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A look at who did and said what during Week 6 of the southwestern Connecticut high school football season. Compiled by executive editor Gary Rogo and the Hearst Connecticut sports staff.
- arlow quarterback Jack Shaban escapes the sack from Bunnell’s Kevin Hernandez Friday.
BULLDOZERS
- Jack Shaban, Barlow: Junior quarterback ran for 135 yards with a touchdown and also threw for a score in the 6-0 Falcons’ 28-14 win over Bunnell.
- Joe Pacheco, New Fairfield: Ran for 238 yards and four touchdowns in a 35-21 win over Weston.
- Joe Piatnik, Bethel: Ran for four touchdowns (and passed for another) to lead Bethel past Stratford 49-32.
- Jim Vartelas, Seymour: Ran for 108 yards and two touchdowns and also caught a touchdown in a win over Crosby.
- Vochan Fowler, Bassick: Ran for two touchdown, including the game-winner in the fourth to give Bassick its first win of the season in a 14-6 result against Harding.
- Chris Golger, Fairfield Prep: Ran 50 yards for the winning TD in the fourth quarter as the Jesuits survived Hamden 27-20. Golger also scored on a 7-yard pass from Strecker Backe.
- Arkeel Newsome, Ansonia: Returned from injury to run for 162 yards and 2 TDs on 10 carries in 49-21 victory over Watertown.
- Davell Cotterell, Westhill: Ran for 236 yards and two touchdowns on 36 carries in a 24-20 victory over Danbury.
GUNSLINGERS
- Jake Kasuba, Foran: Threw for 298 yards on 20-for-28 passing, with two touchdowns in the Lions 50-35 win over ND-West Haven. He also ran for 65 yards.
- Liam O’Neil, Greenwich: Completed 14 of 15 passes for 261 yards and a career-high five touchdowns — all in the first half — in Greenwich’s 56-6 rout of Bridgeport Central. Even more impressive was the fact that he compiled these statistics in the first half, as he did not throw a pass in the second half.
- Mark Piccirillo, Shelton: Completed 8 of 12 passes for 158 yards and two TDs (35 and 12 yards to Kyle Drost) in a 42-2 rout of Lyman Hall.
GAMEBREAKERS
- Kyle Jordan, McMahon: Ran for two touchdowns and caught an 86-yard score in a 27-7 win over Fairfield Ludlowe.
- Will Bonaparte, Ridgefield: Ran for 126 yards with two touchdowns and caught a 52-yard touchdown pass from Connor Rowe in the Tigers’ win over Norwalk.
- Nick Weissauer, Foran: Caught nine passes for 111 yards and a touchdown in a win over ND-West Haven.
- Jack Massie, Staples: Junior quarterback completed 10-of-13 passes for 160 yards and two touchdowns in a 57-14 win over Trumbull. He also rushed for 142 yards, with touchdown runs of 76 and 53 yards. Teammate James Frusciante,a senior wide receiver, had five catches for 89 yards and two touchdowns in first half.
- Thomas Milone, Masuk: Do-everything Panther was a handful for Brookfield, scoring TDs on runs of 20 and 59 yards to put the finishing touches on a 42-14. victory.
- Marcus Esteves, Oxford: Scored all of Oxford’s touchdowns — three rushing, an interception return — in the Wolverines’ 27-0 win over New Milford.
- Andrew Matos, Ansonia: Caught TD passes of 5 and 48 yards from Jai’Quan McKnight and threw a 72-yard score to Rashaun Finney in a 49-21 rout of Watertown.
New Canaan's Casey Ouellette drags down St. Joseph's Shane Miller in the Rams' 27-21 victory.
BRICK WALLS
- Brian Wigand, Darien: Returned an interception 42 yards for a touchdown in the Blue Wave’s win over Wilton.
- Matt Montani, Fairfield Prep: Made a fourth-quarter interception to seal Prep’s 27-20 win over Hamden.
- Cole Harris, New Canaan: Returned an interception 57 yards for a TD to rally the Rams over St. Joseph 27-21. New Canaan had trailed 21-12 at halftime.
VALIANT IN DEFEAT
- Devante Teel, Bunnell: Caught touchdowns of 83 and 53 yards in a loss to Barlow.
- Marc Cesare, Trumbull: Junior returned a kick 90 yards for a touchdown in 57-14 loss to Staples.
- Jake Pelletier, St. Joseph: Caught six passes for 136 yards vs. New Canaan.
“The guy actually has no class whatsoever. The guy was 100 percent wrong and he knows he’s wrong. The way I took it, I think he was saying [explicative] to the CIAC.”
–Stamford coach Bryan Hocter on NFA coach Jemal Davis after a 51-0 loss that broke the CIAC’s score management policy.
Staples quarterback Jack Massie (center) celebrates at TD with Joey Zelkowitz and James Frusciante during their 57-14 win over Trumbull.
“I honestly don’t know. That’s for them to figure out.”
–Staples quarterback Jack Massie, responding to the question, ‘How do you top Staples’ offense?’ following a 57-14 win over Trumbull.
“Relieved is how I am, we came close to losing this. For some reason we didn’t give them the respect they deserve and we almost paid the ultimate price for it.”
-Fairfield Prep coach Tom Shea, on his team’s 27-20 win over Hamden
“This was about a bunch of kids from the city’s West Side who don’t get a chance to succeed in much, getting to get a win.”
–Bassick coach Derrick Lewis on his team’s 14-6 win over Harding, the Lions’ first win of the season.
“The team had faith in me to try it again. Ryan just threw it up and I knew I could get it. (Cory Chaffee) is a great player but I just came up with it.”
–Westhill’s Yveson Cassamajor, on the 33-yard pass from Ryan Coppola that set up the winning touchdown in Westhill’s 24-20 comeback win over Danbury.
“It’s been a difficult year in that we’re so young and dumb at times. … It just does my heart so good to see this young team getting better every week.”
–New Canaan coach Lou Marinelli on his team’s 27-21 win over St. Joseph
“I’m not quite sure what was going on out there, but we definitely gave one away.”
–St. Joseph coach Joe Della Vecchia
“It’s an art form, maybe a dying art form in football, but an art form when you run it properly.”
–Barlow coach Rob Tynan on his team’s option offense, which has the Falcons 6-0 for the first time since 1974.
“This is a difficult time for us, but we’ll continue to fight to the finish like we always do.”
–Bunnell coach Craig Bruno on his team’s 5-game losing streak.
“He’s a special talent and I’m lucky to have him on my side.”
–New Fairfield coach Anthony Fata on standout tailback Joe Pacheco
“I’m just trying to enjoy every moment with Tyler. He’s a special, special player.”
-Weston coach Joe Lato on QB Tyler Hassett, who played with a nagging injury throughout the Trojans’ 42-21 loss to New Fairfield
“These kids were tired of losing the past three seasons. They want to play football. And they all want to win. This season has been a very great thing.”
–Trinity Catholic coach Peter Stokes on his team’s 6-0 start
FCIAC
Staples (5-0) at Darien (4-2), Saturday, 1:30: Staples continues to use the rest of the FCIAC as sparring partners in preparation for the bigger prize at the end of the season. Will Darien, whose playoff hopes are already on life support, put up any kind of resistance? The good news is Peter Gesualdi is back. The bad news is, Staples has a full head of steam barreling into this matchup.
Greenwich (5-0) at Westhill (4-2), Saturday, 1:30: Westhill’s having a dream season. Davell Cotterell and the Vikings keep finding ways to win and are inching closer to their first winning season in decades. But just how far is the gap between them and the FCIAC’s upper echelon? Lace up. Time to find out.
SWC
Oxford's Marcus Esteves scored four touchdowns in the 4-2 Wolverines' 27-0 win over New Milford. Photo by Michael Duffy
New Fairfield (4-2) at Oxford (4-2), Saturday, noon: Ace back Joe Pacheco and the Rebels are honing in on a fabulous season. They’d love to keep it going in this tough, competitive road game vs. Brennen Diaz and the Wolverines. It’s of minor significance on the state stage, with the winner moderately improving their faint chances. Still, this should be good.
Stratford (2-4) at Weston (5-1), Saturday, 1: It’s Weston’s homecoming, but the Trojans are limping back from their first loss of the season. With Masuk and Barlow still left on the schedule, their Class M playoff hopes depend on this game. Worse, the availability of star quarterback Tyler Hassett is in question after a groin injury suffered vs. New Fairfield. Stratford’s looking for a signature win to propel itself forward. Now’s the time.
SCC
Cheshire (4-2) at West Haven (5-1), Friday, 7 – West Haven’s up against it following its thrilling, but heartbreaking 21-20 loss to No. 1 Hand. With Xavier and Fairfield Prep looming, the Westies can ill afford any more losses in a tight Class LL race. But you knew that.
Fairfield Prep (5-1) at Amity (2-4), Friday, 7 – Fairfield Prep got some needed experience playing a close game. They’d be better off taking care of Amity quickly, resting up and continuing their drive for a Thanksgiving showdown.
Xavier (5-1) at Hillhouse (5-1), Friday, 3 — There’s a reason Hillhouse played Guilford without Harold Cooper: The banged-up standout back needs to be ready to take on the once-jilted, two-time defending Class LL champs. Yes, we all know how close ‘House came two years ago at Bowen…
Hand (6-0) at North Haven (4-2), Friday, 7 – North Haven’s Class L playoff hopes will live/die here. We say die. Valiant effort this year, Indians. (Maybe?)
CSC
Platt Tech (4-1) at Bullard-Havens (5-1), Saturday, noon – Both schools were handed their their first losses of the season and now sit a game behind the teams that beat them: Capital Prep and Prince Tech. The winner of this vastly important rivalry game will have a good grasp on third or second place. Also some state considerations here. Bullard-Havens in M, Platt Tech in Class L…
Bonaparte caught the TD from Rowe not gravitte. Just a little error
@lair thank you kindly
Sean you missed the weeks top performance, Westhill’s Davelll Cotterell had 237 yards on 33 carries and two touchdown’s in Westhill’s win. Also, the score was 24-20. But then again — you expected the “Hatter’s to Show Up” – SMH.
Brookfield still has a shot at 8-2…Pomp then barlow, 2 big weeks coming up…
Went to NM/Oxford last night.. For the life of me, can’t figure how a LL team like New Milford gets pounded up and down the field by an average class S team like Oxford. Oxford is still a new program and look what they have built in a few short years. This is the 3rd time I have seen New Milford this year, thought they played well against Newtown, not very good but not terrible against Brookfield, and terrible last night. At what point does the AD there say what is going on? I saw their freshamn team play at Brookfield, I think it was 40-0 Brookfield at half. My understanding is, but I am not certain, that their frosh and jv teams haven’t won either this season. An entire LL Football program winless at all 3 levels? The coaches and athletic department are failing those kids who get out there and compete each week. Sad.
@Larry – That’s given to me by my coworkers, not sure why they’d leave out Cotterell.
And the Hatters DID show up. They just lost in the final minute
@whopper16, that has got to be one of your most one sided, ignorant comments yet.
Jeez Whopper…thanks for the lecture…first, just let me say that Brookfield has no chance at going 8-2 with Barlow and New Fairfield left on schedule. As for the Green Wave..yes, another painful season. Embarassing loss to a class S school. This team had the talent to win at least 5 games and clearly have under-achieved. Some kids come off the field after another beating looking angry or frustrated, others laughing and smiling. Bad program. Last 8 years of NM Football; only 3 seasons of 3 wins or more, and only 1 winning season, a 6-5 campaign in 2008. To expect different results when doing the same thing every week is insanity. They run the same 8-10 plays on offense, too predicatble. I feel bad for the kids who try hard every week, but don’t need your advice Whopper. Worry about Brookfield. At least NM knew before the season they weren’t going to States..
Whopper, worry about Brookfield’s coaching. To see Brookfield give up the same fake punt against Masuk in times when it was very apparent a fake was coming is bad coaching. Brookfield runs the same few plays as well. And your defense? Can’t find many more that have some of the worst schemes ever. Not to mention, Milone is one of, if not the best, returner in the state and what does Brookfield keep doing…..kicking it deep. WHAT WERE YOU THINKING!!!!!! Brookfield people make me laugh. They always boast about how good they are or are going to be and always fail at the end.
maybe because danbury stinks – and them showing up is like a low tier team putting together a good teams c game….
good for the westhill kid… reality check this week as westhill will be romped – game over at halftime.. never a game.
And what was up in that Prep vs Hamden game? Danbury beat Hamden 15-14 in a well played game by both teams. Yet Danbury is really struggling in the FCIAC with a 1-4 record (PF 75 / PA 162) … with losses to Darien 41-6 and Staples 51-6.
But then Prep barely squeaks by Hamden this week and coach says:
“Relieved is how I am, we came close to losing this. For some reason we didn’t give them the respect they deserve and we almost paid the ultimate price for it.” -Fairfield Prep coach Tom Shea, on his team’s 27-20 win over Hamden
What does that say about the SCC’s “undisputed league strength” when Hamden can cause a “near death” experience to one of its best LL teams yet Hamden can’t beat one of the FCIAC’s weakest LL teams?
Prep’s coach Shea is overrated. I don’t know where he gets off taking that bull!!!
@JB, my observations of the SCC strength is that week in and week out each team is playing against a program that can and will compete for a state playoff birth. Their brutal scheduling against rank teams each week not only take their toll on them physically but mentally as well. It’s difficult not to look ahead and prepare for future games, as evidenced by coaching staff attending games they will not face for weeks, just to get an idea and game plan. Look at what’s happened so far and compare it to the weeks ahead. The SCC will dominate again this year.
Whopper… I don’t know anything about New Milford Football other than that they didn’t rollover and played Masuk pretty well in week 2, all things considered. They have a few kids who can play, but are vastly undersized on line, I think that is it in a nutshell for them..no comments on coaching/program as I have no idea about any of that. I do know that Brookfield talks alot, and is still getting a lot of mileage out of Lutrus years and the Kelly year of 2010. You have an average program in Brookfield, and will be lucky to finish 6-4 this season after all your talking. SWC again comes down to Newtown /Masuk as usual. Maybe next year ( or the year after) Whopper..
some people thing football is dying in the area youth programs are losing kids and the lack of grade appropriate and no weight limits hurts new milford, new fairfield, brookfield, etc
Mr. FCIAC…I direct your attention to Cyfcl.org Colonial Youth Football and Cheer. Members of Colonial are comprised of towns who compete in Connecticut’s three premier High School sport conferences:
Fairfield County Interscholastic Athletic Conference (“FCIAC”)
South West Conference (“SWC”)
Southern Connecticut Conference (“SCC”)
Who annually produce numerous State Champions in Football.
BY THE WAY THIS IS NOT POP WARNER….BUT AMERICAN YOUTH FOOTBALL WHICH IS Unlimited Weight AND Grade Specific
Bullards Haven was banged up last week, not having #32 Shannon for most of the game do due a concussion and then losing their starting QB with a ankle sprain. Prince came to play led by a 14 year old QB and a very talented #5 , sorry I’m not good with their names but they stood out on Saturday. The Tigers have Platt Tech this week who got manhandled last week at home facing Capital Prep. The Tigers will be starting Chris McNamara at QB who is 14 or 15, but has a good arm and is pretty quick. I have seen him in action this past Saturday with Prince and kid held his own. I think this will give the Tigers offense a passing game that was non- existent in previous games. I like the Tigers chances this week, with the new kid in town stepping up in the pocket.
brookfield talks? maybe people on here talk but those people are not involved in the program. some of you are stupid to think that people involved in the programs actually talk on here. as for brookfield they played well in the first half came back and almost tied it, then masuk took over in the second half. as for the coaching if im not mistaken the won states in 08 beating both masuk and newtown in that year and made it to the semis in 10. also i was at the game and could hear the entire sidelines screaming fake repeatedly so im not sure how you blame the coaching. out of 6 tds masuk scored 4 were from 50 yds or more or something like that. at least the masuk starters played an entire game.
@SJ Alum – I can see Prep having a letdown for maybe the first half, but that game was fully competitive right up to the end. The only LL team on Prep’s remaining schedule that is playoff caliber is West Haven … on Nov 22nd. That is a long look ahead. But based on how they competed with Hand, West Haven may be even better than Xavier. If so and WH runs the table, then the only SCC team that would make the LL playoffs would be West Haven. That would be really strange based upon all the preseason hype, but it could happen.
However, I do see your point on the SCC scheduling generally being more brutal – which can have a negative impact to qualifying for the playoffs. I think the Challenge games next year will be great, but not necessarily in regards to the playoff qualifying for either league. It could just end up disqualifying even more of the worthy teams compared to other leagues with weaker scheduling. There could be 2-loss SCC/FCIAC teams that are stronger than 1-loss teams from the other conferences. Somehow, the CIAC needs to address this strength of schedule difference other than by the current point system. Maybe Sean needs to develop the first ever CTHSFB computer ranking!
Great Idea JB, What about it Sean? a CTHSFB computer ranking including strength of schedule? That would eliminate the probability of, let’s just say…Xavier Beats West Haven and goes onto the LL Championship against Staples, Hand will definitely be routing for Xavier (possibly tweeting) Ansonia will be making phone calls advocating for #1 and we will have all the other teams posting on how they won their scrimmages this year against Top Ten Teams, Love it!
@JB – If Xavier only loses to WH from here on out, I think it’s still very possible they make the playoffs. I’m figuring there would be two slots left, to be filled by Xavier, Ridgefield, Glastonbury, or Hartford Public (none of the current 2-loss teams would pass X in that scenario). I added up beaten opponents’ wins as they currently stand and assumed those 4 teams win out, except for X losing to WH. X: 27, Ridgefield: 14, Glastonbury: 21, and HPublic: 20.
Ridgefield isn’t going to make the cut, even at 9-1, without a miracle. Hartford Public has Middletown and Windsor still to play. If they win both of those games, then the question is – will the teams X will have defeated make up another three wins over the teams HPublic will have defeated? Based on past performance, the answer is yes, and Xavier makes the playoffs at 8-2 over two 9-1 teams. I agree it’s not a perfect system, but there are things in place that make it decent.
@SJ Alum, et al – What are we talking about? Crazy No. 1 determining theories? Unified belts?
There already is a solid computer ranking. Ned Freeman’s Calpreps http://calpreps.com/2012/ratings/Connecticut_all.htm
Sean – I’m not sure Ned’s machine is so solid. Prep at #5 and Greenwich and West Haven at 8 and 12 respectively is pretty suspect. It obviously puts too much weighting on opponents past success (Cheshire and Shelton). Prep would lose to both those 8 and 12 teams by 2 to 3 TDs. Time will tell though – Ned’s machine must have been at the Staples scrimmage!
@PatPatriot – Ned’s machine is cold and unfeeling… unlike yourself.
Absolutely, after states continue play LL vs. S, L vs M winners play for rankings, arguably best 4 teams competing regardless of league or size.
I’m banking on Public to lose to Windsor and Middletown. 10 teams for 8 slots. XAvier in good shape to make it even if they lose to WH. In that scenario WH vs prep is a playoff game. If prep loses to WH and they both have 2 losses its a virtual tie between them. those crazy 10 point games with their opponents will have a say.
so SJ Alum, So a essentially make State Open Bracket? seems practical if only the season would start a week or two earlier, Practices opening 2nd week of August for all teams, first games beginning in last saturday of August, Ending around the same time.
@Brian & Jake – a 2-loss Manchester would likely out-point Xavier so you need even more moons to align. But can anyone believe we are talking scenarios about whether Xavier can earn enough points to get the last spot in the playoffs as a 2-loss team? Ouch. Seems like they are still drafting from that 2011 greatness, but now on the fumes of the CIAC point system? They need to take care of business with WH, we are all counting on them making playoffs.
Just a correction… It’s Marcus Esteves for Oxford, not Michael.
Hey NFA..What goes around comes around..You’ll get beat up by someone for sure.
@JB throughout the history of sports great teams reach a point where they have to rebuild. When talking about Xavier this year these guys are really mostly first year players. They have played one bad half of football defensively all year. They are still a top tier team and I believe they will make the playoffs. And be honest, you are not a Xavier fan and more people are hoping they do not make the playoffs, its called envy.
Yes Josh, gone are the days when a high school athlete lettered in 3 sports. Now, to be competitive you have to commit to a year round program, Coach Shea from Prep credits this years performance to a year round program, it was discussed on Laxworm radio. Having “The Rankings” after states will still allow the current structure, the season would start one week earlier and end one week later, More exposure for HS football, bigger crowds ( how many people wanted to see X vs Masuk? ) more revenue. Any thoughts?
@JB you are worse than the Patriots fans always harkening to the SB winning Pats to slam the current team. Xavier is a new team with a lot of guys who were part time players last year at the skill positions. I liked last year’s Xavier’s team but the competition was lame. This year the teams are much better and an inexperienced Xavier team is holding their own. I see them making the playoffs and advancing far but it depends on the defense, which is slow, and it depends on the QB. This team needs to be able to throw the ball for at least 225-300 yards in big games. It will open up the running game even more. Otherwise you will see the defense gearing up to stop the line run with 8 players. This is not the 2X defending Xavier team, it is a lot of guys who played only a few downs a year ago and I think they have done well under the circumstances.
Manchester is not beating Southington so they will have 3 losses IMO. This will put Xavier back in with 2 losses. We are also just giving Xavier a win over Middletown which may or may not be that easy. 3 losses maybe and miss LL all together? I’m sure u won’t see a lot of tears shed for them!
I certainly expect we will see Xavier in the play-offs this year. But if that is going to be the case, they better be focusing on Hillhouse this week and not looking ahead to West Haven.
@JB – I’ve got to disagree on Manchester. I think X can absorb a WH loss and still outpoint Manchester by 40 to 60 points pretty easily. My math could be wrong, but I’ve got Manchester ending with approx. 360 bonus points (assuming they beat Southington), and X ought to be around 400.
It’ll be a fun next couple weeks, either way!
New Canaan Mothers know more than some of you people….. This is scary… How can anyone beat NC when the mothers know the plays too!
http://www.stamfordadvocate.com/sports/article/Football-with-Franny-now-a-part-of-New-Canaan-3975794.php
Isn’t any way Manchester will beat Southington guys, they just lost to Newington!
@Dylan – I do not hate Xavier. Totally respect their program, coach and players – class act, no doubt. But I think the preseason hype was not accurate. Go back to my first post on this subject … its been a consistent viewpoint. Your post above summarizes the challenges pretty well. I just don’t know if they have all the pieces to make it work like last year, but still a very good football team who I think should make States.
I don’t know, didn’t Trinity Catholic beat New Canaan? Man Ruden loves Marinelli, it’s crazy
Great post about the CYFCL – Colonial Youth Football and Cheer. Look at the towns/High Schools that play AYF – Shoreline also and how the HS teams are doing.
Aspetuck
Barlow
Masuk
Newtown
Hand
Cheshire
Middletown
Shelton
Weston – until this year so HS played AYF
I KNOW I missed a few but…
Ruden loves winners: NC football, TC basketball, Darien girls volleyball, Westhill softball. Big frontrunner. Always has been. These coaches must get sick of him. He’s all over them like he’s part of the program. Of course winning teams are going to get more coverage than losing teams, but he’s Bandwagon member #1.
@SPB Thanks great stuff for the week although I am wondering why Newtown is trending up after beating a ND FFLD team that they should beat – must have been the messages you got last week (LOL
@Colonial – while AYF has helped many kids who would have had to sit out or only play certain position, I am not sure you can say it is a clear indicator of success. Some of the towns have teams in both AYF and Pop Warner and some towns – Greenwhich and others run a league with just town players. With grade level teams a few things happen. Some towns have one team and this does not allow for many kids to play different positions. Imagine Greenwhich has 8 kids playing QB at the 5th grade level another town may have 1 kid playing QB because they only have one team at that grade level. What I have seen this do as well, is make every “ok” player a two way starter. Why does this matter – when the kids get to high school they don’t want to wait until their senior year to play. They are used to always being on the field and now they are cheering their team on with no real playing time – not sure what others thoughts might be on this -
@HS Sports — Beats me. Looks like voters were looking for someone new to fill Glastonbury’s spot. I have no problems with it.
So now the common thread here is that Xavier is rebuilding?? So Hand jumped the #2 team in the State by beating a “rebuilding” team who was sitting at #1 from the year before. Wow this polling system is flawed beyond belief. Staples deserves to be #1!
Also I would love to see Staples plays NFA and let them know the FCIAC is not a conferance to mess with.
@#24 SJalum
No, no , no! There is no way any state would or ever should play the class champions against each other after they’ve already won their respective state championships. It makes zero sense. For what? A silly poll? To determine who the “REAL” state champ is? Bragging rights? It would seriously diminish the acommplisments of the other 3 class champions…after the fact. No need for it. Never gonna happen. Champions are always (and correctly) based on school size. That’s the way it’s always been and will continue to be.
Even the state of Indiana ditched their “Hoosier Hysteria” one state champ-format two decades ago. The largest schools in the state accounted for 40 of the last 42 state basketball championships. A team like Milan (Hickory, to you) only comes along once every 50 years. It’s all about the sheer #s.
What are you gonna tell the losing teams “You’re Class M champs, but not the REAL Connecticut state champs.”….ridiculous.
Staples, NC, Greenwich and Ridgefield would all beat NFA and that’s saying something because the last time Ridgefield won a big game was about 150 games ago!
In addition, can some people tell me to make me feel better that TC is not going to the FCIAC title game vs Staples.
@Lewis I think what you are reading is that Xavier has to prove its number one ranking, it did not hold up against Hand. I think it was a bad half of football. Xavier is not rebuilding, just not the top team in the state. These polls are meaningless for Staples, they get a chance to prove they are the best team, they may even get a shot at NFA. Careful what you wish for.
Dylan. I keep writing the same thing………Staples has to get by Greenwich first! The Cards are really good There are some injured players back into the lineup and they are firing on all cylinders .
Dylan I hear your point but it validates my point. The last thing I’m doing is disrespecting X and Hand because they are both giant programs but in no way should Hand have passed #2 Staples in the ranking when all they did was beat a team that was halfway through the season and still “proving” themselves. Hand’s “jump” to #1 was 100% based on Xavier last year which is where the poll went wrong. Staples and NFA would sure have some exciting storylines that’s for sure. I would love to see it.
@16..I’d love to see Bullard win out and make the States…A Tech school from B.P.?…Allright!…@24 & @31…I agree, and have been an advocate for years that when the states are done there should be two more games regardless of class size..I think LL vrs M, and L vrs S in the first round with the winners playing for the “Real Championship”…The problem is there are not enough weeks before Christmas to do this, unless as #31 says (and I agree) the season starts a week earlier, and ends a week later…That would end all arguments as to who’s “best in state”, but would leave year end sports writer polls meaningless…But hey!, they’ll still have plenty to write about..Probably even more
I love football. There is such a thing as too much football.
Brian, no need to fret, Gesualdi and Lombardo will run wild and D’Andrea will be able to frustrate Trinity’s O-line enough to maybe even get their dirty Center and Guards to get tossed again. Loss #1
Loss #2 will come the very next week when Joe’s wises up and Keeps Mufasa in when it counts , combo that w/ Pelletier and a story book season comes to a halt.
Too much football? Playoff’s? Playoff’s?, Sean they make commercials about this stuff. Men wait all year to escape to the gridiron. We spend thousands of dollars on apparel, tickets, tailgates, we subscribe to Dish and NFL networks. We neglect our families for months on end and argue with co-workers and rival fans week in and week out! We watch and attend football games whether they are pee wee, high school,college or NFL just to relive our past lives. We decorate our vehicles and homes and if by chance “Our” team wins we are rewarded with bragging rights for a year. To utter such nonsense as “Too much football” your “Mancard” is hereby suspended until such time as a proper apology is noted. Just Sayin
Sean #23 – don’t be so sure I’ve benn called cold and unfeeling plenty.
@Scully, I understand your philosophy but if I were a player or coach I WOULD rather determine my own destiny on a field of battle than to let some sideline spectator decide for me. There is no shame winning a State Championship and even more glory winning a ranked playoff. For those schools who play in weak conferences but have great programs this would be an opportunity for them to showcase their talents to the rest of the state or at least would give them a true barometer of where their programs are. Ask any high school kid who’s team was ranked #2 or lower if they would of liked to play the #1 team for a shot at the title?
@SJ Alum
I disagree with you. Kids care much more about winning titles than a ranking. So do the coaches. Too much football. End the year with the class championships.
@52 It’s more likely that Bognar runs all over TC than Gesualdi or Lombardo. Bognar has been amazing this year and lombardo is more of a receiving threat than a rushing one; we’ll see how Gesualdi’s cuts look against Staples before anyone can say how well he’ll do against TC (his cuts at Wilton were not very good compared to years past.
I think the CIAC should consider combining LL and L into one division and expand the playoffs for that division by one game. 16 teams would qualify and you could squeeze the extra game in say Wed night and then have finals on Sunday afternoon. Hand, Masuk, Windsor, NC and such all play LL teams and we don’t see any real difference competitively. The top LL vs top L show similar strength almost every year. So that distinction is a bit whimpy IMO.
@Whopper16 I know I’m late to the party here, but I can say with absolute certainty that the coaches in NM work as hard as anyone in the state and are as knowledgeable too. Unfortunately, they’re understaffed and undersupported. For whatever reason, the culture in town is one of pointing fingers rather than lending a hand. If the problem were coaching, someone would have figured it out in the past 40 years (during which time NM has had approximately 6 winning seasons). Even Tom Taylor’s one great season there was only 7-3 (in 2002). Regardless of school size, they just don’t have enough kids who really want to strap up and play ball.
At Mid-Season here would be the top 16 teams by CIAC points in a hypothetical Super-L standings:
1. Hand
2. Windsor
3. Staples
4. Southington
5. Avon
6. Masuk
7. Greenwich
8. Newtown
9. Farmington
10. NFA
11. Xavier
12. Glastonbury
13. Middletown
14. New Canaan
15. Prep
16. Ridgefield
Of course the standings would change a bit by season-end, but as an example of this hypothetical Super-L playoff the first round matchups would be:
Hand v Ridgefield
Windsor v Prep
Staples v New Canaan
Southington v Middletown
Avon v Glastonbury
Masuk v Xavier
Greenwich v NFA
Newtown v Farmington
How cool would that playoff be?
JB — I love the competitive possibilities of this, but I would have serious concerns with having kids play four games of this difficulty / magnitude in two weeks. Add in a rivalry game for most of the teams on Thanksgiving and you are talking about five huge games in 18 days. In my opinion, having the quarters and semis compressed into one week is already one of the flaws of the current system. There are player safety issues involved, as well as the fact that the quality of the games would be compromised both by lack of preparation and exhaustion (physical and mental). You would also have to convince the coaches to give up one of the potential laurels. And though you would avoid a Xavier-Masuk 2010 debate, you wouldn’t fix poll arguments in years like this, since Ansonia or equivalent would still be left out; you just eliminate one of the big school claimants.
@MXR – agreed, guess I was just day-dreaming. It is the T-day tradition and league championships that get in the way of more competitive playoffs. Otherwise, we could start the regular season a week early and use the T-day weekend as the first round dates. I see the tradeoffs and will bow to the traditonalists view on this one, but it doesn’t stop us thinking about the “what ifs”.
Ridgefiel vs. Hand??!
Uh-oh.
As was stated here last year and the other day, Ridgefield has a record of 1 win and 47 losses in big games since defeating Abbot Tech, 2-0, on a controversial safety in 1902.
Hence, why nobody talks about Ridgefield or takes them seriously in football.
@JB — agreed. I understand the bracket would shake up quite a bit because there are still so mnay games to be played within the group of 16. But assume it could hold. Masuk to win would need to beat Xavier, Staples, Windsor then Madison — i.e., the top 5 of the Register Poll other than Ansonia. Something like that would be a lot of fun to see.
@Scully – it was hypothetical. Likely a 2-loss Prep or West Haven would out-point Ridgefield by season end for teh 16th spot … but Hand would need to warm up with someone. How about rematch with WH?
@Scully Appreciate the respect you have for RHS – they do have 2 State Titles which is more than the most schools in the state. They haven’t won a big game in the past 9 years (last title was 10 years ago) because they really have not had the talent to win it. This year they will quietly go 9-1 in the FCIAC losing to Greenwhich by 13 in a game they were thoroughly outplayed. With the focus back on running to set up the pass, they have improved as a team and are playing well. Don’t think they can beat Staples in LL based on what I have seen but anyone else they can play with – not sure which schools don’t take them serious in football but we will see how well they have improved in the states. Maybe we can hope they play whoever you root for Scully? I learned a long time ago that kicking other people down does nothing to make your self better – root for your team whoever it is and leave the negative to the idiots.
If Ridgefield had jumbled their schedule to play Greenwich on T-day, given they’ve blown out every other team they’ve faced, they’d be Top 10 ranked in the state right now. Instead, other than by me, they seem to get zero respect here, not even top 20! Clearly, *when* you lose can often be more important than *to whom* you lose with regard to the polls. OK, then knowing how the game was played, I then logicked that TC should then be given more credit in the polls than Darien for not having lost yet, but, uh, that also got no traction. You can’t have it both ways voters.
None of us really knows for sure who would beat who if they matched up in the playoffs at full strength. I get that. But at least, as a group, the people voting in the polls need to have a philosophy based on such. Isn’t that what we all debate anyhow? Otherwise, let’s just go to the cold hard numbers. Oh wait, numbers lie. So why not a hybrid, aka a BCS standing? Oh wait, way too complicated. So back to square one: opinion, and opinion only. If a poll is supposed to represent which team would beat which team if they matched up, then by golly vote that way! In compiling your list, stop pretending weekly rankings are sacred cows where higher ranked teams have to lose before lower ranked teams can leapfrog them. Please.
As far as Ridgefield is concerned…..it’s schedule stinks. Not RHS’ fault, though. They will be the weakest team in the CLASS LL states (despite a 9-1 record) and will get beaten in the first round by whomever they play.
Do you know how many years the Ridgefield-Staples’ game has been majorly hyped up, and then BAM!….the game is not even competitive. Staples always blows them out. How often does Ridgefield beat Greenwich? They lost to them by two touchdowns already this year, and Greenwich is praying and licking their chops that they’ll face RHS again in the first round of the states.
Ridgefield…..just go away please until you beat a good team or two. You don’t play Darien, Staples, TC, NC, or Joe’s this year. Again, not your fault. RHS wins the games they’re supposed to win, and chokes in big games…and they don’t play many of those. Against that schedule this year, you SHOULD go 9-1!
A lot of ifs. If Greenwich ran the ball in the fourth quarter against Staples last year and ate up the clock with their 225 pound rb they might have held on to their 10 point lead. If they did most people would be talking them up more than Staples is getting talked about this season. Instead Staples is the favorite. Both teams return a lot of great athletes. Will be a great game. If,if,if
Ridgefield still has a long way to go to play at the level of Greenwich , Staples, NC.
@Honus #67…No disrespect, but Ridgefield could never “jumble their schedule to play Greenwich on Thanksgiving morning”..Thanksgiving Day rivalry games are pretty much set in stone (like granite)…Ridgefield-Greenwich is not a rivalry game..Staples & Greenwich don’t like each other & has become a great Thanksgiving morning tradition, and usually a great game…When I was a lad, the big game was Greenwich-Stamford at the old Greenwich High…But times change, and for years now Greenwich plays Westport, New Canaan, or Darien just for bragging rights..
Scully posted earlier that Ridgefield at 9-1 is not likely to make the playoffs this year. I checked and he is correct, a 2-loss Div 1 SCC team will outpoint them. What amazes me is how Newtown makes it with all those S/M level wins in their tally to qualify for the LL playoffs. The CIAC needs to really make an adjustment to the point system. They should look at Ohio’s computer formula – much more equitable based on strength of your schedule plus strength of your opponent’s schedule. Voters would benefit from it as well. The SCC would do even better under that Ohio system, but that would force other conferences to make their schedules more competitive.
@GHS1973, you missed my point. If — for sake of argument — Ridgefield were to play Greenwich last, they’d be undefeated until then. If Ridgefield had such a schedule this year, and thus were undefeated so far, are you saying they would not be Top 10? They are not even Top 20. And before you start criticizing the strength of the teams they’ve beaten, look at the strength of the other teams those in the Top 10-20 have beaten.
If a poll is going to be strictly based on opinion, which CT polls are, then the *only* criteria has to be which team could potentially beat which team if they matched up. The entire notion of “to be #1 you have to beat #1″ is as dumb as can be in CT HS football. However, a voter is certainly entitled to vote a team #1 each week because, whatever his logic, he doesn’t think any team can beat them. But if that #1 team shows weakness and makes you think they are beatable by another team, you are obligated to vote that other team ahead of them, and so on down the line. Voters, to be fair to all teams, need to stop being creatures of habit (read: lazy) and say, well, I voted this team #X last week, they didn’t lose, so I guess I am obligated to keep them ranked there. No!
@#52 Josh Boone, you have no idea what you are talking about. Our OL is far from dirty. You want to talk dirty, look at Fairfield Warde and St. Joe’s. The Warde coach yells out to his players to take out #50 and I have pics of one of the Warde players who has a stronge hold around one of the TC OL guys (arm clearly wrapped around his neck and he is being tripled team!) also look back to the tc vs. warde game in 2010. warde player strips the ball from the center before snap count, refs don’t see it or chose to ignore it and the player after the game is over clearly admits to doing it because his coach told him to….now who is dirty? Were you at the game and at the sidelines last week? if you were you would see that the Warde player actually started it, cheap shots throughout the game. By the way, did you know that 4 out of the 5 on the OL is National Honor Society—-all having extremely high GPA’s? Also look back to the Warde vs. Bassick game 2 weeks ago….Warde clearly cheated Bassick out of their win…..amazing how the clock just stops running as they are losing to Bassick….just enough time for them to setup for a field goal. Just so happens it was at their home field…. fishy?, dirty?…..just saying.
@GrimReaper Again with the they never win – in what year during the past 10 has RHS been favored over Greenwhich or Staples? None – so they win the games they are supposed to and lose the games they are supposed to – I am sure you got it directly from GHS coaches and players that they would love to play RHS again or is that your unbiased opinion. Was Greenwhich supposed to beat Staples last year? If yes, than they choked – where is the logic in that – I hope you get what your are hoping for and based on your logic evey team that loses chokes – frustrated ex-player maybe?
@TigerSupporter
You just don’t get it. You must be new to this blog. It has been a running joke on this blog for the last several years (and in reality, mind you) that Ridgefield never wins a game that makes anybody say “Wow, Ridgefield must be excellent!” Staples was favored over Greenwich last year, by the way, so Greenwich didn’t choke. Both Greenwich (and Staples, NC,) have beaten other GREAT teams over the years. You can’t say the same thing about Ridgefield. They don’t beat anybody who is great that particular season. They are the “paper Tigers.” By accident, one year, they have to knock off Staples….but they are getting blown away in those games. Non-competitive.
That’s the point everybody makes here on Ridgefield…..can’t win a BIG game. Just beating the inferior teams is not going to put you in the spotlight or a high ranking. Sooner, or later, you HAVE to beat a great football team before you can be taken seriously.
It sounds like you are actually PROUD of the fact that you beat the teams you’re supposed to beat and lose the games you’re supposed to lose. That’s sad.
Hey Scully sounds like you know what your talking about. What’s our take on Greenwich vs. Staples this year?
I’m a Ridgefielder and I agree with Grim Reaper. Until Ridgefield gets a competent coach, the losses to good teams will continue unabated. The Staples and NC coaches laugh at what they’re seeing from the RHS offense when they come to Tiger Hollow to scout.
Okay….can we NOW stop the Ridgefield talk?! At least as far as 2012 is concerned? Decent team, but a by-product of its schedule. You can’t go losing to McMahon in Week 7 when you’re competing for a playoff spot. Granted, McMahon is a different team when both of its playmakers are on the field at the same time, as I hear was the case tonight.
I don’t know much about Coach Callahan, except that some people from Ridgefield feel the football players aren’t lifting enough or physically able to match up against other talented teams. I really don’t like to comment on coaching and things I’m not 100% sure of.
Steve W, as a Ridgefielder, would know better than me. I just know that they will be one of the weakest 8-2 teams in the state this year.
Based on the loss tonight – they failed to win a game they should have won. Hasn’t been alot of talk on here re: RHS this year and now should be even less. Scully and GrimReaper – good luck with your teams – as for Steve W – have to agree that it is big disappointment in losing this game and at some point the coaches have to take some responsibility to get the team ready – obviously failed tonight.