November 30, 2011 at 7:47 pm by Sean Patrick Bowley
Update:
Mystery solved. The ball wasn’t in the arm Kyle McKinnon extended toward the pylon. It was in his left arm, as described by New Canaan coach Lou Marinelli to Dave Ruden in this blogpost. plus the Day of New London’s photo (at right).
I should have read Dave’s post more closely.
Still, very close. But clearly not good.
Still worth a watch below.
Original Post:
The Day’s of New London’s Peter Huoppi had a great video report on the New Canaan-New London game, including a clip of the thrilling conclusion, Dylan Leeming’s stop of Kyle McKinnon’s 2-point conversion run at the end of the game.
I think rewound and froze the clip a 100 times this past hour and… I don’t know. That looked awful close.
The clip is shot from across the field, in pouring rain. Plus the frame rate, while good, isn’t nearly as high to exactly pinpoint when McKinnon stretched his arm toward the pylon.
The saving grace — for high school, at least — is that the side judge is looking at it the whole way. He’s right on top of the play. He made the call and stuck with it.
But… man, oh man, oh man, that was close. That was so close, and this is high school, you almost have to give it to them there, no?
Gutwrenching play.
I feel for New London and its 18 seniors. It was decided by nanometers. It was that kind of game.
Masuk's Colin Markus takes a handoff in Super Tuesday's 28-14 victory over North Haven.
Pat Tripodi (30) and Andrew Sebben (41) knock down North Haven's John Paul DeVeglia.
Pulling into the parking lot at Trumbull’s McDougall Stadium, you got the feeling this wasn’t going to be a typical night for Masuk’s football team. The rain, which had started just a few hours before, morphed from mildly annoying to downright disconcerting.
Feels like North Haven football weather, I thought. North Haven football coach Tony Sagnella must be loving this. Now if only he could get some wind, too.
Cue the wind that blew my umbrella inside-out.
Yup. This was North Haven football weather.
“I thought the football gods might have been on our side today,” Sagnella said. “We weren’t going to be bothered by it.”
It was an hour before game time and, already, a 49-8 Masuk pick on this space wasn’t looking even remotely possible.
But, as Masuk gunslinger Casey Cochran had said just the week before, it takes more than one moving part to make a championship football team. Rain, wind, floods, heck even earthquakes were no excuse. Not now. Not in the playoffs.
You either pouted and whined, or you lined up and figured it out.
And, for a while at least, Masuk couldn’t quite figure it out. Cochran’s passes were flying all over creation. They were dropped, tipped, skipped, nearly picked off or just blown away.
North Haven had no such issues. Sagnella has built an entire program — which was making its third state playoff appearance in 5 years — around old-fashioned, methodical, power football. They run the single-wing offense religiously, the same way Pomperaug used to run double wing for most of the last decade.
Sprinkle in some players who grew more emboldened by every Masuk misstep, and you had yourself a football game. A raw, crawl-through-the trenches football game.
Not exactly Masuk’s style.
Masuk was up 14-0 just on sheer talent. But North Haven stuck to what brought it and just pounded away, keeping the ball out of Cochran’s hands for an insane 10:30 of the third quarter, pushing Masuk’s otherwise excellent defense to the brink of exhaustion. Consider that Masuk averages more points than there are minutes in a football game, the formula for the upset was in the making.
But again, it takes many moving parts to make a football team. So, with Cochran’s passes disconnecting, Masuk finally turned to a sure thing: Tailback Colin Markus. “Once the pass wasn’t working, I figured they’d come to me,” he said. Markus put the Panthers on his back, quickly snatched back the lead and asked the defense to make one more stop.
Masuk coach John Murphy watches his team compete in the state quarterfinals.
“I like how our kids handled the adversity,” Masuk coach John Murphy said. “They came out in the second half and punched us in the face, then they got the onside kick and punched us in the face again. To respond from that, for our guys to make, to survive these conditions … I can’t say enough about my guys.”
It wasn’t the best game of the night — those honors went to Wolcott’s overtime win over Ellington/Somers and New Canaan’s spine-tingling 27-26 victory over New London [See below]. But it certainly raised the most eyebrows.
Though two of the four SCC teams were sent packing on this evening — Windsor, the CCC’s best team, outlasted ineffective Notre Dame-West Haven on the other side of the bracket — the league’s denizens were already cooing about the suddenly rosier prospects of one Daniel Hand High School before Masuk’s soaked football players had even boarded the bus.
They smell blood. If Masuk had trouble against s little ol’ SCC Division II team. How ever will it contend against an unbeaten one from the big, bad SCC Division I?
We’re about to find out.
It’s on. Casey Cochran’s Flying Circus comes to West Haven Saturday night for a long-awaited playoff date with Joe DeMichele, Nick Vitale, Henry Foye and the Hand Tigers.
Apollo, you wanna ring the bell?
♦♦♦
Elsewhere on this dismally dark, balmy and stormy night, Year 2 of the CIAC’s expanded state playoff slate produced great matchups and great games galore. And it all resulted in some big-time Saturday games.
Saturday’s state semifinal sites have been announced:
Class LL: Xavier (11-0) vs. Norwalk (9-1) at West Haven, 2 p.m.; Staples (10-0) vs. Newtown (9-2) at Bunnell, 2 p.m. | Class L: New Canaan (10-1) vs. Windsor (11-0) at East Haven, 2 p.m. | Masuk (11-0) vs. Hand (11-0) at West Haven 7 p.m. | Class M: Ansonia (12-0) vs. Berlin (10-1) at Sheehan, 2 p.m. | Wolcott (8-3) vs. Ledyard (10-1) at Middletown, 2 p.m. | Class S: Holy Cross (10-2) vs. Valley Regional/Old Lyme (10-0) at Falcon Field, Meriden; Cromwell (9-2) vs. Northwest Catholic (9-2) at Cheshire, 2 p.m.
Here in Shangri-La, six of our nine playoff teams won and moved onto the semifinals: Staples, Norwalk and Newtown in Class LL. New Canaan and Masuk in Class L. Ansonia in Class M.
Your recap, our thoughts:
Staples tailback Jon Heil ran for 366 yards vs. Ridgefield.
STAPLES got on the back of Jon Heil, who ran for an astounding 366 yards and four touchdowns in a 48-21 victory over FCIAC rival Ridgefield. It was astounding because, A) Heil’s a backup behind Joey Zelkowitz, whose shoulder forced him to miss this game. B) No one on Staples ever runs for that many yards; and C) Ridgefield is still a pretty good football team.
That was ridiculous.
“We had a bunch of other plays including some passes ready to go,” Staples coach Marce Petroccio said. “But they couldn’t tackle Heil. So we just said `Keep giving him the ball until they stop him.’ ”
Ridgefield finishes a fine season 8-3 and its first state playoff berth in six years. It’s still a very young team. Its time is coming. “We’re still trying to get to that level,” coach Kevin Callahan said.
Perhaps showing a little malaise from its 46-7 loss to Masuk in the SWC title game, the Nighthawks fell behind early but turned on the jets in the second half.
“What the kids did in the offseason is they set their sights on (this win) and they were able to obtain their first goal,” coach Steve George said. “I’m happy to be a part of it, as they are.”
Newtown now faces another massive challenge when it takes on FCIAC champion Staples in the state semifinals at Bunnell on Saturday at 2 p.m.
♦♦♦
Norwalk's Delshawn Wilson and Bobby Stringfellow swarm for a tackle in Norwalk's 21-15 win over Hall.
Like Newtown, NORWALK reached a milestone of its own: The school’s first football playoff victory, 21-15 over Conard in West Hartford. The Bears, who, like first-year coach Sean Ireland said, weren’t supposed to do anything this year, used their usual formula. Big plays by QB Delshawn Wilson and Derek Edwards. Then bone-crushing defense, particularly from senior Johnny Anzalone (two interceptions).
“We’re the first,” Wilson said. “They’re going to be talking about us for a couple of years down the line.”
We’ll go out on a limb and say more than a couple, Delshawn.
A huge goal already in its back pocket, Norwalk is now playing with house money as it heads to West Haven at 2 p.m. to face top ranked and unbeaten and reigning No. 1 Xavier, which put the hurt on Glastonbury 35-6.
“Are they a great team? Yes,” Ireland said. “Are they the best team in the state? Yes. But we’re going to go play as hard as we can and see what happens.”
♦♦♦
Dylan Leeming stops New London
What can anyone say about NEW CANAAN’s 27-26 road playoff victory over New London? Pick your superlative, the game was that good. New London pulled to within one point with seconds left and pulled a Lou Marinelli: going for the victory with a two point conversion. As anyone on Greenwich can attest, with Kyle McKinnon on New London’s side, it was a sure thing.
But Dylan Leeming came up with the play of the year: He bolted into McKinnon and stopped the electric back inches short of the goal line.
“I saw him cut back and I didn’t think I would be able to get there,” Leeming said. “We collided, I snapped back and I guess he did too. I fell backwards and didn’t even know what happened.”
That pretty much was the story of the night for New Canaan, which had a few of them to tell. McKinnon ran for 227 yards, and he wasn’t even the game’s leading rusher. That honor went to New Canaan (New Canaan?!?). Kevin McDonough: 230.
Throw in a tidbit about QB Matt Milano throwing for under a 100 yards (what?), yet somehow tossing a TD strike to Peter Kraus and then scoring the go-ahead TD on a 31-yard run.
Just. Wow.
“NC’s a great team and well coached and QB is a hell of a baller,” New London QB Rob Key wrote to me on Twitter just hours afterward.
You could pretty much say that about the previous five New Canaan teams, too. This one’s got it.
They’re one win over Windsor away from reaching yet another state championship game.
♦♦♦
As for WINDSOR’s impressive 14-7 victory over NOTRE DAME in the Class L bracket, I suspect I fell for the same deductive reasoning that most people fall for when they speak of the top SWC or NVL teams. They put up great numbers, but who have they played?
I wrote them down as a winner before being influenced to change my mind in favor of the big-time SCC team.
Wrong. Though the CCC’s Hall, Glastonbury and Conard were all bounced from the Class LL draw, Windsor struck a blow for the league with great defense and big plays in its 14-7 victory over the Green Knights. Notre Dame, which was expected to make a major dent in the Class L playoffs, moved the ball but couldn’t score in crunch time.
Windsor is 11-0. It’s a great team. Aaron Berardino is one of the best in the state. He has talent surrounding him. Windsor-New Canaan will be a show.
♦♦♦
Arkeel Newsome runs for some of his 303 yards in Ansonia
ANSONIA took the first step in securing its first state championship since 2007 with a thorough 35-6 victory over Bethel in the rain and slop at Jarvis Stadium.
And, while lineman Dylan Vano described playing on the muddied turf as “walking on ice skates,” you’d never know it by looking at Arkeel Newsome‘s stat line.
He had another outstanding game, rushing for 303 yards and three touchdowns. His numbers are fast approaching Alex Thomas and Montrell Dobbs territory. For the year, Newsome has run for 3,079 yards and has scored a state-record 53 touchdowns.
As for Bethel, the Wildcats knew they were in for a tough one. Unlike two years ago, when Bethel stunned New London, even a perfect performance probably wouldn’t have been enough. But seniors like Brandon Schmidt and Brian Birdsell walk out the door proud with the knowledge they helped put together one of the best football runs in school history and Bethel on the map.
♦♦♦
We won’t delve into too many specifics here on the Class S tournament. It is blessed (and we mean blessed) with no teams from Shangri-La. But both Catholic schools, Northwest Catholic and Holy Cross won. They sit on separate sides of the bracket. Only Valley Regional and Cromwell stand in their way of a playoff holy war.
By the way, huge props to the CSC teams. Both Capital Prep and Cheney Tech didn’t win their games. But they were far from mince meat like other CSC playoff teams before them. They represented Tech school football well. It bodes well for them and their opponents.
November 29, 2011 at 2:53 pm by Sean Patrick Bowley
Eight of the nine regional playoff teams (Clockwise from top left): Bethel's Brandon Schmidt; Masuk's Colin Markus; Newtown's Lou Fenaroli; Staples' Nick Kelly; Norwalk's Gil Arujo; Ridgefield's Connor Rowe; Ansonia's Arkeel Newsome; New Canaan's Matt Milano.
The Live Blog
NORTH vs. SOUTH
The early part of the last decade was good to the Central Connecticut Conference. Bloomfield and New Britain dominated (mostly under the tutelage of coach Jack Cochran), won six state championships from 2000-2005. By no means was it boss, but it was respectable.
But since 2004, pickings have been slim. Teams waving the CCC banner have gone 2-7 in state championship games and have done even worse in the earlier rounds.
In 2008, while Glastonbury was capping off a 13-0 championship season, Masuk crushed two CCC teams by a combined score of 106-35 and the league went 3-4.
In 2009, it got worse. The CCC sent six teams to the playoffs and went 3-5 even as new member Berlin, fresh over from the defunct Nutmeg league, won the Class M title. Simsbury and Conard were hammered by Pomperaug and Notre Dame-WH in Class L.
This play, Glastonbury’s 2-point conversion stop in a 7-6 win over Staples in the Class LL quarterfinals, was all that kept the CCC from going winless in the 2010 state playoffs.
Despite expansion to 32 teams, the league bottomed out in the new playoff format in 2010. Glastonbury broke through to the semifinals with a 7-6 win over Staples, prompting then-Glastonbury coach Peter Pfeffer to famously state, “I don’t think they know anything about us. …We have football up here. So what ever happens down in Fairfield County should stay down in Fairfield county. That’s all I have to say.”
Meanwhile, Pfeffer’s league was collapsing around him. The CCC went 1-7 that quarterfinal night. No. 1 M seed Berlin was upset by Hillhouse 33-30. The other six teams lost by a combined score of 39-12. Glastonbury fell to Xavier 24-13 the following Saturday, eliminating the conference from title contention.
This year the CCC brings seven teams to the table, including high-flying Windsor in Class L, returners Glastonbury, Hall and Conard in Class LL and Berlin in M, Rocky Hill and Northwest Catholic in Class S.
Many of the large schools’ opponents once again go head-to-head with Southern Connecticut (a.k.a. Shangri-La): Top-seeded and 10-0 Windsor takes on No. 8 seed Notre Dame-WH of the SCC and everybody (NHR, The Day, us) seems to be picking ND to win; Hall hosts SWC runner-up Newtown; Conard hosts Norwalk of the FCIAC. Glastonbury faces the freight train we call Xavier, a northern team playing in a southern conference (we won’t count that one).
The smaller CCC teams face off against the Pequot and CSC. Berlin plays Cheney Tech; Northwest Catholic plays North Branford; Rocky Hill travels to Valley Regional/Old Lyme.
Suffice it to say, the games against NDWH, Newtown and Norwalk will be watched closely tonight. Will this be a big bounce-back year for the embattled CCC? Or will it be more of the same? Most observers are picking against them, this is their shot to turn it around.
Conversely, commissioner Al Carbone and the rest of the SCC mavens have a chance to make a big statement about their rule as the state’s best league. “S-C-C! …S-C-C! …S-C-C!” You hear it all the time, like a pie to the face for most regions.
With Xavier heavily favored in Class LL, NDWH, North Haven and Hand all in the Class L field alongside Masuk, Windsor, New Canaan and New London, the league has a great opportunity to plant its flag high above the mountain.
No. 2 Hand hosts Coventry/Windham Tech at the balmy Surf Club in Madison tonight
Class M
No. 8 Bethel dives right into the the belly of the beast with a trip to legendary Jarvis Stadium to face 16-time state champion and No. 1-seeded Ansonia.
Also, out of our area, but on the radio/internet tonight:
November 28, 2011 at 9:00 pm by Sean Patrick Bowley
Welcome back, my friends. Hope the Turkey went down well.
Welcome back to high school football. Welcome to the second season.
It’s Year 2 of the CIAC’s gloriously expanded playoff field (I’m a fan). Four divisions. Four champonships at stake. Eight teams enter, four teams leave and leap head-first into an uber short week before the state semifinals. It’s a tough stretch to get to the championship. But once you’re there, it’s a well-deserved week before the state championship games at Rentschler Field.
In the four-division, 32-team field features two returning state champions (Xavier and Masuk), three returning finalists (Ansonia, New London and New Canaan), and nine other repeat qualifiers (Staples, Glastonbury, Hall, Conard, Hand, North Haven, Berlin, Valley Regional/Old Lyme and Cromwell).
That means there are 18 new teams in this year’s field. In Newtown, Norwalk and Ridgefield in Class LL. Windsor, Notre Dame-WH, Coventry/Windham Tech in Class L; Bethel, Ellington/Somers, Ledyard, Cheney Tech, Wolcott, Waterford in Class M; Holy Cross, Northwest Catholic, North Branford, Capital Prep/Classical Magnet, Haddam-Killingworth; Rocky Hill in Class S.
Wolcott, Ellington/Somers, Cheney Tech and Capital Prep/Classical are all making their first playoff appearances.
As always, we’ll be keeping an eye on how the leagues fare: So here’s your league-by-league breakdown:
Pequot (6): Ellington/Somers, Coventry/Windham Tech, North Branford, Haddam-Killingworth, Cromwell, Valley Regional/Old Lyme. (Four of these teams are in Class S; none play each other in the 1st round).
FCIAC (4): Staples, Ridgefield, Norwalk, New Canaan. (Staples and Ridgefield play each other).
SCC (4): Xavier, Hand, Notre Dame-WH, North Haven.
SWC (3): Newtown, Masuk, Bethel.
ECC (3): New London, Ledyard, Waterford (Ledyard and Waterford play each other).
NVL (3): Ansonia, Wolcott, Holy Cross
CSC (2): Capital Prep/Classical; Cheney Tech
The Connecticut Post/Stamford Advocate/Danbury News-Times SWCT region features nine state playoff teams: Staples, Ridgefield, Norwalk, Newtown in Class LL; New Canaan, Masuk, Notre Dame-WH in Class L; Ansonia and Bethel in Class M. No one in Class S.
Here’s the playoff schedule:
Quarterfinals: Tuesday Nov. 29 – 6:30 p.m. at sites of the higher seed (except Rocky Hill-Valley Regional, which is at 5:30 p.m.
Semifinals: Saturday, Dec 3 at the following sites
Middletown HS (2 p.m.)
Cheshire HS (2 p.m.)
Bunnell HS (2 p.m.)
Sheehan HS (2 p.m.)
East Haven HS (2 p.m.)
Falcon Field, Meriden (2 p.m.)
Municipal Stadium, Waterbury (2 p.m.)
West Haven HS (two games at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m.)
Championships: Friday, Dec. 9 and Saturday, Dec. 10 at Rentschler Field (One game on Friday evening at 6:30 / Three games on Saturday at 10:30 a.m., 2 p.m. and 5:30 p.m.)
We’ll start with Class LL and L because all but two of our regional teams reside here.
Class LL
No. 8 Glastonbury at No. 1 Xavier
WHERE — Palmer Field, Middletown RECORDS — Glastonbury 8-2 (CCC Division I East champion), Xavier 10-0 (SCC Division I West champion) PLAYOFF RECORD — Glastonbury 5-3; Xavier 5-3 LAST APPEARANCE –Glastonbury: 2010 (1-1, lost to Xavier 24-13 in LL quarterfinals); Xavier: 2010 (3-0 Class LL champions, defeated Trumbull 24-7). PLAYERS TO WATCH – Glastonbury: Sr. WR/DB Bobby Solecki, Sr. WR/DB Nick Welsh; Soph. QB Josh Hill; Sr. OL/DL Thomas Bakre (6-0, 215). Xavier: Sr. RB Mike Mastroianni (1,136 yards, 8 TD rushing); Sr. QB/DB Pat D’Amato; Sr. OL/DL Sean Marinan; Sr. OL/DL Austin Wezenski; Sr. WR/DB Ryan Jacobucci (5 INT); Sr. TE/LB Ryan Murphy; Sr. LB Jovan Santos. YOU SHOULD KNOW – Glastonbury has scored 22 rushing TDs, just 5 passing despite running in a spread offense. The defense has posted four shutouts, and has allowed just 77 points this season, third best in the state. …It averages just 25 points per game, lowest in Class L playoffs. …Coach Scott Daniels took over for Peter Peiffer this year. …Xavier, the reigning No. 1 team in the state, is on a state-best 23-game win streak (tied with Masuk). Hasn’t lost since the 2009 Class LL semifinals (to Staples 31-27). …Xavier has allowed 76 points, second-best in the state. It has posted three shut outs. …Xavier has scored 423 points, sixth-best total in state. …QB D’Amato is committed to Stony Brook; Santos is committed to UMass. OUR PICK – Xavier 48-7
No. 5 Norwalk at No. 4 Conard
WHERE — Conard HS, West Hartford RECORDS — Norwalk 8-1, Conard 9-1 (CCC Division I East co-champion) PLAYOFF RECORD — Norwalk 0-1; Conard 0-4 LAST APPEARANCE –Norwalk: 1998 (0-1, lost to Southington 34-22 in Class LL semifinals); Conard: 2010 (0-1, lost to Trumbull 27-6 in Class LL quarterfinals). PLAYERS TO WATCH – Norwalk: Sr. QB/DB Delshawn Wilson (1,675 yards, 17 TD total offense; 6 INT); Sr. TE/DE Gil Arujo (6 sacks); Sr. WR/DB Derek Edwards (504 yards, 7 TD receiving); Sr. DE Kwazee Rice (9 sacks); Soph. Cory Barrett (6-1, 228); Sr. LB Patrick Whalen (6-0, 204) Conard: Sr. RB Ricky Cotton (1,239 yards, 13 TDs rushing); Sr. LB Dominick Spaulding (6-1, 220); Sr. DE Chris Reckmeyer (6-2, 235); Jr. QB Owen Snyder (6-2, 180). YOU SHOULD KNOW – This is Norwalk’s first state playoff berth since 1998. It’s only loss was to New Canaan 28-14. …Norwalk leads the state in sacks with 38.5, led by Whalen and Rice. Defense also has 14 interceptions and allows 12.0 points per game. …With 243 points, Norwalk averages the second-least offensive points in Class LL playoffs (27 ppg). …Conard allows 9.1 points per game and scores an average of 32.5 per game. …Its only loss was to Hall 20-0 at the end of the regular season. OUR PICK – Norwalk 24-14
No. 6 Newtown at No. 3 Hall
WHERE — Hall HS Stadium, West Hartford RECORDS — Newtown 8-2 (SWC runners-up), Hall 9-1 (CCC Division I East co-champion) PLAYOFF RECORD — Newtown 3-7; Hall 0-4 LAST APPEARANCE –Newtown: 2008 (0-1, lost to Glastonbury 42-28 in Class LL semifinals); Hall: 2010 (0-1, lost to NFA 30-14 in Class LL quarterfinals). PLAYERS TO WATCH – Newtown: Sr. RB/LB Lou Fenaroli (1,598 yards, 24 TDs rushing); Sr. OL/DE Tyler Hassett (8.5 sacks); Sr. OL/DL Mac Morlock (6-3, 265); Jr. WR/DB Dan Hebert (8 TD, 6 INT); Jr. WR Justin Devellis; Sr. WR/DL Mike Lord ; Hall: Sr. WR/ Ian Dugger (829 yards, 12 TD receiving; 9 tackles/gm; 4 INT); Sr. QB George Lund (1,332 yards, 16 TD passing); Sr. ILB/RB Jesse Maltz (311 yards rushing; 6.7 tackles per game, 5 sacks); Sr. RB/LB Christian Bohn (691 yards rushing). YOU SHOULD KNOW – Newtown switched to Soph. QB Drew Tarantino after a 16-9 loss to Pomperaug in Week 4. …He’s thrown for over 1,000 yards, 10 TDs and 4 interceptions (3 vs Masuk). Newtown won five straight afterward, including a 54-48 OT win over Bunnell to clinch a state playoff berth. …Newtown’s other loss was 46-7 vs. Masuk on Thanksgiving eve. …Newtown has 17 interceptions, fifth-most in the state. …Fenaroli is the single-season rushing record holder at Newtown. …Hall’s only loss was 19-0 to New Britain, a game in which Hall committed six turnovers. …Hall has won six straight by an average score of 30-13, including a 20-0 victory over unbeaten Conard in Week 10. …Dugger is 10th in the state in receiving yards. OUR PICK – Newtown 34-21
No. 7 Ridgefield at No. 2 Staples
WHERE — Tom Fujitani Field, Wilton RECORDS — Ridgefield 8-2; Staples 9-0 (FCIAC Champions)
PLAYOFF RECORD — Ridgefield: 3-1; Staples 9-7
LAST APPEARANCE –Ridgefield: 2005 (0-1, lost to Masuk 18-16 in Class L semifinals); Staples: 2010 (0-1, lost to Glastonbury 7-6 in Class LL quarterfinals).
PLAYERS TO WATCH – Ridgefield: Jr. RB/KR Sam Gravitte (753 yards, 12 TDs rushing); Jr. QB Connor Rowe (1,807 yards, 16 TD, 11 INT passing); Sr. RB/LB John Turner (671 yards, 7 TD rushing); Sr. LB Adrian Jones; Sr. OL/DE Mike Tarantino; Sr. OL/DE Matt Flanagan (5 TD, 4 sacks) Staples: Sr. RB/DB Nick Kelly (14 TD); Jr. WR/DB James Frusciante (3 INT); Sr. OL/DL Bo Gibson (6-0, 245); Jr. RB Joey Zelkowitz (800 yards, 10 TD rushing); Jr. LB Pieter Hoets (8 sacks). YOU SHOULD KNOW – The teams met in a preseason scrimmage Sept. 5., but did not meet in the regular season. …Staples defeated Ridgefield 31-17 in Week 3 of 2010. …Ridgefield’s last victory over Staples was 36-7 in 2008. Staples has won two straight. …Staples’ Joey Zelkowitz missed two games due to a shoulder injury. LB Kevin Kearney has missed the last three games. ..Staples leads the state in sacks with 43. …LB/K Robbie Wolf has 7 field goals. …Ridgefield’s only losses were to Greenwich and Norwalk. …It has 16 interceptions, sixth most in the state. …Gravitte averages 12 points per game (21st best in state). Rowe averages over 200 yards in total offense. …Common opponents in the FCIAC: Greenwich (Staples won 31-27; Ridgefield lost 16-3); McMahon (Staples won 24-21; Ridgefield won 14-13); Warde (Staples won 35-17; Ridgefield won 37-20); Central (Staples won 48-8; Ridgefield won 48-32); Danbury (Staples won 31-12; Ridgefield won 56-14). OUR PICK – Staples 27-17
Class L
No. 8 Notre Dame-WH at No. 1 Windsor
WHERE — Windsor High School RECORDS — Notre Dame-WH 8-2; Windsor 10-0 (CCC Division II West champion) PLAYOFF RECORD — Notre Dame-WH: 5-3; Windsor 1-3 LAST APPEARANCE –Notre Dame-WH: 2009 (2-0, defeated Pomperaug 28-21 in Class L final); Windsor: 2008 (1-2, lost to Masuk 50-12 in Class L semifinals. PLAYERS TO WATCH – Windsor: Sr. WR/S Aaron Berardino (1,182 yards, 17 TD receiving); Jr. LB Kamahl Valentine (9.5 tackles/gm); Sr. LB Mike Joseph (8 tackles/gm); Sr. RB Kymm Jordan (588 yards rushing); Jr. QB Rob Fleeting (2,445, 28 TD, 5 INT passing; 418 yards, 4 TDs rushing); Notre Dame: Sr. RB Amihr Bess (722 yards, 8 TD rushing); Sr. RB/LB Javon Grey (929 yards, 13 TD rushing); Sr. LB Davante Mallard (7.8 tackles/gm); Sr. DB Eamon DelTorro (4 INT, 3 TD); Sr. DB Anthony Masucci (8.2 tackles/gm); Sr. T Ludovic Richardson (6-3, 277); Sr. DB Maliik Tinney (4 INT) YOU SHOULD KNOW – Notre Dame’s opponents were a combined 53-38 this year… ND’s only losses were to 10-0 Xavier (36-7) and 10-0 Hand (24-14). …ND averages 276 rushing yards per game, 36 passing. …Notre Dame has the 15th-best rushing offense in Connecticut, 2,487 yards. …Windsor has the state’s third-ranked passing offense (2,641 yards) and is sixth in total offense (4,256). …Windsor has the fourth-most sacks in the state with 31. …Fleeting, the son of Windsor coach Rob Fleeting, is second in the state in total offense, fourth in passing yards. …Berardino has the second-most receiving yards in the state and is No. 3 in scoring (17.2 ppg). OUR PICK – Notre Dame-WH 28-21
No. 5 New Canaan at No. 4 New London
WHERE — Canamella Field, New London HS RECORDS — New Canaan 9-1 (FCIAC East champion); New London 9-1 (ECC Large champion) PLAYOFF RECORD — New Canaan 18-5; New London 9-7 LAST APPEARANCE –New Canaan: 2010 (2-1, lost to Masuk 50-20 in Class L final); New London: 2010 (2-1, lost to Hillhouse 7-0 in Class M final) PLAYERS TO WATCH – New London: Sr. RB/LB Kyle McKinnon; Sr. OL/LB Brendan McNeil (6-0, 220); Sr. QB Robert Key; Sr. RB/DB Jevon Elmore. New Canaan: Sr. QB Matt Milano (2,362 yards, 30 TD passing); Sr. TE/DE Dylan Leeming; Sr. LB Kevin McDonough; Sr. WR/DB Patrick Newton (678 yards, 9 TD receiving); Sr. OL/DL Thomas Rochlin (6-2, 265); Sr. WR/LB Connor Kilbane; Sr. LB Bobby Distler; Sr. OL/DL Kalin Killinger (6-3, 285) YOU SHOULD KNOW – This is New Canaan’s seventh-straight state playoff appearance; it won four state titles and was runner-up once during that run …New Canaan has made the state finals five-straight years; the last time it failed to reach the final was with a Class MM loss to East Lyme in 2005. …Milano recently surpassed Kurt Horton as New Canaan’s all-time leading passer … New London reached last year’s Class M championship game, losing to Hillhouse. …McKinnon set the school’s career touchdown record this year. …New London’s only loss was 14-0 to Fitch. The Whalers defeated FCIAC opponent Greenwich 51-33 in Week 3. …New Canaan did not play Greenwich this season. …New Canaan’s only loss was to Stamford, 36-29. Milano missed most of the game due to a migraine. OUR PICK – New Canaan 34-30
No. 6 North Haven at No. 3 Masuk
WHERE — McDougall Stadium, Trumbull ECORDS — North Haven 9-1 (SCC Division II East champions); Masuk 10-0 (SWC Champions) PLAYOFF RECORD — North Haven 0-2; Masuk 11-10 LAST APPEARANCE –North Haven: 2010 (0-1, lost to Hand 19-7 in Class L quarterfinals); Masuk: 2010 (3-0, defeated New Canaan 50-20 in Class L final). PLAYERS TO WATCH – North Haven: Sr. RB/DB Jalon White (1,061 yards, 12 TD rushing); Sr. QB/DB Joe Shwab (1,006 yards, 14 TD rushing; 483 passing yards); FB/LB Mark Zurlis (6-0, 205); Sr. TE/LB Spencer Oakes; Sr. OL/DL Andrew Savinelli (6-2, 260) ; Masuk: Sr. QB Casey Cochran (2,634 yards, 35 TD, 3 INT passing); Sr. RB Colin Markus (1,330 yards, 18 TD rushing); Sr. LB Shawn Flynn; Sr. LB Matt Duignan; Sr. LB Pat Tripodi; Jr. WR Thomas Milone (1,011, 16 TD); Sr. WR Jason Piontowski; Sr. DB Nick Lauricella (4 INT); Sr. WR Brandon Cusmano. YOU SHOULD KNOW – Masuk has won 23-straight games dating back to Thanksgiving 2009. It was ranked No. 1 for two weeks and No. 2 since Week 4. …Cochran, a UConn commit, is 38-3 as a starting QB and has two state titles (New London and Masuk). …Cochran is the state’s all-time leading passer in yardage and touchdowns. …Milone is No. 5 in the state in receiving yards. …Masuk is the state’s top scoring offense (54 ppg), No. 2 in passing and No. 4 in total offense (4,722). …Masuk’s opponents were 40-60 this season. …Masuk failed to score in the first quarter for the first time all season vs. Newtown, but won 46-7. …North Haven is the third-best rushing team in the state (3,517 yards in 495 attempts and has passed for 604 yards. …North Haven’s only loss was to Class L No. 8 seed Notre Dame, 27-12. OUR PICK – Masuk 42-8
No. 7 Coventry/Windham Tech at No. 2 Hand
WHERE — The Surf Club, Madison RECORDS — Coventry/Windham Tech 9-1 (Pequot Sassaucas runners-up); Hand 10-0 (SCC Division I East champions) PLAYOFF RECORD — Coventry/Windham Tech 0-2; Hand 15-7 LAST APPEARANCE –Conventry/Windham Tech: 2006 (0-1, lost to New Canaan in Class MM semifinals); Hand: 2010 (1-1, lost to New Canaan 38-21 in Class L semifinals). PLAYERS TO WATCH – Coventry/Windham Tech: Sr. QB/DB Mike Fahey (6-0, 180); Jr. RB/LB Kyle Wing; Jr. WR/LB Tim Meyers Hand: Sr. WR/DB Nick Vitale; Sr. QB/S Henry Foye (1,803 yards, 20 TD); Sr. OL/D. Joe DeMichele (6-2, 285); Jr. FB/LB Matt Walsh (6-1, 220); Jr. OL/DE Peter Gerson (6-3, 215; 12 sacks). YOU SHOULD KNOW – Hand has completed the seventh unbeaten regular season in its history, last was 2007 (lost to New Canaan in Class MM final). …Coventry has 39 players on its CIAC roster; Hand has 62. …Vitale is committed to Stony Brook; His older brother Richie Vitale was the MVP of New London’s 2008 state title team. …Coventry’s only loss was to Class M participant Ellington/Somers on Thanksgiving, 27-14. …Coventry averages 34 ppg and allows 15 ppg. …It’s closest win was 26-21 over Avon. …Hand’s closest win was 24-14 over Class L qualifier Notre Dame-WH. OUR PICK – Hand 42-6
November 28, 2011 at 8:35 pm by Sean Patrick Bowley
We move to the Class M and S previews. Just two regional teams reside here, and they’re playing each other. The rest of the contestants are all ECC, Pequot, CSC, CCC and upper-NVL.
Quarterfinals: Tuesday Nov. 29 – 6:30 p.m. at sites of the higher seed (except Rocky Hill-Valley Regional, which is at 5:30 p.m.
Semifinals: Saturday, Dec 3 at the following sites
Middletown HS (2 p.m.)
Cheshire HS (2 p.m.)
Bunnell HS (2 p.m.)
Sheehan HS (2 p.m.)
East Haven HS (2 p.m.)
Falcon Field, Meriden (2 p.m.)
Municipal Stadium, Waterbury (2 p.m.)
West Haven HS (two games at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m.)
Championships: Friday, Dec. 9 and Saturday, Dec. 10 at Rentschler Field (One game on Friday evening at 6:30 / Three games on Saturday at 10:30 a.m., 2 p.m. and 5:30 p.m.)
Class M
No. 8 Bethel at No. 1 Ansonia
WHERE — Jarvis Stadium, Ansonia RECORDS — Bethel 7-3, Ansonia 11-0 (NVL Champions) PLAYOFF RECORD — Bethel 1-2; Ansonia 26-14 LAST APPEARANCE –Bethel: 2009 (1-1, lost to Berlin 46-6 in Class M final); Ansonia (2-1, lost to St. Joseph 42-27 in Class S final). PLAYERS TO WATCH – Bethel: Sr. QB/DB Brandon Schmidt (1,373 yards, 15 TDs rushing; 815 yards, 2 TDs passing); Sr. LB/RB Brian Birdsell (933 yards, 15 TDs rushing; 15 tackles/gm); Sr. OL/DL Peter Serenicsis (8 sacks, 12 tackles/gm); Sr. OL/DL Phillipe Daluz (11 tackles/gm); Sr. RB/DB William Quinn (6 TD). Ansonia: Jr. RB/DB Arkeel Newsome (2,776 yards, 46 TDs rushing); Sr. TE/DE Jake LaRovera; Sr. LB Tyler Wood; Sr. OL/DL Dylan Vano; Sr. OL/DL Tyler Williams; Sr. OL/DL Hakeem Martin; Sr. WR/DB Andrew Matos (472 receiving yards, 5 TD); Sr. QB Elliot Chudwick. YOU SHOULD KNOW – Ansonia has won the most CIAC state championships in the state: 16. …Arkeel Newsome is the state’s leading rusher and, with 50 touchdowns, recently broke the single-season touchdown record held by former Ansonia all-state back Alex Thomas. …This is Bethel’s third state playoff berth and second in three years. Bethel reached the 1988 finals (lost to St. Joseph). …Bethel upset New London and lost to Berlin in 2009 Class M finals. Schmidt was a tailback in 2009. …Bethel’s has been outscored 108-21 in in its three losses: Newtown (33-7), Pomperaug (45-7) and Weston (30-7). The Wildcats upset Bunnell 56-46 in Week 8. OUR PICK – Ansonia 49-14
No. 5 Cheney Tech at No. 4 Berlin
WHERE — Scalise Field, Sage Park, Berlin RECORDS — Cheney Tech 9-1 (CSC runners-up); Berlin 9-1 PLAYOFF RECORD — Cheney Tech: 0-1; Berlin 3-13 LAST APPEARANCE –Cheney Tech: 2008 (0-1, lost to Ledyard 43-0 in Class M semifinals); Berlin: 2010 (0-1, lost to Hillhouse 33-30 in Class M quarterfinals). PLAYERS TO WATCH – Cheney Tech: Sr. RB/LB DaShaun Smith (16.3 ppg); Sr. QB/CB Dejahn Dawkins; Sr. RB/MLB Desean Higgins. Berlin: Sr. WR Tommy Undercuffler (616 yards, 5 TDs rushing; 490 yards, 6 TDs receiving); Soph. QB Mitch Williams (1,467 yards, 14 TDs passing); Jr. RB/LB Wojtus Zak; Jr. OL/DL Chris Meucci (4 sacks). YOU SHOULD KNOW – Berlin’s Tommy Undercuffler recently committed to Yale… Berlin’s only loss was to Class S playoff participant Northwest Catholic 20-3 in Week 5. … Berlin is ranked in the state’s top 25 in passing yards (1,513). …Cheney Tech is ranked No. 11 in the state in rushing yards with 2,719. …This is the school’s second solo playoff berth. It competed with East Catholic in the 2003 (Class L) and 2004 (Class LL) state playoffs. …Its only loss was to CSC champion and Class S participant Capital Prep, 34-22. OUR PICK – Berlin 39-0
No. 6 Waterford at No. 3 Ledyard
WHERE — Mignault Field, Ledyard RECORDS — Waterford 7-3; Ledyard 9-1 PLAYOFF RECORD — Waterford 0-1; Ledyard 8-7 LAST APPEARANCE –Waterford: 2003 (0-1, lost to Brookfield 28-12 in Class SS semifinals); Ledyard: 2008 (1-1, lost to Brookfield 16-14 in Class M final). PLAYERS TO WATCH – Waterford: Sr. FB/LB Kobey Coburn; Sr. FL/DB John Palladino; Sr. QB/DB Brian Gencarelli; Sr. RB Y-Kim Sheppard; Rr. OL/DL Ivar Wirta. Ledyard: Sr. RB/DB Alex Manwearing (2,068 yards, 16 TDs rushing); Jr. QB John Rainey (5 TDs passing); Sr. RB/LB Matt Daggett (12 tackles/gm; 6 sacks); Sr. TE/LB Dallas Smith (4 sacks). Sr. WR Slade Backsley. YOU SHOULD– Ledyard is 9th in the state in rushing yards (2,819). …Manwearing is fourth in the state and broke Tim Allen’s ECC season rushing record vs Fitch. …The teams met four weeks ago with Ledyard winning 15-7. …Ledyard’s only loss was to Class L participant New London, 33-14; Waterford’s other losses were to Montville (35-2) in Week 2 and CCC’s Windsor 42-13 two weeks ago. Gencarelli and Sheppard were injured in that game, but have returned. OUR PICK – Ledyard 21-14
No. 7 Wolcott at No. 2 Ellington/Somers
WHERE — Ellington High School RECORDS — Wolcott 7-3; Ellington/Somers 10-0 PLAYOFF RECORD — Wolcott: first appearance. Ellington/Somers: first appearance PLAYERS TO WATCH – Wolcott: Jr. QB Mike Nichol (1,481 yards, 14 TD passing; 816 yards, 12 TD rushing); Sr. RB Devante Bonvillian (623 yards, 10 TD rushing; 485 yards, 3 TD receiving); Sr. RB/LB Joe Russo; Soph. LB Mike Coulliard (8 INT); Soph. WR/DB Adam Santopietro. Ellington/Somers: Sr. QB/LB Bryan Rider (537 yards, 5 TD passing); Sr. RB/DB Mitch DiResta (950 yards, 9 TD rushing; 5 INT); Sr. RB/LB Luke Levasseur; Sr. RB/LB Jake Schneider (4 sacks). YOUR SHOULD KNOW – Wolcott averages 27 points per game, allows 25. It comes into the playoffs having lost two of its final three games, to NVL Championship game participants Ansonia 48-14 and Holy Cross 35-20. …Wolcott has only allowed less than 12 points once, a 14-6 win over Kennedy. …Ellington/Somers allows just 7.1 points per game, 2nd in the state. It has two shutouts and seven victories in which it allowed less than 10 points. …Ellington/Somers’ closest win was a 10-8 victory over Stafford/East Windsor. OUR PICK – Wolcott 32-14
Class S
No. 8 Cromwell at No. 1 Capital Prep/Classical Magnet
WHERE — Dillon Stadium, Hartford RECORDS — Cromwell 8-2; Capital Prep/Classical Magnet 10-0 (CSC champions) PLAYOFF RECORD — Cromwell 4-5; Capital Prep/Classical Magnet: First appearance LAST APPEARANCE –Cromwell: 4-5; Capital Prep/Classical: None. PLAYERS TO WATCH – Cromwell: Anthony Morales (2,993 yards, 38 TDs); Derrick Villard (1,550 yards, 21 TDs rushing); Sr. OL/DL Mike Sullivan; Sr. WR/DB/K Brett Director (838 yards, 9 TDs receiving); Capital Prep/Classical: Sr. RB/LB Cre’shon Morrison (1,614 yards, 24 TDs rushing); Jr. QB/DB Antwan Byrd; Soph. RB/LB Mike Jones (6-1, 235), Sr. WR Derrick Sarfo-Darko (702 yards, 3 TDs receiving) YOU SHOULD KNOW – Cromwell’s Morales is the state’s leading passer; Villard is the state’s seventh-leading rushers. …Cromwell has 5,122 yards of total offense, best in the state. It also owns the state’s top-ranked passing attack and is third-highest scoring team (44.2 ppg). …Cromwell is also No. 3 in sacks (32). …Capital Prep’s Morrison is ninth on the state rushing list and is sixth in the state scoring list with 16.9 points per game. …This is just Capital Prep/Classical’s third varsity season. OUR PICK – Cromwell 49-7
No. 5 Northwest Catholic at No. 4 North Branford
WHERE — Colafati Field, North Branford RECORDS — Northwest Catholic 8-2; North Branford 9-1 PLAYOFF RECORD — NWC 1-4; North Branford 2-5 LAST APPEARANCE –NWC: 2009 (1-1, lost to Hyde 21-0 in Class S final); North Branford: 2008 (0-1, lost to Ansonia 28-0 in Class S semifinal). PLAYERS TO WATCH – North Branford: Jr. QB Brandan Basil (2,010 yards, 29 TDs passing); Jr. RB/LB Dale Hausman (783 yards, 12 TDs rushing); Jr. Joe DeLucia (491 yards, 11 TDs receiving); Jr. LB Gary Falanga; Sr. G/LB Anthony Franco (13.1 tackles/gm).Northwest Catholic: Sr. QB/DB Tyler Calitri; Sr. RB Anthony Carter; Sr. WR David Blackwell; Jr. WR/RB/S Nicholas Gaynor; Sr. C/DT Malik Reilly; Sr. OG/DT Wesley Hopkins; Sr. DB Christian Farrell YOU SHOULD KNOW – North Branford lost the season-opening game 48-47 to Valley Regional and has since won nine straight. …The T-Birds are seventh in the state in scoring (40 ppg) and 12th in total offense. …Basil, the son of coach Mark Basil, is ranked 11th in the state in passing yards. …DeLucia is the 20th ranked scorer in the state (12 ppg). …NWC has allowed 66 points, No. 1 in Connecticut, including five shut outs. NWC averages 34 points per game. …It’s losses were to CCC Division II West foes Rocky Hill (14-13 on Thanksgiving) and Bloomfield (29-28 in OT). OUR PICK – Northwest Catholic 23-20
No. 6 Rocky Hill at No. 3 Valley Regional/Old Lyme
WHERE — Valley Regional High School, Deep River – 5:30 p.m. RECORDS — Valley Regional/Old Lyme 9-1; Rocky Hill 8-2 PLAYOFF RECORD — Valley Regional/Old Lyme 1-1; Rocky Hill 0-2 LAST APPEARANCE –Valley Regional/Old Lyme:2010 (1-1, lost to St. Joseph 44-7 in Class S semifinals); Rocky Hill: 2008 (0-1, lost to Seymour in Class SS semifinals). PLAYERS TO WATCH – Valley Regional/Old Lyme: Sr. QB/FS Jimmy Fairfield-Sonn (936 yards, 13 TDs passing; 1,305 yards, 22 TDs rushing; 11.8 tackles, 6 INT); Sr. DB/RB Jordan Santil; Sr. DT/G Justus Doane (6-0, 248); Rocky Hill: Soph. RB/LB Chris Young (1,438 yards, 20 TDs rushing); Jr. RB/LB Alex DeNardo (913 yards, 12 TDs rushing); Sr. WR/DB Matt Clapp; Sr. G/LB Nick Carducci (5-8, 140). YOU SHOULD KNOW – Rocky Hill was 2-2 near midseason and finished with six straight wins, including a 13-12 upset of Northwest Catholic, to qualify for its third state playoff berth. …Rocky Hill has the eighth-most rushing yards in Connecticut (2,819 yards); has only passed for just 154 yards and 2 TDs this year on 32 attempts. …Valley is 14th in the state in rushing, and 18th in total offense, led by Sonn, who is among top 25 leaders in rushing yards, interceptions and tackles. …The team won nine straight to start the season before a 6-0 upset vs. Haddam-Killingworth on Thanksgiving eve. …Valley Regional/Old Lyme’s Sr. DT/OT Owen Guarino and Sr. TE Colin Devlin are both injured and questionable. OUR PICK – Valley Regional 29-20
No. 7 Haddam-Killingworth at No. 2 Holy Cross
WHERE — Municipal Stadium, Waterbury RECORDS — Haddam-Killingworth 8-2; Holy Cross 9-2 PLAYOFF RECORD — Haddam-Killingworth 0-1; Holy Cross 3-5 LAST APPEARANCE – Haddam-Killingworth: 1994 (0-1, lost to Putnam 20-14 in Class S final); Holy Cross: 2009 (0-1, lost to St. Joseph 56-6 in Class SS semifinals) PLAYERS TO WATCH – Haddam-Killingworth: Sr. RB/LB Dan German (1,724 yards, 22 TD; Jr. QB Alex DiMauro-D’Amico (681 yards, 7 TD passing); Jr. FB/LB Nathan Cruz (488 yards, 11 TD rushing; 10 tackles/gm); Sr. SE/CB Tyler Genoveseio (6 INT) Holy Cross: Sr. RB/LB Dave DiGiorgi; Sr. QB Zach Brown; Sr. LB/OL Anthony Jemele (6-0, 215); Jr. RB/LB Adrian Brown; Sr. WR/DB Paul Cotter; Sr. LB Joe Parent. YOU SHOULD KNOW – Haddam-Killingworth started the season 1-2. It won seven straight, including a 6-0 upset of Valley Regional, to qualify for its second state playoffs. …H-K has the 12th-most rushing yards in Connecticut (2,982), led by RB Dan German, who is ranked sixth Connecticut and 12th in scoring (13.2 ppg). …H-K averages just under 300 rushing yards per game. …Cruz might be out after an injury vs. Valley Regional. …Take away two losses to Ansonia, Holy Cross is 9-0 and has outscored its other nine NVL opponents 298-122, or an average of 30-12. …The Crusaders have won six of their last seven games, including a 33-0 loss to Ansonia in an non-CIAC sanctioned NVL championship game. Ansonia also defeated HC 45-13 in the regular season. OUR PICK – Holy Cross 36-12
November 28, 2011 at 1:40 pm by Sean Patrick Bowley
The Day's Lonesome Polecat: Ned Griffen (at left, if you didn't know)
No members of the Connecticut sporting media sees as many teams and as many leagues than former New Haven Register reporter Bob Barton, The Day’s Ned Griffen and WFSB-3′s Joe Zone.
Two of them got together last weekend to talk CIAC state playoffs on WFSB.
Of course, it was only the Lonesome Polecat who was forced to stand out on a limb and pick the winners of the 2011 CIAC state playoffs.
Ned Griffen says Xavier, Masuk, Ansonia and Holy Cross will be carrying trophies out of Rentschler Field in less than two weeks.
November 27, 2011 at 9:25 am by Sean Patrick Bowley
Back in Week 3, the SNY show ‘Traditions’ paid a visit to Dunning Field to take a inside look at the New Canaan football program.
A month later, the camera crews returned to Connecticut and headed over to The Valley, because, let’s face it, you can’t talk about proud and strong high school football programs in Connecticut without talking about Ansonia.
Today, Ansonia makes it debut on the weekly feature produced by Drew Thorry‘s Five x Five Productions and shown on SNY every Sunday at noon.
The crews talked to Ansonia stars, past and present, and followed this year’s football players and coaches leading up to and into the school’s game vs. Watertown.
Pulling into the parking lot at Trumbull’s McDougall Stadium, you got the feeling this wasn’t going to be a typical night for Masuk’s football team. The rain, which had started just a few hours before, morphed from mildly annoying to downright disconcerting.
Conversely, commissioner Al Carbone and the rest of the SCC mavens have a chance to make a big statement about their rule as the state’s best league. “S-C-C! …S-C-C! …S-C-C!” You hear it all the time, like a pie to the face for most regions.
WHERE — 
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