Ah, scrimmage season.
It starts off with a few throw away lines. We talk to someone who talked to someone else who saw a team play some 10-on, 10-off scrimmage in mid-August. We get a tidbit, maybe two from players, parents, assistants, maybe even a head coach.
In turn, we pass those nuggets of information along, sometimes sowing them like seeds, but mostly chucking them liberally the way a farmer throws slop into a pig pen. It all gets devoured and then squirted out the other end.
Whaddya got for me?
Who have you seen?
What do you think?
Well! Let me tell you: This team’s good, this team’s not. This team’s humungous, this team’s tiny. That team can’t throw, that team can’t run. This guy played, this guy didn’t. That guy transferred, this guy’s coming back, that guy’s done for the year?
And, didn’t you hear? Staples beat Bunnell, Trumbull beat Bunnell, Stratford beat Trumbull, Fairfield Prep beat Staples, Staples beat Ridgefield and Cheshire, Southington rolled Pomperaug, Windsor destroyed Cheshire, Don Bosco Prep beat up Greenwich (but Greenwich put in a great showing!), Greenwich beat Masuk, Masuk beat Shelton, Shelton beat Seymour, Amity beat Pomperaug, St. Joseph beat Shelton, West Haven beat Central, Ansonia beat West Haven and Notre Dame-West Haven, Bassick beat Crosby, Holy Cross beat Stamford, Xavier beat Stamford, Hillhouse beat Holy Cross (or was Holy Cross beat Hillhouse?) Branford beat Derby, Norwalk beat Newtown…
Gah! Why do we do this to ourselves?
Because it’s fun! We’re having fun here, right?!
And we’re impatient. In lieu of actual games to whet our ravenous appetites for football, we try to piece teams together in our heads and predict the future.
Football starts on Wednesday, most games don’t go for another week.
We gotta do something in the meantime.
So, taking all that into account, what, exactly, did we think we learned from a couple weeks of scrimmages and countless hours of yakking about what we heard and what we think know.
I can tell you by watching about a half-dozen scrimmages, talking to anybody who wanted to strike up a conversation, joking around with coaches, chatting up all of the top players I’ve covered the last few years, I think I’ve learned a lot.
I probably haven’t. But at least I think I do.
So this week I’m going to take what I witnessed at these scrimmages, blend the facts I’ve learned and the opinions I’ve formed from them, then add a touch of chatter, a dash of hearsay and a couple sticks of second- and third-hand information and attempt to mold a coherent and informed high school football preview together.
Before I lock myself into the Hearst Connecticut High School Football War Room for the weekend in preparation for the first games of the season in just a few short days, share with us:
What have you learned this scrimmage season?
What do you think you know?
Let’s spill all of the pieces out and try to fit them together.
The floor is yours.
I know- that I miss my son playing for Masuk.
SCC- Hand
SWC- Masuk
NVL- Ansonia
FCIAC- Greenwich
i disagree with you GB.
SCC-Xavier
SWC-Newtown
NVL-Holy Cross
FCIAC-Staples
SCC-Xavier
SWC-Newtown
NVL-Ansonia
FCIAC-NC (you will see)
Talk about impatient. Calm down now, there is a lot of football to be played before crowning league champs. We should start with Week 1 first … no?
Anyone care to breakdown Greenwich at Ridgefield? What are the injury reports? Seems mighty quite down there in Greenwich … no big TD noises being made (kind of like the Jets). Ridgefield isn’t lighting the county on fire either. What gives?
NDWH seems to be having a strong preseason … any chance they jump on Xavier in week 1? Word back out of Stamford seems that Berry was a no show and while huge, Xavier had no real run game.
Does Pomp even have a chance against Masuk?
@Swoboda – did your son graduate after last season?
@JB Greenwich has scored on all opponants this summer. They have plenty of offense this year. My concern is how the defense is going to stand up to Ridgefields passing attack.
Naugatuck’s Mick Pernell has my vote for all area runningback already. Kid is a slasher.
@GHSDAD2012 hit it exactly. Greenwich is susceptible at the corners AND may have problems with Rowe scrambling.
Staples vs. St. Joe’s will be alot closer than people think. Better put pressure on the QB or the Wreckers may be leaving with their heads down.
Wilton is my sleeper pick in the FCIAC. If they have a strong start – watch out.
Overall, there will be alot of close games with Darien, New Canaan, Norwalk and Trumbull also ready to play. I wouldn’t be surprised to see a 2 loss team in the FCIAC championship game.
The SWC will see tha same teams competing. Masuk and Newtown would seem to be the frontrunners, but can be beaten. Pompy doesn’t seem to have the guns this year – skill guys or line and could be winless after week 4. Brookfield, Bunnell and Bethel are all capable of making a run and competing with Masuk and Newtown, if their young players come of age quickly. New Milford may pull an upset or two in the first 5 weeks, but won’t make it our of a brutal early season schedule.
The NVL will likely be alot of the same old, same old. Take Ansonia to the bank. They have the best RB in the state and, likely, the best all purpose guy – receiver/d-back Matos. Woodland should be improved and will compete with Holy Cross and Wolcott for play-off positions. Naugy, Torrington and Derby will win their share, but not enough to make any real noise.
As for the SCC, it’ll be the week 5 match-up for all the marbles – Xavier vs. Hand. How has the Rogers (RB) adapted and will he be a big part of the offense for Hand? North Haven is the only other team that I see challenging the two big guys and yes, they play them both (and New London – ouch, may cost them a play-off spot). Unfortunately for West Haven, they seem to be a bit too one dimensional to win against Xavier or Hand. Shelton, Prep and Guilford will likely be 6-7 win teams. Division 2 – uhhhhh – Hillhouse may miss the play-offs with a tough D2 schedule – Hand, Xavier, North Haven and Guilford.
Didn’t sleep well, so I rambled a bit. Sorry, in advance, if any nerves have been hit.
Greenwich is working hard. They made it through some good scrimmage opponents. They have a lot of weapons and are getting it all sorted out on defense.
I haven’t seen him, but Rowe sounds like he would be similar to White who played QB a few years back. They have that lacrosse type running style that is difficult to contain.
It should be a good game.
Just read that the Cardinal’s senior QB, Liam O’Neil broke his right index finger yesterday in practice, and needs an operation…Out 5-6 weeks…That’s going to hurt Greenwich big time…
Greenwich has plenty of weapons offensively. They won without oniel last year. Of course it’s a loss and a shame he got hurt but they will overcome the loss. They have others that will step up.
@notfromridgefield – great points, even if sleep deprived!
FCIAC … I also like Wilton as a spoiler. Phillips is an under-the-radar but really good athlete at QB and has a strong front line … but they need a threat at RB. Injury report has O’Niel out with broken finger. Greenwich defense is always strong against the run, but not so against the pass this year. I would have had Greenwich as the strong favorite in that game, but with O’Niel out this tilt is a toss-up. After that, though, the season is a cakewalk for Greenwich and only a bit harder for Ridgefield. SJ is improved on offense showing good passing all preseason, so you are right Staples will need to play solid defense … but Staples is no Foran or Barlow so we will see how long that pocket lasts. And then SJ will also need to play some defense but this year without Grasso, Sheehan, Federici, Guadalupe and Thelusca. Should be a good game with some big plays all around. Darien will be really good this year and will beat NC on T-day for the first time in a while (sorry Rams, next year). But I have to depart with you on how tight the FCIAC will be this year … no way someone with 2 losses gets into the title game, no way. But one loss and good points may make it this year.
Masuk will win the SWC. I don’t see Newtown there without Fenaroli and his OL classmates. What is the report on Hebert – still out?
NVL … agreed. Too bad Ansonia slipped to S this year. Would have loved to see them face New London in the playoffs. But no one is touching Ansonia this year with Newsome healthy.
SCC … Xavier needs Berry back in pads. Hand will beat Xavier if they don’t have a solid run game. Xavier does not have the studs it had last year … and I mean beyond the OL … Xavier is a weaker at WR/TE and on defense. We will see if NDWH can expose anything in Week 1. Otherwise, it will come down to Hand vs Xavier. But that would be great if it did and produce one heck of a game (state #1 ranking likely on the line as well). But what is the injury report at Hand? Seems like they had some key guys out most of the preseason.
And watch out for Windsor this year … they are loaded with athletes and well coached.
Should be an exciting year for CTHSFB.
It sounds like the Cardinals may rely heavily on
Alex McMurray to run the wildcat offense, and throw the ball as well since the article stated the backup QB is “banged up” too..McMurray is a good, tough player so we’ll see how things go…
Naugy gets in with an 8-2 record in LL. they could make some noise if the get in. Gooo hounds!
Hand had all of its injured players back for its last pre-season real game scrimmage against Conard last Friday night. Offense led by QB Bilcheck, RB O’Toole, WR Ewald and TE Anderson steam rolled over Conard in the first half on all four of its possessions. The Defense led by Staples, Wivell, Gerson and Walsh completly snuffed out Conard’s offense. Second string and JV’s played second half. Rogers brothers have yet to earn a starting position due to senior depth (32 seniors). Sure that the Rogers will get plenty of playing time come regular season. Welcome to the Hand and the SCC!
FCIAC – Staples has all the tools and the league’s best coach but who they play may be decided on Friday night in Ridgefield. Rowe is a fullback with a rocket arm – not sure he has the movement of Matt White but he is a good athlete and they have plenty of firepower. Last year’s game has nothing to do with this year, Greenwich is always tough but I give my nod to the Tigers at home.
NVL – Ansonia will not be tested all year.
SCC – Hand may be tough but someone has to beat Xavier before I don’t favor them.
SWC – I think Newtown comes in overrated based on last year. They have talent but I think Masuk will still reign supreme.
Looking forward to getting started and while I watch mostly FCIAC I will definitely be traveling this year to watch some of the other leagues key matches. Good Luck to all teams – remember only a few more times to strap on the helmet so make it count!
SPB- who informed you that Stratford beat Trumbull during their scrimmage? I just watched the film and I’m pretty sure that Trumbull scored 6 TDs while Stratford only scored 1. In fact Trumbull actually moved the football with relative ease during that scrimmage…bad source I guess?
THS – I made that one up. You’ve illustrated the point.
Very quiet in New Canaan…. I saw the Norwalk vs. Newtown scrimmage and was expecting a Newtown blowout but the Bears dominated. Wilton will be better than most experts think…If Staples dosen’t run the table I will be surprised…Nobody will want to play St. Joes the next two years. The queston most asked around the FCIAC is will Ridgefield win a big game ths year? doubt it!!
FCIAC- Staples
NVL- Ansonia
SCC- Hand
SWC- Toss up, but still leaning towards Newtown.
LL- Staples over Xavier
L- Hand over Darien
M- Berlin over Hillhouse
S- Ansonia over North Branford
Staples VS NC in final with NC taking it….
@19 Glad I did not correct you on the Ansonia/ND Scrimmage result.
Nice Artical SPB!!
Fciac breakdown, I’m taking staples over Darien. Nc will win 8 with a late loss in the season but will beat Darien. Ridgfield should be an interesting contender along with Wilton. I don’t like Greenwich but you should never count them out they’re a quality program with a solid coaching staff. It’ll be a down year for all three bridgports. Look for st. Joes to play better along with trumble. And Norwalk will be a dark horse once again.
SPB I read somewhere that ND West Haven beat Ansonia 14-7 did you make that one up too?
@another fan – No, I didn’t. But it doesn’t really matter what happened. It was one of those 10-play on, 10-play off things.
@SPB …Never mind I get the point now, I learned that unless you actually see the scrimmage game you can not believe almost anything you hear or read.
@SPB Oh ok,no wonder I could not get much on that one…thanks
Ansonia beat amity west haven and shelton and tied nd. See you at the rent.
Unfortunately Ray is right. That’s what happens when your toughest games come in August and then you kick back to the non violent league. ND beat Ansonia 14-7 but I guess that’s a tie? Either way, Ray’s point is that if you can beat middle to bottom of the pack SCC teams you make it to the states in the NVL.
@Ray-Ray! Welcome! first post of the season?
By the way, previews begin tonight. Consider yourself warned.
Another year of CT HS Football…. welcome back!!!!
Friday can’t come around fsat night. Good luch and good health to all the players!!!!
Welcome back Ray,Dave you want violence take a trip to Afganistan… you’ll find plenty there,NVL is just as tough as anybody.I’ve seen most of them all (different leagues)and they are not that far apart.No, the “S” isn’t for “super” in SCC sorry to deflate your boat, this is Connecticut don’t forget.SCC had 2 good teams last year but not close to the all time (more athletic) teams in Connecticut.I like Ansonia’s chances over Greenwich vs Bosco any time in a scrimmage.I see Ansonia has again been disrespected in the polls Staples may have some returners but have not proven anything yet… geez at least let them win some games first or Ansonia loosing a game,oh, that’s right they won’t according to Dave’s point of view.
Shelton will be the best team in the SCC this season. Yes, not Xavier, Hand, ND, WH, No Haven or Hillhouse.
Another fan are u serious? After Ansonia (who would not beat Xavier by the way) who would the NVL put vs Hand, NDWH,Cheshire and Shelton?
Holy cross, Torrington and enough said. It’s not close guy and I’m an FCIAC guy supporting the SCC because its the best out there.
Also, I saw the GHS vs Bosco game and trust me Ansonia wouldn’t have a shot either. In fact, u could take an all-star team from Xavier, Ansonia hand, staples and greenwich and would not beat Bosco. They are that good.
@Brian I read that Greenwich held thier own and had a respectable scrimmage against mighty Don Bosco …How can that be possible they are that good(DB) against a non-ranked team from last year(Greenwich) and are handed a generous 6th place ranking this year and you say our best all star team wouldn’t come close?
@Scc follower, you are crazy if you think the best team in the SCC will be any teams but Hand and Xavier
I hope everybody is taking notes on what everybody else is saying. We’ll compare around December.
Here’s how I see the SWC this year..
Masuk, Newtown, Pomperaug will be the big 3 in the conference; I don’t see anyone coming close.. Masuk has too much to replace, Newtown’s defense could use work, and Pomperaug doesn’t have many standouts..
Bunnell is VERY overrated, their gameplan of “throw deep to Jawad and Jared and occasionally hand off to Camille” is gone.
Brookfield is looking at another 5-5 season but I can see New Milford making moves towards the top of the conference. Other than that, its a messy dogpile to see who comes out as the best of the worst, since the SWC is and always will be incredibly strong at the top and incredibly weak at the bottom.
Fan,
GHS played hard against Bosco and while they played physical they couldn’t move the ball at all until late in the game. The game was never close in terms of yardage, time of possession and those kinds of things and I’m a greenwich fan. I might be selling CT short saying all-stars wouldn’t beat DB but no single school from here would come close. I say that even after DB lost their first game since 2008 last week to Gilman of Maryland who is ranked #1 in the nation.
Let’s not underestimate Masuk(again)this year- yes there are big names graduated (Cochran, Markus)but don’t forget, this year’s crop of seniors including Milone, Charney,Bacarella, Monaco, and the rest of the O-line were NATIONAL champs in 7th grade youth football. Hold on– I know that doesn’t translate directly to the high school game, but this group is programmed to win and has done it on the biggest stage of all in front of much bigger crowds than they would see even at the Rent. They’ll enjoy staying just under the radar screen (and out of the polls)while they focus on inserting a few key pieces to a winning mix. Let the games begin!
@TheVoice – Steve? Steve Christie? Is that you?
(inside joke.)
Reporting in from up North – all we really got this year is Berln and Windsor – both teams should be very very good and I expect both to be playing at the Rent in December for Class M and Class L titles respectively. Both teams have relatively easy schedules (even by CCC standards) and could very well enter the post-season without a loss.
Northwest Catholic should be decent in Class S, but they are undersized and paper thin in terms of depth.
Northern CT- I appreciate the insight, but are you considering Southington a northern CT program? I rate the Blue Knights very highly from what I have seen and heard. I put them right up there with Berlin behind Windsor in the CCC pecking order. Also, what do you know about Glastonbury this year? Based on recent seasons and what they return, I would expect them to be formidable
Why is everybody so high on New Milford? They are never good. they were 5 and 5 last year if they get five again this year I will be surprised.
New Milford is one of those towns that really never stands out in anything athletically except wrestling in general. It is a strange place, a wide range of rich, poor, everything in between, not to mention it is the largest town by area in CT- have to think these things hurt the community-wide embrace of something like high school football. The fact that Tom Taylor had them in the SWC championship and on the verge of the playoffs should put him in Canton ha ha
New Milford has probably the best team they have had in 10+ years. With that being said they have an impossible schedule. They’ll probably end up 5-5.
Northern CT- Anything out of Bloomfield this year? It’s been a few years since we’ve heard out of them.
For all of you discussing Don Bosco, they are already an all star team. However their best player (Peppers?) transferred with two others after some coaching defections. The truth is they have 35 seniors and still the best high school coach I have ever seen. NO team in CT could beat them this year and they are no where near as good as they where in the past.
@Joe the Shot – Watched some of that Bosco game last night on TV replay – not too good. Did Bosco run low on scholarship money or what? BTW Joe, what are you doing on a CTHSFB site … nothing much to crow about back in NJ? Don Bosco starts the season 0-1 and will lose to BC this year, so you have to come up North to bash somebody? Please stay on your side of the GW.
JB I usually enjoy your posts and can agree but this one is out there. They lost one game to #1 and lost 3 of the their best players as Joe said. I’m a CT guy and could care less about NJ. The only reason I got on this discussion was someone said Ansonia should have gone there instead of Greenwich. I was saying it doesn’t matter who went from CT no one was gonna beat them.
Lastly, I’m a cards fan so maybe a bit biased here but everytime they travel or play a top team (Naples, St.Joes of Montvale, New London, etc) and lose most folks give them credit for playing it.The valley however comes running saying should have sent Ansonia. If Ansonia is that good then go play those games instead of Sacred heart and Wilby as your bye games. And please don’t come back to here and say oh the conference said we can’t.
Have a good season JB and I will bet u a hotdog and soda the Bosco beats Bergen this year come November! :)
@Brian – I will take that bet! BTW, I really like the Cards approach to playing up. But yes, I should apologize to Joe, I know no one in CT can beat Bosco even in one of their “down” years … but BC has their number this year. Put a face on it!
for those of you saying new milford is never good you are all correct, but it is not because they lack players. they lack coaches, chuck lynch is an awful coach who can’t call plays for [ ...]. nm’s getting better because he is no longer calling any plays on offense or defense (thank god) if new milford had a coaching staff like masuks or newtowns they’d be the one of the best teams in the swc in a few years, but as long as lynch is there he will forever hold them back because…he doesnt know anything about football, he didnt even start when he played for new fairfield a while back…
@54..Wow bigmac…sounds like maybe your kid isn’t starting. I played for Chuck when he came here, he is a very good man, character first, football second. To say he knows “nothing” about football gives great insight to where you are coming from. Frustrated Pop Warner coach maybe? Chuck teaches kids the right way to do things on and off the field. Its Ct HS football, if you are a win at all costs kind of guy, take your kid to SEC country…more important things in life. That said, I have heard that the Wave has looked decent this year and will compete..they may not win a majority of their games but they will play hard. They will do well in school and hopefully turn into productive citizens.
@Brian- Where did you see that Gilman was number 1 in the nation? They were 0-2 going into that Don Bosco game. I dont think they were ever in the top 25 let alone number 1.
I can’t believe people are still talking about Bosco here
@perspective – Southington seems out of place in the CCC, especially since their rivalry game each Thanksgiving is with Cheshire. They will have a good QB this year, but when they scrimmaged Hall a couple of weeks ago, Hall moved the ball against them almost at will (albeit only a scrimmage). As for Glastonbury, I don’t know much about them for 2012 (haven’t seen them yet) but I am not at all sold on the head coach they brought in last year. The man they should have hired, Paul Philippon, was on their staff but they passed him over for someone who wasn’t even coaching at the time. Philippon is now at Canton. Watch what he does with that small, unknown program that may not have won a single game last year. Glastonbury’s glory days, on the other hand, are behind them i am afraid. Plus, CCC does what the SCC is doing with the bigs playing the bigs and the smalls playing the smalls. Windsor and Berlin both benefit from this as it turns out because CCC is weakest in the middle. Look at Berlin’s schedule. Filled with mediocrity (even by CCC standards) other than New Britain on Thanksgiving morning. Same is true with Windsor, which only plays the CCC’s other Class L schools. Windsor doesn’t play a team that made the post season last year. Its toughest opponent will be Farmington (who somehow missed the playoffs last yr with a 9-1 record). Southington & Glastonbury, on the other hand, play each other, plus New Britain, Hall, Conard & Manchester (at least 3 FBS/FCS players on roster including their QB, TE & an offensive lineman). Hall and Manchester I think are going to surprise some folks up north this year, but I dont expect any of the CCC bigs to win a game in the Class LL playoffs this year should any of them make it.
bigmac, you have issues. I don’t know the coach you are talking about, but are you really saying that he is a bad coach because he didn’t start in High School? Plenty of good coaches (including Masuk’s head coach) were average players at best.
rick i didnt say thats why hes bad, hes just a downright horrible coach- i think i would know i played for him. yes he is a good guy i loved him as a person. but as a football coach he is horrendous. the amount of talent that was at nm a few years ago was enough to win that conference.
@wave 04 ur a moron, being a good guy doesnt make someone a good coach *newsflash*
sorry davek,didnt realize shelton,west havenand nd were bottom feeders in the scc.a few years ago they were world beaters.The non-violent league only gets violent whenit has to.
Was told comments were not accepted on a few posts. This has been fixed. Let me know if there are any others.
ray
Post 31 isn’t me. Shelton, west haven and ndwh are not bottom feeders. The westies look good this year. ND will be in the mix, and Shelton will compete.
Ray – sorry I misunderstood your point. What exactly was your point?
bigmac, you are a stand up guy. I get it now. You must have had some impressive individual stats with all that talent, no? Were you fat then too, or did they call you quarter pounter with cheese back then?
Sorry – didn’t realize there was another dave k. I did not call them bottom feeders either, but would say that Xavier and Hand are at the top, therefore they are middle/bottom.
really rick? you’ve gotten off the whole subject to make fun of a username on a comment section? real mature of you, way to keep your argument going. i’m not gonna argue about my name or if im in shape or not b/c it really doesnt matter, but it does show how stupid u are because u can’t continue an argument, instead you try and find other ways to insult me- instead of making arguments and backing them up. some people on these comments are too bored and need the fun internet fights to entertain themselves…like u rick