We’re about to roll out our midseason quiz (sharpen those wits, kids), but here’s where things stand locally as we ready for the season’s second half:
We’ve been having some photo upload problems on the ol’ blog. So this’ll have to be a no-frills SPB Elite 8 until further notice. Full graphics appeared in the papers today, anyway. So most of you know what’s what.
Update: Fixed! >
And, a quick programming note, the threat of rain Friday and Saturday is (once again) fiddling with the schedule. Click here for the latest.
Here we go:
FAIRFIELD PREP (4-1; This week: vs. Hamden, Saturday, 5)
The Jesuits continue to impress with a thorough 39-6 wipeout of Cheshire in an SCC Division I game. Prep is 4-1 for the first time under third-year coach Tom Shea. This is their best record since 2006. The rest of the schedule looks favorable for a Thanksgiving showdown vs. West Haven, just like the good ol’ days.
Praise be!
ST. JOSEPH (4-1; This week: vs. New Canaan, Saturday, 2:30)
The Hogs have answered the call with four straight victories since their opening loss to Staples. They get their third ‘big game’ of the year when improving New Canaan comes to town for a crucial FCIAC matchup. Actually, it’s bigger in terms of the state playoffs. New Canaan needs to win to stay in contention in Class L. The same for St. Joseph in Class M.
NEWTOWN (5-0; This week: vs. Notre Dame-Fairfield, Friday, 7)
Kudos to the Hawks for waking up on Saturday afternoon and taking care of Oxford in the second half. But what was that in the first half? Brennan Diaz and Oxford showed Newtown isn’t invincible in the SWC. Seeing how Masuk’s had no troubles, Newtown’s first half was troubling for an ‘elite’ team. They drop, for now. Trinity Catholic and New Canaan are making a case to leap-frog them in our fair rankings.
STAPLES (4-0; This week: vs. Trumbull, Friday, 7)
The Wreckers are taking care of business in the FCIAC, even if they haven’t been playing up to coach Marce Petroccio’s standards. They get a vastly improved Trumbull team on Friday in the FCIAC’s second biggest game of the Week.
ANSONIA (5-0; This week: at Watertown, Thursday, 6)
We’re going to go out on a limb and say Arkeel Newsome won’t be breaking any national rushing records before his time here is done. But what does he care? The Chargers are winning despite his ankle injury which has kept him out of at least seven quarters of action. He could probably rest another few weeks before Ansonia really needs him again.
GREENWICH (4-0; This week: vs. Central, Saturday, 2)
All’s well in Cardinals Land. Liam O’Neil is back. But we can’t see much resistance coming from the remaining teams on Greenwich’s schedule. Greenwich’s only worry is getting outpointed by an unbeaten Trinity Catholic for an FCIAC championship berth. Yes, it could happen. But, no worries, if it winds up Staples vs. Trinity Catholic and Staples wins, the Cards can stake a claim on the trophy with a victory on Thanksgiving.
(Guh. League title games are silly).
MASUK (5-0; This week: at Brookfield, Friday, 7)
Is there no one in the SWC who can stand up to Masuk? Brookfield, whaddya got?
WEST HAVEN (5-0; This week: at Hand, Friday, 7)
The Westies are about to play their biggest game of the year. Time to find out where they stand in the SCC and state hierarchy. It’s go time at the Surf Club.
TRINITY CATHOLIC (5-0; This week: vs. Fairfield Warde, Saturday, 2:30)
Nope, not in the Elite 8 yet. But, hey… relax, Trinity fans. The word is Trinity Catholic coach Peter Stokes prefers the SPB Elite 8 snub. Hey, we wouldn’t want to take any motivation away from his boys, would we?
NEW CANAAN (4-1; This week: at St. Joseph, Saturday, 2:30)
It seems as if the boys are all right. A week after coach Lou Marinelli suspended seven starters for an off-field incident, New Canaan is back in business. Now’s their time to rejoin the rest of the Elite teams when they face St. Joseph.
RIDGEFIELD (4-1; This week: at Norwalk, Friday, 7)
Connor Rowe returned to action and the Tigers took care of Fairfield Warde. They get Norwalk this week and have a relatively easy road to a 9-1 record and another Class LL playoff berth. Just keep playing well, Tigers…
BARLOW (5-0; This week: at Bunnell, Friday, 7)
Now that the 50-point embarrassment is over, coach Rob Tynan and the Falcons can get back to work. They face Bunnell in a game that’s crucial to their Class M playoff hopes. Did we mention Barlow’s never reached the state playoffs? Well… now you know.
How come a 5-0 weston aint gettin no love Sean
I LOVE WESTON!
5-0 is awesome, they’re close. My only issue is a pretty superficial one: they’ve been winning by the skin of their teeth against teams others on this list have routed.
If I put Weston in, I have to put maybe another 4 or 5 teams in. So I’m keeping the list short.
SPB, I thought SJ was in class M this year? Regardless, big game for them coming up this weekend against NC, but I think the Vazzano-Pellitier connection will deem too much for NC to handle
SJ 35 NC 24
They are. Typo.
Are you serious? Do you know what West Haven or Ansonia or Staples would do to Weston?They might be good in thir area but be realistic.
WH is more than Mr Phillips.Meet Mr Gary and Mr Williams and huge athletic team HAND.
@Carl – Truth
staples is the best team in the state. most balanced, experience, best caoching. they are dangerous
Come see the Staples show. Pick a card, any card: 4, 5, 22, 25, 32 or 40.
I have not seen Barlow in acion yet this season, but I will have to say they are the most improved team in the SWC. Weston is another team I have not seen yet but look foward to later in the season. Its good to see these teams doing well, it shows that the SWC is getting to be a more competative and balanced division. Masuk to me is more of a FCIAC team and would fit right in with the likes of Staples, Darien, N.C., Greenwich, St.Joes, Trumbull. The Panthers do make their opponets in the SWC seem inferior in depth and degree of expeirenced talent that they groom early on in Monroe’s fine youth programs. In my opinion SPB is taking the Panthers lightly by ranking them 4th this week. I put them right up there with Staples if not #2 in the 8 best area teams. Thomas Milone is by far the best overall athlete in CT. high school sports this year, let alone what he contributes to the Masuk Panthers football team. Masuk Rules !
So, you consider Newtown trending down, because they only beat an Oxford team that has played extremely well all season by 4 TD’s? They rank above Greenwich in the state rankings, meaning they have played bigger schools than Greenwich, and one of the LL teams Greenwich played was a down Trumbull team who put up 31 points on them, but yet they hold their spot week after week, seems like odd objectives for the rankings.
Only one of the top 10 Class LL schools plays a Class S School this year… Newtown and they play 3. Staples plays 6 Class LL schools, Greenwich plays 8 Class LL Schools, and Newtown plays 1. Newtown lost to Masuk the last two years by a combined score of 88 to 7. Very tough to take them seriously.
Steve, you are going by the CIAC rankings which doesnt take into consideration strength of schedule and/or opponents. For a true feel of how rankings should be, check out Maxpreps which is based on wins, loses, opponents, strength of schedule by opponents, etc. Most of the newspapers take this into consideration and realize the weak opponents Newtown plays each season. What happens when they play a real contender in the states? Blown out city. Unfortunately, the CIAC rankings are what counts when it comes to the state playoffs which is a reason why they should re-group the divisions like every other states. LL play LL in regular season and so forth.
Masuk should not be in the top 8. Newtown beats them soundly and they lose to any quality program in Class L. They were physically manhandled and outcoached by Hand last year, can’t be denied. They are weaker and hand is stronger in 2012.
@FCIAC -
1. Lol.
2. You guys have to come up with better screen names than cthsfb or SWC or FCIAC.
C’mon.
@FCIAC i dont think newtown will beat masuk soundly by any means at all, actually it will be by the skin of their teeth if they do beat them. Milone is that good and he has the people surrounding him that they could make a deep state championship run.. i also believe hand wins again in class L they looked real good 2nd half vs xavier.
@SPB- Really? Leaving out TCHS again in the elite 8? Is Stokes picking the elite 8 now? You said a couple of weeks ago St.Joes stayed in the 8 because they beat Darien, well after last week, that win doesn’t seem so big now. And next week will be the same thing. We already know if NC beats St. Joes they will leap over TCHS and make the elite 8. Seems like everyone that has beaten a team in the bottom half of the elite 8 gets credit except for THCS. Starting to think you are a TCHS hater.
@Dan – I’m helping Peter out, man. Said he wants to stay out.
Can’t see that happening next week though. Should be a shakeup.
@Dan – You must be new to TC…Not to many people like Trinity, get use to it lol
See, here’s the deal. If St. Joseph whups up on New Canaan, then I’m justified.
If New Canaan beats St. Joseph, New Canaan will jump St. Joe. But can’t jump Trinity Catholic. So expect Trinity to win the day and make their first elite 8 since, oh, 2006? 2007?
@SPB-haha sounds good. Lets go NC.
@Thecrusade- lol not new to TC. I only thought the dislike was for TCHS baseketball team.
@SPB– Your “trending down” assessment of Newtown is borderline blasphemy. I say this is for numerous reasons, however, I’ll start with the fact in the second half Newtown scored 35 points and allowed none.. At the end of the day this game is about beating your opponent, despite the tendency of numerous people on this blog to insensibly nitpick each and every possible factor of games in order to criticize teams with their embarrassingly subjective opinions (not just Newtown!). Case and point let me address @Football.. Newtown and New Milford are the only LL teams in the SWC, therefore your knock on Newtown for playing one LL school has no merit.. that’s the makeup of the SWC. Also, tough to take them seriously? Ask the players and coaches of #1 Staples if they ‘took Newtown seriously’ in last year’s state semifinal. The answer is sure to be yes and judging by the fact Newtown has improved defensively and at the QB position since then, again your statement has no merit.
Now, let me get back to SPB’s classification of Newtown “trending down.” Your reasoning seems fair, the fact Brennan Diaz threw for some yards on the defense, however this should have come as no surprise. Being at the game, I was very impressed by his play in the 1st half and anyone assessing QB’s would have to agree. The kid’s a solid QB and had a great half, with many precise throws (ex. a back shoulder fade on 4th and 6 that scored a TD). With this, I’m saying to you SPB that Diaz’ success shouldn’t be a knock on Newtown because he should put up numbers with his talent. My final point SPB deals with your assertment that “Newtown isn’t invincible in the SWC.” Whoever said Newtown, let alone any team in the SWC/State was INVINCIBLE? Playing against perfection is something EVERY team would inevitably fail at, therefore every team should be “trending down.” Please save a word of this magnitude for teams/players that truly deserve it and judging by the fact I don’t see any CT players in the Rivals top 100 or a CT team in the national rankings, they are far from “INVINCIBLE.” As I said before, people on this blog are going way too deep into MEANINGLESS facts such as “Masuk only played their staters until half way through the third while Newtown took them out after the 4th quarter,” or things of that nature. This is where I feel by being the author of these blogs, you may at times fall into this trap as well SPB. You weren’t even at the Newtown game (have you seen the film?) but can classify them as “trending down” after winning by three scores and scoring 35 unanswered? The eye test never fails and judging by what you saw for yourself two weeks ago at Newtown-Brookfield, IN NO WAY is Newtown “trending down.”
@Cutler’s World – YOU’RE GONNA TREND DOWN AND YOU’LL LIKE IT!
@Cutler’s World….DANG boy….calm down….this is High School football…your letting the fact that Newtown is “trending down” get your panties in a pretty tight bundle…and that can’t comfortable…and your Newtown “Manifesto” is kind of scary. So climb down from the tower outside of SPB’s house…put the shotgun away and take deep breath. Your Nighthawks look like they have smooth sailing the rest of the season and will most likely start “trending up” in the coming weeks…which is obviously VERY important to you…and to the safety of SPB…which is very important to the rest of us…and SPB’s Mom.
Enjoy the remainder of the season…or at least until November 21st when Masuk stomps you by 6 touchdowns again and the JV is taking a knee inside Newtowns 10 yard line in the 3rd quarter. It is as much a Thanksgiving tradition as turkey and cranberry sauce.
Ouch, No Ax To Grind 1 – Cutlers World 0
No Axe while I do think Masuk will beat Newtown, it isn’t like the Hawks have never beaten the Panthers, they knocked em out of contention for states on Masuk’s field in 2009- just saying. And as an SWC guy, who supports Pompy, Masuk and other SWC guys denigrating NHS is dumb because the league is pretty down this year with Bunnell and Pomp having their worst years in over a decade, and while I am genuinely happy for Barlow and Weston’s success it is a reflection of the league’s weakness rather than their strength
Easy There @mueller…I’m not denigrating anyone…and I never said that Newtown has never beaten Masuk, but for you to pull one game out of the last 5 where Masuk didn’t beat them down is what is “dumb”…just saying. And I didn’t comment on Masuk’s strength or the strength of the league so I’m not sure where that is coming from. I’m a Shelton guy…I just was having have a little bit of fun with @Cutlers World’s ramblig “manifesto” about Newtown “trending down”…which seems to concern him a GREAT deal. He…like you…seems to be a little wound up and has his panties in a bundle.
Relax…it’s just High School Football Big Guy…
@Cutler, when you are down at half to a class S team that isnt expected to do much, then yes, people will tend to question. Not sure where you are going with Staples last year but after spotting Newtown a 14-0 lead, they blasted 44 points to win by 4 scores. Not sure how that is Staples not taking Newtown serious as it was dominated by a much superior team who is back in tack for another run.
Newtown was expected to score at will against this team and should for the next 4 weeks. ANything less will be trending down as the next 4 have a combined record of 2-18. Does one trend up while picking on the weaklings of the league? I have seen Newtown and they are not as good as last year’s team with one of the top RBs in the state and a solid Defense. Too many holes on that D which will be exposed greatly by a very good Masuk squat that has more than just one star.
Barlow loses to New Fairfield by 3 TDs, Masuk crushes NF and everybody else in their way. Just goes to show that Masuk is still head and shoulders above the rest of the SWC. Too bad as I was beginning to think that some of the other teams in this league were turning their program around. I guess it is just a typical year with Masuk at the top and Newtown right behind while everybody else is at the bottom looking up. It is nice seeing Barlow winning but their opponents are 8-24 and finally Weston plays an average team and look what happens.
@Pop, Barlow beat NF.
My bad, I meant Weston loses to NF. Barlow hasnt lost year but they havent played anybody except NF during the 1st game of the year. But this is how it should be, the class S and M teams should play each other and not the L/LL. Kudos to Barlow.