SPB's High School Football

Ansonia defeated Torrington 49-20 Thursday night. A full slate of Week 1 games continue tonight

Welcome to the only place (and we mean only) place to follow Southwestern Connecticut and statewide high school football.

We have a full slate of games for you tonight. Big games. Little games. Out-of-the-way games. Everything.

First, quick pleasantries:

We have previewed the entire SWCT region, so here’s everything you need before we get to the live blog below.

Essentials:
The Elite 8 | Guide to the Games | NHR State Poll | CSWA State Poll

Conference Previews:
The FCIAC | The SWC | The SCC | The NVL | The CSC

Highlighted Feature Stories
QB Milano returns to lead New Canaan | Bethel’s Schmidt a throwback player | Masuk gunning for No. 1 |
Trumbull expects to contend again | Greenwich hopes to recapture dominance | St. Joseph starting from scratch

Some quick news: Newsome, Ansonia run over Torrington | New Canaan thumps Bassick |
Law falls to Sheehan | Seymour spoils O’Brien Tech’s opener | St. Joseph returns to Dalling Field | Greenwich cleared to play at Cardinal Stadium

Oh, and here’s the highlight reel from last night’s Ansonia victory over Torrington:

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As for the games, you can watch Xavier-Notre Dame here on Gogreenknights.com.

And you can follow the rest of the games below on the live Twitter feed. Not all of the games may be updated consistently, but you’ll certainly get a final score from the game you want.

LIVE BLOG

Annnnnnd we’re off.

Jon Wilson and Seymour routed O’Brien Tech 42-14 at Derby’s DeFilippo Field. Click here for the story. | Here for photos.

Today we released our  Guide to this Week’s games. And the Elite 8.

Tonight we have a few games on the docket as we build toward that Friday night crescendo.

New Canaan takes on Bassick at Kennedy Stadium at 6.
Sacred Heart is at Woodland at 6
Sheehan travels to Law at 7:30

And, of course, Ansonia plays host to those upstarts from the north, Torrington, at 6 p.m.

SportingNewsCT.com will broadcast the game live. So if you can’t get to the game, you can follow it on the window below. If that doesn’t work you can also try clicking here..

Scores from all of our regional games should also show up in our red Twitter widget at right or the live blog below.

See everyone on the other side.

Eight regional teams will begin their journey toward a coveted state football championship when the new CIAC state quarterfinals begin tonight at 6:30 p.m. Clockwise from top-left, Brookfield's Brian Kelly, St. Joseph's Joe Della Vecchia, Ansonia's Montrell Dobbs, New Canaan's Kevin Macari, Staples' Tyler Jacobs, Masuk's Casey Cochran, Trumbull's Phil Terio and Darien's Chris Allam.

Trumbull High School football captains, Mat Lena, Will Testani and Phil Terio, left to right, take the field before a regular season game. Trumbull takes on Conard tonight in the Class LL quarterfinals.

Welcome to Super Tuesday.

32 teams enter.

16 leave.

Tonight, the CIAC football state quarterfinals kick off across the state at 6:30.

Regionally, we have nine (or so) lucky qualifiers — shown above — Brookfield takes on Lyman Hall in Class M; St. Joseph hosts Woodland at Ludlowe,  Ansonia hosts Hyde in Class S; New Canaan is at Naugatuck, Darien is at Wethersfield and Masuk hosts Bristol Eastern at Bunnell in Class L. Staples is at Glastonbury, Trumbull hosts Conard and West Haven tangles with No. 1 Xavier in Class LL.

Here’s the full schedule (based on the bracket), and some corresponding stories to whet your playoff palate:

First, our humble state playoff previews (and some pretty silly picks, I’m told).

• CLASS LL & L – PLAYOFF PREVIEWS
  
• CLASS M & S — PLAYOFF PREVIEWS
• LATEST STATE POLLS

Now the schedule with news from the front

CLASS LL

• No. 8 WEST HAVEN (8-2) at No. 1 XAVIER (10-0)
• No. 5 STAPLES (9-1) at No. 4 GLASTONBURY (9-1)
  Stamford Advocate: Staples opens playoffs vs. Glastonbury |
• No. 6 CONARD (8-2) at No. 3 TRUMBULL (9-2)
• No. 7 HALL (8-2) at No. 2 NORWICH FREE ACADEMY (10-0)
  Day of New London – NFA right where it wants to be

CLASS L

• No. 8 BRISTOL EASTERN (9-1) vs. No. 1 MASUK (10-0) at Bunnell
  Bristol Press - Eastern out to stop pass, Masuk in quarterfinals
• No. 5 DARIEN (10-1) at No. 4 WETHERSFIELD (9-1)
  Stamford Advocate Healthier Darien travels to Wethersfield
• No. 6 NEW CANANAAN  (9-1) at No. 3 NAUGATUCK (9-1)
  Stamford Advocate – New Canaan’s Macari stating case to colleges | Republican-American Champion Hounds set to go
• No. 7 NORTH HAVEN  (9-1) at No. 2 HAND (9-1)

CLASS M

• No. 8 HILLHOUSE (7-3) at No. 1 BERLIN (10-0)
  New Britain Herald – Championship defense begins tonight for Berlin | Hillhouse traveled tough road to Sage Park
• No. 5 PLAINVILLE (8-2) vs. No. 4 GILBERT/NORTHWESTERN at Torrington
  New Britain Herald – Blue Devils set sights on Gilbert | Republican-American Gilbert football entering new territory
• No. 6 LYMAN HALL (7-3) at No. 3 BROOKFIELD (8-2)
  News-Times of Danbury – Brookfield hopes to keep win streak going | Record-Journal of Meriden Lyman Hall set for playoffs
• No. 7 PLATT (8-2) at No. 2 NEW LONDON (8-2)
  The Day of New London - NL Looks to finish the right way |

CLASS S

• No. 8 SACRED HEART (6-4) at No. 1 VALLEY REGIONAL/OLD LYME (10-0)
  Day of New London - Warriors’ special season continues in state playoffs | Republican-American Hearts savoring spot in state playoffs
• No. 5 WOODLAND (7-3) vs. No. 4 ST. JOSEPH (7-3) at Ludlowe
  Republican American – Woodland awaiting word on St. Joe QB
• No. 6 HYDE (7-3) at No. 3 ANSONIA (9-1)
• No. 7 CROMWELL (7-3) at No. 2 MONTVILLE (9-1)
  Day of New London - Message received: Montville rolls into playoffs

LIVE UPDATES

Doesn’t look to be a ton of radio and internet radio coverage this fine Super Tuesday, save for “The Coach” George DeMaio on WELI 960-AM from the West Haven-Xavier game. They’ll be getting updates from all over the state from their correspondents, so they’re worth a listen.

But of course, we’re running our live high school playoff blog below, which should get you updates from everywhere.

Just quick note on the live blog: It’s a feed connected to Twitter that searches the term #ctfb. If you want to send updates, just sign up to Twitter and you can send updates from your phone by adding #ctfb to your Tweet. If on this live blog, you don’t see a score you’re looking for, you can scroll up to find the last update on your game.

We’ll add video, stories and commentary here as soon as the games are over.

Enjoy the games.

Extra! Extra! Get all your live scoring updates, and playoff point updates, right here.

It’s all hands on deck for the staff of Hearst-Connecticut Newspapers — the Connecticut Post, the Danbury News-Times, the Stamford Advocate and Greenwich Time. We’ll be at nearly every single game in the Southwest Connecticut region for our biggest live scoring blog of the season.

If you’re at home, just click the window below to follow along on everything that’s happening across the state: who’s scoring, who’s winning, whose playoff hopes are alive, whose playoff dreams are dead — from 7 a.m. until closing time when all the points are tabulated and all the playoff teams are accounted for. While your Turkey bakes, just click the window below, sit back and enjoy.

Look below for the internet and radio broadcast schedules.

PLAYOFF SCENARIOS

CLASS LL

• They’re IN: Xavier (9-0, most likely the No. 1 seed with a victory over Middletown); Norwich Free Academy (9-0, most likely the No. 2 seed with victory over New London); Trumbull (9-2, has clinched a home game awaiting seeding); Glastonbury (9-1 – has also clinched a home game, likely the 3 or 4 seed); Conard (8-2, will finish anywhere between 5 and 8.)
• Must Win: Southington (8-1 – a win and D.J. and the Blue Knights will be the No. 5 seed, a loss and they’ll be praying West Haven or Newtown doesn’t catch them on bonuses); Staples (8-1, a win and they’ll be the No. 6 seed; a loss and they’re almost toast).
• Pray: Hall (8-2, looking for bonus help to capture the last spot). Newtown (8-2, needs Brookfield and New Fairfield to win, West Haven to lose to sneak in. A Staples loss would help, too). Pomperaug (needs Bethel and Notre Dame-Fairfield to win to have any shot). West Haven (must win and have Southington lose, Amity, Wilbur Cross to win.

CLASS L

• They’re IN: Masuk (10-0 – the top seed); Darien (10-0 – must win to secure the No. 2 seed, can fall as far as No. 8). Hand (9-1, likely the No. 3 seed. Could get 2 if Darien loses).
• Must win: Wethersfield (8-1 – a loss and they’re in serious trouble); Naugatuck (8-1 – a loss and they’re out); North Haven (8-1 – a loss and they’re out); Maloney (8-1 – a loss and they’re out); New Canaan (8-1 – a loss and they’re out).
• Pray: Bristol Eastern (8-1 – a win and then one of the remaining contenders to lose to have a shot, preferably Maloney); Windsor (8-2 – Two teams ahead to lose, or all of its bonuses to outpoint Eastern). Avon (8-2 – needs two or three ahead to lose). Middletown (7-2 – win and a miracle).

CLASS M

• They’re IN: Berlin (10-0 – most likely the top seed); New London (8-1 – most likely No. 2); Plainville (7-2).
• Must win: Brookfield (7-2 – actually, they can get in with a loss but only if a few behind it lose. Clinches home game with a win.); Coventry/Windham Tech (7-2 – in with a win); Gilbert/Northwestern (7-2 – in with a win); Lyman Hall (7-2 – in with a win); Platt (7-2 – in with a win).
• Pray: Hillhouse (6-3 – must win and get at least one above to lose, preferably Platt); Putnam/Tourellotte/Ellis Tech (6-3 – win and at least 2 above to lose); Waterford (6-3 – win and at least three above to lose). Everyone else needs a miracle.

CLASS S

• They’re IN: Valley Regional (10-0 – No. 2 seed unless Ansonia loses, then No. 1); Ansonia (9-0 – top seed with win over Naugatuck); Montville (8-1 – most likely the No. 3 seed); St. Joseph (7-3 – can still get a home game if enough bonuses come in); Woodland (7-3 – slight chance at a home game); Hyde (7-3 – locked in as the No. 6 seed); Cromwell (7-3 – locked in as the No. 7 seed).
• Pray: Coginchaug (7-3) and Sacred Heart (6-4) It comes down to Sacred Heart bonus points. If the Hearts can get THREE of the following teams to win, they’re in: Torrington, Crosby, St. Paul, Derby. If they get two, it’ll go to tiebreakers (SH trails right now). If just one, Coginchaug will advance.

BROADCAST SCHEDULES

New Canaan at Darien, 10:30 a.m. — MSG Varsity-Connecticut

• For those of you who have Cablevision, the mothership high school sports network will be broadcasting live from the scene at Darien High School. Mike Quick and the gang will have all the info you need. But the guys might need help deciphering the state playoff points, so look for a special guest at halftime.

Naugatuck at Ansonia, 10:30 a.m. — WELI 960-AM and WATR 1320-AM

• On WELI is “The Coach” George DeMaio‘s famous Thanksgiving Extravaganza. He and his crew will broadcast the game and, afterward, friends Steve Kirck, The Day of New London‘s Ned Griffen and other special guests will stay on the air until every playoff team is accounted for. Frankly, it doesn’t get any better than right here.
• Bob Sagendorf and Steve Gesseck of WATR are the best local game broadcasters in all of Connecticut. Sagendorf was a longtime ESPN employee and Gesseck knows the NVL better than anyone. Die-hard NVL fans must listen to their broadcast.

McMahon at Norwalk, 10:30 a.m. – WSTC 1400-AM / WNLK 1350-AM

• Matt Levine and his crew have seen just about every FCIAC team this season. So who better to give you the inside look at the Norwalk city title and coach Pete Tucci‘s final game? They do a great job getting as much information as possible for listeners.

Staples at Greenwich, 10 a.m. — WGCH 1490-AM | WWPT 90.3 (Wreckers Radio) Live video feed

• Veteran Rob Adams and the WGCH gang will be broadcasting the game. They know everything you need to know about this matchup, this rivalry, and the state implications surrounding it.
• The Student station at Staples High School do a fantastic job. Do yourself a favor and check these up-comers out. If you must watch this live, this is the place to go.

The 60th Green Bowl: Notre Dame-WH at Hamden, 10:30 a.m. — SportingnewsCT.com OR GoGreenKnights.com (live video feed)

• Steve Kirck and veteran broadcaster Don Boyle have done every Notre Dame game this season. If you bleed green and gold and can’t make it to the game, there’s no where else to go.

Xavier vs. Middletown (at Wesleyan), 10 a.m. – CNX Radio 1710-AM

♦♦♦

Welcome to the first day of the rest of your season.

Staples coach Marce Petroccio (left) visits with his players during a time out. The Wreckers (8-0) take on Trumbull (7-1) Saturday at 1:30 in Westport.

It’s the end of the idyllic Friday night football portion of our schedule. It’s the last regular season game without fanfare attached to it.

Aside from a few stragglers, next week is for conference championships. The week after that is Thanksgiving, the greatest day on the Connecticut sports calendar, the day where most teams play the biggest game of their season. The weeks after that are the state playoffs, and only 32 lucky teams get to participate.

This week, we set the stage for the final act of the 2010 season.

Years from now, when we look back at the records and results, when the players have moved on and the memories have faded, all we’ll have are the records.

What will the numbers next to your team tell us? How many games did you win? Were you a playoff team? Did you have a winning record? A .500 record? A losing record? Did you win any games at all?

You have two weeks left to improve your story — two weeks to turn 1-7 into a 3-7, or turn a 4-4 into a 6-4. Two weeks to turn a 7-1 into a 9-1, and get a chance to add a title next to it.

And it starts tonight.

The Week 9 primer.

THE ELITE 8

GUIDE TO THE GAMES

HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL PAGE

CIAC PLAYOFF POINTS

If the playoffs began today (and, once again, thank God they don’t), here’s what we’d have:

CLASS LL – No. 8 West Haven (7-1) at No. 1 NFA (8-0); No. 5 Trumbull (7-1) at No. 4 Staples (8-0) // No. 6 Glastonbury (7-1) at No. 3 Hall (8-0); No. 7 Newtown (7-1) at No. 2 Xavier (8-0). Out — Southington 7-1, Conard 6-2, Pomperaug 6-2, Stamford 5-3, Greenwich 5-3, Ridgefield 5-3, Shelton 5-3…

CLASS L – No. 8 Bristol Eastern (7-1) at No. 1 Masuk (8-0); No. 5 Naugatuck (7-1) at No. 4 Wethersfield (7-1) // No. 6 Maloney (7-1) at No. 3 Hand (7-1); No. 7 Avon (7-1) at No. 2 Darien (8-0). Out — New Canaan 7-1, Windsor 6-2, Fitch 5-2,  Middletown 6-2…

CLASS M – No. 8 Enfield (5-2) at No. 1 Berlin (8-0); No. 5 Coventry/Windham Tech (6-1) at No. 4 Lyman Hall (7-1) // No. 6 Brookfield (6-2) at No. 3 No. 7 Cheney Tech (5-2) at No. 2 New London (7-1). Out: Platt 6-2, Bullard-Havens 6-2, Hillhouse 5-3, Gilbert/Northwestern 5-2, Putnam/Tourtellotte/Ellis Tech 5-2, Waterford 5-3, Bethel 5-3 …

CLASS S — No. 8 Sacred Heart (6-3) at No. 1 Ansonia (9-0); No. 5 St. Joseph (6-2) at No. 4 Montville (7-1) // No. 6 Coginchaug (6-1) at No. 3 Hyde (7-0); No. 7 Woodland (6-3) at No. 2 Valley Regional/Old Lyme (8-0). Out — Cromwell 5-2, Holy Cross 5-3, Capital Prep/Classical 4-3, Oxford 5-3, North Branford 4-4…

Still plenty of football left to change these pairing dramatically. The Mad Playoff Scientist — His Madness — has been itching to get out of his cage. We’ll unleash the beast on Sunday.

Here’s what to look for …

THE BIG GAMES
West Haven at Xavier, tonight, 7 — The Westies, fighting for their playoff lives at 7-1, head right into a hornets nest at Middletown’s Palmer Field. Xavier 8-0 is pretty much a lock for the Class LL, even with one loss at this point. While critical for West Haven, the state’s eyes are on this game to see just how Xavier, the state’s No. 1-ranked team does against another first-class foe on its way to the playoffs.

Central at New Canaan, tonight, 7 — Amazing that one 2-point conversion try has put highly ranked and regarded New Canaan’s Class L hopes in jeopardy. The real culprit is NC’s schedule. Six of its seven victories have come against teams with a combined 8-40 record. The other is Greenwich (5-3) which makes New Canaan’s opponents 13-43. Three of NC’s opponents are still winless (Bassick, Seymour, Ludlowe). So NC is put in the unenviable position of needing to win out and hope it’s enough. Luckily, Central and Darien will be worth a potential 350 points. Central, meanwhile, is in a tailspin. Do the Hilltoppers have anything left to knock NC out of the race for good?

Bunnell at Brookfield, tonight, 7 — Brookfield is in decent shape in a pretty weak Class M field. Beating Bunnell and collecting its 170 points will pretty much put this group into the playoffs. Bunnell, at 6-2 is in rough shape in Class L but that’s out of their hands. This game has some SWC title game implications for Brookfield if Stratford somehow rises from the dead to beat Newtown.

Darien at Norwalk, tonight, 7 — Darien is 8-0 and one victory away from its second FCIAC championship game appearance in two years under Rob Trifone. The Blue Wave take on Norwalk, which was noisy early but quickly faded out of the limelight. Do the Bears have another upset in them? Darien has one of the region’s top defenses and a no-frills offense that just gets the job done in crunch time. FCIACs aside, the Wave must also win this game to clinch a Class L playoff berth.

Lyman Hall at North Haven, tonight, 7 – Not a game in our area, but a huge one that affects area teams. North Haven is fighting for a spot in the crowded Class L field and a victory over the 7-1 Trojans just might do the trick of putting Joe Schwab and the Indians into position for Thanksgiving. Joe and John DeSandre and Lyman Hall  could use one more victory to solidify their spot in Class M. A game worth keeping an eye on.

ADD: As is this one … Holy Cross at Naugatuck, tonight 7 — The Greyhounds are 7-1 and trying to stay in the thick of said Class L race (who isn’t?). A victory also makes the NVL title game a Thanksgiving affair at Jarvis Stadium. NVL fans will be out in force for this one.

Newtown at Stratford, tonight, 7 – The 7-1 Nighthawks have gamely been hanging onto playoff hopes with a patchwork squad. Beat Stratford, and they’ll host a winner-take-all SWC title game vs. Masuk at newly renovated Blue and Gold Stadium on Thanksgiving.

Greenwich at St. Joseph, Saturday, 1:30  — A year ago, St. Joseph needed to sweat through its entire Thanksgiving week to see if enough broke its way to qualify for the state playoffs. This year, it’s almost no sweat at all. The Hogs, even at 6-2, are in great shape in an unsteady Class S field. They’ll improve their chances considerably by beating Greenwich for the first time in school history.

Trumbull at Staples, Saturday, 1:30 – This is the biggest FCIAC game since… um… Trumbull-Central in Week 4. It’s actually the biggest FCIAC game of the season. Until next week.

In the northeast corner, wearing the black and metallic gold pants, featuring playmaker Phil Terio, dual quarterbacks Ian Milne and Brian Gallo and a physical offensive line, are the 7-1 Trumbull Eagles. A heavyweight contender for its first FCIAC title since 2005, Trumbull looks healthy and ready for the stretch run. Trumbull has to win to get in the FCIAC game. It’s Class LL playoff hopes also depend mightily on a victory here.

In the southwest corner, wearing the blue and silver pants, featuring a physical defensive front seven of Rob Gau, Greg Lewis, Pat Murray and Chris Coyne and playmaker Tyler Jacobs, are the defending league champion, 8-0 Staples Wreckers. They’ve suffered more than their share of debilitating injuries — running back Ryan Burke in the spring, back Nick Kelly a few weeks ago, and then QB Chet Pajolek right after. A year ago, Staples slotted in a senior and reached the state title game. This year, they’re counting on a freshman, Jack Massie, Jacobs  … and even Kelly — who may return from a dislocated kneecap to play this game. Staples must win to defend its FCIAC title. It can afford maybe one loss in Class LL.

Apollo, you wanna ring the bell?

“Ding. Ding.”

ON THE AIR

FRIDAY
Lyman Hall at North Haven, 7  – WELI 960-AM
Notre Dame-WH at Fairfield Prep, 6 – Sportingnewsct.com or Gogreenknights.com
Holy Cross at Naugatuck, 7 – WATR 1320-AM
Central at New Canaan, 7 — WSTC 1400-AM/WNLK 1350-AM

SATURDAY
Trumbull at Staples, — WWPT 90.3-FM
Greenwich at St. Joseph – WGCH 1490-AM

LIVE SCORING BLOG

As always, there’s no magic to this, the updates you see come from people using Twitter on their mobile phones. If you want to know how that’s done, check here (we can always use more citizen journalists, especially from people in the SWC).

The masses have spoken on this Week 7: You want me at Bethel-Masuk.

Ask and you shall receive! …But this appearance comes with a warning.

Bethel has to show up, and I mean not be down by 3 TDs at halftime. It has to compete and give mighty Masuk a run. Otherwise I’m slinking off to catch Derby-Ansonia (which is really where I should go anyway). Deal? Deal.

Here’s the Friday Night/Saturday Primer. No long-winded speeches today. Just the bare essentials.

We’re keeping an eye on a few games tonight. Of course, we’ll see if Bethel can take down its second heavyweight of the season. …We’ll see if Derby/O’Brien Tech can keep its win streak going and shock the state by beating rival Ansonia. …We’ll see if West Haven coach Ed McCarthy can inch closer to Bill Mignault‘s record 321 victories with his milestone 300th (and, more importantly, if the Westies can keep pace in Class LL) when Hand comes to town. …We’ll be keeping an eye on Central-Stamford, even though it become increasingly apparent neither will be making a state playoff trip (especially the loser of this game) …We’re watching to see how Trinity Catholic fares against giant-killing North Haven (a good ol’ FCIAC vs. SCC tilt) … We’re watching if No. 1 Xavier will be able to brush the sleep from its eyes for a 2:30 p.m. matchup with Hillhouse at Bowen Field. …We’ll be watching Fairfield Prep vs. Hamden, and anxiously waiting to see if the Jesuits’ can get their first SCC Division I victory in two seasons.

On Saturday, we’ll be watching a lot of FCIAC games (What is this? 1998). No mega-matchups out there, unless somebody (Wilton? McMahon? Danbury?) decides to get up an knock one of the frontrunners off its perch.

Week 7 Schedule

State Playoff Points

The Elite 8 - Week 7

Week 7 State Polls

Week 7′s Guide to the Games

Games To Watch

Derby/O’Brien hopes to Spring Upset of Ansonia | FCIAC Notes: Central visits Stamford | SWC Notes: Revived New Fairfield takes shot at Newtown

ON THE AIR

FRIDAY
Wilbur Cross at Notre Dame-WH, 7 — Sportingnewsct.com or Gogreenknights.com
Hand at West Haven, 7 (Eddie McCarthy going for victory No. 300) — WELI 960-AM
Sacred Heart at Holy Cross, 7 — WATR 1320-AM

SATURDAY
Ludlowe at Staples, 10 am — WWPT 90.3-FM
Greenwich at Westhill, 1:30 — WGCH 1490-AM
Ridgefield at Norwalk, 2 — WSCT 1400-AM / WNLK 1350-AM
THE LIVE SCORING BLOG

Programming note on how the live scoring blog works: We allow comments, especially if you seem to have a score we don’t have. But since this is monitored by editors hard at work producing a daily newspaper, we typically can’t get to every comment.

What you see scrolling across on this live update window is, in fact, Twitter. Contrary to the opinion of the unsavvy among us (who think of it as being just some hourly update of what you had for breakfast, lunch and dinner), Twitter is a valuable source of information posted online on an infinite message board. Newspapers and reporters use to report breaking news. It’s what you see scrolling on the right-hand side of this blog.

For us, we use it as a universal scoring blog. So, while many of you have a buddy at some other game text-messaging updates, we use our phones to send our “text messages” to Twitter for everybody to see.

I’ve gone on ad nauseum about this, so just click here to see how it works

With a new batch of students and parents joining the High School Football fray this year, it’s time to reintroduce everyone to how we operate ’round here.

On Fridays and Saturdays, while you’re off in whichever town watching Little Johnny run around with his teammates for school and town pride, many of you will start to wonder aloud what’s going on at the other games in your league, in your area. This is especially true late in the year, when Johnny’s team might — just might — have a shot at the playoffs.

In the past, many of us took to texting each other. You had a friend or relative hanging out across town or across county, getting you the scoop on what was going on at, say, Masuk or Norwalk or wherever. Coaches did it while scouting. Us media types did it while reporting.

Then came Twitter, the revolutionary (although most will say completely dumbfounding) social media tool. Yeah, it looks like a poor man’s Facebook. Just status updates? In just 140 characters? What gives? I’m here to tell you it is, in fact, an invaluable tool to disseminate information — particularly football scores — to the entire world, particularly to those who care to know about it.

Here’s how it works:

To anyone who has a mobile phone, any kind of mobile phone, that can text or (even better) get online, all you have to do is go to Twitter.com, and set up an account. Now you’re connected.

Now you’re ready to start sending updates from your game.

If you have a Blackberry or an iPhone or whatever, you get online and send your 140-character update from the game you’re attending. If you have just text capabilities, you can still send updates by adding your phone number to your Twitter account. Once you’ve done that, all you need to do is text to 40404 and it goes up on Twitter.

Anyway, your update can be something as simple as nor 24, ridge 13, or even something more advanced like: Little Johnny scores on a 5-yard run. Norwalk leads Ridgefield 24-13, 5:30 left in 2nd Q

Finally, your last obligation is to add what’s called a hashtag, a search term with a ‘#’ added to front. It basically categorizes your update in the Twitter Universe.

In this case, Connecticut High School Football is categorized by this hashtag: #ctfb

Add #ctfb anywhere in your tweet, and you’re done.

Now anybody who wants to know what’s going on in Connecticut High School football can search for #ctfb and get updates from hundreds of others across the state. They’ll see your updates. You can see theirs.

It’s very simple. Try it now. Go to Twitter.com and type in #ctfb in the search box on top of the screen (you don’t need a Twitter account to do this, by the way) and you’ll see a wealth of high school football updates and links already online.

Here’s a link to see the completed search

Now, of course you can skip all of these steps and just visit our High School Football Page, which will have a little widget box on the right-hand side displaying live #ctfb tweets.

It will look like a smaller version of this:

And, finally, we’ll have our popular live blog which displays all the #ctfb updates, in addition to a commenting feature, polls, scoreboards and lots, lots more.

Now, there’s some etiquette to be observed. If you’re going to post updates, please be civil: try not to bash coaches or students or curse or anything else that may be offensive. Try to be brief. No need to send play-by-play. That will merely clog the feed. Scoring updates will suffice, that’s all anybody is looking for anyway.

If you feel the need to do any of these things (maybe you have a specific audience who wants it?) just take the #ctfb tag off your update.

To all the other media out there, this is something we can all share tactfully, professionally. It really belongs to no one. So let’s not abuse it. Luv, your pal, SPB.