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.
Rick Volk was out and about Saturday at the Masuk-Southington-Berlin tri-scrimmage. So here’s the footage from that.
As Rick says in his YouTube comments, with the offenses starting on the 40-yard line: Berlin-Southington scored on TD apiece. Southington-Masuk had three TDs apiece, Masuk-Berlin was 3-1 in favor of Berlin.
I checked out Staples-Ridgefield-Cheshire on Labor Day. And the simple thing to take from that is Staples’ WR James Frusciante looked in midseason form with some incredible catches over the Ridgefield and Cheshire defenses. He also made some big end-zone pass defenses. He’s awesome. But we knew that.
Both Ridgefield and Cheshire were decent. Not incredible size up front for either team. They’ve got some spots to fill and work to do. Not going to go crazy with analysis since it was a pretty controlled scrimmage like the one above.
We’re all interested in the Masuk-Greenwich scrimmage down the road, so if you were there…
We’re just about to Labor Day, and y’all know what that means: Connecticut is just under two weeks away from actual high school football games. (ugh).
No worries, there will be football played all across the state, just not the kind that counts– unless, of course, you were at Ken Strong Stadium in West Haven Friday night.
I wasn’t. My daily work schedule has been tough on me and I was too beat to make the trek. Plus, I already saw West Haven. I’ll see Ansonia vs. Shelton. No need to go nuts.
However, we had plenty of Twitter reports from the field,Rick Volk was back with a highlight reel, and by all accounts the annual state championship of scrimmages was all Ansonia.
Arkeel Newsome scored two touchdowns ans the Chargers had 14-0 lead at halftime, when the subs typically take over. The Chargers had a pair of touchdowns, picked off a pass and had a field goal attempt blocked.
Westies found success running the ball at times. Ansonia showed an air attack to pair with Newsome. #cthsfb
And so Ansonia won Scrimmage Bowl 2012, and there was much rejoicing. It sounds like they’re coming together nicely. We’re sure West Haven will be fine.
Ansonia looked great tonight. WH looked good at times. Both teams still undefeated. #cthsfb
If you attended the scrimmage, by all means post your thoughts below. But at the end of the day, no matter what your take, they’re still scrimmages.
Alas, it’s the best Connecticut has to offer until Sept. 12.
So, if you’re just itching to see some controlled collisions, here’s the complete statewide scrimmage schedule from now until the start of the regular season.
Saturday, Sept. 1
Lyman Hall at Danbury, Danbury High School Stadium, 10 a.m.
Pomperaug at Amity, William Johnson Football Field at Amity HS, 10 a.m.
Fitch at Middletown, Middletown High School, 10 a.m.
Xavier at Glastonbury, Stadium Field (turf), 10 a.m.
New London at Glastonbury, Stadium Field (turf), 10 a.m.
Old Saybrook/Westbrook at St. Bernard/Norwich Tech, Delaporta Field, 10 a.m.
Iona Prep (NY) at Greenwich, Cardinal Stadium, 10 a.m.
HH Football Jamboree at Hillhouse, Bowen Field, 10 a.m.
Cheney Tech at Coventry/Windham Tech/Bolton, Coventry High School, 10 a.m.
Haddam-Killingworth at Bacon Academy, Football/ Soccer Field, 10 a.m.
Jamboree at New Canaan, Dunning Stadium, 10 a.m.
Shelton at St. Joseph, St. Joseph High School, 10 a.m.
Stonington at RHAM, TBA, 10 a.m.
Torrington at Farmington, Farmington High School, 10 a.m.
East Lyme at North Branford, North Branford High School, 10 a.m.
St. Paul Catholic at Gilbert/NW Regional, Gilbert, 10 a.m.
Woodland at North Haven, Vanacore Field, 10 a.m.
Jamboree at Enfield, Enfield High School turf field, 10 a.m.
East Haven at Hamden Hall/ND Fairfield/East Haven, Hamden Hall, 10:30 a.m.
Hyde Leadership at Hamden, HHS Turf Field, 10:30 a.m.
Harding at Platt Tech, Platt Tech baseball field, 10:30 a.m.
Stratford at Westhill, Westhill Football Field, 10:30 a.m.
New Milford at Norwich Free Academy, NFA Turf Field, 11 a.m.
Sacred Heart at Watertown, Mills Complex at Watertown High School, 2:30 p.m.
Fall Jamboree – Canton, Vinyl/East Hampton, Morgan at Rocky Hill, Rocky Hill High School, 9 a.m.
Ellington/Somers at Hall, Hall HS Stadium (Turf Field), 9 a.m.
Jamboree at Wilton, Fujitani Field – Turf, 9 a.m.
Jonathan Law at Hall, Hall HS Stadium (Turf Field), 9 a.m.
Ledyard at Daniel Hand, DHHS Turf Field, 9 a.m.
Norwalk at Wilton Jamboree, 9:30 a.m.
Rockville at E.O. Smith, E.O. Smith HS, 9:30 a.m.
Simsbury at Wethersfield, Cottone Field at WHS, 9:30 a.m.
Fairfield Ludlowe at Fairfield Prep, Alumni Field, Fairfield University, 9:30 a.m.
Berlin at Southington, Southington High School, 9:30 a.m.
Monday, Sept. 3
Masuk at Greenwich, Cardinal Stadium, 10 a.m.
Westhill at Seymour, Seymour High Lower Field, 9 a.m.
Ridgefield at Staples, Staples Stadium, 9 a.m.
Cheshire at Staples, Staples Stadium, 9 a.m.
Sheehan at Simsbury, Simsbury High School, 9:30 a.m.
Haddam-Killingworth at Rocky Hill, Rocky Hill High School, 3:30 p.m.
Manchester at Berlin, Sage Park, Berlin, 3:30 p.m.
Platt at Cromwell, Pierson Park, 3:30 p.m.
Prince Tech at Avon, Avon High School, 4 p.m.
Wednesday, Sept. 5
Hopkins School at Valley Regional/Old Lyme, Valley Regional High School, 3:30 p.m.
Hartford Public at South Windsor, South Windsor H.S., 3:45 p.m.
Newtown at Norwalk, Testa Field, NHS, 6 p.m.
Thursday, Sept. 6
Enfield at Fermi, Fermi H.S.turf field, 3:45 p.m.
Northwest Catholic at Manchester, MORIARTY FIELD AT MT. NEBO (SPRING ST), 4 p.m.
Bunnell at Wilton, Fujitani Field – Turf, 4 p.m.
West Haven at Bridgeport Central, Kennedy Stadium, 4 p.m.
Harding at New Fairfield, Rebel Stadium, 4:30 p.m.
New Milford at Danbury, Danbury High School Stadium, 5 p.m.
Hamden at Greenwich, Cardinal Stadium, 5 p.m.
Watertown at Bethel, DeSantis Field at Bethel High School, 6 p.m.
Wilbur Cross at Middletown, Middletown High School, 6 p.m.
Oxford at Seymour, Seymour High Main Field, 6 p.m.
Amity at Bloomfield, Bloomfield High School, 6 p.m.
Ansonia at Shelton, Shelton High, 6 p.m.
Naugatuck at Wolcott, Wolcott High School, Monroe Field, 6 p.m.
Waterford at Fitch, Dorr Field, 6:30 p.m.
Branford at Derby, , 7 p.m.
Friday, Sept. 7
Abbott Tech at Immaculate, Immaculate High School, 3:30 p.m.
East Lyme at Bacon Academy, Football/ Soccer Field, 3:30 p.m.
Staples at Fairfield Prep, Alumni Field, Fairfield University, 3:45 p.m.
Killingly at E.O. Smith, E.O. Smith HS, 4 p.m.
Glastonbury at Wethersfield, Cottone Field at WHS, 4 p.m.
Woodland at Bristol Eastern, Bristol Eastern High School, 4 p.m.
Nonnewaug at Housatonic/Wamogo, Housatonic Field, 4:15 p.m.
Stratford at Ridgefield, Tiger Hollow Stadium, 5 p.m.
Cromwell at Berlin, Sage Park, Berlin, 5:30 p.m.
Westhill at Jonathan Law, Jonathan Law Field, 6 p.m.
Platt Tech at Fairfield Ludlowe, Taft Field, 6 p.m.
Notre Dame-Fairfield at Morgan, Peters Complex, 6 p.m.
Hall at Guilford, Kavanaugh Turf Field at GHS, 6 p.m.
Windsor at Cheshire, Cheshire High Main Game field, 6 p.m.
Conard at Daniel Hand, DHHS Turf Field, 6 p.m.
Xavier at Stamford, 6 p.m.
Ellington/Somers at Rockville, RHS football field, 6:30 p.m.
North Haven at Notre Dame-West Haven, , 7 p.m.
Old Saybrook/Westbrook at East Haven, East Haven High School, 7 p.m.
Southington at Pomperaug, Sports Complex & Track, 7 p.m.
Griswold at Montville Jamboree, , TBA
Saturday, Sept. 8
Cheney Tech at Tolland, Tolland High School, 10 a.m.
East Catholic at Coventry/Windham Tech/Bolton, Coventry High School, 10 a.m.
Woodstock Academy at St. Bernard/Norwich Tech, Delaporta Field, 11 a.m.
Farmington at Norwich Free Academy, NFA Turf Field, 11 a.m.
Gilbert/NW Regional at Bullard Havens Tech, Bullard Havens Field, 12 p.m.
St. Paul Catholic at Haddam-Killingworth, Haddam Killingworth HS, 1:30 p.m.
Trinity Catholic at Rye Country Day (NY), , 3:30 p.m.
Talk about starting the preseason with a tough opponent.
The Greenwich High School football team will travel to Ramsey, N.J., Tuesday to scrimmage national power Don Bosco Prep at 5 p.m. How good is Don Bosco Prep? Here’s a quick glance at the Ironmen.
They are coming off their third consecutive undefeated season – a season that saw them win the New Jersey State IAA Non-Public Group 4 championship for the sixth straight year.
Coached by Greg Toal, Don Bosco finished as the No. 1 team in the country in five national rankings last fall. Don Bosco, which beat rival Bergen Catholic 42-14 for the state championship, finished 11-0 in 2011, outscoring its opponents 452-92.
Seven seniors from last season’s Don Bosco squad will play collegiate football at the Division I football this fall. The list included: Elijah Shumate, running back/defensive back, Notre Dame; Leonte Caroo, wide receiver, Rutgers; defensive lineman Darius Hamilton, the son of former New York Giants defensive lineman Keith Hamilton, (Rutgers); linebacker Michael Strizak (Boston College); offensive lineman Michael Casimos (Akron), offensive lineman Tyler Samra (UConn) and safety Kyle Sakowski (Lafayette).
Though the Ironmen graduated these seven key players they return a lot of talent. One of the squad’s main strengths is its defensive line, which features seniors Alquadin Muhammad (6-4, 230) and Razohnn Gross (5’11, 215). Senior Spencer Scannell leads the linebacker corps for Don Bosco, which should also by keyed on offensive by the return of junior running back Aaron Guzman.
Touting a 46-game winning streak, the second longest streak in the nation, Don Bosco has dominated its N.J. foes so much that it has made a habit of playing out of state teams in recent years. Don Bosco opens its regular season on Sept. 8 against Gilman High from Baltimore, Md., then will travel to Fort Lauderdale, Fla., to take on St. Thomas Aquinas – also one of the top-ranked teams in the nation.
It will be interesting to see how the Cardinals stack up against Don Bosco on Tuesday. It should no doubt help prepare Greenwich for its regular season opener against Ridgefield.
Grab your permission slips and physical forms. Lace up your best running shoes, leave your pads in your locker and start stretching.
Today is the first day of the 2012 high school football season.
We begin in earnest Wednesday with conditioning practices for the teams that elected to forgo traditional spring practice. They’re the first to strap on pads and start hitting on Monday.
Here’s a quick look at the regional teams who will begin practice this week, follow by a list of the other state schools beginning practices Aug. 20.
SO… Whaddawegot? Whaddawe know?
Very little at the moment.
Most of this was culled from looking at last year’s rosters and stats, some of it came from off-hand discussions with coaches and players. So we were vague because we don’t know everything.
Not yet.
But no worries, we have a whole month to cram for our official previews.
For now, here’s what’s what our local teams are looking at heading into first practice.
Regional Teams beginning Aug. 15
Abbott Tech (3-7) – Sr. QB/LB Greg Ramos and Soph. DL Delton Rogers return to help the Wolverines build.
Bethel (7-4) – OL/DE Pete Serencsics headlines a squad hammered by graduation of top stars from last year’s playoff team.
Brookfield (5-5) – Sr. QB Boeing Brown and the Bobcats are looking to atone for last year’s 5-5 season. They have some leaks to plug.
Bullard-Havens (7-3) – Must find a new QB, but return leading rusher in John Shannon.
Derby (4-6) – Have standout WR Dillon McMahon, but QB Ray Kreiger is gone. (How’s kid brother and sophomore Mike Kreiger lookin’?)
Fairfield Prep (5-5) – Backfield tandem Joe McBride (back from midseason injury) and Dillon Ryan headline a program still trying to regain its mojo.
Foran (3-7) — Lost a large senior class, including QB Matt Aspinwall and back Dave Yerxa. This year’s junior class looks deep.
Immaculate (0-10) – If new coach Tom Taylor can’t resurrect the Mustangs, no one can.
Jonathan Law (0-10) — Young team that was 0-10 last year, still looking for standouts. Losing star WR Connor Falaguerra hurts.
Notre Dame-West Haven (8-3) – Lost a massive senior class, but plenty of capable juniors ready to fill the gaps. Junior RB/LB Cameron Tucker is a top returner.
O’Brien Tech (3-7) – New coach Nick Aprea takes the reins from AD Dan Nemergut, who took the reins (briefly) from Ken Roberts. Sr. QB Nick Coppola is among the key returners.
Oxford (3-7) – Lost a few stars and has a small senior class, but versatile QB/HB/LB Brennan Diaz has come of age. The Wolverines are also coping with the tragic death of teammate Eric Giordano last spring.
Platt Tech (4-6) — Lost a few seniors from last year’s 3-7 squad. Still has QB Angelo Genovese and RB Anton Graham.
Pomperaug (8-2) — QB Eric Beatty and RB Dylan McAllister return to lead a large group of returning seniors. OC Steve Croce has left to coach at Post University.
Ridgefield (8-3) – With QB Connor Rowe, RB Sam Gravitte, LBs Andrew Barton and Chris Mirra returning, it’s one of the FCIAC’s most established teams.
Seymour (5-5) — Looking for new leaders after losing a significant number of stars from last season, including Jon Wilson and Luke Grabowski.
St. Joseph (4-6) – Has a good, veteran group returning, including seniors WR/DB Jake Pelletier, FB/LB Nick Pulaski and TE Mark Hirschbeck (etc).
Stratford (2-8) – RB/DB Dana Smith leads a large group of unproven seniors. The Devils be road warriors at Bunnell while Penders Field gets a turf facelift (could be ready for Pomperaug in October).
Trinity Catholic (3-7) – Anxiously hoping RB Shaquan Howsie can successfully rebound from last year’s ACL injury.
Statewide teams beginning Aug. 15
Avon, Bloomfield, Bristol Eastern, Bulkeley, Canton, Capital Prep/Classical, Cheney Tech, Cheshire, Conard, Cromwell, E.O. Smith, East Catholic, East Hampton/Vinal, East Hartford, East Haven, Ellington/Somers, Fitch, Gilbert/Northwestern, Glastonbury, Granby Memorial, Guilford, Haddam-Killingworth, Hall, Hamden, Hartford Public, Housatonic/Wamogo, Killingly, Ledyard, Middletown, Morgan, New London, Newington, Nonnewaug, North Branford, Northwest Catholic, Norwich Free Academy, Old Saybrook/Westbrook Plainfield, Plainville, Prince Tech, Putnam/Tourtellotte/Ellis Tech, RHAM, Sacred Heart, SMSA/University, South Windsor, St. Bernard/Norwich Tech, Stafford, Waterford, Watertown, Weaver, Wilcox Tech, Windsor, Wolcott Tech, Woodstock Academy.
Everyone else, hang tight for 5 days. We’ll see you Aug. 20
Mark Jaffee at Republican-American has the very latest on the long rumored and infinitely discussed impending transfer of All-American wide receiver and Boston College commit David Coggins, quarterback Javon Martin and fullback Xavier Woods from Sacred Heart to Naugatuck.
While Woods is all set to start practicing for the Greyhounds, there are some serious issues afoot over Coggins and Martin’s hopes of joining him.
Some background, since this isn’t a topic we’ve covered:
According to Jaffee, when Sacred Heart coach Chris Ortiz quit in early May, rumors swirled that key players would follow him out the door. Naturally, those rumors intensified when it became clear that one of those players would be Coggins, Ortiz’ nephew and a highly sought-after receiver who missed all of last season with an ankle injury.
But the rumors wouldn’t die. Coggins, Martin and tailback Xavier Woods were going to Naugatuck. You could bet the ranch on it.
Sure enough, in late July Naugatuck athletic director Tom Pompei confirmed to the NVL Football blog that the students’ families had been in touch with him regarding a transfer to Naugatuck. It was only a matter of clearing up “some red tape,” Pompei told reporter Kyle Brennan, and the athletes would be enrolled shortly.
It turns out that ‘red tape’ is more like a big, giant ball of tangled fishing line, and there are multiple sides tugging at it.
Meme Martin, who is Javon Martins’s mother and Coggins’ legal guardian for the past five years (Ortiz is her brother), told the Republican-American she’s in financial straits after losing her job, she owes Sacred Heart tuition for the previous school year, and she hasn’t yet found a place to live in Naugatuck. “As soon as I find a place, I am over there ASAP,” she told the newspaper.
There’s also an issue over her son’s and Coggins’ school transcripts. Since she owes the school money, she can’t get them released.
“I asked if I can work out a payment plan so we can go about our business, but they said that it couldn’t (start) no later than the middle of September. There’s no way I could pay that (full) amount. I have called people to try to get a loan, but I am having no luck. They are not making it easy.”
On the other hand, Sacred Heart athletic director Jon Carroll told the Republican-American that if there is a legal change of address, the two students could transfer and play this season. (In that case, would that mean Martin can get the transcripts released?)
Bottom line: It doesn’t look like Coggins or Martin will be wearing Naugy uniforms in the foreseeable future. But this is starting to go far beyond football. Now it’s getting perilously close to interrupting their actual schooling.
OK, so we’ve been busy lately. Busy trying to scrape together every last bit of information to cram into our official high school football previews which will begin next week. I’ve been running around getting personal video interviews with a majority of our 50 schools, trying to somehow cut them all together with video previews — complete with highlights and outlooks, etc.
So after a trip to see the Trumbull schools yesterday, I hightailed it to Shelton for the annual Valley throw-down with Ansonia. I somehow managed to get lost in the Trumbull back roads (don’t ask) so I missed the fireworks of the first few seconds: back-to-back kickoff returns to start a scrimmage that ultimately ended with Shelton ahead 28-27 at halftime (and ended the varsity portion of the game). I also missed a long Shelton touchdown pass and some other big plays. Just shaking off the preseason jitters.
So consider this a pretty poor representation of last night’s scrimmage at Finn Stadium. Whatever. It’s only a scrimmage and we’re only days away from getting real highlights.
Quick thoughts: These teams need to shore up their defenses quick. Ansonia’s gotta work on the turnovers.
We have one or two or three more scrimmages today before we hunker down and get ready for opening night on Wednesday.
Continuing our scrimmage coverage for the week, we present two significant game scrimmages (you know, the one run like actual games): Newtown at Seymour on Friday, Sept. 2. Then Masuk at Greenwich, Monday, Sept. 5.
NEWTOWN AT SEYMOUR We’ll start with this one first. Played on the practice fields at Seymour high school, Newtown defeated the Wildcats 36-27 (or 5 TDs to 4). Notable was the absence of Seymour QB Luke Grabowski, who was just on his way back from an injury at the time. (He has since returned.) Mike Conlon started and, after a shaky start, the Seymour offense got itself into a groove behind RBs Jon Wilson (21) and Jimmy Vartelas (30).
Senior Greg Frattaroli (13), back from an injury, played QB for Newtown in the first half and threw a couple of TDs. Senior FB Lou Fenaroli (44) scored a touchdown, as did utilityman Dan Hebert (12).
WATCH
MASUK AT GREENWICH Our second reel is bound to get a bit more attention. Defending Class L champion Masuk took a trip to face Greenwich at Greenwich Central Middle School on Labor Day morning.
This makeshift field was used while Greenwich determines if and when it can use Greenwich’s Cardinal Stadium, whose grounds are contaminated with toxic chemicals. The field is fine, the grounds around the bleachers are not. Greenwich athletic director Gus Lindine said the school has plenty of options if the field has to be changed. “We’ve had a lot of offers. Everybody’s been real nice,” he said, adding that he hoped to know for certain by the end of this week.
Greenwich coach Rich Albonizio might have preferred not playing in front of spectators for this one. Early in the scrimmage the coach stopped action to yell at parents and fans for criticizing the referees. “We’re trying to teach the kids sportsmanship! So we don’t need anybody attacking the officials!”
Masuk outscored Greenwich 5-1. Tom Milone (22), Colin Markus (28) scored touchdowns. Ryan Norado (17) and Brandon Cusmano (9) made outstanding catches. And we saw for the first time new receiver Jason Piontkowski (86), a transfer from New London (yes, the rumors are true for all those who asked me this week). He caught a few of passes, including one for a touchdown.
Masuk’s defense was fast, aggressive and punishing behind Matt Duignan (50), Pat Tripodi (30) and Shawn Flynn (87). Flynn was a menace all morning. He tipped a pass for an interception, forced a fumble after getting beat deep on another pass and, later, laid out Greenwich QB Liam O’Neil on a run play.
Flynn was penalized for leading with his helmet, one of a few penalties he picked up that morning. (“Yeah, I’ve gotta watch that,” Flynn said.) Greenwich’s players, of course, took exception and the scrimmage got chippy before concluding.
Though it didn’t score much, Greenwich did move the ball with a few big plays. They struggled to stop precision passing from Casey Cochran and running from Markus. We probably didn’t get to see Greenwich’s full potential since it was playing without captains C Will Trepp and RB/LB Shane Nastahowski.
(If you listen real close, you can hear MSG’s Mike Quick offering some commentary on the game. He says the talent invoice is in the mail.)
Our staffers and photographers continue to run all over Fairfield and New Haven counties, collecting images, videos and (most important) information on our 50 regional high school football teams.
Over the next week, we’ll be molding all of these tidbits into one mighty 2011 preview package to be unveiled the week of Sept. 11 (Gave me chills to write that date, actually, considering its significance. Can’t believe it’s been 10 years since.)
Here are some of the latest stories from Hearst CT, in case you missed any of them:
Lewis likes new path as Bassick head coach
Columnist Chris Elsberry speaks with new Bassick coach Derrick Lewis, the former All-American lineman at Southern Connecticut State and All-State lineman from West Haven. Now a minister on the East End, Lewis sounds like he’s entrenching himself in the job.
Greenwich High School football home games in jeopardy because of contamination
Greenwich Time’s Neil Vigdor details the frustrating saga of the GHS field issues. Scrimmages are being moved and, with just a week and change to go before the opener vs. Ridgefield, it doesn’t look like Cardinal Stadium will be ready, much to the chagrin of coach Rich Albonizio and others in the school system.
Your cheatsheet for SWC fantasy football
In a fun column, News-Times writer Kevin Duffy gives us a mock draft of the top SWC football players if you were ever to run a fantasy football league. (I wouldn’t recommend it.)
Pomperaug in search of a quarterback
Duffy took a visit to Southbury to see how new coach Dave Roach and Panthers were getting along without Chuck Drury and Kellen Croce.
Now, on to the scrimmages:
We’ve visited seven scrimmages so far and seen 19 regional teams. Saturday was the biggest football day so far and the rumors and reports have been flying fast and furious from other sites. Ansonia beat West Haven 27-15… North Haven impressed in a scrimmage with Guilford and Woodland… Warde and Oxford impressed in a scrimmage with Hillhouse and Cromwell… Torrington beat Farmington 24-20 in a game scrimmage.
Then there were the reports that Masuk blitzed both Berlin and Southington, something like 18 TDs to one or two or three (depending on who you heard from). Video from Berlin surfaced on YouTube, so we’ll start with that:
WATCH
Meanwhile, We took a trip to a pair of quad scrimmages at New Canaan and McMahon. It was mostly to get preseason video interviews. We did manage to pick up some highlights.
Here’s the scene at the New Canaan Jamboree featuring Bethel (maroon), Trinity Catholic (yellow), Arch Bishop Stepinac or White Plains (blue jerseys) and the legendary Cardinal Hayes of the Bronx (white with maroon trim).
Really not much to see here, especially since it was many of these schools’ first scrimmage of the year. Bethel looked pretty good with QB Brandon Schmidt and RB Brian Birdsell. New Canaan and Trinity looked slightly off on offense but, realistically, you couldn’t take much from this.
WATCH
Finally, we finally publish video from the Ridgefield-Barlow scrimmage. Played August 26 — before Ridgefield was hammered by Tropical Storm Irene — this was the first official scrimmage of the 2011 season.
Again, not much to take from this aside from a couple highlights. Ridgefield QB Connor Rowe’s long TD pass to Sam Gravitte and a couple touchdown runs from Barlow, including one from sophomore QB Jack Shaban (No. 1). He’s been battling Cooper Brown (No. 5) for the gig.
WATCH
Finally, we ran over to McMahon High School in Norwalk and caught up with some of the city schools, Central and Bassick; McMahon and Norwalk.
I got here almost an hour late and only caught some of the first-team squads going head-to-head. So this video isn’t anything stellar. You’ll recognize new Bassick coach Derrick Lewis, Central coach Dave Cadelina, McMahon coach A.J. Albano and new Norwalk coach Sean Ireland and some of the returning stars for all the teams.
Here’s the updated, updated scrimmage schedule for this weekend and beyond. Lots of changes (like Ansonia-West Haven sent to Veterans Field in West Haven Saturday, Sept. 3.) due to the post-Irene effects.
Saturday
Masuk at Southington, 9 a.m.
Football Jamboree at Rocky Hill at, Rocky Hill High School, 10 a.m.
Amity at Pomperaug at, Pomperaug High School, 10 a.m.
Round Robin w/ Fitch & Valley Regional at Middletown at, Middletown High School, 10 a.m.
East Hampton/Vinal Tech at Rocky Hill Jamboree at, Rocky Hill High School, 10 a.m.
Weston/Wolcott/Maloney/Platt Quad at Platt at, Falcon Field, 10 a.m.
Hamden Hall at East Haven at, East Haven High School, 10 a.m.
Guilford and North Haven Scrimmage at Woodland at, Woodland Football Field, 10 a.m.
Farmington at Torrington at, Torrington High School, 10 a.m.
Jamboree at New Canaan at, Dunning Stadium, 10 a.m.
Ansonia at West Haven at Veterans Field, 10 a.m.
Wilbur Cross at Hamden at, HHS Turf Field, 10 a.m.
Shelton at St. Joseph, 10 a.m.
East Hartford at Enfield at, Enfield High Turf Field, 10 a.m.
Jonathan Law at Westhill, 10 a.m.
Greenwich at Iona Prep (NY) at, Iona Prep, 10 a.m.
Quad Scrimmage at Hillhouse at, Bowen Field, 10 a.m.
Lewis Mills at at Gilbert vs St. Paul at, Gilbert, 10 a.m.
Monument Mountain (MA) at Housatonic/Wamogo at, High School Field, 10 a.m.
SMSA/University at Woodstock Academy at, Bentley Main Field, 10:30 a.m.
Granby Memorial at Nonnewaug at, Nonnewaug High School, 10:30 a.m.
Glastonbury at New London at, Canamella Field, 11 a.m.
Danbury at Lyman Hall at, Lyman Hall Fitzgerald Field, 11 a.m.
Norwich Free Academy at New Milford at, New Milford, 11 a.m.
Wolcott at Jamboree at, Maloney High School, 12 p.m.
Norwalk at Multi-team scrimmage at McMahon at, McMahon H.S, 1 p.m.-5p.m.
Putnam/Tourtellotte/Ellis Tech at Jamboree at, Falcon Field, 3 p.m.
Wolcott Tech at CSC Jamboree at Wilcox Tech at, , 3 p.m.
CSC Showcase at Wilcox Tech at, Falcon Field, 3 p.m.
Northwest Catholic at Hall at, Hall HS Stadium (Turf Field), 9 a.m.
Joel Barlow at Wilton Scrimmage Jamboree at, , 9 a.m.
Trumbull at Bunnell at, Bunnell Turf Field, 9 a.m.
South Windsor at Daniel Hand at, DHHS Turf Field, 9 a.m.
Darien at Branford at, James L. MacVeigh Alumni Athletic Complex-Turf Field, 9 a.m.
Fairfield Ludlowe at Fairfield Prep at, Alumni Field, Fairfield University, 9 a.m.
Crosby at Windsor Locks/Suffield/East Granby at, Windsor Locks High School, 9 a.m.
Waterford at Westborough high school, MA at, Westborough High School, 9 a.m.
Rockville at Stafford/East Windsor at, Stafford High, Lighted field behind school, 9:30 a.m.
Monday
Torrington at Seymour at, Seymour High Lower Field, 10 a.m.
Masuk at Greenwich at, Cardinal Stadium, 10 a.m.
Ridgefield at Staples at, , 9 a.m.
Tuesday
Manchester at Berlin at, Scalise Field- Sage Park, 2:45 p.m.
Haddam-Killingworth at Rocky Hill at, Rocky Hill High School, 3:30 p.m.
O’Brien Tech at Nonnewaug at, Nonnewaug High School Field, 3:45 p.m.
Immaculate at New Fairfield at, Rebel Stadium, 4 p.m.
Prince Tech at Avon at, Avon High School, 4 p.m.
Cromwell at Platt at, Falcon Field, 4:30 p.m.
Wednesday
East Catholic at Farmington at, Farmington High School, 3:30 p.m.
New Milford at Danbury at, Danbury High School Stadium, 4 p.m.
Lewis Mills at Gilbert/OWT at, Gilbert, 4 p.m.
Maloney at Lyman Hall at, Lyman Hall Fitzgerald Field, 4 p.m.
Norwalk at Newtown at, Blue and Gold Stadium, 5 p.m.
Oxford at Seymour at, Seymour High Main Field, 6 p.m.
Bassick at Jonathan Law at, Jonathan Law Field, 7 p.m.
Thursday
West Haven at Bridgeport Central at, Kennedy Stadium, 4 p.m.
Notre Dame-West Haven at Amity at, Amity High School, 4 p.m.
Guilford at Hall at, Hall HS Stadium (Turf Field), 4 p.m.
South Windsor at Woodstock Academy at, Bentley Main Field, 4 p.m.
Newington at Stonington at, Donald Palmer Field, 4 p.m.
Westhill at Joel Barlow at, Field I (Stadium), 5 p.m.
White Plains (NY) at Fairfield Warde at, Tetreau/Davis Field, 6 p.m.
Bethel at Watertown at, Mills Complex- High School., 6 p.m.
Hyde Leadership at Torrington at, Torrington High School, 6 p.m.
Ansonia at Shelton at, Shelton High School Finn Stadium, 6 p.m.
Greenwich at Hamden at, HHS Turf Field, 6 p.m.
Enfield at Fermi at, Fermi H.S.turf field, 6 p.m.
Naugatuck at Wolcott at, Wolcott High School, Monroe Field, 6 p.m.
Wilbur Cross at Middletown at, Middletown High School, 6:30 p.m.
Wilton at Bunnell at, Bunnell Turf Field, 6:30 p.m.
Branford at Derby at, Derby -Ryan Athletic Complex- Deflippo Field, 7 p.m.
Friday
E.O. Smith at Killingly at, New Killingly High School, 4 p.m.
Wethersfield at Glastonbury at, Stadium Field (turf), 4 p.m.
Fairfield Prep at Staples at, Staples HS, 4 p.m.
McMahon at Darien at, DHS Stadium Field, 4 p.m.
Nonnewaug at Housatonic/Wamogo at, High School Field, 4 p.m.
Abbott Tech at East Hampton/Vinal Tech at, Vinal Regional Technical High School, 4:30 p.m.
Platt at Simsbury at, Simsbury High School, 4:30 p.m.
Stratford at Ridgefield at, Tiger Hollow Stadium, 5 p.m.
Cromwell at Berlin at, Scalise Field- Sage Park, 6 p.m.
Conard at Daniel Hand at, DHHS Turf Field, 6 p.m.
Xavier at Stamford at, Stamford High School, 6 p.m.
Platt Tech at Fairfield Ludlowe at, Taft Field, 6 p.m.
Ellington/Somers at Rockville at, RHS football field, 6:30 p.m.
Southington at New London at, Canamella Field, 6:30 p.m.
Pomperaug at Rocky Hill at, Rocky Hill High School, 7 p.m.
Old Saybrook/Westbrook at East Haven at, East Haven High School, 7 p.m.
Cheshire at Windsor at, Windsor HS, 7 p.m.
Coginchaug at Lyman Hall at, Lyman Hall Fitzgerald Field, 7 p.m.
East Lyme at North Haven at, Vanacore Field, 7 p.m.
Saturday, Sept. 10
Wolcott Tech at Granby Memorial at, Ahrens Park Field, 11 a.m.
Lewis Mills at Canton at, Canton H.S., 11 a.m.
St. Paul Catholic at Haddam-Killingworth at, Haddam Killingworth HS, 1:30 p.m.
Rye Country Day (NY) at Trinity Catholic at, Trinity Catholic Alumni Field, 3:30 p.m.
Windsor Locks/Suffield/East Granby at Tolland at, Tolland High School, 9 a.m.
Rise and shine campers!
