Howdy,

So about Ansonia's injuries....

....When we last met, there were reports from last night's Ansonia v. Shelton scrimmage that quarterback Jai'Quan McKnight needed an MRI for a stress fracture in his foot, and that offensive lineman Tyler O'Connell was carted off.

Chargers coach Tom Brockett said Friday that McKnight had turf toe and didn't need an MRI. He added that O'Connell, a starter, has a leg bruise. That's great news for O'Connell as one naturally expects the worst when they see someone being whisked away on a cart.

All is fine in Lavender Land. Remain calm. We can all stand down from DEFCON 1.

One correction that must be made — we wrote earlier that Kountry Kyle Brennan tweeted that McKnight was getting an MRI.

WRONG.

Kountry Kyle retweeted said intel. Our poor reading comprehension skills failed us there. We apologize for the confusion.

We now return you to your regularly scheduled blog.

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Polecat staffers don't make it a habit to attend scrimmages. Teams may opt to keep it simple so that future opponents can't scout them. They may hold out players. And while the players may go all-out to win, it doesn't count towards the standings or playoffs. The only real reason to go to one is to yap with coaches and gather intel.

All that written, the staff did watch two scrimmages and have the following irrelevant thoughts:

• Ansonia's Arkeel Newsome is remarkably strong for someone of his stature. The record-setting running back is 5-foot-8, but broke tackles and ran West Haven defenders over during an Aug. 30 scrimmage. Smaller backs aren't supposed to do that. His balance is something else, too.

• Ervin Philips accelerates faster than your car. The West Haven running back broke off one long run vs. the Chargers that one needed to see to appreciate it. He recently gave Syracuse a verbal commitment, bringing joy to Orange fans everywhere.

• Ledyard has the ability to score more quickly than it has the previous two seasons. It's going to use a no-huddle this year with first-year starter Ty Ebdon (sophomore) chucking the ball a bit out of three-and-four wide sets. The shift from a power-running scheme is two-fold:

1. The entire offensive line is new and doesn't have as much brawn as their predecessors. Spreading defenses out will help out the line.

2. The Colonels wants to give their many scorers some room to move. Senior receiver Joe Carter can fly (he scored on a 99-yard kickoff return/sprint last night vs. Class S quarterfinalist Capital Prep/Classical/Achievement of Hartford). Classmate Jordan Kowalski is a physical receiver. Junior tailback Josiah Shumaker has been selected to participate in a national combine next January.

• We hate to be the defensive back that has to deal with Mike Jones once he bursts through the first level. CP/C/A's senior fullback trucked a few Ledyard defenders last night and wowed those who'd never seen him. Jones (6-feet, 235 pounds) is known more for his linebacker play and has many Division I suitors.

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The Innerwebs and telly have made this a golden time for YOU, dear football fan.

Oh, sure, 666 channels and DSL can cause one to start drooling due to information overload, but the upside is that you can watch games from all across the state.

The Day will broadcast three games this season on the website, and it selected some doozies:

• Stonington at Fitch, Sept. 20: The battle for Stonington Borough supremacy.

• Norwich Free Academy at Glastonbury, Oct. 4: A clash of Class LL contenders.

• Middletown at New London: Should be a Class L qualifier.

But wait — there's more! CPTVSports is scheduled to broadcast TWENTY-TWO games, over half of which will be shown in real-time. Its schedule is as follows (and subject to change):

• Staples at Xavier, Wednesday, 6:30 p.m. (LIVE)

• Waterford at Platt, Sept. 13, 6:30 p.m. (LIVE)

• Southington at Glastonbury, Sept. 18, 8 p.m. (Sept. 12 game)

• Wolcott at Naugatuck, Sept. 20, 7 p.m. (LIVE)

• Montville at Norwich Free Academy, Sept. 25, 8 p.m. (Sept. 21 game)

• Northwest Catholic at Bloomfield, Sept. 27, 7 p.m. (LIVE)

• Cromwell at Ellington/Somers, Oct. 2, 8 p.m. (Sept. 28 game)

• Ledyard at New London, Oct. 4, 6:30 p.m. (LIVE)

• Hyde at Canton, Oct. 9, 8 p.m. (Oct. 5 game)

• Fairfield Prep at Shelton, Oct. 11, 7 p.m. (LIVE)

• North Branford at Avon, Oct. 16, 8 p.m. (Oct. 12 game)

• Xavier at West Haven, Oct. 18, 7 p.m. (LIVE)

• Masuk at Ansonia, Oct. 23, 8 p.m. (Oct. 17 game)

• Weston at Newtown, Oct. 25, 7 p.m. (LIVE)

• Simsbury at South Windsor Oct. 30, 8 p.m. (Oct. 26 game)

• Oxford at Barlow, Nov. 1, 7 p.m. (LIVE)

• Berlin at Rocky Hill, Nov. 8, 7 p.m. (LIVE)

• Naugatuck at Holy Cross, Nov. 13, 8 p.m. (Nov. 7 game)

• Derby at Woodland, Nov. 15, 6:30 p.m. (LIVE)

• Gilbert/Northwestern Regional at Valley Regional/Old Lyme, Nov. 22, 6:30 p.m. (LIVE)

• Middletown at Windsor, Nov. 27, 6:30 p.m. (LIVE)

• Capital/Classical at Prince Tech, Nov. 29, 7 p.m. (Nov. 23 game)

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It just dawned on us that we had failed to post a link to the ALL-NEW Connecticut High School Record Book, and for that we feel great shame.

Football sage Bob Barton and the industrious Gerry deSimas of the Collinsville Press have once again taken precious time to both update and publish the book.

YOU should go here now and download it if you claim to be a football diehard.

We're always looking for ways to enrich YOUR life, so here are the state leaders in far too many categories to count:

TEAM

State championships

Most state titles: 31, New Britain (27 unofficial, four CIAC — the CIAC didn't sanction playoffs until 1976).

Most CIAC titles: 18, Ansonia.

Most consecutive CIAC titles: 6, Cheshire, 1992-97.

Best winning percentage in CIAC finals, minimum of four appearances): 1.000, Hyde, New Britain and Xavier (four appearances each).

Most appearances in a CIAC final: 26, Ansonia (18-8, .692).

Most points scored in a CIAC final: 69, Weaver 69, Darien 26, 1999.

Wins

Most consecutive games without a loss: 49, Cheshire, 1992-96.

Most undefeated seasons: 17, Ansonia (1900, 36, 43, 65, 76, 77, 79, 83, 89, 94, 95, 2002, 03, 06, 07, 11, 12).

Most wins: 745, Ansonia, 1900-2012.

Best winning percentage: .817, Cromwell, 2002-12 (94-21).

Scoring

Most points in a game (pre-1930): 130, Norwich Free Academy vs. Bulkeley-New London, 1902.

Most points in a game (post-1930): 108, Marianapolis Prep vs. Windham Tech, 1965.

Most points in a game (pre-1930): 130, NFA 120, Bulkeley-New London 0, 1902.

Most points in a game, both teams (post-1930): 120, Guilford 67, Law 53, Nov. 5, 2010.

Most points in one half: 69, Bloomfield, vs. Hall, Oct. 16, 1999 (final score, Bloomfield 76-0); New Britain, vs. Maloney, Oct. 10, 2003 (final score, Maloney 89-0).

Most points in one quarter: 51, New London, vs. Plainfield, Sept. 17, 2005 (final score, New London 77-6).

Most points in a season: 695, Ansonia, 2012 (14 games).

Highest average points in a season: 60.3, New Britain, 2002 (10 games, 603 points).

Most touchdowns in a season: 102, Ansonia, 2012 (14 games).

Total yards

Game: 865, Torrington, vs. Sacred Heart, Nov. 10, 2012 (853 rush, 12 passing).

Season: 6,504, Cromwell, 2011 (13 games, 500.3 average).

Highest single-season average: 512.6, West Haven, 1968 (eight games, 4,101 yards).

Defense

Fewest points allowed in a season: 0, Meriden, 1915 (seven games, forfeited one leading 13-0); Plainville, 1937 (seven games); Canton, 1942 (four games).

Most shutouts in a season: 9, by Stamford, 1913 (11 games); Stamford, 1914 (12 games); St. Joseph of Trumbull, 1980 (12 games).

Largest deficit overcome:

28, St. Joseph, vs. Bassick, Oct. 19, 1974 (trailed 28-0 second quarter, won 37-30)

28, Bacon Academy, Windham, Oct. 2, 2010 (41-13 second quarter,, won 48-47)

28, Xavier, Hillhouse, Oct. 26, 2012 (49-21 fourth quarter, won 50-49)

Most lead changes, game: 12, Tolland vs. Platt, Oct. 21, 2011 (Tolland won, 45-44)

Team scoring on first and last plays of a game: Notre Dame-West Haven, vs. St. Bernard, Oct. 2, 1987 (Notre Dame won, 37-35)

INDIVIDUAL

RUSHING

Most rushes:

Game: 52, Tim Washington, Bristol Central, vs. New Britain, Oct. 20, 2000; Alex Thomas, Ansonia, vs. New London, Dec. 1, 2007; Montrell Dobbs, Ansonia, vs. St. Joseph, 2010.

Season: 406, Montrell Dobbs, Ansonia, 2010.

Career: 1,011, Tim Washington Bristol Central, 1998-2001.

Most yards rushing:

Game: 518, Alex Thomas, Ansonia, vs. Woodland, Sept. 27, 2007.

Season: 3,763, Arkeel Newsome, Ansonia, 2011.

Career: 8,279, Alex Thomas, Ansonia, 2004-07.

Most consecutive 100-yard games: 25, Tim Washington, Bristol Central, Oct. 22, 1999-Nov. 22, 2001.

Most consecutive 200-yard games: 17, Chuck Mears, Northwest Catholic, 1993-94.

Most consecutive 300-yard games: 3, Montrell Dobbs, Ansonia, 2010; Brenden Lytton, Torrington, 2011; Arkeel Newsome, Ansonia, 2011 (twice).

Most touchdowns rushing

Game: 9, Brenden Lytton, Torrington, vs. Wilby, Oct. 29, 2010.

Season: 58, Arkeel Newsome, Ansonia, 2011.

Career: 114, Alex Thomas, Ansonia, 2004-07.

PASSING

Most passes attempted:

Game: 69 Matt Kelleher, Southington, vs. Platt, Sept. 16, 2004.

Season: 439, Eian Bain, Stafford, 2003.

Career: 986, Casey Cochran, Masuk/New London, 2008-11.

Most passes completed:

Game: 38, Jake White, Foran, vs. North Haven, Nov. 2, 2007; Matt Milano, New Canaan, vs. Hand, Dec. 10, 2011.

Season: 257, Matthew Milano, New Canaan, 2011.

Career: 635, Casey Cochran, New London/Masuk, 2008-11.

Most yards passing:

Game: 615, Tanner Kingsley, Woodland, vs. Seymour, Nov. 21, 2013.

Season: 3,688, Anthony Morales, Cromwell, 2011.

Career: 10,767, Casey Cochran, New London/Masuk, 2008-11.

Most touchdown passes:

Game: 9, Jason Manson, Bloomfield, Oct. 21, 2000.

Season: 51, Tanner Kingsley, Woodland, 2012.

Career: 112, Casey Cochran, New London/Masuk, 2008-11.

RECEIVING

Most passes caught:

Game: 18, Pete Demmerle, New Canaan, vs. Rippowam, Nov. 14, 1970; Jason Banks, Stafford, vs. Tolland, Oct. 10, 2003, and vs. Windsor Locks/Suffield, Nov. 27, 2003; Bob Simeone, St. Paul, vs. Xavier, Nov. 21, 1980.

Season: 102, Pete Demmerle, New Canaan, 1970.

Career: 188, Blake Jensen, Stonington, 1999-2002.

Most yards receiving:

Game: 376, Aaron Hernandez, Bristol Central, vs. Newington, Nov. 4, 2005.

Season: 1,807, Aaron Hernandez, Bristol Central, 2005 (67 receptions, 27 yards per catch).

Career: 3,677, Aaron Hernandez, Bristol Central, 2003-06.

Most touchdown passes caught:

Game: 6, Anrae Fevrier, Bloomfield, vs. Hall, Oct. 21, 2000; Rasheed Cauley, Sport Medicine and Science Academy/University, vs. Bulkeley, 2010.

Season: 25, Anthony Scirpo, Woodland, 2012.

Career: 47, Aaron Hernandez, Bristol Central, 2003-06

SCORING

Most touchdowns scored:

Game: 9, Brenden Lytton, Torrington, vs. Wilby, Oct. 29, 2010.

Season: 62, Arkeel Newsome, Ansonia, 2011.

Career: 119, Arkeel Newsome, Ansonia, 2010-12.

Player scoring on first and last plays of a game: Alex Davis, Notre Dame-West Haven, vs. St. Bernard, Oct. 2, 1987.

Most extra points kicking:

Game: 12, Earl Gillespie, Stamford, v. Paterson, N.J., Nov. 22, 1913; Gaynor Brennan, Stamford, St. Francis Prep (Brooklyn), Nov. 2, 1920.

Season: 85, Tomasz Popiolek, Ansonia, 2003.

Career: 227, Jon Testani, Masuk, 2007-10.

Most consecutive extra points: 105, Brandon Fowler, Woodland, 2007-09.

Most points scored kicking:

Game: 14, Niall Duggan, Stamford, vs. Bassick, Nov. 5, 1998; Ryan Bell, Hand, vs. East Haven, Nov. 5, 2010.

Season: 90, Santiago Cuertas, Staples, 2009.

Career: 254, Jon Testani, Masuk, 2007-10.

Most field goals:

Game: 4, Roberto Inesta, St. Mary (Greenwich) vs. La Salle Military (Long Island), Sept. 26, 1970.

Season: 12, Santiago Cuertas, Staples, 2009.

Career: 18, Roberto Inesta, St. Mary (Greenwich), 1968-71.

Most consecutive games kicking field goals: 7, Patrick Kenny, Glastonbury, Sept. 23-Nov. 4, 1989.

Longest field goal:

Game: 54, Rico Brogna, Watertown, v. Wolcott, 1987; Tyler Timion, Fermi, v. Rockville, 1987; Matt Paola, Pomperaug, v. Notre Dame-Fairfield, Oct. 28, 2011.

PUNTING

Highest average distance:

Season: 48.8, Jon Testani, Masuk, 2010.

Career: 42.3, Jim Post, Watertown, 1982-84.

INTERCEPTIONS

Most passes intercepted by:

Game: 5, Phil Stankiewicz, East Haven, vs. Amity, Nov. 7, 1992; Ray Barnes, Bullard-Havens, vs. Brookfield Oct. 5, 2001; Dwight Brown, New Britain, vs. Weaver, Nov. 18, 2006.

Season: 17. Andrew Gellert, Newtown, 1997.

Career: 25, Bob Purcell, East Haven, 1975-78; Anthony Wilson, Fitch, 1992-95.

Most touchdowns on interception returns:

Season: 4, Jamal Johnson, New London, 1987; Phil Bresson, Torrington, 2011.

Career: 5, Bobby Valentine, Rippowam, 1965-67.

PUNT RETURNS

Most touchdowns on punt returns:

Game: 3, Fran Hendricks, Ansonia, vs. Kennedy, Oct. 1, 1988.

Season: 7, Kenny Tinney, Ansonia, 2003.

Career: 7, Kenny Tinney, Ansonia, 2002-03.

KICKOFF RETURNS

Most touchdowns on kickoff returns:

Game: 2, numerous players.

Season: 5, Jay Drexel, Griswold, 1994.

Career: 7, Jax Drexel, Griswold, 1993-95.

TACKLES

Game: 32, Don McKeehan, Sheehan, vs. East Haven, Sept, 18, 1976; Chris Ruhnke, McMahon, vs. Greenwich, Sept. 18, 2001.

Season: 212, Greg Balicki, Farmington, 1996.

Career: 520, Pete Salvatore, Greenwich, 2001-03.

SACKS

Most sacks, game: 6, Michael Debboli, Plainville, vs. Bristol Eastern, 1975; Derrick Comeaux, Weaver, vs. Bulkeley, 2004; Ernest Wiggins, Bridgeport Central, vs. Harding, 2009

Most sacks, season: 28, Tony Basilica, New London, 1973

Most sacks, career: 60, Dwight Freeney, Bloomfield, 1994-97.

COACHING

Most career wins: 321, Bill Mignault, Ledyard and Waterford, 1959-63, 1966-2007 (321-130-5 career record).

Highest career winning percentage: .932, Tom Brockett, Ansonia, 2006-12 (85-7).

Most CIAC state championships: 8, Jack Cochran, Bloomfield, New Britain, and New London, 1992-2005, 2007-2008; Lou Marinelli, New Canaan, 1982-2012.

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The real thing is almost here, folks.

Vaya con dios….