys praise warde for playing new canaan to the the same score that norwalk played them to. if warde played norwalk,id pick norwalk.
Big difference between Warde and Norwalk games, I think – Norwalk game was essentially over at halftime/beginning of the third quarter, Warde game was a real barnburner.
That’s not to say that Norwalk isn’t the better team (I believe they are)…but one performance was more “praiseworthy” than the other, despite the final score.
Ooh ya masuk would be screwed if they had to go to the surf club. They will have to pray they make it out alive..how would they defend the spread..play on a crumby field and have to play an away game?? All in december? ha they would never be able to survive what those scc schools do! They are probly crying about the thought of it right now. playin Scc schools is like playing 2 fciac schools at once! Imagine if they had to play shelton the following week??brutal!!! in fact im surprised there are so many scc schools because im surprised they just dont die off from the crazy tough hitting that goes on..i mean really in the nvl its like playin against high school kids but the scc its still playing against high school kids only…its just harder! Ya it hurts so much more..the helmets are sharper..or somethin..ya thats it the human beings from a certain area can inflict more pain than others..well anyway have a nice night and try not to have nightmares about playing at the surf club.
Mask hasn’t played ANYONE…at least with a winning record…another Boise St season forbteam from Monroe.
Running up scores vs one of the worst schedules in CT only makes them fresh for playoffs…
Best team is in Middletown, then maybe Madison or Ansonia.
@JizzRizz – sorry if you thought my comments were directed to you – what you said was dead on about winning one game at a time. My comments were directed to some of the earlier tweets that were calling out the other team using profanity or how after winning one game that your team was “back”. My point is that cheer your team on, focus on winning each week, get better each week and letting your play speak for itself. I guess I am old school – out.
Spare us the false Boise State comparisons; they’re spurious.
Last year, Masuk played 7 teams with a combined record of 63 – 9 (Brookfield, Pomperaug, Bunnell, Newtown, Bristol Eastern, Darien, New Canaan).
The result? Masuk was 7 – 0 and out scored these schools 318 – 50. That’s an average score of 47 – 7 against many of the best teams in the state (and certainly the best in Class L last year).
Importantly, to suggest that Masuk played no one worth mentioning shows a needless lack of respect to those schools and impugns their (well earned) reputations.
Moreover, It’s tiresome to read how Masuk played nobody last year. Factually, it simply isn’t true. In fact, they played a much more rigorous schedule than most realize; certainly the opponents cited above were equal to the top 7 opponents that Xavier, for example, played…and arguably much tougher.
The two FCIAC schools mentioned above, for example, were likely at least as strong as Trumbull last year; arguably stronger. We all know what happened. Trumbull gave Xavier a game, while New Canaan and Darien were absolutely obliterated by Masuk.
There’s no factual substance behind your non-objective, irrationally emotional argument, at least in so far as last year is concerned.
This year, the scheduling gods have not been kind to Masuk. I’m sure the starters don’t enjoy playing a quarter to a half of football every week. I’m sure the coaches don’t like their squad to remain unchallenged. I’m sure their opponents don’t feel all that great about playing them. It’s a lose-lose for everyone involved and may ultimately cost Masuk a spot in the playoffs even if they remain unbeaten. And that would be a real shame because their kids have done everything that’s been asked of them and more.
So let’s stop bashing what they’ve accomplished, stick to the facts, and remain, well, objective. Masuk have unarguably accomplished a tremendous amount in the past two years. Arguably, what they’ve accomplished is better than any other team during the past two years except for Xavier. Yet in terms of in terms of relative statistical accomplishment – score differentials against critical, playoff level opponents, for example – they’ve accomplished more than anyone, including Xavier, by a considerable margin.
On an objective basis, the kids from Masuk deserve our respect. They’ve earned it.
masuk destroyed shelton in a scrimage in preseason nyuk
its hard to figure out on this blog which scrimmages count.
You are right Ray, the only thing that counts is who is standing at the end…why do people keep referring to scrimmages?
Look, Masuk has a great team – with addition of QB, a once in a generation team for Monroe.
However, Masuk DID play absolutely no one last year – until the playoffs. And the FCIAC teams had good SPECIAL TEAMS players, not line play like there is with SCC upper echelon.
Scrimmages DON’T count – schedule does.
IF Masuk played same schedule as Xavier – or even Masuk – and didn’t suffer a letdown – they’d be #1.
But they don’t – and to say they should be #1 after beating teams like ND-Ffld isn’t right.
They don’t even play the 2nd best team in arguably the weakest conference in CT – Bunnell.
Xavier played 7 – SEVEN – ranked teams – including a State titleist – in the REGULAR SEASON – last year. And, they’ve played 3 that were either ranked – or had pts. Masuk has played / or will play (this week) two teams with NO WINS.
It’s that simple.
And teams like X or Ansonia have DOMINANT, LARGE lines on both sides of the ball.
Look, if a majority of the writers, coaches weren’t from downstate, there wouldn’t even be a discussion.
Masuk is a deserving #2, unless Xavier loses. And even then, look who Ansonia plays – REGULAR SEASON – not scrimmages – or in the playoffs after coasting all season.
Based on SOS, D1 players (Stewart from X went to FLORIDA, the backup QB – Boyle – has a scholarship already from Syracuse), line play, etc. there simply is no argument for Masuk.
Objective.
BTW – Trumbull did not give Xavier “a game”. They played about the same way as every other opponent. By 4th qtr, the X line was in their backfield on every play. And X ended the game running out the clock, taking a knee in Trumbull’s red zone.
They got the snot beat out of them – read Trumbull coaches comments after the game. It’s not about pts. X has a running back – Mastrioanni, who runs close to a 5.0 40 time & isn’t that big. But, the line is so dominant, he gets 200 a game – every game.
X knocked out 2 Prep players in the 1st half this week – in a game I also attended. They might be even MORE physical than last year. Same with Ansonia.
The team Masuk played last night was a JV team – I was there also.
Unless you SEE the teams – and look at the teams they are playing – check out the CIAC website – they rank em – you can’t say anyone is “impugning” the SWC – or the FCIAC.
It’s simply a fact – the SCC had 2 state titleists last year – and multiple teams in the Register top 10 all year long.
Xavier, Hand must get through THAT and then win out in the playoffs.
Which Xavier did…and looks poised to do again.
The SWC didn’t even have a PLAYOFF team last year.
This year they have Bunnell – who’s signature win is Pomperaug – a team with a 1st year coach & QB – who may or may not be good.
And Masuk doesn’t even play THEM. How XAVIER started the year #1 but went down after Masuk beat a team on what is RIGHT NOW, a schedule that ranks them ELEVEN in L – not in the state, not in LL, but L.
Look, no one is disrespecting Masuk…but facts are facts. One game, whether at the beginning or end of the year – or sheesh – a SCRIMMAGE – means nothing.
And, let’s not talk about the “eye test” either…if you have the most talent, play the toughest schedule, and win out – then you’re #1.
Last year, that was X. The year before, it was NDWH. And before that, Cheshire won 5 straight. What do these schools have in common?
They’re LL – and they’re from the SCC – by far, the best conference in the state.
Just like college – or anywhere else there’s a poll factor – strength of schedule counts.
It’s why Boise St. won’t be playing in the BCS title game.
And Masuk is #2.
Unless you’re a downstate voter, a Masuk fan, or one of the folks who keeps anti-Catholic school views – either expressed or not – Xavier is #1.
In the best league, with 24 straight wins, 11 on the road. 1 loss – by 3, on the road in a playoff game in a year they BEAT the state’s #1 team decisively. Where there BACKUP QB will get a chance to showcase HIS talents next year (go see this kid, he LOOKS like a D-1 and maybe NFL player). In a league where kids are starting in the NFL on Sunday’s (Moffitt, Spievey, etc.).
Look – I think folks will even give you that DESPITE all that – if X loses, Masuk – by virtue of the fact that they’re team hasn’t been seen in Monroe before – should be #1.
But, even a 1 loss Xavier team might be better (it’s a similar argument to who’s better – a 1 loss SEC team or Boise St.), but this is high school, so if a once in a generation team goes through the slate, they should get to feel the glory.
However, in my opinion – having seen each of the teams – if the writers, coaches were split 50/50 north & south – and if X weren’t a Catholic school, these polls wouldn’t be close.
And go see Ansonia – they are DOMINATING people right now.
Scrimmages, “eye test”, playoff wins after a powder puff schedule, don’t count – or at least should be heavily discounted.
Best comparison I see is Steve Young (Steve Young!), Kenny Bell & co. had a lot of skill players – 3 that went to the NFL – and the more physical team – Darien – killed them.
Cochran looks like he’s on the same arc as Dan Orlovsky, not Steve Young. Or Bobby Valentine. Or Tebucky Jones. Or Amari Spievey. Or Floyd Little.
Heck, is Cochran a better player than Chris Hetherington was?
But, the X kids do remind me of Andy Robustelli – or Bob Skronski.
Objective.
Last year Masuk was so ridiculously the best team in the state it wasn’t close. The problem is that Xavier was proclaimed #1 in pre-season and because they didn’t lose, their voting supporters felt no obligation to switch, even though Xavier was just skating by and Masuk was dominating great teams. I agree that any voter using logic instead of rote emotion (e.g. how Masuk dominated NC who overwhelmed Darien who soundly beat Trumbull who gave Xavier a game vs. to be #1 you have to beat #1, which is ridiculous when the teams have no hope of playing each other) is just a fool.
I hope this year is different. I hope this year the voters either use some logic of look at some film to at least be able to pretend they made an informed vote.
Having said all that, right at this moment, simply based on the schedule, you have to vote Xavier #1 by a hair. As a Masuk fan, grit your teeth and bare it until the playoffs where quality opponents like Hand, New London, New Canaan, and Bunnell await. As a Masuk player, just keep playing hard and winning as that’s all you can do. And, remember, they only hang state championship banners in the gym, not newspaper poll clippings.
Objective,you know theres 1 team lurking in the LLs who do not fear mighty X at all and right now they are 4-0….it will all work itself out in the end…Staples has the weapons to make X more than a little nervous..
Saw Xavier, saw Hand, saw Masuk, have not seen Ansonia….no way to tell who is better until they play each other. All the conversations while interesting, serve no purpose (except entertainment value) until the teams meet on the field. The only chance we do have at seeing any of them play is a possible showdown of Hand vs. Masuk in the L playoffs. We can only wait and see….
Its a slap in the face of Connecticut Football to vote Masuk #1 with the teams they played so far.You have to beat the best to be the best.After 1/2 the season I do not think Masuk has played a top 50 team yet.
The problem is, Masuk’s schedule is not they’re fault. They whupped all comers, LL, playoff L; everyone that’s been put on their schedule got creamed. It’ll be interesting to see what happens if they play Hand or NL.
In any event, they’ve doubtless been the most spectacular team since the beginning of last year, certainly more spectacular than Xavier, who have had, unlike Masuk, some close calls during their streak.
By the way, I have never mentioned anything about scrimmages, objective. :-)
As for who was best last year, unless you’re an SCC homer, a Xavier fan or someone with a grudge against public schools, either expressed or not, Masuk’s record last was more impressive than Xavier’s.
As for Pomperaug and Bunnell…why would you think the results this year would differ from last? I don’t recall precisely, but I believe the point difference was more than 80 in Masuk’s favor (and both schools may have failed to score).
In net, we will have to agree to disagree. And that’s what makes this so fun!
Cheers,
The only way to change this regular-season imbalance is to force a constant re-alignment of conferences (too political), or shorten the regular season to 7 games and widen the playoffs to 32 teams. There would be only two divisions (so Masuk and Xavier could actually play each other) and very small schools (Div 2) could elect to “play up” to Div 1 at the beginning of each season if they wanted. Each division playoff would start with 32 teams playing off for a “district” spot. District champions would face each other in a Regional championship and then 4 Regional champs would move on to the Rent for a 4 team playoff. Most states now have a similar playoff system.
I think Masuk is likely the best team in CT this year and probably would be playing in the state Div 1 finals if we had such an extensive playoff system … but it would be much harder earned and they might actually have to play Xavier in the finals!
Weasel –
I think Masuk was clearly the best team in the state last year – Xavier finished #1 because of preseason projections, NOT the body of their work.
But you’re applying that “Xavier logic” to Masuk this season (ie because Masuk was so good last year, and they’re undefeated, they must be #1). Masuk’s schedule is appallingly bad – to date, one of the worst in the state. Every team in the state’s Top Ten would have Cochran-ruled that schedule(maybe not in such spectacular fashion, mind you, but we don’t give out points for style). As you point out, it’s not their fault, and things will balance out as we move into the latter half of the season. But that’s all we have at the moment…
Rest assured, though: If Masuk rips through a stacked Class L and raises the trophy at Rentschler, they’ll get my (unofficial) vote for the state’s best team.
(As to Pompy/Bunnell/Newtown, I think all three are better this year. We’ll see if that shows up in the scoreline. I’m also of the firm belief that last year’s Masuk squad was better – with perhaps the most underrated defense in recent CT history – but that thesis is yet to be tested, too.)
Speaking of staples,saw them this weekend and well they look like staples.I think this team is very young with 4 lineman junior starters and a couple skill kids very young too.Will be fun to watch them next year and we get a treat of 2 of the best underclassmen rbs this state maybee has ever seen.(cooper hillhouse,and newsome ansonia.
I was going to make a comment about Masuk deserving the edge at #1 simply because Xavier is a Catholic school and has kids from all over the Middletown area while Masuk is doing it with homegrown talent. Then I remembered that the Panthers are also known as the Masuk/New London co-op…
i really want all the Masuk fans to live this up. I want everyone to be really happy and excited for them and all they have accomplished over the past 3 seasons. because as i know and everyone will find out around this time next year the show will be over. the cochrans leave and the only thing that may keep a winning record (6-4/7-3) hanging around will be that joke of a schedule they have. so for their sake i hope that they win out and hoist that trophy high over their heads so that 5 years from now everyone will realize just how good Cochran is (which Cochran i am not saying). or even better yet i would love to see just how masuk even gets into the playoffs when they are outpointed this year by everyone who had to play a real schedule. i might even feel bad for them if they didnt go over the 50pt rule twice and have no consequence. this is masuks last year of glory for about a decade. so live it up.
Quick Programming note: We’re taking time off this morning to attend Coach McDougall’s funeral. We’ll be publishing our Week 5 wrap, Elite 8 and the state polls later this evening.
Thanks.
@Chuck I would be Ironic if Masuk ended up seeded 9th in class L but don’t think it is possible that a 9-1 team would out point them. Bonus points from Pomp and Newtown should keep them in top 8. Be nice to see them on road at Hand, windsor or New London.
Kind of agree with my friend Chuck, but Masuk will be very good next year. Free that….oh well. This is not the best Masuk team and won’t be surprised i they lose before states.
@James..points very well taken; you’re probably right. Let’s see what happens in the playoffs. Thanks for a good read…W
for everyone who is thinking that masuk will die of lets state some facts that kinda dont mean much but still last year their freshmen only lost twice and the jv lost twice. and now the new freshman have only lost one and the jv is undefeated not to mention the 7th grade team that one the national title. and next year they will still have alot of talent.
@swcfootball – yea see your point is silly to me. freshmen and jv football doesnt count. i dont care how many games you win or lose. and as far as 7th grade goes im pretty sure danbury puts out the best pop warner teams year in and year out…how is there varsity program going.
a little of topic but i was reading spb’s little quotes from coaches and players and the one from murphy about his team being ousted from the number 1 spot after their impressive victory and blah blah….listen they may be the best team in the state, however, if they are really that concerned with it beat everyone else in the L division. dont talk now after you have beat a bunch of nobodys. i mean i expect a player to care a lot about what their team is ranked, but for a coach to care that much is completely classless. your job as a coach is to try and win and make your seniors feel like they accomplished something. murphy is just all upset because he knows that once the cochrans leave he will be back to getting pounded by bunnell and pomp every year. Masuk will lose to someone this year by the way. there will be too many tough tests at the end and they are not battle tested this year. jon testani isnt there anymore to be your casey cochran on defense. they better hope they dont draw hand in the first round.
if you knew masuk Chuck Norris you would understand why he cares so much about being number 1 in the state. the teams goal is this, OUR. it stands for Oxford, Undefeated and number 1 Rank. this was set 2 weeks after they won states last year. go to a masuk practice and see how hard they work for it, go to one of their morning runs in the winter at 530 before school then everyday in the summer and see dedication that no other team can speak of