Archive for the ‘New London County’ Category

Fitch names 2005 grad Panucci as next coach

Friday, April 12, 2013 by:Sean Patrick Bowley
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New Fitch coach Jordan Panucci (Norwich Bulletin)

New Fitch coach Jordan Panucci (Norwich Bulletin)

In a recent trend of hiring younger and younger head football coaches, Fitch just trumped everyone.

The Day of New London reported this week that the school hired 26-year old alumnus Jordan Panucci, making him the youngest of the new hires this offseason.

Panucci, a history teacher and Groton Parks and Rec employee, has spent five years in the program, according to The Day. He worked primarily as the team’s strength and conditioning coach, but helped coach the defense.

Panucci was an offensive guard and captain at Fitch and played for both Mike Emery, who retired this offseason, and Ledyard’s Jim Buonocore when he previously coached the Falcons.

“I was surprised,” Panucci told the Norwich Bulletin. “I run the offseason stuff and I’m with the kids every day. I have time management down, and I know what it’s going to take.”

At 26, Panucci is easily the youngest hire of the offseason, beating Maloney hire Pierce Brennan’s 28 years on this pebble. Branford hired 29-year old John Limone earlier this year.

New Bunnell coach Doug Cotto is 30. Cheshire’s Don Drust, who coached last year under an interim tag, is 31. Stamford’s Jamar Greene,  Bacon Academy’s Erik Larka, Ellington/Somer’s Sean Byrne, Trinity Catholic’s Donny Panapada and Torrington’s Gaetan Rodriguez are all in their 30s.

His hire brings the statewide coaching vacancy down to eight.

NO VACANCY (18)

VACANCY (8)

  • East Haven
  • Ludlowe
  • Notre Dame-Fairfield
  • Rockville
  • St. Bernard/Norwich Tech
  • Woodstock Academy
  • Wilby
  • Old Saybrook

Connecticut coaching carousel 2013: Here’s where we stand in mid-January [Updated]

Friday, January 18, 2013 by:Sean Patrick Bowley
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***

A small sampling of coaches who will no longer be at their 2012 posts in 2013. Clockwise from top left: Dave Cadelina, John Murphy, Bryan Hocter, Peter Stokes, Chuck Lynch, Craig Bruno

It’s been a crazy, topsy-turvy offseason for high school football programs and coaches. And we’re barely halfway through January.

Big names, small names, big programs, little programs… no one, it seems, is immune from the bug that has plagued our regional coaches’ psyches.

The reasons have varied: Many “want to spend more time with their families,” or just have too much responsibility to keep up with the rigorous demands it takes to be successful. Some were fired, or about to be fired, or thought they might be fired. Others just felt, “it was time.”

Whatever the reason, there are immense vacuums to be filled across our fair state. And they just keep coming.

So with the latest bombshell news of Craig Bruno jumping Bunnell for Naugatuck, we here at football central felt it was time to take stock of what we know and don’t know about the many vacancies across Connecticut.

Let’s recap all of the movement madness, shall we?

Update: We’ve added Wilby, Bacon Academy, East Lyme, Ellington/Somers, Old Saybrook/Westbrook and Woodstock Academy. Whew. Anyone else?

May 21: Cheshire

The first casualty was actually last offseason when longtime Cheshire coach Mark Ecke resigned, apparently under pressure, following an incident at a Glastonbury High School lacrosse game.

The interim coach, Don Drust, got the job full-time on November 30 after coaching the Rams to a 6-4 record.

August 3: Wilby (added)

Just before fall practices began, Pat Russo resigned at Wilby unexpectedly after coaching one season. Russo told the Republican-American that he decided to leave to coach is two sons in youth football.

Gino Capuano, a business teacher at the school, took over as interim coach, saying he hoped “I am the head coach until the day I retire as a teacher.” He guided the Wildcats went 5-5 in the NVL this season.

As of January, Capuano remains the interim coach.

August 24: Naugatuck

Naugatuck lost its head coach Rob Plasky in August stemming from a scheme to get Sacred Heart receiver and then-Boston College commit David Coggins and a few of his teammates to Naugatuck. Assistant Shawn Kuczenski took over as head coach and took the team to a 6-4 record.

The job was posted shortly after the season concluded. (More on this later).

October 3: St. Bernard/Norwich Tech

Just a few weeks into the 2012 season, Scott Cook was told to resign or be fired as head coach at St. Bernard/Norwich Tech, over what Cook said was an incident on a bus the previous year, according to The Day of New London. His players briefly considered walking out of the season in protest, but eventually decided to carry on under interim coach Bob Burnside while Cook’s status upgraded to ‘paid administrative leave.’

Athletic director Brendan Case told the Norwich Bulletin he hoped to have a new coach hired within weeks after the season ended. But that was pending a resolution on Cook’s personnel issue, which as of January 18 doesn’t seem to be resolved.

Former Bloomfield/New Britain/New London coach Jack Cochran seemed like he was interested in the job. But earlier this month Cochran told us “right now” he had no plans on coaching in 2013 because he felt it would impede in following his son’s career at UConn.

October 26: Ludlowe

News that Ludlowe coach Matt McCloskey would resign at the end of the season hit the press and is confirmed by athletic director Dave Schulz. The Falcons were 1-5 at the time, having lost 25 of the team’s previous 27 games.

Yet, the Falcons rallied by winning all four of their remaining games to finish 5-5, giving McCloskey a memorable send-off.

Last week Schulz said interviews would being toward the second half of January. No word on who might be the candidates.

November 28: New Milford & Bridgeport Central

This was the first of a few interesting days, regionally.

Two coaches resigned because they felt “It’s time.”

First, Chuck Lynch resigned at New Milford after 10 seasons, saying he was “ready for a new chapter in my life.”

Then came the first first true shock of the 2012-13 offseason, a move that signaled that we were entering new territory: Central coach Dave Cadelina resigned after 16 years.

Cadelina, who took the once-downtrodden program to a pair of FCIAC championship games and two state playoffs during his tenure, said he simply believed he needed to take a break.

“I feel it’s time,” he said. “Throw Excalibur back into the lake, if you will, and let somebody new come on in.”

The Bridgeport board of education had yet to post the position as of last week. Citywide athletic director Neil Kavey said he hoped to get that squared away soon and begin vetting candidates.

As for New Milford, athletic director Lance Pliego said Monday his school has whittled a list of “about 10 worthy candidates,” down to three. But he said he couldn’t offer the job until New Milford’s school budget is hammered out. That could come before the end of January, Pliego said.

Former Masuk coach John Murphy is supposedly one of the school’s prime targets.

December 2: Avon

Avon’s Brett Quinion resigned unexpectedly on December 2, simply saying, “It’s time.”

Quinion had spent 10 years with the program.

Two of his last four years yielded a pair of 10-0 records and a pair state playoff appearances.

December 5: Bacon Academy (added)

Just a month after naming him interim coach when Duane Miranda resigned to take the head coach job at New London, Bacon Academy officially hired Brian Enrique on August 4.

But shortly after the 2012 season ended  a few weeks after the end of the season, the school decided it would re-open the job and asked Enrique to apply again.

Superintendent on Jeff Mathieu told the Norwich Bulletin every coach in the district had to reapply. The difference in this case is that they were advertising the job. “The reason why they are re-opening it is because they hadn’t had a chance to advertise last time and they want to see what the available talent pool is,” he said.

Enrique told The Bulletin he hoped to reclaim the job. “I can only say right now that I absolutely want to coach that group of young men in the offseason and on the football field next fall,” he said.

December 7: Maloney

Bob Zito, who had spent nine seasons as head coach and took the Spartans to the state playoffs in 2007, wasn’t rehired by the Meriden board of education. Zito, who went 46-46-1 overall during his stint there wasn’t exactly pleased with the board’s decision.

“I’m just disappointed with the way the whole thing played out,” Zito told the Record-Journal. “I was there for the kids and I thought I did everything I could for the kids.”

Zito won two state championships while coaching Joe Lato and Steve George at Newtown in the early 1990s and also helped kick-start John Murphy‘s coaching career. Moved on to Stratford (for one season) and Weston before taking over at Maloney in 2004.

December 11: Trinity Catholic & Masuk

Within minutes of each other, two more regional coaches called it quits.

Peter Stokes resigned at Trinity Catholic after guiding the team to its first state playoff berth in 19 years. His vacancy was quickly filled by assistant Don Panapada on January 14.

Minutes after Stokes confirmed he was leaving Trinity, the region was hit with an much larger bombshell (Sorry, Pete):

John Murphy quit at Masuk after 15 seasons, 159 victories and three state championships. “This is what’s best for me and my family,” he said. “I feel like I’ve accomplished everything I can do here.”

Murphy hinted his reasoning as a dissatisfaction with his school’s support of the football program.

The school has yet to conduct interviews, though interested parties include Ridgefield defensive coordinator David Brennen, a Masuk teacher, former Ludlowe coach Mike Forget (now an assistant at Darien), Monroe Lions coach Steve Christy and (maybe) Weston coach Joe Lato.

December 17: Fitch & Rockville

Fitch coach Mike Emery‘s second stint at the school he built into a powerhouse in the late 1990s ended at the team’s postseason banquet.

Emery said his resignation had to do with his duties as an assistant principal.

Up in Vernon, coach and Rockville alumnus Rob Scholtz resigned after just one year.

We actually have no idea exactly when this happened or how or why because Vernon apparently exists in some anti-Internet shield which is impenetrable to anything except short Vernon Patch articles that seem to have stopped covering the team in November.

Go ahead and Google it.

(Aside: What, exactly, do you people read for football news in the CCC?)

Whatever. It’s significantly of our domain and far beyond of the Oort Cloud of our interest. (Google *that!*)

This we do know: The job opened December 17 and closed January 2. Anybody apply?

December 18: Stamford

We were again hit regionally when Bryan Hocter resigned as head coach at Stamford after three seasons. Hocter’s decision came just 30 minutes before a scheduled meeting with athletic director Jim Moriarty.

There had been rumors that Hocter would have been fired at the meeting. Though Moriarty did little to dispel that notion when asked by our own Dave Ruden (“He had 11 years on the staff and three years as head coach and because of inconsistencies in the program he decided to resign,” Moriarty said.), Hocter said he had made his decision to leave a few weeks earlier.

“I didn’t think I was going to get fired,” he said. “They brought up some concerns they had. Halfway through the season I thought it was time to explore other options.”

While Hocter says he hopes to hook on somewhere else, a source has said Darien defensive coordinator Idris Price is applying for the job. We’re not sure when interviews will commence yet.

December 21: East Lyme (added)

We missed this one earlier: Just before Christmas, East Lyme’s Paul Tenaglia resigned because the school wanted to hire a coach within the school system, partially to help boost dwindling numbers. He was offered to stay on as an assistant but decided to leave.

The school reportedly had their sights set on Old Saybrook/Westbrook coach Rudy Bagos, a physical education teacher at East Lyme. Sure enough, East Lyme bagged him on January 10.

January 4: Torrington & Branford

Saying he was burdened by the 45-minute commute and expecting a second child, Dan Dunaj unexpectedly resigned after five relatively successful seasons. He will remain a physical education teacher.

“After 17 years of coaching, taking a break would probably be OK,” he told the Republican-American. “I don’t think I am done altogether, but right now everything is put on hold.”

Also revealed by the Republican-American was a hazing incident involving Torrington’s football players that apparently took place in September. Not much is known of it or how much it could have contributed to Dunaj’s resignation, if at all.

Later that day it was revealed that Mike Tracy had stepped down at Branford after four seasons.

Tracy’s reason, according to the New Haven Register, was to spend more time with his kids.

But we weren’t done quite yet…

January 5: Ellington/Somers (added)

At the team banquet, Ellington/Somers’ successful coach Keith Tautkus resigned after 13 seasons.

Tautkus took the co-op program to its second-consecutive state playoff berth last season, where it was defeated by Weston 29-22 in the Class M quarterfinals.

He leaves with a career record of 84-41.

January 10: Old Saybrook/Westbrook (added)

When Rudy Bagos decided to take the job at East Lyme, Old Saybrook/Westbrook suddenly found itself without a coach.

Old Saybrook/Westbrook was 10-10 under Bagos in two seasons.

January 14: Abbott Tech

Chris Mascolo, who started the Tech school program in 2008, called it quits on Tuesday after five years. Mascolo wanted to focus on continuing his education.

“Abbott Tech gave me an opportunity to be a head coach when nobody else would,” Mascolo said. “…I loved the challenge of coaching at a technical school. For a lot of the kids, it was their first year playing, so it was a challenge for us to get them to love football.”

He certainly did that. After an expected 0-9 start when program’s began its first varsity season in 2010, Mascolo’s team went 6-4 last year.

Athletic director Jon Nadeau said the job is posted and a search will begin immediately.

And, finally…

January 17: Bunnell & Woodstock Academy

Shortly after the New Year, two-time state championship Craig Bruno‘s name came up often with sources while we were attempting to pin down candidates for the Naugatuck coaching job.

Naugatuck’s search, which began in December, quickly narrowed to four candidates: the current interim coach Shawn Kuczenski, Post University offensive coordinator Steve Croce, Woodland offensive coordinator Tim Phipps and  Bruno.

Initial reports said this week Phipps’ appointment was a mere formality. But a day after the announcement was put on hold due to a snow storm, Bruno usurped Phipps and got the job.

Bruno’s move north surprised some. Why leave a good thing at Bunnell, where Bruno had won two state championships and coached at least two NFL caliber players?

“I felt that I’ve accomplished all my goals in a place that I built,” said Bruno, who said living “10 minutes” away in Oxford factored into his decision. “I’m leaving this situation on good terms. I have a lot of great feelings and memories there, but I felt at this point in my life I had to make a change.”

The Bruno news usurped news from way upstate when Woodstock Academy coach Jesse Pimental resigned after one season.

Pimental intended to continue with his second season, but recently he decided coaching put too much strain on his family. “…That was more than I was willing to sacrifice,” he told the Norwich Bulletin.

Woodstock Academy, a Class L school, went 0-10 last year and is 6-34 over the last four seasons while shuffling through three different coaches and petitioning the ECC to play in its small division.

Update: Lewis Mills

Lewis Mills’ school district posted a vacancy for head coach, though it was uncertain when and why.

Present Day

So that’s 17 19 20 23 24 jobs open overall and four filled by mid-January: one by hiring the interim coach, another by promoting in-house, and two by pilfering another school’s coach.

So that’s 19 20 jobs technically open.

Round and round this Merry-Go-Round we go.

When will it stop? No one knows.

Semifinal Sunday: NFA wrecks Staples’ mojo, Fairfield County silenced

Sunday, December 2, 2012 by:Sean Patrick Bowley
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CLASS LL – NFA 30, STAPLES 28 | XAVIER 30, GLASTONBURY 13
CLASS L — HAND 42, MASUK 23 | WINDSOR 27, NEW CANAAN 21
CLASS M – BERLIN 21, WESTON 7 | HILLHOUSE 48, MONTVILLE 26
CLASS S – ANSONIA 41, HYDE 13 | NORTH BRANFORD 62, WOODLAND 27

Jared Levi and the Wreckers walk solemnly off the Ken Strong Stadium field following their stunning 30-28 loss to NFA in the Class LL semifinals

With big smiles, massive hugs, and emitting a cacophony of whoops and hollers that echoed across the state, the entire football team gathered in the southern end zone of Ken Strong Stadium for a photo. It could have been West Haven in August, gathering for its annual team photo.

But this was December. These were the state playoffs. And the photographers weren’t contracted shutterbugs from the local studio, they were equally happy and proud parents and inquisitive newspaper reporters. This wasn’t West Haven.

This was Norwich Free Academy.

Jubilant. Victorious. Posing below the scoreboard, emblazoned on it, their birthday gift to coach Jemal Davis.

NFA 30, Staples 28.

By all accounts, it was a stunning result.

This was supposed to be one of, if not the best Staples teams in the Marce Petroccio era. It was supposed to be invincible. It was going to take care of these upstarts from way out east and get a championship rematch with mighty Xavier.

Instead, junior back Marcus Outlow, quarterback Matt Paparelli and a massive and determined NFA front held the FCIAC’s best team in check, took command in the second half while Staples wilted with several critical second-half errors.

There was an errant punt that resulted in a safety (and gave NFA the lead for good), an option pitch at the goal line that was batted away and recovered by NFA with 7 minutes remaining and then, just when it looked as if the Wreckers would make a valiant comeback, the punt that fatefully bounced upfield and off a Staples player and recovered by NFA.

Staples’ offense, which didn’t score less than 42 points throughout the entire season yet uncharacteristically committed three turnovers and had just over 100 yards in the second half, never saw the ball again.

Their dreams were crushed.

“It’s awful,” stunned coach Marce Petroccio said. I’m going to try and pick up some of the greatest seniors we’ve ever had at Staples High School. But today was not our day.

“We just found a way to lose.”

NFA’s dreams lives on.

In retrospect, everything we heard about NFA ever since it hammered Stamford 51-0 back in October, and everything we saw from the Newtown game turned out to be spot-on. They were big, they were talented, they were determined.

“We know we can play with anybody,” Davis said.

NFA's Marcus Outlow falls through the Staples defense in a 30-28 upset victory over the Wreckers in the Class LL semifinals (Photo: Mike Ross)

And, my oh my, junior Marcus Outlow is legit.

Outlow has been a key player for NFA since getting significant time on the 2010 semifinal team that lost to Trumbull. This is confirmed: He has “full-ride” offers from Alabama, Oregon, Ohio State… you name it, since impressing a ton of scouts at an NUC combine over the summer. At 5-foot-11, 200 pounds, “he definitely passes the eye test,” said MSG Varsity’s Mike Quick.

But it was quarterback Joey Paparelli, who carried the Wildcats in the second half. He scrambled for first downs. He found receivers, particularly Khaleed Exum-Strong, for third-down conversions. Staples’ strong defense eventually found a way to contain him, giving the offense a chance to rally. But that wasn’t until the Wildcats

had 9-point lead. His long run set up the eventual clinching touchdown late in the third quarter.

“To knock off the No. 1 team, we knew we had it in us,” Paparelli said. “We just went out and got the job done.”

Staples was just as good as NFA, but on this afternoon, in the state playoffs, it had to be perfect. It wasn’t.

Junior Airec Ricks made the biggest play of the game when he batted away an option pitch from Jack Massie at the goal line and recovered by NFA. Later, with Staples in full rally mode, he recovered the punt that bounded up the turf and hit Staples captain Kevin Kearney in the leg.

“You can’t win in a game like this playing the way we played,” stunned Staples coach Marce Petroccio said. “I’m just upset that we waited until today to play the way we did.”

So there will be no rematch. NFA ran out the clock to set up a date with No. 3-seeded Xavier at Rentschler Field. Staples, which has seen more than its share of crushing, state playoff losses of the last six years, goes home empty handed.

“Like I said earlier in the week, we were underestimated because we play in the Eastern Connecticut Conference,” Outlow said. “But people look at it and say, oh your conference is weak, blah, blah, blah. But we just come out here and we try to pursue what our coaches meant for us to do, we came out and we executed as well as we can, and it showed on the scoreboard.”

Their talent and their efforts are now preserved forever, in record books and — more importantly for these players — in photographs. A moment frozen in time.

Fairfield County: Denied.

Michael DiCosmo picks up a fumble that he raced 76 yards for a touchdown with less than a minute remaining vs. Windsor. It turned out to be New Canaan's last gasp in a 27-21 loss.

Super Sunday was not a good day for Fairfield County football teams.

First Staples went down in a gutwrenching finale. Then New Canaan lost its first state semifinal game since 2005.

Those losses erased the last FCIAC teams from state championship contention — something that’s never happened in the 36-year history of the CIAC playoffs.

Weston and Masuk lost.

No one from Shangri La will be playing for a state title.

Just like Staples, New Canaan came oh, so close.

For the second straight season, New Canaan found itself down big. But visions of a season ago began dancing in the Rams’ heads in the fourth quarter. Cole Turpin’s long catch set up a Louis Hagopian touchdown run to cut a 27-7 defcit to 28-14.

Trying to run out the clock, Robert Quinn Fleeting fumbled and Michael DiCosmo returned it 79 yards with just under a minute remaining.

Not again? Nope. Not again. Windsor corralled the onside kick and hung on to win 27-21, ending New Canaan’s string of state championship games at six.

“It just goes to show the game’s never over,” Windsor coach Fleeting said. “The difference from last year is we didn’t panic. The kids have grown up.”

“They’re just a gutsy group of kids,” New Canaan coach Lou Marinelli said. “They never gave up. We didn’t play well. We lost to a better team. They’re a team that deserves to go play in a state championship. We did not play well enough.”

Weston's Zach Cannon attempts to bat the ball away from Berlin's Tyler Bouchard in the Class M semifinals at Bunnell.

Tyler Hassett and Weston played valiantly, but fell to No. 2-seeded Berlin, 21-7.

Down 14-0 after a half, Hassett pulled the Trojans within a touchdown. Later, with the score 21-7, just as the Redcoats appeared they would put it away, Erik Dammen-Brower picked off a pass and was headed for the end zone.

But he was chased down, fumbled the ball back and the Trojans were eventually eliminated. Berlin advances to face No. 4-seeded Hillhouse, a 48-26 winner over Montville, in the state championship. This is Hillhouse’s sixth state championship game in school history.

Little Weston, meanwhile, finishes 9-3, including a state playoff victory. This was their best season in 23 years.

“Our kids fought hard,” Lato said. “I’m proud of their effort.”

“This isn’t the finish line. We want to get here every year. It’s always toughest the first time you do something and now we’ve done this and got this far. The underclassmen gained experience and got to see what it’s like to play in playoff games. I’m really proud of what this team has done for Weston football.”

As for Masuk, they were never in it vs. top-seeded and top-ranked Hand.

Hand took its time getting onto the field, but took very little time dismantling Masuk 42-23.

And this wasn’t even that close. In a heavy fog, Caleb Ewald took a flat pass from Brendan Bilcheck and raced 74 yards for a touchdown on the game’s first play. “They throw a screen, the kid that was supposed to cover it never saw the ball in the air,” Masuk coach John Murphy said. “But they took it to us on both sides of the ball in the first half.”

Hand rolled to a 35-0 halftime lead, piling up over 400 yards of offense to reach its second straight state championship game.

This was Hand coach Steve Filippone’s 200th career victory. “I didn’t win a game,” Filippone said. “I’ve never won a game. … I really take no great satisfaction in it. I take satisfaction in that this team has won 26 games in a row.”

Only some heroics by outstanding senior back Thomas Milone, who returned a free kick for a touchdown, caught a touchdown pass and also had an interception, kept the score from looking too lopsided.

But his career, which included a state championship in 2010, now shifts to baseball season and Hand will face Windsor in the state final.

“I’m proud of my kids,” Murphy said. “After what we lost last year, nobody said they could get back here. I’m proud of them.”

Newsome, Chargers roll into final

Ansonia was our only regional team to reach a state championship game.

As expected, there was no doubts about this one.

Newsome ran for 215 yards and four touchdowns and, in the process broke former Ansonia standout back Alex Thomas’ career state record of 115, as the Chargers reached their third-straight championship game and 27th overall with a 41-13 victory over Hyde. |  [CPTV VIDEO]

The Chargers, who have won a state-best 27 consecutive games (Hand has won 26 straight), will play North Branford in the Class S championship.

The T-Birds hammered Woodland 62-27 to reach their first state final since 2001.

S-C-C! S-C-C! S-C-C!

Guess which conference will be playing for three state championships this weekend?

Look no further than Al Carbone’s official Southern Connecticut Conference Twitter account. The Commish’s nimble fingers quickly let everyone know that his league is dominating the proceedings thus far.

Xavier (11-1) will play for its third consecutive Class LL title. Hand (12-0) will play for its second consecutive Class L title. And now, joining the fray, is Hillhouse (10-2), which will be playing for its second Class M title in three years.

After spending the last two championship weekends on the sidelines, the CCC has two representatives. Windsor (11-0) plays Hand in Class L; Berlin (11-1) plays Hillhouse.

The ECC went 1-1 in the semifinals, sending NFA (12-0) to take on Xavier in the Class LL final.

The NVL-Pequot challenge ended 1-1 for each league. Ansonia (13-0), the NVL’s final representative, takes on North Branford (12-0), the Pequot’s last representative.

Overall, the NVL is 3-2 in the state playoffs. The Pequot is 3-3.

And of course, the FCIAC (0-2, 2-5 overall) and the SWC (2-3) will send no state championship representatives.

WATCH the full highlight reel from WFSB’s Friday Night Football crew

2012 Class LL state quarterfinal preview capsules

Monday, November 26, 2012 by:Sean Patrick Bowley
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Staples' Joey Zelkowitz vs. Greenwich

Fasten your seatbelts.

This division is L-O-A-D-E-D.

Start off with the two-time defending state champs, the FCIAC champions, the SWC champions, the ECC Large champs, CCC Division I’s best team.

It’s a division so good, one unlucky 10-0 team must hit the road in the state quarterfinals: All the way from Norwich to Newtown.

Foof.

Since losing 42-7 to Xavier in last year’s Class LL final, this has been a season of destiny for Staples. The Wreckers haven’t trailed all season and made mince meat of the FCIAC. They’re stacked with talent up and down the roster. Eight state voters have deemed them the No. 1-ranked team.

They’re aligned for a rematch with Xavier. But first things first: The Wreckers must find a way to halt top tailback Ervin Phillips and West Haven.

The Westies have only lost to two teams this year, 10-0 Hand and Class LL No. 3 seed Xavier.

What do you say about Xavier? They’ve looked vulnerable this year? Have you seen Xavier lately?

Since being down 49-21 to Hillhouse in the fourth quarter in Week 6, the Falcons have scored 170 points, averaging just under two touchdowns in 13 quarters. Worse for this field, they’re healthy. Their starting linebacker unit has returned. Their offense, led by Boston College recruit QB Tim Boyle, is on fire.

The Falcon start off with FCIAC runner-up Greenwich, which is itching to redeem itself after last week’s FCIAC title-game loss.

Let’s not discount QB Stephen Barmore and No. 2-seeded Southington, or their quarterfinal opponent, No. 7 Glastonbury. The Tomahawks were yards away from winning their CCC showdown with the Blue Knights in October only to see an interception eventually turn into the winning touchdown of a 28-21 Southington victory.

The winner of the rematch might get to test Xavier’s championship meddle. Or maybe get an LL heavyweight match with Greenwich.

Perhaps still overlooked despite going 10-0 for the first time in 16 years and winning its first SWC title in 15 years, Newtown is anxious to prove it’s among the elite. Their first game at Blue and Gold Stadium matches up with back Marcus Outlow and unbeaten Norwich Free Academy. Winner gets the Staples-est Haven winner.

We know Newtown would love another chance at Staples after letting slip a 14-0 least in last year’s semifinals.

Most observers like Staples-Xavier II. But anything can happen. This division just might prove it.

What do you think?

Who will win the Class LL championship?

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Class LL preview

Previews and predictions by the Hearst CT sports staff: Doug Bonjour: Staples-West Haven; David Fierro: Greenwich-Xavier; Sean Patrick Bowley: Glastonbury-Southington. Stats provided by teams via MaxPreps. Some statistics may not include Thanksgiving Week.

No. 8 West Haven at No. 1 Staples

WHERE – Staples High School, Westport
RECORDS — West Haven 8-2 (SCC Division I East second place); Staples 9-0 (FCIAC champions)
PLAYOFF RECORD — West Haven 6-6; Staples 11-8
LAST APPEARANCE — West Haven 2010 (Lost to Xavier 28-7 in LL quarterfinals); Staples 2011 (Lost to Xavier 42-7 in LL final).
PLAYERS TO WATCH — West Haven: Sr. FB Eddy Williams (855 rushing yards, 16 TD), Jr. RB Ervin Phillips (957 rushing yards, 22 TD), Jr. LB Jesse Ridgway (61 tackles). Staples: Sr. RB/DB Joey Zelkowitz (954 rushing yards, 14 TD), Sr. RB/S Nick Kelly (507 rushing yards, 10 TD), Sr. WR/DB James Frusciante (658 receiving yards, 11 TD), Jr. QB Jack Massie (1,189 passing yards, 12 TD, 549 rushing, 9 TD), Sr. DE Pieter Hoets (73 tackles, 7 sacks), Sr. LB Lance Lonergan (74 tackles, 4 INT, 1.5 sacks).
YOU SHOULD KNOW — The teams last met in 2006 in the semifinals of the Class L state playoffs, a game Staples won 24-7. … West Haven’s two losses this season came against teams with a combined 19-1 record, 21-20 against Daniel Hand and 42-7 against Xavier. … West Haven is averaging 41 points in its eight wins. … Staples leads the state with 52 points a game, and has scored no fewer than 48 points in its nine wins. … Staples is third in the state with 4,573 total yards of offense. … Running back Joey Zelkowitz rushed for a record 317 yards in a 48-20 win over Greenwich in the FCIAC championship game on Thanksgiving. … Staples is fifth in the state in rushing with 3,356 yards. … Offense has allowed just five sacks this season. … Senior linebacker Lance Lonergan has returned three of his four interceptions for touchdowns. … Staples has not trailed at any point this season.
DOUG’S PICK – Staples 31, West Haven 17
SPB’S PICK – Staples 35, West Haven 20

Class LL QF - Who will win No. 8 West Haven at No. 1 Staples?

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No. 5 Norwich Free Academy at No. 4 Newtown

POSTPONED TO WEDNESDAY, 6:30
WHERE – Blue and Gold Stadium, Newtown
RECORDS — Norwich Free Academy: 10-0 (ECC Large champions); Newtown: 10-0 (SWC Champions)
PLAYOFF RECORDS – Norwich Free Academy 2-3; Newtown 4-8.
LAST APPEARANCE — Norwich Free Academy: 2010 (lost to Trumbull 21-6 in LL semifinals; Newtown: 2011 (lost to Staples 44-20 in LL semifinals).
PLAYERS TO WATCH – Norwich Free Academy: Sr. QB Joey Paparelli (580 yards, 11 TDs passing; 702 rushing yards, 7 rushing TDs); Jr. RB Marcus Outlow (954 rushing yards, 15 rushing TDs, 2 TD catches); Soph. RB Khaleed Exum-Strong (592 yards, 8 TDs rushing); Sr. WR Ryer Caruso (6 TD catches); Sr. LB Anthony Gomes (6 sacks). Newtown: Jr. QB Andrew Tarantino (98-for-162, 1,675 passing yards, 23 passing TDs, 3 interceptions); Jr. RB Cooper Gold (815 yards, 16 TDs rushing); Soph. WR Julian Dunn (565 yards, 9 TDs receiving); Sr. WR/DB Justin DeVellis (5 TD catches, 4 INTs); Soph. LB Tim Krapf (70 tackles); Sr. OL/DL Pat Thornberg (3.5 sacks); Jr. OL/DL Josh Krapf (3.0 sacks).
YOU SHOULD KNOW – Sr. WR Dan Hebert has been out of action since breaking his arm against Bunnell on Nov. 9. …Newtown won its first SWC championship since 1997 with a 21-14 victory over Masuk. Gold was the MVP with 222 yards rushing and 2 TDs. … Paparelli threw two TD passes to Caruso and Outlow ran for two scores as NFA beat New London on Thanksgiving in the 151st meeting … Both Newtown (Masuk) and NFA (Fitch) have each played just one team that qualified for the state playoffs. … Newtown outscored its opponents 372-106, while NFA out-scored its opponents 393-91. … This is the first time in the brief history of the quarterfinal round that two undefeated teams are meeting … When Newtown won its last state title (1992, Class MM), it was playing in the now-defunct Western Connecticut Conference, its mascot was the Indians and Blue and Gold Stadium was still named after Olympic gold medalist Bruce Jenner.
RICH’S PICK — NFA 28, Newtown 21
SPB’S PICK – Newtown 21, NFA 14

Class LL QF - Who will win No. 5 NFA at No. 4 Newtown?

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No. 7 Glastonbury at No. 2 Southington

POSTPONED TO WEDNESDAY, 6:30 p.m.
WHERE — Fontana Field, Southington
RECORDS — Glastonbury 9-1 (CCC Division I East champion); Southington 10-0 (Division I West champion)
PLAYOFF RECORD — Glastonbury 5-4; Southington 5-6
LAST APPEARANCE — Glastonbury 2011 (lost to Xavier 34-6 in LL quarterfinals); Southington: 2007 (lost to Shelton in 21-19 in Class LL semifinals)
PLAYERS TO WATCH — Glastonbury: Sr. QB/WR Ben Berey; Jr. QB Jalen Ollie; Sr. DE/TE Joshua Hill; Sr. OL/DE Matthew Hill; Sr. RB/DB Charles Wooding; Sr. RB/DB Tyler Janssen; Southington: Jr. QB Stephen Barmore (1,819 yards, 18 TDs passing; 325 yards, 10 TDs rushing); Jr. RB Jarrid Grimmett (646 yards, 9 TDs rushing); Sr. Anthony Bonefant (40 catches, 610 yards, 5 TDs); Jr. WR Corbin Garry (33 catches, 598 yards, 6 TD); Jr. DE Zach Maxwell (8 sacks); Sr. LB Justin Rose (8.4 tackles/gm); Sr. LB Nick Spitz (8.7 tackles/gm)
YOU SHOULD KNOW – This is a rematch of an Oct. 20 game, won by Southington 28-21 on Grimmett’s TD run with 34 seconds remaining. … is Glastonbury’s fifth straight state play playoffs. …This is Southington’s first state playoff appearance since losing to Shelton in the 2007 LL semifinals. …This is the second time these programs have met in the state playoffs. Glastonbury defeated Southington to win the 1984 LL title. …Southington coach Mike Drury is a Bristol native and the son of former Pomperaug championship coach Chuck Drury, who is an assistant on the staff. …Ollie is the son of UConn men’s basketball coach Kevin Ollie. …Southington has allowed just 98 points, the sixth least in the state and second-least for an LL school (behind NFA’s 91). Both teams average approximately 35 points per game. ….This is Southington’s second game on its new turf field.
SPB’S PICK – Southington 34, Glastonbury 21

Class LL QF - Who will win No. 7 Glastonbury at No. 2 Southington?

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No. 6 Greenwich at No. 3 Xavier

POSTPONED TO WEDNESDAY, 6:30
WHERE — Palmer Field, Middletown
ON THE AIR — CPTV Sports (check local listings) | WGCH 1490-AM
RECORDS — Greenwich 8-1 (FCIAC runners-up); Xavier (SCC Division I West champions)
PLAYOFF RECORD — Xavier 8-4; Greenwich 16-5
LAST APPEARANCE — Xavier: 2011 (defeated Staples, 42-7, in LL finals); Greenwich: 2007 (beat Shelton, 28-14, in LL final)
PLAYERS TO WATCH — Greenwich: Sr. RB Alex McMurray (628 yards, 17 TDs rushing, 3 TDs receiving); Sr. QB Liam O’Neil (1,134 yards, 17 TDs); Sr. TE/DE Joe Kelly (24 receptions, 602 yards, 12 TDs); Sr. FS/WR Taylor Olmstead; Sr. DL Alex McGee (team-high 8 sacks); Sr. RB/LB Mark Bernstein (483 yards, 7 TDs); Sr. WR Vincent Ferraro (23 receptions, 492 yards, 5 TDs); Xavier: Sr. RB/DB DeAngelo Berry (1,275 yards, 27 TDs); Sr. QB Tim Boyle (1,612 yards, 15 TDs); Sr. WR/DB Kris Luster (47 receptions, 930 yards, 6 TDs); Jr. RB/DB Andrew Meoli (304 yards, 4 TDs); Sr. LB Max Tylki (6-1, 207); Sr. LB Charlton Ortega; Jr. DB/WR Nate Gonzalez (64 tackles, 6 INT); Sr. OL/LB Matt Manzione (62 tackles); Jr. ILB Derek Jones (5-10, 207)
YOU SHOULD KNOW — Greenwich and Xavier are facing each other in the postseason for the first time since the Cardinals beat the Falcons, 24-8, in the Class LL semifinals. … Two-time defending Class LL champion Xavier is 22-1 in its last 23 games, its only loss coming to Daniel Hand last month. … Boyle will play at Boston College next year. … Greenwich has won seven state championships, its most recent coming in 2007. … Xavier has captured five state titles. … The Cardinals are averaging 46 points per game, while the Falcons are scoring 44 points per contest. … Boyle and Berry are ranked among the top 20 in the state in passing and rushing, respectively. … Greenwich is 16-3 the last two seasons with two of the losses coming against Staples in the FCIAC championship game. … Berry has rushed for more than 200 yards in a game twice so far this season and has had three or more touchdowns in all but two games. … The teams representing the SCC have fared well in the state tournament recently. Xavier and Hand won their respective class titles a year ago, Xavier and Hillhouse won in 2010, while Cheshire and Notre Dame-West Haven claimed state titles in 2009.
SPB’S PICK — Xavier 48, Greenwich 28

Class LL QF - Who will win No. 6 Greenwich at No. 3 Xavier?

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Finally, we talked state playoffs on the Laxworm High School Football show on Sunday. Hear Kyle Brennan of Re-Am, Ned Griffen of The Day and myself break it all down. Special guest was coach Rob Fleeting of Windsor.

Listen to internet radio with Laxworm Radio X High School on Blog Talk Radio

2012 Class L state quarterfinal preview capsules

Monday, November 26, 2012 by:Sean Patrick Bowley
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Masuk's Thomas Milone

Can anyone beat No. 1?

Matt Walsh, Peter Gerson and the unbeaten defending Class L champion Hand Tigers are back for another run at a glorious 10th state championship. And as of now they’re the favorites to win it all again. After all, they come from the mighty Southern Connecticut Conference and toppled two-time defending Class LL champ Xavier back on Oct. 12.

So who’s going to do what Xavier couldn’t?

How about Windsor?

The talented, high-flying Warriors bring one of the state’s best quarterbacks in Robert Quinn Fleeting and twin monsters Lance and Cole Ormsby. Windsor, which knocked off Notre Dame-West Haven and had New Canaan down before the Rams rallied late and broke Windsor’s heart on a last-second field goal.

Coach Rob Fleeting, the QB’s father, said the team has taken that loss, rededicated themselves and learned from their mistakes. They’re a solid choice to reach the final and take a shot at the champs. (We interviewed Fleeting on the Laxworm High School Football show last Sunday. Listen below.)

Masuk, fresh off its first SWC regular season loss in four seasons, will have to regroup fast to take on talented Middletown and coach Sal Morello. The Panthers had their way with everyone in the league until Newtown. Were some cracks exposed?

And, returning to the state playoffs for the eighth consecutive year is New Canaan. The Rams, suffered their first Thanksgiving loss in nine years and haven’t been as dominant as season’s past. They get to play Avon, a relatively unknown Pequot squad up in Simsbury.

Mike Emery is back in the playoffs with Fitch for the first time since the state championship coach returned. Platt is armed with Justin Potts, but is burdened with a trip to the Surf Club in late November. Good luck.

In the end, Windsor and Hand seem headed for a collision course. But this field has just enough talented teams, don’t be surprised to see a surprise team emerge from the wreckage of a few upsets.

Maybe.

What do you think?

Who will win the Class L championship?

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Class L previews

Previews and predictions by the Hearst Connecticut sports staff: Sean Patrick Bowley: Platt-Hand; Fitch-Windsor; Mike Cardillo: Masuk-Middletown; Dave Ruden: New Canaan-Avon.

All games at 6:30 p.m.

No. 8 Platt at No. 1 Hand

POSTPONED TO WEDNESDAY, 6:30 p.m.
WHERE – The Surf Club, Madison
RECORDS — Platt: 8-2 (CCC Division III East champions); Hand: 10-0 (SCC Division I East champions)
PLAYOFF RECORD — Platt: 1-4; Hand: 18-7
LAST APPEARANCE — Platt 2010 (lost to New London 53-14 in M quarterfinals); Hand 2012 (defeated New Canaan 34-10 in L championship)
PLAYERS TO WATCH — Platt: Sr. RB Justin Potts (1,466 yards, 22 TD rushing; 3 TDs receiving); Jr. QB Anton McBride (1,069 yards, 7 TDs, 6 INT); Jr. LB Jason Nelson (10 tackles/gm); Jr. TE/LB Scott Dargan; Hand: Sr. FB/LB Matt Walsh (10 TDs); Sr. DL Peter Gerson; Sr. WR Kyle Anderson (467 yards, 4 TD receiving; Sr. WR Caleb Ewald (519 yards, 5 TD receiving; Sr. QB Brendan Bilcheck (1,493 yards 13 TD, 10 INT; 488 yards, 8 TD rushing); Sr. SS Alex Tuccero.
YOU SHOULD KNOW – Hand has completed the eighth unbeaten regular season in school history with back-to-back 10-0 seasons. …It is riding a 23-game win streak, second only to Ansonia (25) in Connecticut. …Hand’s Walsh is a UConn recruit and has run for 10 TDs this year. …Gerson will play at Yale. …Platt’s Potts is among the top 10 rushers in the state …Including a 34-14 win over then-unbeaten Berlin, Platt has won six straight since a 48-8 loss to Rocky Hill. …It has outscored its opponents by an average of 36-17. …Hand has outscored its opponents by an average of 36-15. …Hand has been ranked the No. 1 team since defeating then-No. 1 Xavier 40-20 on Oct. 12.
SPB’S PICK — Hand 48, Platt 16

Class L QF - Who will win No. 8 Platt at No. 1 Hand?

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No. 5 Middletown vs. No. 4 Masuk

POSTPONED TO WEDNESDAY, 6:30 p.m.
WHERE — Bulldog Field (Bunnell), Stratford
RECORDS – Middletown 8-2; Masuk 9-1
PLAYOFF RECORD – Middletown: 3-3; Masuk: 13-11
LAST APPEARANCE — Middletown: 2009 (0-1, Lost in Class MM semifinals to New Canaan, 28-0); Masuk: 2011 (1-1, Lost in Class L semifinal to Hand, 35-14)
PLAYERS TO WATCH – Middletown: Soph. QB Dario Highsmith; Sr. WR/RB Jha’Kur West; Jr. K Van Uk; Sr. WR Otto Marcello; Masuk: Sr. WR/RB/DB Thomas Milone (2,200 total yards, 36 TDs); Sr. RB Frank Bacarella (13 TDs); Sr. QB Malik Cummings (19 TDs, 4 INTs); Sr. DE Brad Swain; Sr. DB Kyle Fontneau; Sr. DL Bryan Monaco.
YOU SHOULD KNOW — Both teams enter the playoffs off a defeat. … Middletown’s two losses are at the hands of Class L No. 2 seed Windsor and Class LL No. 3 seed Xavier, the latter on Thanksgiving. … Masuk’s lone defeat came on Thanksgiving Eve to undefeated Class LL No. 4 seed Newtown in the SWC championship game. … Middletown’s defense has allowed 124 points, but 81 of those came in the losses to Windsor and Xavier. … The Blue Dragons use a trio of running backs (Shaiquan Turner, Yaamal Jackson and Isaiah Thompkins) and their quarterback, Dario Highsmith, can run and throw. … Masuk’s offense has scored over 40 points in all its victories. … Milone has literally done it all for the Panthers — running, catching, returning, even throwing on occasion. He’ll need to be at his best for Masuk to make the semifinals for the third straight season. … Masuk is 1-0 at Bulldog Field this year, defeating Barlow 42-23 on Nov. 10. … Cummings picked up an ankle injury in the win over Barlow. He didn’t play the next week in a 49-0 win over Weston and returned against Newtown and threw a pair of interceptions.
MIKE’S PICK – Middletown 31, Masuk 21
SPB’S PICK — Masuk 35, Middletown 21

Class L QF - Who will win No. 5 Middletown at No. 4 Masuk?

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No. 6 New Canaan vs. No. 3 Avon

POSTPONED TO WEDNESDAY, 6:30
WHERE – Simsbury High School
RECORDS — New Canaan: 8-2 (FCIAC East second place); Avon: 10-0 (Pequot Uncas champions)
PLAYOFF RECORD — New Canaan: 20-6; Avon: 0-2
LAST APPEARANCE –New Canaan: 2011 (0-1, lost to Daniel Hand 34-10 in Class L final); Avon: 2009 (0-1, lost to Berlin 35-28 in Class L semifinals).
PLAYERS TO WATCH — New Canaan: Jr. QB/RB Nick Cacione (1,093 yards passing, 5 TDs; 711 yards rushing, 8 TDs); Teddy Bossidy Jr. QB/RB (619 yards passing, 7 TDs; 358 yards rushing, 3 TDs); Sr. WR Grady Lynch (29 catches, 299 yards, 5 TDs); Jr. DB Cole Harris (111 tackles, 2 interceptions); Jr. LB Michael Root (65 tackles); So. LB Zach Allen (55 tackles, 6 sacks); Avon: Sr. RB Colin Moore (2,003 yards, 29 TDs); Jr. QB Noah Hahn (652 yards, 6 TDs); Jr. LB Jimmy Murphy (123 tackles, 7 sacks); Sr. LB Joe Murphy (111 tackles).
YOU SHOULD KNOW – New Canaan has played in six straight state championship games, but has lost two in a row after winning four straight. … The Rams head into the state tournament off a regular-season loss for the first time in 11 years. … Root has been the impact player he was expected to be on defense since returning in midseason from an injury. … New Canaan has more yards on the ground (1,942) than through the air (1,720) for the first time since adopting the spread offense seven years ago. … Avon and New Canaan are meeting for the first time. Avon has not played an FCIAC school since 1962. …Avon averages 261 rushing yards and 66 passing per game. …Avon has allowed just 96 points, sixth least in the state. Its closest win was 14-7 over Class M playoff participant Ellington/Somers. …Moore is just one of a handful of 2,000-yard rushers.
DAVE’S PICK — New Canaan 28, Avon 14.
SPB’S PICK – New Canaan 35, Avon 14

Class L QF - Who will win No. 6 New Canaan at No. 3 Avon?

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No. 7 Fitch at No. 2 Windsor

POSTPONED TO WEDNESDAY, 6:30 p.m.
WHERE – Jack O’Brien Stadium, Windsor
RECORDS — Fitch 8-2 (ECC Large, second place); Windsor 9-0 (CCC Division II West champions)
PLAYOFF RECORD — Fitch: 7-4; Windsor: 2-4
LAST APPEARANCE — Fitch: 2005 (lost to Staples 27-21 in L semifinals); Windsor: 2011 (lost to New Canaan 27-24 in L semifinals)
PLAYERS TO WATCH — Fitch: Jr. QB Devante Anderson (6-5, 200); Sr. RB/DB Saffwan Davis; Jr. RB/DB Robert Johnson; Jr. OL/DL Lester Smith (5-10, 230); Windsor: Sr. QB Robert Quinn Fleeting (2,125 yards, 27 TDs, 3 INT passing; 545 yards, 7 TDs rushing); Sr. RB Devonte Dillon (579 yards, 3 TD rushing); Jr. RB Jalen Berry (496 yards, 7 TD rushing); Sr. WR Ryhieme Moore (771 yards, 8 TD receiving); Sr. LB Cole Ormsby (14 sacks; Sr. LB Lance Ormsby.
YOU SHOULD KNOW – This is Fitch’s first state playoff appearance since 2005, the first since coach Mike Emery’s return to coach the Falcons in 2008. …In his first stint, from 1992-2003, Emery won six playoff games, two state titles and the state’s No. 1 ranking in 2000. …The Falcons average 40 points per game, the ninth-best in the state. …Windsor allows just 8 points per game, the second-least in Connecticut. …Fleeting is the son of coach Rob Fleeting. …The Windsor averages 476 yards per game. This is its second-consecutive unbeaten regular season. Windsor has won 20 of its last 21 games.
SPB’S PICK — Windsor 37, Fitch 21

Class L QF - Who will win No. 7 Fitch at No. 2 Windsor?

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Finally, we talked state playoffs on the Laxworm High School Football show on Sunday. Hear Kyle Brennan of Re-Am, Ned Griffen of The Day and myself break it all down. Special guest was coach Rob Fleeting of Windsor.

Listen to internet radio with Laxworm Radio X High School on Blog Talk Radio

That’s a Wrap! Thanksgiving 2012

Saturday, November 24, 2012 by:Sean Patrick Bowley
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A look as who did what on Thanksgiving Week 2012. Compiled by executive sports editor Gary Rogo and the Hearst CT sports staff.

BULLDOZERS

Joey Zelkowitz, Staples: Ran for FCIAC-title game record 317 yards on 20 carries and scored three TDs, as Wreckers won the league championship for second straight year.

John Shannon, Bullard-Havens: Helped the Tigers finish off an 8-2 regular season with 274 yards and five TDs on 23 carries in a 49-24 defeat of Bassick.

Cooper Gold, Newtown: Torched two-time defending league champion Masuk for 222 yards and a pair of touchdowns to propel the Nighthawks to a 21-14 victory in the SWC championship game.

Andrew Louis, Central: Gained 100 yards and scored three TDs on 11 carries as Hilltoppers hung on to beat Harding 30-22.

Arkeel Newsome, Ansonia: Ran for four TDs and caught a 9-yard pass from Jai’Quan McKnight for a fifth score in 48-27 victory over Naugatuck.

Collin Cioffi, New Fairfield: Stepping in for an absent Joe Pacheco, junior finished with 205 yards from scrimmage and a TD in 31-13 pasting of New Milford.

Sam Gravitte, Ridgefield: Ran for 158 yards and three TDs in 42-6 rout of Danbury.

Shaquan Howsie and Shawn Brown, Trinity Catholic: Howsie ran for 155 yards and a pair of scores while Brown added 131 rushing yards with three TDs, including one on a 76-yard pass from Danny O’Leary, as the Crusaders clinched a Class S playoff berth with a 42-32 defeat of Wilton.

Davell Cotterell, Westhill: Workhorse carried 32 times for 195 yards and one TD as the Vikings subdued city rival Stamford 20-6.

Kyle Jordan, McMahon: Broke free after slow start for 130 yards and TD runs of 20 and 61 yards.

GAMEBREAKERS

Connor Cadrin, Foran: Scored five TDs, two on passes from Jake Kasuba, two on runs and one on a 66-yard kickoff return in a 56-29 defeat of Law. For good measure, he intercepted a pair of passes and forced a fumble.

Joe Piatnik, Bethel: Quarterback ran for 249 yards and three TDs on 25 carries and threw scoring passes of 39, 68 and 25 yards in a 48-28 defeat of Brookfield.

Nick Lombardo, Darien: Caught TD passes of 35, 30 and 30 yards from Henry Baldwin as the Blue Wave beat New Canaan for the first time since 2001.

Terrence N’dabian, Bunnell: Insertion of senior as starting QB turned the pass-happy Bulldogs into an option team. Responded with 224 rushing yards and two TDs on 30 carries. He also threw a TD pass and returned an interception 70 yards for a score.

Justin Schaffer, Weston: Ran for a touchdown and caught the winning TD pass in Weston’s state-tournament clinching victory over Barlow.

GUNSLINGERS

Jordan Vazzano, St. Joseph: Sophomore threw for 212 yards and four touchdowns as the Cadets clinched a state playoff berth with a 55-20 victory over Trumbull.

Jake Kasuba, Foran: Sophomore finished with 257 yards passes and four TD tosses, two each to Connor Cadrin and Nick Weissauer.

Tanner Kingsley, Woodland: Set a state record with 615 passing yards while throwing for eight TDs in a 62-26 rout of Seymour.

Tyler Hassett, Weston: Threw for 126 yards and two TDs in 21-14 victory over Barlow, earning the Trojans their first state playoff berth in 23 years.

Jai’Quan McKnight, Ansonia: Soph had TD runs of 65 and 59 yards in win over Naugatuck and added a TD pass to Arkeel Newsome.

Mark Piccirillo, Shelton: Soph threw a 38-yard TD pass to Kyle Drost, capping a four-play, 72-yard game-winning drive in 27-21 victory over Derby. Finished with 126 yards on 8-of-16 passing and 111 yards rushing and two TDs on 14 carries.

Brennen Diaz, Oxford: Completed 10-of-16 passes for 197 yards and two TDs — both to Chris Vankamerik — in 42-22 beating of Pomperaug. Capped effort with a late interception.`

BRICK WALLS

Kyle Dammeyer, Jimmy Gasper and Benjamin Brzoski, Fairfield Ludlowe: Dammeyer recovered fumble and had 1 1/2 sacks in 31-13 victory over Fairfield Warde as the Falcons won their last four games to finish 5-5. Gasper blocked a punt and recovered the ball in the end zone for a touchdown. Brzoski scooped up a Warde fumble and went 92 yards for a TD.

William Kelly, Notre Dame-Fairfield: Blocked a punt and returned it five yards for a score in Lancers’ 26-22 victory over Immaculate.

Justin DeVellis, Newtown: Picked off a pass to seal Newtown’s SWC Championship victory over Masuk.

Jack Hamilton, Weston: Made several late stops, including a batted down pass on 4th down to preserve Weston’s state playoff clinching victory over Barlow.

VALIANT IN DEFEAT

Marc Cesare, Trumbull: 137 yards rushing and two TDs in loss to St. Joseph

D.J. Smith, Harding: Went 74 yards for a TD on the Presidents’ first play and finished with 197 yards on 13 carries, scoring a second time on a 51-yard run in the third quarter.

Thomas Milone, Masuk: 165 yards of total offense and two TDs and an interception in a 21-14 loss to Newtown in the SWC championship game.

Alex McMurray, Greenwich: Scored three TDs on runs of 6, 1 and 4 yards in 48-30 loss to Staples in the FCIAC championship game.

‘About Last Night…’ Week 8 (Redux): No comeback needed

Sunday, November 4, 2012 by:Sean Patrick Bowley
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♦♦♦

DeAngelo Berry easily slips through Shelton’s defense on his way to a 51-yard, third-quarter touchdown in Saturday’s 59-17 victory. | Screen cap by Sean Patrick Bowley

Nearly five quarters and eight days ago, Xavier trailed Hillhouse 49-21. Despair and defeat dripped from their facemasks.

Let’s check in with the Falcons now, shall we?

Lessee, they scored four touchdowns in four possessions in the fourth quarter to shock Hillhouse, 50-49.

They added four more touchdowns in five possessions in the first half against Shelton. Then they tacked on four more touchdowns and — and — added a field goal that bounced off the crossbar and in for the final points of a 59-17 victory.

So that’s 12 touchdowns and a field goal in five quarters.

In the age of ‘Score Management,’ no less.

Yipes. Welcome back to the living, Xavier.

The Falcons, who are still banged up a big on defense (and, believe it or not, it showed vs. Shelton), are fine and dandy on the offensive end, thank you. They’ve scored 50-or-more points in three straight games and are 7-1, looking good in the Class LL playoff race with a showdown with West Haven next week.

Shelton barely laid a finger on back DeAngelo Berry, who touched the ball just 11 times and scampered for over 200 yards and four touchdowns. They rarely touched quarterback Tim Boyle, who was 10-for-10 for another 200-or-so yards.

So now the showdown for one of the Class LL playoff spots is ready to rock for Week 9. West Haven vs. Xavier. Let’s get ready to rock.

Once again, a very slow night here in Shangri-La since the SWC and FCIAC have pushed their games due to the aftereffects of Superstorm Sandy. But it was busy up north.

Here’s what went down:

Woodland (6-1) hammered reeling Holy Cross 28-0 to claim the second and final NVL Championship berth.

Awright! So get excited for Woodland-Ansonia II, kids! The Hawks will face the Chargers in the title game Nov. 15 at Municipal Stadium. Ansonia defeated Woodland 47-16 in Week 2.

(Remind me: Why are we doing this again?)

West Haven crushed Wilbur Cross 47-12 to set up their Xavier showdown next Friday (see above). Cheshire dismantled East Haven.

Up-and-outward, Fitch toppled New London 39-27 in a big victory that improved its profile in Class L. New London dropped back a bit in Class M.

Southington rallied back from an early deficit vs. Simsbury and then used a big second half to win 35-14. Stephen Barmore threw four touchdown passes and Southington scored 28 unanswered points over the final three quarters.

Middletown nipped Farmington 14-6 in a big game with Class L playoff ramifications. The Dragons climbed to No. 5 and, in the process, knocked Farmington (6-2) to No. 9, just below the cutoff.

Here are the ever-changing CIAC playoff standings. Uber-freelancer Kyle Brennan of the NVL Football Blog and the Rep-Am has calculated our first state playoff clinchers: Ansonia (Class S), Windsor (Class L) and Avon (Class L) are all in. We’ll wait for Polecat HQ to confirm. Polecat has confirmed.

We’ll let the boys have their fun. We’re not touching playoff scenarios until next week.

Saturday Results

  • SCC: West Haven 47, Wilbur Cross 12 | Xavier 59, Shelton 17 | Cheshire 39, East Haven 0
  • NVL: Torrington 67, Kennedy 36 | St. Paul 48, Sacred Heart 36 | Woodland 28, Holy Cross 0 | Naugatuck 52, Watertown 14
  • CSC: Abbott Tech 28, Whitney Tech 8 | Platt Tech 47, Wilcox Tech 26
  • CCC: Southington 35, Simsbury 14 | Wethersfield 35, RHAM 14 | Hartford Public 37, Bulkeley 0 | Middletown 14, Farmington 6 | Bloomfield 41, Weaver 0 | Hall 40, Newington 18 | Northwest Catholic 36, Bristol Eastern 7 |  Tolland 32, East Catholic 22
  • ECC: Fitch 39, New London 27 | Montville 35, Stonington 27
  • PEQUOT: North Branford 41, Coginchaug 0 | Valley Regional/Old Lyme 41, Lewis Mills 7 | SMSA/University 29, Windsor Locks/Suffield/East Granby 16  | Coventry/Windham Tech/Bolton 36, Housatonic/Wamogo 7 | Gilbert/NW Regional 37, Granby Memorial 0

Sunday schedule

Yes, there are games today. We’ll be down in Woodmont to see if Foran and its band of merry sophomores can knock North Haven out to pasture.

  • ECC: Woodstock Academy at East Lyme, 2 p.m.
  • PEQUOT: Morgan at Nonnewaug, 2 p.m.
  • SCC: North Haven at Foran, 4 p.m. | Law at Guilford, 4 p.m.

‘About Last Night…’ Week 8: Showdown? Showcase in Ansonia

Saturday, November 3, 2012 by:Sean Patrick Bowley
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In Football Friday’s only big game played in the region, Ansonia mopped the Jarvis Stadium turf with 7-0 Wolcott in a 41-12 NVL Brass Showdown. Showcase.

Did we really think it would be anything but?

Arkeel Newsome ran for 200 yards, Andrew Matos flexed his big-play muscles and the Ansonia defense stifled Wolcott’s gamebreakers, Mike Nicol, Joe Lynch and Co.

Granted, the 20-6 halftime score was Ansonia’s closest of the year. Wolcott’s good enough. It wasn’t going to lay down. This was a 13-6 game in the second quarter.

But after Ansonia took a 14-0 lead on its first two possessions, the general feeling on the sidelines was, ‘This game’s over.’

Took another quarter and change to make sure, but yes… yes it was.

And so Ansonia is your NVL Brass Division Champions (yeay!) and will play in the NVL title game for the umpteenth season.

They await the winner of the Holy Cross-Woodland game tonight.

ELSEWHERE, the only other big result of the night was that Platt-Meriden ‘upset’ No. 10 Berlin pretty handily in a game that has significant CIAC playoff ramifications. Justin Potts ran for 202 yards as Platt (6-2) scored 27 unanswered points and moved to No. 9 in Class L. Berlin (7-1) dropped to No. 4 in Class M.

Here’s Mr. Polecat’s view of the events at Sage Park.

Glastonbury won, Windsor won, Manchester won. Ledyard won. NFA won. …All’s well.

Hillhouse also mopped up Lyman Hall in the SCC’s only game.

Real strange not seeing any Fairfield County games played. We’ll get one tonight when Shelton hosts Xavier (and that really isn’t a Fairfield County game), but that’s it.

Friday Results

  • CCC: Glastonbury 47, South Windsor 0 | E.O. Smith 40, Fermi 26 | Windsor 49, Maloney 7 | Plainville 41, Rockville 12 |  Platt 34, Berlin 14 | East Hartford 35, Conard 29 | Manchester 32, New Britain 8 | Rocky Hill 55, Bristol Central 21
  • CSC: Capital Prep 42, Cheney Tech 0 | Prince Tech 36, Putnam/Tourtellotte/Ellis Tech 14
  • ECC: Ledyard 47, Bacon Academy 7 | Killingly 66, St. Bernard/Norwich Tech 36 |  Norwich Free Academy 40, Griswold 14
  • NVL: Ansonia 41, Wolcott 12 | Wilby 46, Crosby 14
  • PEQUOT: Hyde Leadership 56, East Hampton/Vinal Tech 6 |  Canton 42, Stafford/East Windsor 22 | Avon 26, Enfield 6
  • SCC: Hillhouse 46, Lyman Hall 0

Saturday Schedule

  • SCC: Wilbur Cross at West Haven, 6:00 p.m.| Xavier at Shelton, 7:00 p.m.|  East Haven at Cheshire, 6:30 p.m.
  • NVL: Torrington at Kennedy, 11:00 a.m. | Sacred Heart at St. Paul Catholic, 5:00 p.m. | Holy Cross at Woodland, 6:00 p.m. | Watertown at Naugatuck, 7:00 p.m.
  • CSC: Abbott Tech at Whitney Tech, 1:00 p.m. | Platt Tech at Wilcox Tech, 6:00 p.m.
  • CCC: Southington at Simsbury, 4:00 p.m. | Wethersfield at RHAM, 2:15 p.m. | Bulkeley at Hartford Public, 6:30 p.m. | Middletown at Farmington, 6:00 p.m. | Bloomfield at Weaver, 2:00 p.m. | Newington at Hall, 2:00 p.m. | Bristol Eastern at Northwest Catholic, 3:00 p.m. | East Catholic at Tolland, 3:00 p.m.
  • ECC: Fitch at New London, 7 p.m. | Montville at Stonington, 2 p.m.
  • PEQUOT: North Branford at Coginchaug, 2:00 p.m. | Valley Regional/Old Lyme at Lewis Mills, 3:30 p.m. | SMSA/University at Windsor Locks/Suffield/East Granby, 1:30 p.m. | Coventry/Windham Tech/Bolton at Housatonic/Wamogo, 2:00 p.m. | Gilbert/NW Regional at Granby Memorial, 2:00 p.m.

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.


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
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