Howdy,

Casey Cochran is like millions of other twenty-somethings juggling college and a job (or jobs).

Cochran is enrolled at grad school for sports management at UConn having finishing his undergrad studies in three-and-a-half years. The former New London and Masuk star has been tutoring quarterbacks across the state. He’s also started what could be a future career in broadcasting, joining UConn football's radio broadcast team.

Cochran added another job last week — New London’s offensive coordinator.

“I’d rather be busy than bored,” Cochran said with a smile. “I’m busy right now.”

It’s been a tough year for the Whalers (1-5), who’ve lost five in a row. They’ve started a lot of new players this season and had some leave.

Cochran had already been working with New London’s quarterbacks, and head coach Duane Maranda decided last weekend that the program would benefit by bringing him aboard.

“I felt that we just needed something fresh; that we needed something to kind of get the kids energized,” Maranda said. “I demoted myself, and putting him in as offensive coordinator was a very, very easy decision.

“He brings a tremendous amount of energy. He obviously brings a tremendous amount of tradition with him. There’s success behind him. He’s a very high-moxie person with a lot of confidence. Our kids instantly bought in.”

Twenty-one years old, and already Cochran is calling an offense.

“Well, I’ve been calling my offense my whole life, right?,” Cochran laughed. “I’ve been around football for a long time.”

Cochran quarterbacked New London to a state title his freshman year (2008) and did the same at Masuk as a junior (2010). He holds state records for career passing yardage (10,767) and completions (635), according to the Connecticut High School Football Record Book. He’s also a two-time winner of the Gatorade Connecticut Football Player of the Year honor. He retired from football last season due to concussions.

“I’ve been wanting to give back to New London and help out as much as I can,” Cochran said. “I’m 21 (years old). I’m three years (older) than some of them. I played at New London. I played in the youth leagues that they played in. ... So it just helps. It helps with relations. You’re going to listen to a kid who’s fresh out of it. I’d have two more playing years (at UConn) if I was still playing, so I’m basically still playing football.

“This is so fulfilling."

New London’s offense had its moments in last Friday’s 53-28 loss to unbeaten Foran. The Whalers  scored 21 points in the second half, some against the Lions’ reserves, to inject some life into them. Cochran gave a passionate speech to the players during the postgame, emphasizing that he and the staff believed in them.

“It’s tough — no one likes losing,” Cochran said. “I don’t blame them for their first reaction on a bad play to put their heads down. What I’m here to do is to show that if you keep fighting, and if you stay positive, not just in football but in life, that things are going to come your way. We have four games left. We’re going to keep rolling. I’m going to game plan and help these kids as much as I can. I’m here for them.

“The whole second half was just awesome to watch. These guys have a lot of heart. When it’s 40-6 at halftime and they come out and they’re playing as hard as they can in the second half, that’s very encouraging to watch.”

• • • •

Losing teams are rarely happy with the officiating. Count Griswold in that mix.

After Friday night’s 20-7 loss to Ledyard, in which the Wolverines were flagged 11 times — including two penalties that wiped touchdowns off the board — to just one for the Colonels, coach Gregg Wilcox wanted to wait to see the game film before saying anything. He wanted to.

“(The officials) may be absolutely right, maybe we misinterpreted what happened, but I’m going to look,” he said. “It doesn’t change anything. We still lost 20-7. They’re a very good team. We played toe-to-toe with them. We scored as many touchdowns as they did. We just got them called back.”

The final flag of the night was an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty against the Griswold coaches for excessive complaining, as the referee told them, “You’ve said enough.”

“Two years ago, we came down here, we got calls made that were just crazy,” Wilcox said. “Now we come back again and they do the same thing to us.

“Let me say this: There’s a high school team right there, other than a personal foul when they whacked our kid out of bounds, they had absolutely no penalties other than that personal foul. I haven’t seen a pro game, a college game, that that’s ever happened. God bless them. They are extraordinary.”

Ledyard coach Jim Buonocore responded by saying, “I take that as a compliment. I think our coaches do a great job. I think we’re a well-coached football team. And well-coached, disciplined football teams aren’t very much penalized.”

• • • •

Buonocore’s teams have typically played wide open on offense, but that is not the case this year. The Colonels have scrapped the old system and are running their version of the double wing.

“Offensively, especially at the high school level, you have to be able to adapt,” he said. “Your personnel is dictated by who walks through those doors every August. You don’t know who it’s going to be. You have to be able to adapt and change because the talent level is going to change from year-to-year.

“Right now, this is who we are. It gives us the best chance to compete and be successful.”

His players are starting to get a good feel for the system and are starting to enjoy running it.

“Last year, we had great players, some of the most explosive players in the league, in the state,” running back Justin Carter said. “This year is so different. We’re slowing it down. But we’re getting it, we’re liking it.

“It’s crazy how Buonocore changes his whole offense around and it’s still working.”

• • • •

Jacob Commander is just a freshman, yet he’s already New London’s starting tailback, kicker, and punter.

Asked if there was anything Commander couldn’t do, Maranda said, “Nothing yet. He runs, punts, kicks, and he can throw the ball a little bit, too. He runs the ball hard. He’s a true running back and he has great vision. He always keeps his legs moving. He’s always picking up that extra yard-or-two after contact. He’s going to be a great football player. He is a great football player now, but he’s going to be an even better player in the future.”

• • • •

The Fitch sideline was noticably calmer Friday night in times of duress, an improvement from earlier in the season. “I think it’s a sign of us coming together,” receiver Luke Letellier said. “Arguing and bickering just doesn’t help anything.” ... Letellier, who had nearly 100 receiving yards, including a 43-yard touchdown reception, said he’s drawing some college attention “from NESCAC schools.” ... Fitch quarterback Rob Duncan handed the ball to several different runners: Cevon Riley, Jonathan Johnston, Parker Gibson and Cleon McLish, who are contributing to an improving running game. ... Fitch is calling itself the “Bird Gang.” ... Guilford kicker Luke Cianciolo executed a successful onside kick, but missed a 32-yard field goal. Fitch kicker Colton St. Louis kicked a 27-yard field goal for Fitch’s final points.

• • • •

Xavier athletic director Tony Jaskot, who talked about the difficulty of his school finding games (the Falcons played at Saint John's in Shrewsbury, Mass. earlier this year) said he expects NFA to return the home hame in Middletown next year. ... Xavier and NFA combined for 24 points and 10 turnovers. ... NFA coach Jemal Davis said it’ll be two weeks before his team is healthy. NFA plays Windham, Ledyard and Bacon in the next three weeks.

• • • •

Buonocore on Griswold: "They have one of the top contingent of skill athletes in the league, from the quarterback out to the perimeter players. It doesn’t get much better than (Jordan Baker and Brandon Yeaton). Those guys are very, very good. When you look at them on film, they could have easily been 3-1. I’m not so sure how they lost that game against Windham. When you watch that film, you’re like ‘Wow, how did they not win that game?’”

• • • •

Thanks to Mike DiMauro and Steve Nalbandian for the notes on Fitch, Ledyard and Norwich Free Academy.

• • • •

Thanks for reading. More online on Tuesday.

Vaya con dios.