Movement, lots of movement in ye olde Elite 8. Let’s hop to it:
TRINITY CATHOLIC (6-0, This week: at Bassick, Friday, 7)
After six weeks, a victory over New Canaan, and rapidly improving ever since, it’s time to give the Crusaders their due. Sorry, coach Stokes. We’ve ignored the Crusaders long enough. They don’t blow you away with their offensive innovations, but they do blow you a way with brute strength from a variety of different sources, not just standout tailback Shaquan Howsie.
Y’know… how football is meant to be played.
ST. JOSEPH (4-2, This week: vs. Fairfield Warde, Saturday, 2)
The Hogs lived up to their hype for a half, and then came out looking like Cadets in the second half. They took their foot off the pedal, and basically flubbed their way to a 27-21 loss. A playoff berth is not lost, far from it. But their margin of error just got a lot smaller. QB Jordan Vazzano should return vs. Warde.
FAIRFIELD PREP (5-1, This week: at Amity, Friday, 7)
Maybe not enough credit has been given to Hamden for showing up and giving the Jesuits their best game of the year against a fellow Division I school. The Dragons, who’ve been left for dead, deserve applause for making this excitement. Still, Fairfield Prep has routed stronger football teams. The experience will do them good, but last week’s 27-20 win sends up warning signs of midseason fatigue.
They should win their final three games — Amity, Branford and rival Notre Dame-WH — before Thanksgiving. But nothing’s a given.
STAPLES (5-0; This week: vs. Darien, Saturday, 1:30)
When this team is on, it’s incredible. Trumbull had no chance. Now comes one of their biggest tests of the season before Thanksgiving: Darien.
ANSONIA (6-0; This week: at Crosby, Friday, 7)
Arkeel Newsome returned and the Chargers crushed Watertown. Good luck with that, Crosby. One week until Mike Nicol and Wolcott comes to town.
GREENWICH (5-0; This week: at Westhill, Saturday, 1:30)
Like Staples, the Cardinals haven’t played a close game since Week 1. Every game story reads like they’re in training camp. Now comes Davell Cotterell and upstart Westhill. Do the Vikings have any shot against this FCIAC juggernaut?
MASUK (6-0; This week: at Notre Dame-Fairfield, Saturday, noon)
Thomas Milone and Co. turned it on in the second half to brush back a modest challenge from Brookfield. They travel to Notre Dame for what should be another Masuk-style barnburner. After that, the team will play two of the league’s best small school teams — Weston and Barlow — before the SWC Championship.
WEST HAVEN (5-1; This week: vs. Cheshire, Friday, 7)
The Westies gave No. 1 Hand their best shot and almost won, only to see a bold 2-point conversion throw slip through their grasp. With one loss in the books, it’s only going to get tougher to claim a spot in the Class LL playoffs. Cheshire’s no slouch and, two weeks later, West Haven has to go to Palmer Field before a showdown with Fairfield Prep.
NEWTOWN (6-0; This week: vs. Bethel, Friday, 7)
The Hawks swept Notre Dame-Fairfield away. They wrap up their regular season with Bethel, Immaculate and Bunnell, teams that have just three wins between them. We’ll go out on a limb and say Newtown, now No. 10 in the statewide rankings, will win out and play in the SWC title game for the third consecutive year.
NEW CANAAN (5-1; This week: vs. Wilton, Saturday, 2)
By no means were the Rams perfect vs. St. Joseph, and this isn’t a vintage New Canaan squad, but that was a season-defining victory last week. New Canaan won on sheer determination. They’re back on-target to make a push for the Class L playoffs.
RIDGEFIELD (5-1; This week: at McMahon, Friday, 7)
The Tigers just go about their business, beating the teams on their schedule. We suspect they’ll continue to do this until it’s time for the state playoffs.
BARLOW (6-0; This week: vs. New Milford, Saturday, 1)
The Falcons remain one of the region’s best stories. Down by 8 points, they triple-optioned Bunnell to death with 22 fourth-quarter points. This is looking like Barlow’s best team since the 1970s. You heard that right.
SPB,
Not that I don’t think Masuk is a top tier team but just as an observer of your elite 8 I was axious to see what you wrote about after their game against Brookfield. A week or two ago when the other SWC top team, Newtown, had a first half scare against Oxford, you said they were slipping and questioned them. The second half Oxford got steam rolled and Newtown won big. Masuk had a very similar game against Brookfield and you sweep it under the rug. I picked both those teams to be in their conference championship game but it seems as if you give Masuk a pass when they get a team to give them a good test and push them, but when any other team in the conference has a similar game, you knock them. Why is that so?
@Seriously — Masuk was up 21-0 to start. Never trailed. Specifically, never trailed by two touchdowns like Newtown.
Newtown 35 Brookfield 0 ….. at the half, just a reminder
@sawthat – Four questions: Yeah? And? So? What?
So your point is that Newtown took out Brookfield early a few Weeks ago, Masuk beat them 42-14 and after leading 21-14 at halftime means…? Newtown > Masuk? Or are you saying I should drop Masuk a few pegs? Sorry. Can’t. Won’t. It’s not enough for a legit drop. They’ve never trailed. Ever.
Newtown’s ranked and will get its chance to prove otherwise on Thanksgiving.
staples: best team in the state
@SPB laughing at you having defend Newtown trending up after beating the NDFFLD powerhouse – not a Masuk or Newtown guy but are you kidding me?!?
HS Sports, I agree, who cares who gets a 4 or 5 TD lead against the SWC bottom dwellers. Masuk has proven year after year they can compete with the best of the other leagues and can dominate the SWC. Newtown, on the other hand, can dominate the weaklings of the SWC but always drop the ball once they have a real opponent. And it is never even close in those games. Thats it, Masuk and Newtown need to changed to either the FCIAC or SWC so they can be ranked truthfully. Would love to get a St Joes vs Masuk rivalry going.
Masuk would destroy St. Joe’s every year.
Staples is clear cut number 1 for this area of the state… cannot wait for a staples xavier game in LL championship… an Ansonia v. Masuk rivalry would be a lot of fun… both are legit contenders in their respective classes each year. Newtown also may be able to compete with masuk for 3 quarters but im sorry no one will be able to contain milone and baccarella for a whole game!!! Masuk SWC Champs 3 peat!!!
Just making a point…Newtown 1 & 2 vs Cochran….Cochran’s gone…
Definitely a Newtown partisan, but neither team has proven anything & won’t until November 21…just sayin
I meant SCC, not SWC. No, Masuk would not destroy. Maybe 2 years ago, but then again, Joes was state champions also. This year would be an even match up. St Joes would have the same record as Masuk if we played their schedule.
This ranking gets more and more laughable by the week. FCIAC ands SCC fans think their league is the SEC or something. The reason why teams like Trinity are 6-0 is simple, THEIR SCHEDULE SUCKS. They beat one good team, just like most teams up there. So how they move from out of the rankings to above Newtown is laughable and not even something to be taken seriously. Newtown started the year at 7 or 8 and after 6 weeks of beating every team soundly they are still at 8???? LOL… But we all know the real reason why SPB suddenly is hating on the Hawks, because of the famous late fourth quarter TD pass vs Oxford. GET OVER IT SPB. Disagree with me all you want, but your rankings make 0 sense. Has Masuk beaten Newtown the last 2 years? yes. THEY LOST ONE GAME IN THAT TIME AND HAD A BIG EAST QB!. That has ZERO to do with this season. But yet somehow they keep on climbing up every week. But you punish Newtown for “squeaking” by Oxford (WHO IS 4-2), and praise Masuk and Prep for overcoming their adversity last week.
JOKE!
And by the way combined wins of teams West Haven has beaten: 6
wouldnt call brookfield a bottom dweller. third best team in league and showed that they can play tough football. they never gae up just got ouplayed in second half. its a shame they got called for a ticky tack penalty that got a play called back otherwise the game would have been tied going into halftime. i would be surprised if they didnt go 8 2 and squeak into states and make some noise. from the looks of it they throw too much, have a very good o line and can run well should see more of that. yes masuk and newtown are better but brookfield can compete
@Comical – Ouch man. …. you have a selective memory. Newtown’s still there aren’t, they? They haven’t moved. And Masuk hasn’t climbed in weeks. They’ve stayed right where they are. And if you want to talk soft schedules, look at Oxford’s 4-2. Let’s not skew reasoning to fit your point. Trinity’s beaten New Canaan — a pretty good football team if you want to know — and hasn’t lost. They get a boost, maybe a few weeks late. I don’t care that Newtown added a TD late, personally, because it’s never personal.
But falling behind Oxford by two touchdowns and having a touchdown lead over Brookfield, and winning 42-14… not the same thing. Not even close.
@SPB There is a difference of being “still there” and being at number 5 where they should be. Isn’t there something to say for being behind 2 td’s and still winning by 27? And just like “saw that” said, Newtown 35- Brookfield 0. HALF. But why would we compare common opponents? I guess that makes too much sense.
I love it how these Staples fans are thinking right past Greenwich. They beat watch what they say because the Cards might make them eat their words. It’s going to be a battle as it has been the last few years w the exception of 2010.
@fan..easy on Brookfield being 3rd best team in league..By the time all is said and done, Barlow, New Fairfield, and Weston may have something to say about that this year.
@Comical – NUMBER 5? Hahaha.
I am comparing common opponents, They both blew Brookfield out by multiple TDs. Yes, the Masuk game was ‘closer’ so to speak, Masuk also never trailed. Masuk hasn’t trailed all year. Unlike Newtown, which was down two TWO touchdowns to Oxford. I think that erases putting Brookfield away earlier than Masuk. I’m not putting Newtown over West Haven, you could even argue Masuk should be below West Haven. That’s fine too. You want to debate the other two, go ahead.
My rankings, though. Based on what I’ve seen and what I know.
Feel free to post your own.
@comical you want to give Newtown credit for beating Oxford? 3 of Oxfords wins are against teams with a combined record of 0-18. The only team they beat with a winning record is Bethel. Based on this you think your team should move up in the rankings – why? Based on your use of CAPS wondering how you will respond if Masuk – the only team on their tough schedule to be included in the states discussion – beats them again. Root for your team but please don’t insult the rest of us with talk about how tough Newtown’s schedule is – also last year was last year – win this year and you can make everyone a believer.
@hasbeen greenwich has a good squad… but staples is loaded, idk if you’ve seen them play this year but they have so much talent they can’t get everyone the ball… they can’t look past greenwich but they’ll handle them if they come to play just like greenwich did to staples in ’10…
Bethel is 2-4
Newtown was NEVER down two TD’s. If my math is correct 2 TD’s means 12-14 points. Largest lead Oxford has was 9. Which is not two TD’s. So since you keep saying it I figure I would correct you. Two scores, ok, but not two TD’s. If Newtown had only scored 1 TD (w/extra point) and kicked a FG, they would have won so they were obviously not down two TD’s. Big difference.
None of these teams could compete with the speed of west haven just stating facts. West Haven should not be over looked.
@GETITRIGHT – got me. It was 2 scores. But they were still trailing oxford by two scores after one half. THEY WERE TRAILING!!! is the point.
All Staples Fans: Lets beat Darien first. Quiet confidence. Lets get through Darien and Trinity?? before we get to Greenwich. We know how good the offense is. Trumbull game was the best yet. But many tests remain.
“In quietness and confidence is your strength” -Isaiah
Gah, Newtown fans. I’m A No. 1 last year, this year, a bum bc You’re not higher.
I don’t root for Staples or Greenwich. Nor do I root against them. Just a h.s. football fan.
Having said that, both have excellent football teams this year. (as they do almost every year)
However, in my humble opinion, this 2012 Staples team is a special one. They can hang 60+ points on just about anyone in the state, if they aren’t forced (thanks, CIAC!) to take their foot off the pedal. Playmakers all over that side of the ball. SCARY good.
The Staples defense, which has been its trademark for success over the past 16 years, however, is not vintage Staples. In fact, it’s average in 2012.
But it’s offense MORE than makes up for its defensive shortcomings. (Wow…I can’t believe I just typed that about a Staples defense)
Greenwich? Excellent team in 2012. But I don’t think they are “staples good” this year.
Both teams will enter Thanksgiving unbeaten FOR SURE (Dear FCIAC: your schedules stink).
Bottom line for me…..I don’t see Greenwich stopping Staples. i do think Greenwich puts up a bunch of points, though.
If I had to GUESS a final score, if the game was played this weekend: Staples 61, Greenwich 38.
@SPB– To begin, I would confidently say no one from Newtown had you as their “No. 1″ last season. Along with this, no one is calling you a bum now. You do great work, however, realize your position as someone who objectively delivers the scores/stories and that is how you are viewed, not as a friend or vilified person. You have opinions, as do other people, and in no way are yours viewed as superior.
The disrespect Newtown’s program endures on these blogs is ridiculous and entirely unwarranted. A program that has gone 8-2 for 7 straight years straight is belittled to a point where glaringly asinine statements about the program such as “Newtown, on the other hand, can dominate the weaklings of the SWC but always drop the ball once they have a real opponent” fill the comments and are tolerated for some reason. This is where I am coming from when pointing out flawed logic in statements people(including SPB) consistently make about Newtown.
Sccfan,
The speed of west haven? Idk if you went to the west haven Ansonia scrimmage but Ansonia was running right past those west haven boys, it was 28-0 in the blink of an eye. Newsome might be fastest kid this state has seen since Tinney. Get your eyes checked, they looked fast cause hand is slow
Cutler’s – Well, you’re incorrect. I couldn’t be praised enough when Newtown was up in the rankings last year. Now, I’m lost; apparently.
Just calling it how I see it.
Hey Grim #27…It seems like Staples always has the Card’s number lately on Thanksgiving, but 61-38?..That seems a little overboard..The Greenwich D is better than you think, and if O’Neil is throwing strikes again, your D backs better have his boys covered very well if you want to win…
Newtown — get to a state championship game (you haven’t been to one since 1992). Win that game. The respect thing will work itself out from there.
You are a big fish in a little pond. Much like Ansonia year in and out you have a pretty easy path to 7 or 8 wins. Once you get into the playoffs you have to win some games, then people will say you aren’t good because your path was too easy (SWC, NVL) instead of saying you aren’t good because you don’t have rings.
#28, I dont think Newtown is disrespected at all! They play in a weak league against schools half their size and they dominate them. It is not their fault as they play the schedule handed to them. If Newtown could win the SWC or a top football team from the FCIAC or SCC, the bloggers couldnt say much, but until then, beat a Staples, Masuk, Shelton, Norwalk, Glastonbury, etc and take away the ammo for these jealous bloggers. I get it, I dont agree with it, but I get it.
Geez guys, my point was that neither Newtown or Masuk has really been challenged…and yes Newtown almost let an inferior opponent get the better of them, but got it together to turn the game around…didn’t Iread something about midseason fatigue as an excuse for someone almost losing as an excuse for someone else almost losing a game? It will all be settled on the field, in the meantime this is all very entertaining..I love you,SPB!!
Sean, can you explain the reasoning why the FCIAC doesn’t have divisions for their league like the SCC? I recognize the state tourney implications but having the better football effectively play just a few competitive games per season is too bad.
Even just two divisions would be better than the current format.
Is it the coaches, ADs or principals who are opposed to this in the discussions?
sheesh I’m a Newtown resident and CT football fanatic. Although I do not agree with are ranking, lets just go out and prove it. Why worry about what the outside world is saying? if we think we’re that good, let’s go and show it, just like every other team is eventually going to have to do.
Dude its week 7 please stop talking about scrimmages.
Too bad every year Ansonia has to use a scrimmage against West Haven to validate their season. The Ansonia team is good, just how good you can never tell, because of the schedule they play.
@SPB-if Staples, Greenwich and Trinity run the table the last 3 weeks what 2 teams will play in the FCIAC championship?
@ BWthe reason they dont have 2 divisions is the uneven amount of teams. the fciac always had 2 divisions ( not set up by size like the scc) but randomly picked and changed every few years ( tho back in themid 90′s they did split them by size) when fairfield split into 2 schools it messed everything up.
@FCIAC – Most likely Trinity will qualify over Greenwich if everyone wins out.
Newtown shouldn’t even be in the mix probably the most underachieving program in the area and they get fat playing s and m schools what a joke
@ #29
Newsome is fast. But he’s not even the fastest player on Ansonia’s team.
Masuk is not exactly dominate in the State Playoffs, they have won 3 titles in their school history and two in last ten years, hardly a dominiate team in CT.
Frank, they get there at least, Newtown, New Milford are busts and it
has to with coaching
@GHS1973
What are your reasons for disagreeing with Grim’s Staples/Greenwich prediction? He said that Greenwich would have zero problems offensively with Staples, and he predicted Greenwich would put up 38 points on Staples. How many do YOU think Greenwich will put up? 50? Isn’t 38 a lot against ANY Staples team?
Or are you angry that he said Staples would score 61 on Greenwich? Or are you upset that he has Staples winning by 23 points?
Which point do you disagree with? You were not clear.
Scully Staple we win. I saw both teams this year. Staples
is locked and loaded, plus there coaches are much better then Greenwich’s .
Wow, lot of negativity floating around on this blog lately. I think SPB does an incredible job of being impartial with his high school football observations. Really, wait to the state playoffs to see how good your team really is. Last year a lot of Masuk fans were saying they were the best in the state and I believe a few even said best of all time. However, they ran into a formidable opponent in Hand who outplayed them in every facet of the game. Masuk was still an awesome team last year, just not as good as Hand. People should not look into comparing leagues because every league has great teams and every league has weak teams. The SCC has crossover games that some years are laughable, the NVL, SWC and FCIAC all have some very strong and very weak teams. With that being said, the state playoffs always sorts it out in the end.
@mr fciac – You’re criticizing a lot of different coaching staffs. What’s your criteria for judging them? Are you attending practices and breaking down film? Some of the best coaches in the area work for losing programs, and they deserve credit for fighting to turn things around. NM’s problems stem from a lack of support for the program, not the coaching staff. And to say that Greenwich has bad coaches is just plain crazy.
@48 – Sorry, meant to say “and to say Newtown has bad coaches is just plain crazy.” Greenwich obviously has a great staff too.
I don’t know if you guys were at that Newtown-Danbury scrimmage in ’04, but based on that game, Newtown should be ranked at least 6th in the Elite 8.
Prediction for Elite 8
Staples 42 Darien 14. too much of everything for Darien.
Ansonia 56 Crosby 7. too much for a bottom feeder to handle. 400 yards rushing for ANsonia
Greenwich 28 Westhill 21. close game but the superior teams prevails
Masuk 56 ND Fairfield 6. Freshmen and sophomores play most of the game. why not, ND had about 7 or 8 freshmen starting.
West Haven 34 Cheshire 28. SCC, nothing is easy. Cheshire scores in the last minutes to bring it within a TD.
Trinity 33 Bassick 0. Trinity is feeling the magic of 2012. Good going TC, now lets keep it rolling.
Fairfield Prep 27 Amity 34. Amity knocks out Prep who is that close, but not close enough.AMity has had it tough losing to WH, Hand and X. But overcomes an up and coming team at home.
Newtown 35 Bethel 0 Newtown scores at will against a team with no identity.
Next week, New Canaan jumps ahead of Newtown to #7 and every other team stays put except PRep, who drops out.
@SPB Do you think Weston and Barlow have a shot at Masuk? coach latto loves playing Masuk and always try some trick plays..and last year masuk had trouble against the triple option at barlow..what do you think?
If the Nighthawks can only get past the Panthers, they would get the respect that they deserve. The SWC is Masuk’s playground and Newtown always seems to have a great season going till the the Panthers bully them like schoolboys for their milk money. Thanksgiving is the time of year when the Panthers stuff the Nighthawks like butterball turkey in a deep fryer. Maybe it will be different this year, but until Newtown can beat Masuk in the SWC Championship, the Nighthawks are only as good as Masuk let’s them be. Gooble Gooble !
I can see Amity knocking Prep off. Amity isn’t as terrible as its been for most of the last decade.
I’m going to ahead and say that the Darien Staples game is going to be closer than everyone thinks. I’m not saying that they’ll win, but the Wave will put up a fight.
@54 well said
I just think the SCC is to dominate for a team like Newtown to even compete with if they were in that league. Lets face it teams like West Haven, Hand,and Xavier have the toughest schedule out of all those teams on the elite 8.
Teams in Leagues like the SCC should get the recognition and higher rankings due to the high number of quality opponents on their schedules.The negative to these competitive weekly games is that a few Playoff caliber teams will not qualify for post season.”The Greater The Risk, The Greater The Gain.”
I would say Newtown is probably on the same level as a team like Cheshire this year. That’s not a bad thing. Cheshire is a solid team. Just not on the level of what is the Big 3 of the conference.
A lot of these comments regarding Newtown are on or close to the point(some a little harsh)… Newtown is good, but due to the weakness of the SWC this year no one knows how good…really looking forward to a competitive game!!
Here we are again talking about Masuk in the pop Warner league. I agree they beat who they play but, every year we make them out to be some power house. WHAT HAPPENED LAST YEAR!!! they got bit slap and it could have been worse. And there all pro players folded when they FINALLY got hit by a real football player.
So lets tone it down on the greatness please. They might think they can beat Don Bosco again!!!
Having been involved with Newtowns youth football program for many years,I have seen some very talented kids work their way up to the high school program. Many of these kids are sophmores who have played their way up to the varsity team and are makeing an impact on this years team. This team has some exceptional players. Let the nay- sayers keep talking.In the end, people are going to be suprised by this group for years to come.