Howdy,

Welcome, damas y caballeros, to the most wonderful week of our of beloved and sexy football season — Thanksgrabbing Week.

Please give a warm welcome to The Crazy, too.

The Crazy is what happens every time this year when Thanksgrabbing rivals meet. We hate math, however Thanksgrabbing + rivals = Crazy. Multiply that with pride, playoff berths and HATE, and everything goes plumb loco.

We all love you here at Polecat Worldwide and, as such, will try to simplify the CIAC's four playoff races with one last episode of BRACKETOLOGY. We'll try to keep the math simple and will of course predict the field in each division.

GROUND RULES:

1. These are not to be taken as gospel because it involves the virus known as math.

2. Just because we didn’t pick your team to qualify doesn’t mean we hate you. Hell, we DON'T EVEN KNOW YOU. Should you choose to believe that this is the worst insult you’ve ever suffered, then use it as motivation and go on to win a state title. We also expect an invitation and free meal at your year-end banquet for providing you with the extra incentive you needed.

3. We plan on being wrong on about a lot of this. THE CRAZY will rip our predictions asunder and we cannot wait for all the daffiness and shockers that will have us exclaiming "WHAT?" over-and-over-and-over-and-over on Thanksgrabbing morn.

4. Quote David Letterman, “This is an exhibition, not a competition. Please, no wagering.”

Remember, kids — the top eight teams in each division qualify, and a bonus is the 10 points a team earns for every win by any opponent it beat.

The higher seeds get to host both a quarterfinal (Tuesday, Dec. 1) and semifinal (Monday, Dec. 7).

The finals will be played on Saturday, Dec. 13 at neutral sites to be determined. Potential sites are New Britain, Trumbull, and the state's most beloved host of hosts, West Haven.

We implore you to follow the ROBOABACUS built by Matt Fischer, the CIAC's Director of Technology Services and Black Ops. It updates the playoff races in real-time.

Hey! Ho! Let's go!

CLASS LL — UPDATED

IN

SHELTON (9-0): Clinched a home quarterfinal. It could clinch the top seed with a win over Derby (6-3) on Thanksgrabbing. It’s beaten Derby 12 straight years.

SOUTHINGTON (9-0): Clinched a home quarterfinal. It could clinch the top seed with a win over Cheshire (4-5) on Thanksgrabbing. It has the lowest ceiling of the three unbeaten teams, though.

DARIEN (8-0): It is one half of the biggest game of the regular season — it plays unbeaten rival New Canaan in the annual Thanksgrabbing 1-Percent Bowl. It’s also for the FCIAC title and will be played at Boyle Stadium in Stamford. HUGE. The Blue Wave get a home quarterfinal with a win and a shot at the top seed (they have the highest ceiling of the unbeaten teams).

NEWTOWN (8-1): Clinches a home quarterfinal with a win over Masuk (6-3) on Thanksgrabbing Eve.

GLASTONBURY (8-1): Completed regular season. It will play host to a home quarterfinal if Newtown loses. It will also have a chance to play a home quarterfinal if Darien loses.

CONARD (8-2): Sean Patrick Starfish of GameTimeCT.com/New Haven Register/21st Century Monolith figured out a series of maths that revealed the Chieftains had QUALIFIED.Completed regular season. It will play a road quarterfinal.

WIN OUT, COUNT BONUSES

RIDGEFIELD (6-2): The Tigers play host to Danbury (1-7) on Thanksgrabbing Eve. They have the lowliest opponent among non-qualifiers, but it also gives the Tigers the lowest floor. Their bonuses stink, too. They really need Greenwich or West Haven to lose (both are possible).

STAPLES (6-2): It plays host to Greenwich (4-4) on Thanksgrabbing. It has six bonuses, but only St. Joseph over Trumbull is encouraging. Four bonuses pass Ridgefield’s max. The Wreckers also have the highest ceiling of the non-qualifiers.

WEST HAVEN (6-3): It plays host to Fairfield Prep (5-4) on Thanksgrabbing. The Westies have three bonuses, but only Foran over Law is promising.

HELP

TRUMBULL (5-3): Plays at St. Joseph (6-2) on Thanksgrabbing. It cannot catch Conard.

THE EIGHT: No. 1 Darien (9-0) vs. No. 8 West Haven (7-3); No. 2 Shelton (10-0) vs. No. 7 Conard (8-2); No. 3 Southington (10-0) vs. No. 6 Staples (7-2); No. 4 Newtown (9-1) vs. No. 5 Glastonbury (8-1).

• • • •

CLASS L

IN

NORTH HAVEN (9-0): Clinches a home quarterfinal with a win over Amity (2-7) on Thanksgrabbing, OR two bonuses. It would be the top seed with a win AND one of three bonuses (such as Hillhouse over Wilbur Cross).

HARDING (9-0): Clinches a home quarterfinal with a win at Bridgeport Central (1-8) on Thanksgrabbing.

NEW CANAAN (8-0): Clinch a home quarterfinal with a win. It has the division’s highest ceiling, but it requires cashing in on all six bonuses, most of which aren’t good.

WINDSOR (9-0): Clinches a home quarterfinal with a win over Middletown (8-1) on Thanksgrabbing. It likely won’t catch Harding or North Haven if either wins.

TORRINGTON (8-1): It plays at Watertown (4-5) on Thanksgrabbing. It gets a home quarterfinal with a win and a loss by one of the top four teams.

WETHERSFIELD (8-1): It plays host to Newington (2-7) on Thanksgrabbing Eve. The Eagles will play a home quarterfinal with a win over Newington AND losses by two of the three — New Canaan, Windsor or Torrington.

WIN-AND-IN

NOTRE DAME-WEST HAVEN (7-2): It plays at Hamden (1-8) on Thanksgrabbing. It cannot pass North Haven, Harding, or New Canaan. Hillhouse cannot catch it.

MIDDLETOWN (8-1): Plays at Windsor.

HELP

AVON (7-2): It plays at Simsbury (1-8) on Tuesday. It’ll get crazy if Avon wins and Middletown loses. Avon’s minimum would be 1,050 with a chance at earning five bonuses. Middletown’s minimum with a loss is 1,060 with a chance at six bonuses.

FORGET IT

HILLHOUSE (7-2): Plays host to Wilbur Cross (2-7) on Thanksgrabbing. The Academics are barely mathematically eligible as they’re eliminated as soon as Middletown collects one bonus.

THE EIGHT: No. 1 North Haven (10-0) vs. No. 8 Middletown (8-2); No. 2 Harding (10-0) vs. No. 7 Notre Dame-West Haven (8-2); No. 3 Windsor (10-0) vs. No. 6 New Canaan (8-1) (KA-BLAMMMO); No. 4 Torrington (9-1) vs. No. 5 Wethersfield (9-1).

• • • •

CLASS M

IN

KILLINGLY (8-1): Clinches a home quarterfinal with a home win over Quinebaug Valley (6-3) on Thanksgrabbing. It clinches a top two seed with a win and one of six bonuses. It clinches the top seed with a win and two bonuses.

ABBOTT TECH/IMMACULATE (8-1): Completed regular season and clinched a home quarterfinal.

NEW FAIRFIELD (8-1): Clinches a home quarterfinal with a win over New Milford (4-5) on Thanksgrabbing. It cannot fall further than fifth.

LEDYARD (8-1): Clinches a home quarterfinal with a win over Fitch (5-4) on Thanksgrabbing. A loss could drop it as low as eighth.

BROOKFIELD (7-2): Plays at Bethel (2-7) on Thanksgrabbing. The only way it gets a home quarterfinal is with a win and a loss by Killingly, New Fairfield or Ledyard (preferably the latter two).

WIN-AND-IN

BACON ACADEMY (7-2): Clinches with a home win over RHAM (1-8) on Thanksgrabbing.

ST. JOSEPH (6-2): Clinches with a home win over Trumbull (5-3) on Thanksgrabbing. YOU DON’T WANT THE CADETS QUALIFYING, CLASS M HOPEFULS.

EAST HAVEN (7-2): Clinches with a home win over Branford (4-5) on Thanksgrabbing.

HELP

STRATFORD (6-3): Plays host to Bunnell (4-5) on Thanksgrabbing. It maxes out at 1,010 with a win and four bonuses.

FORAN (6-3): Plays at Law (1-8) on Thanksgrabbing. It maxes out at 960 with a win and two bonuses.

HYDE/CAREER/WHITNEY TECH (6-3): Plays host to North Branford (5-4) on Thanksgrabbing Eve. It maxes out at 970 with a win and three bonuses.

FORGET IT

LEWIS MILLS (6-3): Plays host to Nonnewaug (5-4) on Thanksgrabbing. Eliminated once East Haven collects one bonus.

THE EIGHT: No. 1 Killingly (9-1) vs. No. 8 East Haven (8-2); No. 2 New Fairfield (9-1) vs. No. 7 St. Joseph (7-2); No. 3 Ledyard (9-1) vs. No. 6 Bacon Academy (8-2) (THE REMATCHENING); No. 4 ATI (8-1) vs. No. 5 Brookfield (8-2).

• • • •

CLASS S:

IN

ANSONIA (9-0): Clinches the top seed with a win at Naugatuck (5-4) on Thanksgrabbing and two of its five bonuses. It’s already clinched a top-three seed.

BLOOMFIELD (10-0): Completed regular season and had its only loss wiped out by Berlin’s forfeit. Has clinched a top two seed and will be No. 1 if Ansonia loses.

GRANBY (9-0): Plays host to Canton (0-9) on Thanksgrabbing Eve. It’s already clinched a home quarterfinal.

TRINITY CATHOLIC (7-1): Clinches a home quarterfinal with a win at Wilton (3-5) on Thanksgrabbing.

WIN-AND-IN

MORGAN: Clinches with a win at Old Saybrook/Westbrook (6-3) on Thanksgrabbing.

CROMWELL/PORTLAND (8-1): Clinches with a win at Rocky Hill (7-2) on Thanksgrabbing in the day’s most important game east of Stamford.

SEYMOUR (8-1): Clinches with a home win over Woodland (7-2).

EAST CATHOLIC (7-2): Plays host to Northwest Catholic (4-5) on Thanksgrabbing Eve. It maxes out at 1,220 with a win and five bonuses.

PURGATORY

CAPITAL PREP/ACHIEVEMENT FIRST (7-2): Completed regular season. It maxes out with a 116.67 average if it collects all three of its bonuses. Qualifies if Rocky Hill and Woodland lose.

WIN, COUNT BONUSES

ROCKY HILL (7-2): Qualifies with a win over Cromwell/Portland and one of three bonuses, none of which are good). It maxes out at 1,190.

WOODLAND (7-2): Maxes out at 1,190 with a win over Seymour and five bonuses that aren’t good.

WINDHAM (7-2): Maxes out at 1,140 with a win over Montville (5-4) on Thanksgrabbing Eve and three bonuses. It cannot catch Morgan. It would be better for the Whippets if Rocky Hill and Woodland both lost because Seymour and C/P could still outpoint them even after a loss. Rocky Hill and Woodland couldn't.

THE EIGHT: No. 1 Ansonia (10-0) vs. No. 8 Rocky Hill (8-2); No. 2 Bloomfield (10-0) vs. No. 7 East Catholic (8-2); No. 3 Granby (10-0) vs. No. 6 Seymour (9-1); No. 4 Trinity Catholic (8-1) vs. No. 5 Morgan (9-1).

• • • •

East Lyme started the season running the run-based double wing on offense. The Vikings were 0-4, being outscored 140-19 in those games, with opposing defenses able to stack the box knowing what was coming next.

“I thought (the double wing) would slow the game a bit for Dylan,” coach Rudy Bagos said of sophomore quarterback Dylan Hatajik, in his first season as the Vikings' starter. “But teams were blitzing us. I talked to the coaching staff and we said we need to spread this out.

“The kids are starting to come together, enjoying the spread offense, the no-huddle. We're still getting our share of runs now that we're not in such tight quarters.”

East Lyme bounced back with wins over Law (28-12) and Woodstock Academy (42-7). It hasn't won since, making its share of youthful mistakes, but scored 20 points against ECC Large champ Bacon Academy (38-20 loss) and 24 against 7-2 Windham (39-24 loss).

The Vikings end the season on Thanksgiving Day against rival Waterford beginning at 10 a.m. in East Lyme.

“This is your playoff,” Bagos told his team of Thursday's game.

Hatajik, meanwhile, has blossomed. He threw three touchdowns against Bacon and had a 55-yard touchdown run against Windham.

“He's 6-1, 6-2 (tall) and he has all the tools to be a quarterback,” Bagos said. “He still makes sophomore mistakes, but he's also made some nice plays.

“I'm proud of this young team,” Bagos said. “The future is bright. We are loaded with juniors, sophomores, freshmen and incoming eighth-graders."

• • • •

Thanks to Vickie Fulkerson for the East Lyme note.

• • • •

STORYTIME~!

Bob Birge, Norwalk Hour: At Weston, these dogs have fight.

Gentleman Jim Bransfield, Middletown Press: His Monday Musings.

Norwich Bulletin: Local notebook.

Scott Ericson, Hearst Inc.: New Canaan's Michael Collins focused on wins, not records.

Anthony E. Parelli, Hearst Inc.: Experienced Timmy Graham leads potent offense.

Shoreline Jimmy Zanor, GameTimeCT.com/New Haven Register/21st Century Monolith: Winning each day at Coginchaug.

• • • •

PROGRAMMMING NOTE — The Day of New London Top 10 state coaches' poll will take this week off. Bacon and Conard were the only teams receiving votes that played over the weekend.

The poll returns Monday, Nov. 30.

• • • •

Thanks for reading. More soon.

Vaya con dios....