From Accuweather.com: A confluence of weather patterns could cause hazardous conditions Saturday.
Open your doors or windows. Look outside. Take a deep breath.
Can you feel that twinge in the air? Can you smell it?
There’s a storm brewing. A few of them, in fact.
It’s brewing on the shores of Madison, where West Haven and Hand clash in (yet another) huge SCC game. It’s brewing in Middletown, where Hillhouse is marching into Palmer Field for a date with No. 1 Xavier. It’s coalescing in Brookfield, where the hometown Bobcats engage with Newtown in a fight for their playoff lives. And, of course, it’s massing in Westport where premier FCIAC clubs Staples and Darien are set to collide.
For the less poetic of you out there, we have a literal storm, too. One (depending on where you live), could bring gobs of the white fluffy stuff. Yes, snow. (To the many of you freaking out about snow at this time of year, where I went to school, we called this phenomenon “October.”)
Anyway, it could get tough out there. So be safe. That includes anybody out and about during this storm Saturday.
A couple of Saturday games have already been bumped up to account for the weather: New Fairfield at Weston and Barlow at Oxford are now at 10 a.m.
Here’s your Week 7 primer:
Harding coach James Morris remains suspended for undisclosed reasons and will not coach Saturday’s game vs. Norwalk. Bridgeport citywide athletic director Jim Denton did not respond to a phone call seeking further information Thursday night. We’ll have more on this as more details arise.
Also: Joe Acquanita, Brookfield’s standout linebacker, will not play vs. Newtown on Friday. He was ejected during the late stages of Brookfield’s game against Bunnell last week.
Here are other stories appearing in today’s Hearst CT Newspapers:
- Thursday night football: Seymour holds off Wilby in thriller
- Chisholm, Vazquez star for 6-0 Bunnell
- Stakes are high for Staples, Darien clash
- FCIAC notes: QB Vega a game-time decision for McMahon
Goodies
On The Air
Notre Dame-WH at Wilbur Cross, Friday, 3 — sportingnewsct.com OR gogreenknights.com- Naugatuck at Woodland, Friday, 7 — WATR 1320-AM (watr.com)
- Westhill at Greenwich, Saturday, 1 — WGCH 1490-AM (wgch.com)
- New Canaan at Wilton – or- Friday, 7 — WSTC 1400-AM/WNLK 1350-AM (wstcwnlk.com)
- West Haven at Hand, Friday, 7 — WELI 960-AM (960weli.com)
Live Blog
(check here for latest postponements)
Some Class playoff rankings about to be shuffled with some bad losses throughout the State tonight!
Is it possible for a team to petition to play in a larger/higher class? We really need to see Masuk and X play.
Having now seen Norwalk, McMahon, and Wilton, I have to give the edge to the Wilton marching band. Their lines maybe could have been a bit cleaner, but I really liked their sound and choreography. And, oh by the way, between all the NC penalties and Wilton blown pass attempts there was acutally a football game taking place.
Wilton easily could have won this game. They drove the ball like a Hummer up a hill: deadly slow but with plenty of horsepower, keeping NC’s offense off the field for long periods of time. They did their best to disguise coverages and sent a blitzer every now and then to put at least some pressure on Milano. Wilton botched at least two sure touchdown passes — one bad throw and one bad drop — or else who knows. Wilton also had a chance to get the ball back with 3+ minutes left and down a score but fortunately forgot how to tackle. Time for all NC fans to pray Darien beats Staples, if you know what I mean.
SPB – in addition to the “play-up” question from Rich, also what was the rationale for the split between L and LL … seems like there is no real difference between the two divisions in terms of program strength based upon the state polls over the past few seasons. School size doesn’t seem that important once you reach the L threshold.
Well we played our 7th game and still only 1 team has scored an offensive TD against our defense and some of you are still touting Masuk. Remember defense wins championships! We would play them in a parking lot! And guess what, they wouldn’t score either!
It would be nice if Connecticut went with a L, M, S format instead of splitting the large schools up into LL/L.
They would score, Xhs. Cochran tore up your secondary this summer, it looked bad! I don’t like either of you clowns, but saying “Masuk wouldn’t score” is just stupid.
It’s sad to say that Masuk would tear up Xavier. Masuk has multiple D1 players, while Xavier has there all purpose QB. Cochran would tear up the secondary, end of story.
xhs did you miss the passing league were cochran and co made you guys look silly. and who ended wining the whole tournament? was it masuk? oh wait, it was
“Time for all NC fans to pray Darien beats Staples, if you know what I mean.”
Why would anyone ask for that?
FCIAC game doesn’t count in states for either participant, so Its a “free” game against a worthy team. Better for everyone involved if its two teams that aren’t playing each other in the regular season, and who won’t meet in the state tournament.
NC was down one pretty good player, and had a passel of penalties. But although WIlton could have won with a few breaks, other breaks could have put NC up two additional touchdowns, if not more. There were at least three Milano overthrows that were missed by fewer than 12 inches, and a WIlton incompletion that looked a lot like a fumble recovered by New Canaan.
Staples is always tough and their coach has that Tom Landry calm and dignity on the sidelines. If both teams can stay on track it should be a good game.
Bunnell fans thought they were getting shorted in polls?
Darien’s first two scores were vintage ’11: taking advantage of a roughing the kicker to avoid a three and out plus a dropped INT to keep the drive alive, followed by a blocked field goal which miraculously touched the leg of a Staples kid on the one. But against a team like Staples, you need way more than a little luck.
For many reasons I was reluctant to write what I really thought would happen. I coded it as “zmhojdojwopd tojx tfmqbut” which if you read it backwards subtracting one letter it says “Staples wins convincingly”. I wrote way back when they could be scary good. That was based on what I call their Flash 5 (speedsters) offense and a bend but don’t break defense that in the second half began not even bending. If you dare key on the vaunted running game (which you basically have to) the QB is deadly accurate, makes great decisions, and the receivers rarely drop anything.
The only unknown about Staples was whether they could take the pressure of a great team. Make no mistake, Darien is a great team. Darien had the lead at the half, the momentum, the confidence of an undefeated defending FCIAC champ, and Staples basically steamrolled them. Right behind me were the coaching staffs of NC and Xavier. If Staples thinks they are under the radar, think again.
@Observer – Because, trying to be objective, I thought Darien would need some help from above to beat Staples but didn’t want to outright say it that way. A Darien win would have meant a little extra gravy in the form of the Turkey Bowl winner also being named FCIAC champion. That looks a lot less likely now obviously.
@ Honus – “Time for all NC fans to pray Darien beats Staples, if you know what I mean”
You are arguably the biggest NC guy on this blog – hmmm you’ve seen Norwalk, McMahon, Wilton Marching bands eh? All teams that New Canaan just happened to play on the road?
Staples 42 Darien 23, all those playmakers for Staples are underclassman, the Wreckers get better every week,scary for everyone else including New Canaan who is not exactly known for its defense.
most schools pick a cupcake for “Homecoming”,Staples puts it right out there against the leagues top teams,that takes something, imo
No one in the FCIAC can beat this years Staples team. Remember, most of their skill players are Juniors and sophs.
If New Canaan had any defense at all they could give Staples a good game but this years NC team has trouble tackling and covering. How about putting some of their offensive players on the defensive side of the ball.
At no time did anyone who knows football expect Darien to win even up 17-7 at halftime. Xavier vs. Staples looms.
There is no looking ahead. Enjoy your homecoming win and then it is back to business. Practice like there is no tomorrow. Strap it on and let’s find out.
Being a greenwich fan I would love to see GHS make LL playoffs but as a nuetral fan I think Staples is the only team in LL that can give xavier a “real game”. They will not beat themselves and have some skill players to make a play or two. Can they hold up on the lines is the key.
@Honus is a Phony – Are you just angry that Staples doesn’t have a marching band? I do hear their orchestra is top notch though. Anyhow, though true I’ve seen every NC game, I take pride in the FCIAC as a whole and try to see at least two games a week including teams like Masuk for comparison. You have to admit, my picks are pretty darn accurate.
I’m not afraid to say I think Staples is getting scary good am I? I picked them to beat Darien convincingly didn’t I? Watching them is like watching a track team they are so fast and quick. But that doesn’t mean they won’t have a letdown one of these weeks. Just look at Bunnell or New London. I’m not putting Staples into the FCIAC championship game until they shut down Lofton and beat Warde. If they make the states, I for sure will be rooting to see them beat Xavier again. Happy now?
Speed is always a problem. Some years back Staples ran New Canaan out on a rail in the opener with backs that were very, very quick. Sounds like a deja vu type team.
Having said that, Coach Marinelli has learned some things over the years, and is always making adjustments, and is not afraid to move people around. The question will be whether there is any adjustment or available personnel who can step up to slow the Wreckers. Normally you might hope for snow, but apparently that didn’t help Darien. We’ll know in a couple of weeks.
Heh. Jeb’s approaching self-parody status re: NC. I feel like I’m watching some poor schlub at an OTB site – he doubles down on his “NC apocalypse” hypothesis week after week after week, ratcheting up the hyperbole and increasing the stakes.
One of these days, bud, one of these days…
As to Staples, a lot to like there. Impressive speed, good coaching – and so young! We may have seen a preview of next year’s FCIAC championship today (with a similar outcome, I think), and I like the looks of a Wreckers-Rams showdown at Trumbull in ’11. The two haven’t played in a while, but the last few contests have been absolute classics: 21-20, 14-7, 14-13, 28-24.
Masuk has multiple D1 players…Who?
Time for Masuk fans to stop whining…they don’t play anyone until the playoffs.
Summer league, scrimmages, etc. don’t count.
VERY thin D-1 class from CT this year – check sites.
Cochran’s going to UConn – unlike Stewart who went to Florida last year.
Xavier is the team that has D-1 commitments, not Masuk.
Best player from L was Macari from NC & he went to Georgetown.
Xavier played 7 ranked teams last year & by last count 5-6 playoff teams this year.
The last 3 Masuk opponents have 1 WIN – COMBINED.
Last 2 opponents for X had 8 wins and got 150 YARDS – COMBINED.
And zero TD’s.
Bethel showed last night just how bad SWC is – VERY.
SCC is best league – everyone knows it.
And just to GET to the playoffs, X has to go through it.
Please stop – you’re not even going to end up ranked #1 in L before playoffs start.
Nice QB, nice run you’re having – enjoy it – and stop sounding foolish.
The lines at Xavier are small college big – and good. Hillhouse is probably going to win the M title again and they got what – 50 yards of offense?
Enough – unless and until Xavier loses, best any team can do is #2. Because Masuk doesn’t play anyone until the playoffs.
In fact, it’s in question whether or not Ansonia might run over them, since they have played more quality competition up to this point. Hard to say.
Objective.
Hillhouse will not win Class M Ansonia will
@JB and Spartans97 — Between 2007 and 2009, we bullhorned our state playoff proposal to the football committee. It’s very similar to the one we have in place now, except we asked for three divisions: L, M and S.
While you say there’s no difference between LL and L, I’d argue there’s no difference between M and S. These two divisions are very close in school size, whereas Class LL schools are like heavyweight boxers, there’s no weight limit. The top Class LL school is far ahead of the smallest Class LL school.
With a four-division set up there’s always going to be one “who cares?” division where most of the teams are 7-3 or worse. It’s usually Class M, but sometimes could be Class S.
We pushed for a three-division set up. But the state coaches decided on four. I have no problems with that, as long as we go no higher than four divisions.
If we ever went 5 or 6, I’d start screaming again. We should embrace the regular season and its Thanksgiving finale. The playoffs should be for the elite.
@SPB – Makes sense. Just too many L and LL schools to combine them and then have only 8 make playoffs. But if they did combine and then expanded the “large” division to a 16 team playoff, that would impact regular season and T-day scheduling. Now I get it, thanks.
Dear #22 NCRams,
Laughed out loud at your comments. I root for NC but I am objective enough to know this team is not good defensively. They are very good on offense. If you disagree with me that’s fine. Go Rams.
I won’t question your loyalties, jeb, but this seems to be a pet issue of yours. And – as in the past – your views aren’t borne out by stats or objective observers.
But I’ll give you the last word…
I have followed New Canaan for years and this particular team is not as good as any in the past six years. They don’t have the defense necessary to beat teams like Central, Masuk, NDWH, Bunnell etc.
They can outscore you on offense though.
- Jeb, Oct. ’10
What happened to the mighty central hilltoppers?Did North Haven stop scoring yet?
GOOD ONE PAUL.
what makes u think the hilltoppers were mighty?? LOL