It’s quite helpful to have a brand name that’s carved into the public’s brains.

One doesn’t make copies, they “Xerox” them. Any Internet search is “Googling,” even if one isn’t using Google. McDonald’s, Coca-Cola and the Nike logo are omnipresent.

A name brand helps when it comes to a team’s reputation in Connecticut high school football, and few have the credibility of the Ansonia Chargers. Love them or hate them, they’ve won a state-record 20 CIAC championships and are on a 56-game winning streak in the Naugatuck Valley League.

The Chargers (2-0) make their season-debut in The Day's Top 10 state coaches’ poll at No. 10 this week after Xavier’s loss to West Haven last Friday knocked the Falcons out of the Top 10.

Ansonia head coach Tom Brockett has been honest about this year’s team. The Chargers graduated almost all of their offensive production and returned just five starters. Brockett has said this is among the most inexperienced teams of his 11-year career. He’s acknowledged that rival Seymour should be the NVL’s favorite based on its returning players and an All-State talent in Jaylen Kelley (QB-DB-P). And it was Bloomfield (2-0) that beat the Chargers in last year’s Class S championship game.

The coaches voting in the poll have immense respect for Ansonia with 12 of 13 voting for it this week, none lower than 12th.

Ansonia will get to prove itself. The Chargers should be unbeaten when they play host to Seymour on Oct. 27.

Killingly (2-0) is the lone Eastern Connecticut Conference team to receive votes. The Redmen visit New London (2-0) on Friday in what could be a matchup of the league’s top two teams.