Archive for the ‘FCIAC’ Category

FCIAC puts the squeeze on schedule before title game; SWC likely to cancel

Wednesday, October 31, 2012 by:Sean Patrick Bowley
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Because a majority of its schools will be out for the remainder of the week due to the aftereffects of Hurricane Sandy, the FCIAC announced Wednesday it will be rescheduling its Week 8 and Week 9 football games into a 10-day span before Thanksgiving week.

The FCIAC said its Week 8 football games will be played Thursday, Nov. 8. Week 9 will be played Tuesday, Nov. 9.

If necessary, the league title game will be played Saturday, Nov. 17 at Trumbull.

The way things stand now, Staples and Trinity Catholic will qualify for the FCIAC’s annual tilt if they both win out. Greenwich would supplant either team if they win their final two games and if Staples or Trinity Catholic loses.

Trinity (7-0) plays Darien and St. Joseph in its final two regular season games. Staples (6-0) plays at Warde and at Westhill. Greenwich (6-0) finishes at McMahon and vs. Danbury.

Should Trinity Catholic lose, and Staples and Greenwich win, their regular-season Thanksgiving game will serve as FCIAC title game.

Of course, this arrangement will add stress on teams that are likely to qualify for the state playoffs.

In theory, Trinity, Staples or Greenwich could wind up playing seven  games in just 30 days should they reach the state championship in their respective classes.

Petroccio called the scenario “absolutely crazy,” when asked by our own Doug Bonjour.

“We are put in a very, very difficult position,” Petroccio told Bonjour. “But again, it is what it is. We’ve got to do what we’ve got to do.

“We talked to (Staples) AD Marty (Lisevick) and we gave our opinion, but I had no idea they were going this route—none.”

Meanwhile, several SWC teams have already postponed their Week 8 games to the weekend of Nov. 17, including Masuk-Weston, Stratford-New Milford.

Bunnell athletic director Dave Johnson said the league’s ADs are meeting Thursday morning at 10 a.m. to discuss their league playoff situation. “It’s a good possibility that we might just not crown an SWC champion,” he said.

Sunday Crunch: The Storm before the Storm

Sunday, October 28, 2012 by:Sean Patrick Bowley
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Staples' James Frusciante attempts to catch a pass over Darien's Brian Weigand in Staples 63-28 victory Saturday.

It was exactly one year ago when snowpocalypse belted our region on a football Saturday morning. I was in Westport at the time, where Darien held a 17-7 halftime lead over Staples.

We all remember what happened next: Big flakes, a snowstorm and then an avalanche of 28 third-quarter points from Staples in an eventual 42-23 victory.

Staples grew a few inches that snowy, October day. It grew from an unknown into a legit FCIAC contender. The Wreckers, mostly juniors a year ago, transformed into an FCIAC champion and a state championship participant.

As we all knew at the time, this group was a year away.

And on Saturday, they too another step toward greatness. Just two days before another freak storm was about the hammer the region, Staples slammed Darien with a hurricane of its own.

Staples was flawless in rolling up 400 yards in the first half in an eventual 63-28 bludgeoning.

Ned Griffen at Polecat HQ had the Wreckers for 723 total yards.

That’s a school record.

Insane.

Last year, the Wreckers came from behind to win five games. This year, aside from their opening 42-28 victory over St. Joseph, they’ve essentially removed all doubt before halftime.

As always, the Wreckers have ripped through the FCIAC this season with exceptional offensive balance. Four players have each amassed over 300 yards rushing this season. Joey Zelkowitz and Nick Kelly did the honors on Saturday, each running 10 times for 138 yards in the Wreckers’ spread option.

And with big, dominating, exhilarating, overwhelming victories, comes the inevitable transfer of praise.

“In my 34 years, this is the best high school football team I’ve ever seen,” a shell-shocked Darien coach Rob Trifone told our own Doug Bonjour. “We played Masuk back in 2010 and we played Hillhouse in the state semifinals, and they were some phenomenal team back in 2008. This team is bigger and faster collectively than anyone I’ve ever played.”

Hyperbole from an awestruck vanquished foe? Perhaps. Trifone’s been known for it.

Regardless of whether you subscribe to those sentiments, Staples has gone beyond establishing clearly one of the top teams in the state. As of right now, the Wreckers are looking like the favorite in a Class LL field that got turned on its head with Fairfield Prep and Ridgefield losing on Friday.

As for its more immediate goals, Staples finishes with (and is favored to beat) Fairfield Warde and Westhill to clinch its spot in the FCIAC Championship game. Should Staples continue its torrid course, the only thing left is determining who will face them.

Will it be a rematch with Greenwich? The Cardinals certainly looked the part by dismantling Westhill 63-22 on Saturday. The Cardinals face upset-minded McMahon and then wrap the FCIAC regular season against Danbury.

Or will it be (gasp!) Trinity Catholic? The Crusaders wiped out Bassick and now dive right into the defining moment of their 2012 season: Back-to-back games vs. Darien and St. Joseph.

Should Trinity Catholic beat Darien, its finale vs. St. Joseph will decide when/where the FCIAC championship will be played. Another Trinity Catholic win, and it’ll be the Crusaders vs. Wreckers at Trumbull for the prize. A Trinity loss, and we will once again hone our focus on Thanksgiving: Cardinals vs. Wreckers.

The latest standings are above, right. Top two teams in average points reach the FCIAC championship. The only possible way New Canaan squeaks in is if they win out and both Greenwich and Trinity lose at least once (to force a three-way tie), or twice.

Oxford's Chris Vankamerik eyes a touchdown pass as New Fairfield's Collin Cioffi gives chase during first half action on Saturday Photo: Mike Ross

Meanwhile, in the SWC, things got busy.

There was excruciating drama Saturday afternoon, where Weston and Oxford won two thrilling games thanks to some late heroics by their do-it-all quarterbacks.

Tyler Hassett, still hobbling from a groin injury suffered against New Fairfield, came off the bench to lead the Trojans past Stratford with a 46-yard touchdown pass to Justin Schaffer with 29 seconds remaining. Weston 20, Stratford 15.

Up in Oxford, Brennen Diaz orchestrated a late-game comeback over Joe Pacheco and New Fairfield. Just when all seemed lost, he hit Chris Vankamerik with a 55-yard touchdown pass with a minute remaining and then found Jeff Haney for the winning 2-point conversion. Oxford 22, New Fairfield 21.

Both games were huge in terms of state playoffs. With Masuk looming, the Trojans needed to win to keep their Class M hopes kicking. They’ll need to win at least two more games and finish 8-2 to get into decent position. Any more losses, and they’ll be scrambling.

As for Oxford, is there any hope in Class S? The Wolverines are sitting at 5-2, but all the way back in 15th place. They’ll have to win out — Bunnell, Stratford, Pomperaug — and pray enough happens.

As far as the SWC Championship is concerned, it’s a three-horse race between favorites Masuk (Weston, Barlow remaining) and Newtown (Immaculate, Bunnell remaining). Barlow is statistically in the race, but must win out.

And that means beating Brookfield and Masuk, back-to-back.

Lots of luck, gentlemen.

Elsewhere on Saturday:

Of all the teams to show the CSC how it’s done against invincible Prince Tech, about ’bout them Abbott Tech Wolverines? That’s the way it’s done. Wow.

Anyway, here are your Saturday results and game story links.

Now we wait for the real storm…

Saturday’s High School Football Roundup

That’s a Wrap! Week 6

Monday, October 22, 2012 by:Gary Rogo
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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.

    • New Canaan's Casey Ouellette drags down St. Joseph's Shane Miller in the Rams' 27-21 victory.

  • 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.

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…

Updated: Outrage as NFA suspends football coach for conduct vs. Stamford

Monday, October 22, 2012 by:Sean Patrick Bowley
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Well this is an interesting development.

Norwich Free Academy preempted the CIAC football committee’s pending ‘Score Management’ decision by suspending football coach Jemal Davis one week for defeating Stamford 51-0, according to our own Dave Ruden.

Dave caught up with Stamford athletic director Jim Moriarty and NFA’s Gary Makowicki to get the details of the deal.

From Moriarty:

“He told me he didn’t like the way the game was handled and they were going to suspend him for a week,” Moriarty said. “We are going to accept it. …(Makowicki) told me (Davis) is getting carried away and they were embarrassed by what he did.”

From Makowicki:

“We weren’t looking to take the CIAC off the hook, we did what we thought was right,” Makowicki said. “We met and we support all the CIAC’s efforts to promote sportsmanship. There was no intent to embarrass anybody in the way the game transpired.”

Read Ruden’s whole story’s here.

Once school got out at NFA, the players were naturally upset at the proceedings.

And the news began picking up steam… Here’s outrage from Barstool Sports.

So this is where we are now as a society? The coach of the team that lost 51-0 is quoted as saying “He’s not really OK with the 51 points scored? He is “annoyed” at the other team. Hey buddy here is a wild thought. If you don’t like getting 51 hung on your a** maybe you should get better?

Hooboy. Well then…

Couple things on the ruling:

1. This was a good public relations move by NFA and athletic director Gary Makowicki (if it indeed happened this way). Why wait for the CIAC committee to make a move when you, as an administrator and a boss, can make the move yourself? That’s brilliant PR. Well done, NFA.

2. This preemptive strike deflates any further outrage against the misguided and stupid ‘Score Management’ policy over this particular case. The CIAC appeals committee didn’t need to make a decision. They’ve skirted enforcing the policy again.

Hey, NFA suspended Davis, not us. Score management lives. All’s well.

Move along. Nothing to see here.

3. ARRRRRGHHH!!!!! I really, really, really wanted the CIAC to make a decision on this. Just DUMP THE DUMB POLICY. Do we have to go through this rigamarole every … single … time?!?!

Good lord, we are a backward state.

Anyway…

Here’s the whole breakdown of the online response following NFA’s decision.


Following letter of law, NFA’s Davis should be suspended for 51-0 win over Stamford

Sunday, October 21, 2012 by:Sean Patrick Bowley
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We’ve entered new territory with the new and improved 50-point score management policy.

What to do about Norwich Free Academy coach Jemal Davis following his team’s 51-0 victory over Stamford?

According to The Day of New London’s Mike DiMauro here’s what went down: Stamford coach Bryan Hocter declined a running clock, NFA kept its starters in throughout a majority of the second half, starting tailback Marcus Outlow scored a touchdown to make it 49-0. NFA went over 50 points when a player blocked a punt for a safety with three minutes remaining.

These developments toe the ‘Score management’ policy’s guidelines in a way I haven’t seen since the policy’s inception in 2006.

But should Davis sit next week?

I say yes.

To wit:

  1. Stamford coach Bryan Hocter was not happy with the blocked punt, though he qualified his displeasure by saying he wasn’t sure it was intentional. Davis says his player made a mistake.

    Iffy, especially since Hocter declined a running clock, but Davis went over the 50-point barrier. That’s strike one.

  2. Hocter wasn’t as diplomatic about NFA’s use of Outlow and the offensive line late into the game.

    “I’m a little annoyed that No. 21 (Outlow) was in basically the whole entire game and so was most of the offensive line,” Hocter told DiMauro. “At this point in time, I’m not really OK with it. I thought it was a little classless on his part to do that. … Stuff like that comes back to bite you. You can’t embarrass a team. I thought he was trying to embarrass us. If he did, he did. We’ll go back and lick our wounds and try to get better.”

    Later, Hocter reiterated his stance with our own Dave Ruden: “He is totally in the wrong. …I think he should be [suspended]. The guy’s got no class.”

    OK, so opposing coach disapproves of the offending coach’s method, calls him ‘classless’: Strike two against Davis.

  3. Davis wasn’t exactly contrite when asked to explain himself.

    “I don’t think we did anything inappropriate,” Davis told The Day. “It’s a product of the game and performance of our players. I can’t be upset at my kids. If I have to sit, that’s fine. Our job is to prepare them.”

    His position is arguable, absolutely. But there were no apologies, nor any intent to keep the score down? That’s strike three.

So, CIAC Committee, whaddya got?

If ‘Score Management’ is truly the law of the land, Davis should be suspended. There’s a barrier, Davis crossed it, didn’t seem to care that he crossed it and Stamford coach Bryan Hocter agreed he didn’t care.

Davis can lecture about getting his kids ready for the playoffs until he’s pink, blue, green and red in the face. The policy strictly forbids his late-game actions.

I hate the policy. I believe Davis is well within his right to coach his team as he sees fit, and Hocter is within his right to be ticked about it. But the rules are the rules. This didn’t follow it. End of discussion.

So, what now CIAC Football Committee? If you don’t suspend Davis, the rule loses all credibility and should be scrapped ASAP. But, hey, 51 points, 50 points… what’s the difference? It wasn’t a gross violation, right? After all, Hocter refused a running clock.

And was it any different than Newtown scoring on a short pass with a minute left in its 47-21 victory over Oxford?

I’ll argue no, it’s all semantics at that stage of the game. If Davis is suspended, now it looks hypocritical and misguided.

We’ll see how this plays out come Monday.

Either way, this is how I believe the CIAC should proceed: Scrap the damn policy.

That is all.

Sunday Crunch: The Will to Win

Sunday, October 21, 2012 by:Sean Patrick Bowley
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New Canaan's #4 Ryan Minaglia carries the ball, during boys football action against St. Joseph in Trumbull, Conn. on Saturday October 20, 2012. Photo: Christian Abraham / Connecticut Post

“Good teams find ways to win. That’s what we did. We never gave up.”

Fairfield Prep’s Chris Golger uttered that well-worn phrase Saturday night. It’s a worn phrase for a reason because, well, it true for many high school football teams.

Davell Cotterell carries the ball as Danbury High School plays Westhill High School at Danbury Saturday, Oct. 20, 2012. Photo: Michael Duffy / The News-Times

It was especially true Saturday for the Golger’s Jesuits, who survived a surprising challenge from Hamden, 27-20. It was true for Masuk, which beat back an early challenge by Brookfield to win 42-14. It was true for Westhill, which dug deep to beat Danbury.

But sometimes the dice have to roll your way, too.

That was true for Hand. As good as the Tigers are, they were fortunate West Haven back Ervin Phillips dropped the potential, game-winning, 2-point conversion late in their 21-20 victory over West Haven.

That was true for New Canaan, which was all out of sorts in falling behind St. Joseph by nine points. Admittedly, the Rams didn’t play their best, even in the second half. But they had just enough to rally and then hold off St. Joseph, 27-21. “I liked the way we just kept fighting and kept fighting,” New Canaan coach Lou Marinelli said.

As for the Hogs, they seemed to deflate when the breaks failed to go their way. Star quarterback Jordan Vazzano left the game in an ambulance (quick tip, St. Joseph coach Joe Della Vecchia says Vazzy is fine), and St. Joseph, which couldn’t miss in the first half, suddenly couldn’t connect in the second.

It’s a long, long season. And keeping players at a high level of intensity and motivation is one of a high school football coach’s greatest challenges. Rare are the teams that can barrel through a season sharp and honed until they host a trophy at Rentschler Field. Proud and determined opponents await every week, even (maybe especially) the ones who are given little-to-no shot.

Season fatigue is beginning to set in and the season is more about survival for the state’s best teams as we creep inexorably toward the homestretch.

Here’s the quick recap of all the scores, and game story links on this glorious Sunday. Bullard-Havens lost its first game of the season. Foran beat Notre Dame-West Haven for the first time. Trinity Catholic is still 6-0. Westhill survived Danbury. Bassick won its first game of the season.

Beyond Shangri-La, Southington rallied to defeat Glastonbury in a key CCC Class LL game.

And, yes, there was a violation of ‘Score Management’ Saturday. It involved Stamford, and Bryan Hocter is not happy.

Uh, oh…

Saturday’s Results

  • FCIAC: New Canaan 27, St. Joseph 21 | Trinity Catholic 34, Fairfield Warde 13 | Westhill 24, Danbury 20 | Greenwich 56, Central 6 | Bassick 14, Harding 6
  • NVL: Seymour 43, Crosby 20* | Sacred Heart 63, Kennedy 32 | Holy Cross 27, Naugatuck 21 | Woodland 68, Torrington 20
  • SCC: Hand 21, West Haven 20 | Fairfield Prep 27, Hamden 20 | North Haven 42, Sheehan 7 | Branford 62, Jonathan Law 44* | Foran 50, Notre Dame-West Haven 35*
  • SWC: Bethel 49, Stratford 32* | Newtown 43, Notre Dame-Fairfield 6* | Masuk 42, Brookfield 14
  • CSC: Prince Tech 34, Bullard Havens Tech 14* | Capita Prep 52, Platt Tech 24 | Wolcott Tech 49, Whitney Tech 6
  • OTHERS: Norwich Free Academy 51, Stamford 0*
  • CCC: Newington 21, Manchester 18 | South Windsor 24, East Hartford 0 | New Britain 27, Conard 24 (OT) |  RHAM 44, Fermi 7 | E.O. Smith 32, Bulkeley 13 | Hartford Public 40, Wethersfield 14 | Southington 28, Glastonbury 21
  • ECC: Windham 40, Bacon Academy 3 | Killingly 42, Woodstock Academy 0 | Fitch 28, Griswold 0
  • PEQUOT: Old Saybrook/Westbrook 22, Coginchaug 14 |  Cromwell 16, Morgan 10 |  Hyde Leadership 48, Lewis Mills 0 | North Branford 45, East Hampton/Vinal Tech 0 | Haddam-Killingworth 50, Nonnewaug 6 | Ellington/Somers 48, Windsor Locks/Suffield/East Granby 0 | Enfield 40, Housatonic/Wamogo 12 | Avon 42, Granby Memorial 7 | Canton 28, Coventry/Windham Tech/Bolton 26 | SMSA/University 36, Stafford/East Windsor 30 (OT)
  • * SATURDAY’S REGIONAL ROUNDUP

“About Last Night…” Week 6: Wreckers roll, Falcons rally, Trojans fall

Saturday, October 20, 2012 by:Sean Patrick Bowley
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Weston quarterback Tyler Hassett (right) sits spent on the bench in the late stages of New Fairfield's 42-21 victory Friday.

Weston's Zach Cannon walks off the turf as New Fairfield players celebrate their 42-21 victory behind him.

First thing’s first.

RAIN? WHAT RAIN? Some of you athletic directors and coaches have to ease your fingers off the button and slowly back away from your telephones.

There were a few drops Friday night, but nothing really past kickoff. Yet just hours before many games were postponed. (The SCC almost went whole hog on postponing games. And we thought you guys were tough). Schools with turf fields have no excuse.

I’m not the only one angry. Cue Mr. Polecat.

Second, I did a silly thing on Friday night.

While Staples was making Trumbull uncomfortably numb with a deluge of points, I hopped into the car, pointed the compass north and jetted up route 53, to 7, to 39 and inexorably to New Fairfield. I had to see Tyler Hassett and Weston. I had to see New Fairfield and back Joe Pacheco. It was only 21-14 Rebels at halftime.

Which way to New Fairfield?

The iPhone said 1 hour, 3 minutes.

I made it in 45.

…or at least would have made it in 45 had the dumb map not dropped me onto a road spur that goes near New Fairfield High School, not into it. (Yes, this was my first time at Rebels Stadium.)

So I had to backtrack and wound up missing Pacheco’s clinching score, a short run that put New Fairfield up 35-14 with just over 9 minutes remaining. No worries. I did get to see gorgeous Rebels Stadium and a couple scores, including Nick Guardi’s scamper for a touchdown. New Fairfield won 42-21.

So Weston’s miraculous five-week unbeaten run is over. New Fairfield celebrated a 4-2 record. Weston slinked away 5-1.

And now there are three unbeaten teams left in the SWC.

Miraculously, one of them is Barlow, which moved to 6-0 for the first time in school history by rallying past Bunnell, 28-14. This is the Falcon’s best start in Rob Tynan’s 22 head-coaching career. It’s the best start since the 1974′s team began 9-0 under coach Gary Engler. (hat tip to high school football historian Bob Barton for correcting me and providing the correct information.)

Elsewhere, in the FCIAC, Staples finished off Trumbull 57-14 and moved to 5-0.

Darien whupped up on Wilton. The Blue Wave are now 4-2 heading into their home match vs. the Wreckers. Ridgefield and McMahon also won.

In the NVL, Derby proved no match for Wolcott. The Red Raiders will likely have to settle on a getting that winning season. Wolcott faces Watertown in a prep before its — ahem — big game vs. Ansonia in Week 8.

And, finally, in the SCC, Wilbur Cross put a huge scare into Cheshire — up 21-6 at halftime! — before succumbing to a fierce Cheshire rally, 28-23.

Staples' James Frusciante hauls in a touchdown pass in Staples' 57-14 win over Trumbull.

Anyway, that’s the news from Shangri La. Below is the scoreboard and the schedules for today.

There are few huge games. Two, unfortunately, are going on almost at the same time: West Haven at Hand at 1 p.m., then New Canaan at St. Joseph at 2:30. Later tonight, we’ll see Masuk travel to Brookfield for another SWC showdown.

(Believe it or not, this will be my fourth time seeing Brookfield… My first seeing Masuk outside of a scrimmage.)

More excitement in store today. Follow the live blog for all your updates. Let the good times roll.

Friday’s results

  • CCC: Simsbury 21, Hall 14 | Windsor 40, Middletown 35 |  Platt 30, Tolland 19 | Berlin 47, Rockville 0 | East Catholic 56, Weaver 26 | Northwest Catholic 20, Plainville 0
  • CSC: Putnam/Tourtellotte/Ellis Tech 38, Abbott Tech 22
  • ECC: Montville 54, Waterford 20 | Stonington 47, St. Bernard/Norwich Tech 0 | New London 41, Plainfield 0 | Ledyard 48, East Lyme 7 | Griswold at Fitch (Ppd. to Sat., 7 p.m.)
  • FCIAC: McMahon 27, Fairfield Ludlowe 7 | Ridgefield 46, Norwalk 13 | Darien 34, Wilton 7 | Staples 57, Trumbull 14
  • NVL: Wolcott 41, Derby 7 | Wilby 52, St. Paul Catholic 50
  • SCC: Cheshire 28, Wilbur Cross 23
  • SWC: Barlow 28, Bunnell 14 | New Fairfield 42, Weston 21 | Pomperaug 42, Immaculate 0 | Oxford at New Milford (Ppd. to Mon., 6 p.m.)

Saturday’s schedule

  • CCC: Manchester at Newington, noon | East Hartford at South Windsor, 1 |  New Britain at Conard, 1 | Fermi at RHAM, 1 | Wethersfield at Hartford Public, 6:30 | Glastonbury at Southington, 7 |
  • CSC: Bullard Havens Tech at Prince Tech, 11| Capital Prep at Platt Tech, 1 | Whitney Tech at Wolcott Tech, 1:30
  • ECC: Windham at Bacon Academy, 10:30
  • FCIAC: Fairfield Warde at Trinity Catholic, 2:30 | New Canaan at St. Joseph, 2:30 | Westhill at Danbury, 1:30 | Central at Greenwich, 2 | Bassick at Harding, 2:30 |
  • NVL: Sacred Heart at Kennedy, 11
  • PEQUOT: Coginchaug at Old Saybrook/Westbrook, 1 | Morgan at Cromwell, 1:30 p.m. | Hyde at Lewis Mills, 2 | Ellington/Somers at Windsor Locks/Suffield/East Granby, 1 | Enfield at Housatonic/Wamogo, 1 | Avon at Granby Memorial | Coventry/Windham Tech/Bolton at Canton, 2 | Stafford/East Windsor at SMSA/University, 2
  • SCC: Hamden at Fairfield Prep, 5 | North Haven at Sheehan, 6
  • SWC: Notre Dame-Fairfield at Newtown, 3:30 | Masuk at Brookfield, 7
  • OTHERS: Stamford at Norwich Free Academy, 1

Live Update Blog

That’s a Wrap! Week 5

Tuesday, October 16, 2012 by:Gary Rogo
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♦♦♦

We are at the midpoint of the 2012 high school football season. Here’s a look at who did an said what during Week 5 in southwestern Connecticut. Compiled by executive sports editor Gary Rogo and the Hearst Connecticut sports staff.

Bulldozers

Trinity Catholic's Randy Polonia (left) after scoring one of his five touchdowns vs. Stamford.

  • Mike Burns, Wilton: Scored two touchdowns and rushed for 81 yards on 13 carries in the Warriors’ 35-21 defeat of McMahon.
  • Randy Polonia, Shaquan Howsie and Sean Brown, Trinity Catholic: Combined for 345 yards rushing in a 41-20 victory over Stamford that earned the Crusaders the city championship. Polonia scored the team’s final five touchdowns and finished with 116 yards on 13 carries.
  • Joey Zelkowitz, Staples: Senior running back rushed for 124 yards in first half and added a 3-yard touchdown run in third quarter of Staples’ 51-6 rout of Danbury.
  • Nick Kelly, Staples: Ran for 97 yards in first half and scored on 56-yard run in win over Danbury.
  • Ryan Pearson, Trumbull: Scored on TD runs of 1, 20 and 21 yards in Eagles’ 39-26 upset of Darien.
  • Niko DeRosa, Foran: Ran for 195 yards and two TDs to pace the Lions’ 338-yard rushing effort in a 51-12 rout of Lyman Hall.
  • Andrew Louis, Central: Bruising fullback carried 22 times for 129 yards and two scores as Hilltoppers outlasted Bassick 38-24.
  • Saiheed Sanders, Ansonia: Rushed for 100 yards and three TDs as the Chargers blanked Seymour 47-0 despite playing without star back Arkeel Newsome.
  • John Shannon, Jacqua Solomon: Bullard-Havens: Each scored 3 TDs in 46-10 rout of Wilcox Tech. Shannon (11 carries, 115 yards) scored on runs of 46, 3 and 9 yards. Solomon (10 rushes, 125 yards) scored on runs of 63 and 21 yards and caught a 49-yard TD from Equan Brooks.
  • Alex Lockwood, Barlow: Scored four first-half TDs (runs of 24, 9 and 55 yards and a 59-yard pass from Jack Shaban) as the Falcons ripped Immaculate 56-0. Gained 118 yards on just 5 carries in the first half.

Gunslingers

  • Jordan Vazzano, St. Joseph: Sophomore threw four TD passes, including two to Jake Pelletier, as the Cadets romped past Harding 42-6.
  • Mark Piccirillo, Shelton: Completed 12 of 15 passes for 205 yards and two TDs (31 and 30 yards to Ed Cochiss) in the Gaels’ 34-8 victory over ND-West Haven.

Gamebreakers

Bethel's Joey Piatnik during his monster night vs. New Milford

  • Joe Piatnik, Bethel: Ran for a 3-yard TD in overtime and threw the winning 2-point conversion pass as the Wildcats edged New Milford 34-33. Finished with 48 carries for 242 yards and two touchdowns, also completed 14 of 19 passes for 160 yards and three touchdowns.
  • Thomas Milone, Masuk: Scored six TDs — runs of 59, 1, 2, 70 and 43 yard and a pass reception of 75 yards from Malik Cummings — as the Panthers pulled away from New Fairfield 54-19.
  • Austin Longi, Greenwich: Sophomore returned a punt 99 yards for a touchdown in Greenwich’s 40-14 win over Ludlowe.
  • Tyler Hassett, Weston: Senior quarterback passed for 233 yards, rushed for 83 yards and accounted for three touchdowns in 27-20 overtime win over Bunnell.
  • Dan Hebert, Cooper Gold, Newtown: Each ran for two TDs and caught a pass from Andrew Tarantino for a third score in 47-21 victory over Oxford as Nighthawks went to 5-0.
  • Tim Maher, Law: Ran for 128 yards and three TDs and threw for a fourth score in a 40-0 rout of East Haven.
  • Zack White, Foran: Scored on a 70-yard punt return and a 81-yard kickoff return.
  • Dillon McMahon, Derby: Threw for a TD, ran 18 yards for a second score and returned a kickoff 45 yards for a third as the Red Raiders ripped Watertown 47-19.
  • Andrew Matos, Ansonia: Set the tone early against Seymour with 85-yard punt return for a TD and accumulated 76 yards rushing on just three carries.
  • Noah Provo, Stratford: Returned a kickoff 75 yards for a TD and caught a 65-yard score from Mike Cannata in a 20-13 win over Pomperaug.

Brick Walls

  • Mitchell D’Eramo, Fairfield Prep: Linebacker recovered two fumbles in the Jesuits’ 39-6 win over Cheshire. Jesuits defense forced three turnovers.
  • Lance Lonergan, Staples: Senior linebacker returned an interception 75 yards for a touchdown in 51-6 win over Danbury on Friday.
  • Ryan Moran, St. Joseph: had a pair of sacks to lead Cadets in 42-6 rout of Harding.

Valiant in Defeat

  • Kyle Jordan, McMahon: Rushed for 142 yards and a touchdown on 19 carries in the Senators’ 35-21 loss to Wilton.
  • Corey Chaffee, Danbury: Senior wide receiver/cornerback had a 60-yard touchdown catch and intercepted a pass in a 51-6 loss to Staples.
  • Vochan Fowler, Bassick: Junior QB threw an 88-yard TD pass to Tyreik Gilbert and ran 9 yards for a second score in a 38-24 loss to Central.
  • Brennan Diaz, Oxford: Threw 3 TD passes in first half to help Wolverines to a 21-12 lead. Newtown rallied to win 47-21.

“These kids, they just don’t give in.”

Oxford quarterback Brennan Diaz threw three TDs but Oxford eventually succumbed to Newtown 47-21

–Weston coach Joe Lato after his team rallied from 20-7 down to defeat Bunnell 27-20 in overtime.

‘We came here to play football. So I have no problem with that at all. And I don’t think Rob will have any problem, and if he does, I will step up and defend him.’

–Immaculate coach Tom Taylor on Barlow’s violation of the CIAC’s score management policy.

“It’s a tough situation, as a coach. But I’m not going to tell a kid to miss an extra point or something.’

–Barlow coach Rob Tynan, who was eventually absolved for defeating Immaculate 56-0

‘They call this the Black Hole. But tonight it was the Surf Club.’

–Hand fullback/linebacker Matt Walsh on the Tigers’ 40-20 win over Xavier.

“They were upset we stuck the ball in the end zone, I guess. Twenty-one point, 18-point game, whatever it would have been, just trying to win the game, you know?”

–Newtown coach Steve George after Oxford coaches took exception to his team’s last-minute of touchdown pass a 47-21 Hawks’ victory

“There’s a lot of emotion in football, it’s how it is.”

–Oxford quarterback Brennan Diaz on the brouhaha following Newtown’s 47-21 victory over the Wolverines.

“It felt great to be back under center after missing so much time.”

–Greenwich quarterback Liam O’Neil after leading the Cardinals to a 40-14 victory over Ludlowe, his first game back from a finger injury.

“We played our hearts out. We just wanted this so bad.”

–Fairfield prep back Chris Golger on the Jesuits’ 39-6 victory over Cheshire.

Trumbull's Ryan Pearson vs. Darien

“He was fantastic. He made money yards.”

–Trumbull coach Bob Maffei on back Ryan Pearson, who shredded Darien with three touchdowns in the Eagles’ 39-26 upset.

“We’ve worked all summer. It was just great to have it all pay off. … I’m speechless. This is amazing.”

–Bethel quarterback Joey Piatnik on his winning 2-point conversion pass to Cal Daniels in a 34-33 overtime victory over New Milford.

“That is no excuse, I’m sick of people saying that.”

–New Milford coach Chuck Lynch on the idea that his team’s tough schedule has contributed to the Wave’s 0-5 start.

“We’re better for him having not played this week.”

–Ansonia coach Tom Brockett on keeping back Arkeel Newsome on the sidelines during the Chargers’ 47-0 win over Seymour.

“I never thought in my 20 years of coaching that I’d be unhappy leading 30-6.”

–Staples coach Marce Petroccio on his team’s penalties and turnovers in the first half vs. Danbury.

SCC

West Haven (5-0) at Hand (5-0) – Hand earns its biggest victory of the season, knocking off reigning No. 1 and two-time defending Class LL champion Xavier, which just happened be on a 30-game win streak. Just a few days later, Ervin Phillips and West Haven come to town. Just ain’t no rest in the SCC. None. In case you were wondering, this is why No. 1 teams usually come out of this league, kids.

FCIAC

Trumbull (2-3) at Staples (4-0), Friday, 7 — Hello Trumbull. Whatcha knowin’? It’s nice to see your helmets glowin’… (Ask coach to sing it for you.)

New Canaan (4-1) at St. Joseph (4-1), Saturday, 2:30 — OK, New Canaan, time to play another big game again. Time to prove you haven’t gone anywhere. This is how you erase the pain of that Trinity Catholic loss. But you knew that much.

NVL

Derby (4-1) at Wolcott (5-0), Friday, 7 — Derby isn’t just on pace for its first winning season in 16 years, it’s inexorably lining up to qualify for the Class S playoffs. Yeah, we know! That hasn’t happened since the unbeaten season of 1990! The Red Raiders must this one against QB Mike Nichol and the Eagles to really grab hold of a special season.

SWC

Barlow (5-0) at Bunnell (1-4), Friday, 7 — Nothing’s gone Bunnell’s way this season. Not a thing. But they’re still scary. They’re still dangerous. Barlow wants to go to the state playoffs for the first time in school history. Every game’s huge from here. And this one’s not easy.

Masuk (5-0) at Brookfield (4-1), Friday, 7 — Though we’re skeptical after watching Brookfield melt in a 35-7 loss to Newtown and because of how Masuk is steamrolling all comers, this game still has potential. The Bobcats are in the thick of the Class M playoff race and are looking for a benchmark victory. Masuk loves to prove it owns the SWC.

Weston (5-0) at New Fairfield (3-2), Friday, 7 — The Rebels got a dose of reality in their 54-19 loss to Masuk. But they remain one of the SWC’s better teams. Joe Pacheco is still a tough back to bring down. Hanging on by their chinstraps sometimes, Tyler Hassett and Weston have found incredible ways to win. They are now a part of the Class M playoff hunt. Is this where the Trojan magic ends?

‘About Last Weekend…’ Week 5: The Changing of the Guard

Saturday, October 13, 2012 by:Sean Patrick Bowley
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♦♦♦

Hand's Matt Walsh scores the last of his five touchdowns in the Tigers' 40-20 victory over Xavier at Palmer Field Friday night.

With keen and wisened eyes, a number of Xavier High School football alumni grouped together in shallow right at Palmer Field Friday night.

It was a who’s who of Xavier’s recent, glorious past: Ryan Murphy, Jovan Santos, Austin Wezenski, Sean Marinan, Ryan Jacobucci, Graham Stewart.

Their alma mater was leading Hand 20-14 at halftime in Connecticut’s high school football game of the year.

The game was still in doubt. The alumni, all of whom had been the architects, foremen and builders of two state championships and all but last four of Xavier’s previous 30 victories, were edgy, but confident.

“We got this,” said Ryan Murphy, the former all-state end and back. “They’re not going to be able to keep Tim down. …I’m pretty sure (coach Sean) Marinan gave them lashing in the locker room.”

‘Tim’ is quarterback Tim Boyle, the Boston College-bound quarterback who helped Xavier rally twice in the first half to take their lead.

Outside an unfortunate punt snap and, later, a trick play that helped Hand score its two touchdowns, Murphy’s assessment of the second half seemed to be on-target.

But even he and his band of brothers could tell: Their understudies aren’t as polished as they were a season ago. This wasn’t the same Xavier. This was 2012, not 2011.

Someone said they’d love to see Staples and Class LL championship game. “Yeah,” said Santos, his teammates nodding around him.
“But you know what?” he added. “…It’ll be a much closer game.”

This was before Hand turned the game upside-down. This was before the Tigers marched 95 yards in 23 plays to tie the game. This was before Hand’s defense smothered Xavier on three plays and then marched right back down the field and scored again.

Forget Staples-Xavier fighting for No. 1 in a potential Class LL championship game. UConn recruit Matt Walsh and Hand proved what everyone wearing black feared: Xavier’s reign atop the Connecticut football world is in dispute, if not over already.

Hand's Caleb Ewald scores on a touchdown catch-and-run in the third quarter of Hand's 40-20 victory over Xavier Friday night.

Boyle and Xavier managed just eight plays to Hand’s 48 in the second half. Though outsized on the lines, the Tigers weren’t out-toughed, outclassed or out-played. Hand churned its way up the field, converting a pair of huge fourth downs — one on a tipped-pass catch by offensive lineman Cam Gravina, the other a pass-interference call — to score the tying and go-ahead touchdowns.

Then Xavier flubbed the ensuing kickoff. Hand got the ball back and that was that.

“I didn’t have to say a whole lot (at halftime),” Hand coach Steve Filippone said. “It was just a matter of us playing our game and getting into rhythm.”

Hand outgained Xavier 305-39 in the second half and by the fourth quarter, Xavier’s notorious fan section — The Black Hole — had been drowned out by the legions of Hand fans who paraded up Route 79 in a caravan Ray Curren described as “Hickory-esque.”

From the start, their presence reverberated across the complex. The Hand band, not the Xavier band, performed on the field at halftime.

The Hand student body jeered, ‘OVER-RATED’ at Xavier … when it was just 7-0.

Late in the game, they cheered, ‘START THE BUSES!’ … at the home team.

Yeah.

The Xavier student body, meanwhile, sat in stunned silence.

“They call their fans the Black Hole, but it felt like the Surf Club out there tonight,” said Walsh, who scored five touchdowns on five carries before a garbage-time run at the end of the game.

Heh. An an opponent working with garbage time. …At Palmer Field.

“They out-physicaled us up front, on both sides of the ball in the second half,” said Xavier coach Sean Marinan, who tasted defeat for the first time since the 2009 Class LL semifinals vs. Staples, and for the first time at Palmer Field since a 37-19 loss to Wilbur Cross in Week 1 of that year. “We couldn’t get anything going with offense. We couldn’t stop them defensively.”

We didn’t make a pregame prediction, but quietly I had it pegged 35-24, Xavier.

I saw a few Hand predictions floating around. But most, if not all, said Hand would win in a close game.

Not 40-20.

“We know we’re a second-half team,” Walsh said. “We were last year. I don’t know if any of you were at the Masuk (Class L semifinal) game, but it was 14-14 and we came out of (halftime) and we just exploded and we did the same thing today.”

Now we enter new territory as the second-half of the 2012 high school football season.

For the first time since Xavier toppled Notre Dame-West Haven on opening night of 2010, we’re looking for a new No. 1.

It’s a brave new world.

Xavier has lost its mojo — for now. Hand has an extra swagger. Meanwhile, Ansonia is rolling in the NVL. Staples is rolling in the FCIAC. Masuk is dominating the SWC. Windsor, Glastonbury and Southington are taking care of business in the CCC… etc.

Lest we forget the teams we cover southwestern Connecticut, here’s what was what in Week 5. While everyone had their eyes fixed on Palmer Field,  we same some surprising results down in Shangri La:

To wit:

Trumbull coach Bob Maffei pumps his fist as his team scores in their upset of Darien on Friday night.

Whew. Crazy week.

Here are your recaps and links to all of Week 5′s proceedings.

Friday

Saturday

Week 5 Primer and Live Updates: The Storm Arrives

Friday, October 12, 2012 by:Sean Patrick Bowley
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…

It’s judgement night in the SCC: Hand and Xavier will kick off in the Rumble at Palmer Field. Hillhouse and North Haven tangle in the fray at Vanacore Field. Fairfield Prep takes on Cheshire in the fight at the Maclary Complex.

There’s so much to say, so much to talk about. Elsewhere Liam O’Neil is back at quarterback for Greenwich as the Cardinals take on Ludlowe. Joe Pacheco and New Fairfield head into the Panthers’ den of Benedict Field in Monroe. Barlow’s looking to go 5-0. And Trinity Catholic hopes to keep its state playoff drive intact when it hosts rival Stamford on Saturday at an Alumni Field that should be packed with alumni.

Ooooh, baby. Can you feel it in the air?

We’re almost halfway through the 2012 season. It’s Week 5.

Buckle up.

Welcome to football central, where you can get all the info you you need as we begin this pivotal week of games.

Here we go.

The Nuts & Bolts of Week 5

On The Air

Live Update Blog

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