Weekend review, games of Week SEVEN, polls, notables, STORYTIME — it's an abbreviated Polecat
Okay, this post will be a bit brief (by Polecat standards) due to time constraints. That and the Polecat HQ staff took a field trip to Boston on Monday to indulge in the aural goodness of KYLESA.
We promise to make it up to you later in the week, provided the staff didn't take too many elbows to their respective skulls at the concert.
Thank you. We love you all.
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A few games of note in Week 6:
Connor Finn completed 17 of 23 passes for 192 yards and two touchdowns and ran for another as the Red Raiders (6-0) won the Naugatuck Valley League Iron Division. Up next — a home game against No. 9 Ansonia this Friday.
The easy part — John McElroy threw four touchdowns for the Eagles, two of which went to Dan Hoffman. The daffier part — Greenwich opened the season with a win over Trinity Catholic (42-38). Trinity beat Trumbull during Week 4. Two weeks later, Trumbull beat Greenwich. CIRCLE OF STRIFE. The playoff part — Trumbull (3-1) boosted its Class LL chances by winning one of the tougher games on its schedule. It will likely take its second loss in Week 9 (at New Canaan). The only other game the Eagles could lose is on Thanksgrabbing at St. Joseph. A 7-2 finish might be enough to get them to states.
The unbeaten Wreckers were without starting tailback Ethan Burger (hamstring) and quarterback Andrew Speed suffered a concussion early in the third quarter. They still rolled to a win over the Black Knights (3-2).
The Bobcats were backed up at their own 4-yard line with one minute, 24 seconds left in the game and no timeouts in last Thursday's game. They managed to race down the field with Conor Dunn catching an 8-yard touchdown from Connor Kapisak on the game's final play to give them their first win of the season.
Austin Caffrey ran for 131 yards and a touchdown as Killingly beat the Eastern Connecticut Conference's last unbeaten team.
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Bless you, Week 7, for having a menagerie of swell games in store for us:
Avon (3-2, 2-0 CCC D-III East) at Berlin (5-0, 2-0), Friday, 6:30 p.m.
The winner all but clinches a division title.
Bacon Academy (4-1, 3-0 ECC Large) at Fitch (4-1, 3-0), 6:30 p.m.
Who said before the regular season that the Bobcats and the Falcons would be the last two unbeaten teams in the Large? Don’t lie — you didn’t think this would happen.
No. 9 Ansonia (5-0) at Torrington (6-0), Friday, 7 p.m.
A few significant moments from 1986: the Mets beat the Red Sox in the World Series, three of the greatest albums of all-time were released (“Peace Sells... but Who's Buying?” by Megadeth, “Master of Puppets” by Metallica, and “Reign in Blood” by Slayer), and Torrington beat Ansonia (19-12). It was the last time Torrington beat the Chargers, who’ve beaten it 25 straight times. There was talk during the preseason that the Red Raiders had the NVL’s most veteran and talented team. Will they be able to prove it when it steps on the field?
Ellington (5-0) at Granby (5-0), Friday, 7 p.m.
Two of the three remaining unbeaten teams in the Pequot (Morgan is the other). The Huskies and Bears are also among just five perfect teams in Class S, too.
Fairfield Prep (3-2) at No. 6 North Haven (5-0), Friday, 7 p.m.
The Jesuits have used a power run attack to win three in a row after losing quarterback Patrick Conte to a shoulder injury in Week 1. North Haven loves to play NEANDERBALL, too, and the Jesuits are one of the toughest games left on its schedule.
Notre Dame-West Haven (3-2, 1-0 SCC D-I East) at Hand (5-0, 2-0), Friday, 7 p.m.
Hand has feasted on five losing teams. Now it gets to the death portion of its schedule — the Green Knights this week, at Shelton (Nov. 6) and at West Haven (Nov. 13). ND is right now that starting QB Christian Lupoli has returned from injury, but another loss would all but end its bid for a repeat visit to the Class L playoffs.
No. 1 Southington (5-0, 2-0 CCC D-I West) at Conard (4-1, 1-0), Friday, 7 p.m.
Conard went toe-to-toe with Glastonbury in Week 2 before losing on an untimed down that ended the game (50-49). Glastonbury led Southington after three quarters in Week 4 before the latter tore away for a 61-41 win. We’re curious, then, to see how Conard does against the toughest team on its schedule.
Capital/Achievement First (4-0, 4-0 CSC) at Abbott Tech/Immaculate (4-1, 3-1), Saturday, 1 p.m.
Abbott/Immaculate gave Harding a run in a Week 5 loss (40-35). Harding is one of two unbeaten teams in the Constitution State Conference. Defending Class S-Small champ Cap/Achievement is the other.
No. 2 New Canaan (4-0, 3-0 FCIAC D-I) at Greenwich (2-2, 2-1), Saturday, 3 p.m.
New Canaan head coach Lou Marinelli and son John, the Cardinals' first-year head coach, match wits for the first time. Rams-Cardinals is also one of the FCIAC's top football rivalries.
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Gaze lovingly upon The Day of New London Top 10 state coaches' poll: 1. Southington (11 first-place votes); 2. Darien (4-0, two first-place votes); 3. New Canaan; 4. Shelton (5-0); 5. Windsor; 6. North Haven; 7. Newtown; 8. Ansonia (5-0); 9. Glastonbury; and, 10. Wethersfield.
There's a more wordy version of said coaches' poll below.
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The GameTimeCT.com/New Haven Register/21st Century Monolith Top 10 media poll: 1. Southington (28 first-place votes); 2. New Canaan; 3. Darien (one first-place vote); 4. Windsor (one first-place vote); 5. Shelton; 6. North Haven; 7. Newtown; 8. Glastonbury; 9. Ansonia; and, 10. Wethersfield.
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Ned Freeman's cold, calculating computer rankings for CalPreps and MaxPreps: 1. Darien; 2. Shelton; 3. Southington; 4. Newtown; 5. North Haven; 6. New Canaan; 7. Notre Dame-West Haven; 8. Staples (5-0); 9. West Haven (3-2); and, 10. Brookfield (4-1).
Glastonbury was 13th, Windsor 17th, and Ansonia 24th.
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Dig the ballot Polecat HQ filed for the media poll:
1. Southington
2. New Canaan
3. Darien
4. Glastonbury
5. North Haven
6. Shelton
7. Windsor
8. Newtown
9. Notre Dame-West Haven
10. Staples: The Stamford win won us over.
11. West Haven
12. Conard
13. Wethersfield
14. Brookfield
15. Ansonia
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STORYTIME~!
Norwich Bulletin: Area notebook.
Jon Chik, Hearst Inc.: 10 Takeaways from Week 6.
Ray Curren, GameTimeCT.com/New Haven Register/21st Century Monolith: Inside the SCC.
Mike DiMauro Addazio, TEAM DAY~!: Adults take notice: ECC is of the kids, for the kids and by the kids.
Pooch Diggity Dogg, GameTimeCT.com/New Haven Register/21st Century Monolith: Area notebook.
John Nash, The Hour: Area notebook.
Derek Turner, GameTimeCT.com/New Haven Register/21st Century Monolith: CCC notebook.
TEAM DAY~!: Monday's ECC-entric Polecat (featuring new New London OC Casey Cochran).
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NOTABLES~!
Michael Collins completed 14 of 21 passes for 163 yards and six touchdowns as No. 3 New Canaan smashed Danbury last Saturday, 48-7. Kyle Smith added four catches for 67 yards and four TDs, Michael Cognetta ran nine times for 121 yards and a touchdown and caught three passes for 31 yards and a score. ... 11 yards on 28 carries game in last Friday’s 49-8 win. Keyion Dixon ran 13 times for 156 yards and two touchdowns for the No. 8 Tomahawks (4-1) and Jake Madnick scored on a 19-yard run and an 85-yard kickoff return.
Ninth-ranked Ansonia had three players run for over 100 yards in last Friday’s 47-0 clubbing of Holy Cross. Tajik Bagley ran seven times for 154 yards and three touchdowns for the Chargers (5-0) and Markell Dobbs had 11 carries for 129 yards and a score. Tyler Bailey added two carries for 102 yards and a touchdown, scored on a 46-yard punt return, and caught a 29-yard touchdown. Ansonia ran 21 first-half plays for 379 yards and 41 points.
Foran’s Brett Huber had seven catches for 163 yards and three touchdowns, scored on a 2-yard run, and threw a 34-yard touchdown in last Friday’s 53-28 win over New London. …Haddam-Killingworth’s Alex Segaline completed 12-of-20 passes for 405 yards and five touchdowns, kicked four extra points and ran for a two-point conversion in last Friday’s 42-7 beating of Stafford/East Windsor/Somers. Nathan DeRita had three catches — all for touchdowns — and 158 yards. We remember when the Cougars ran GOD’S OFFENSE. Not anymore. (Sighs).
Kameron Janice ran 12 times for 153 yards and two touchdowns, caught three passes for 48 yards, and ran for a two-point conversion to help Woodstock Academy to its first win on Friday night, 35-14. … Platt Tech scored 14 fourth-quarter points to rally for its first win of the season, 22-13, over unbeaten Cheney Tech. Daniel Homer ran 24 times for 141 yards and two touchdowns. … Grant Nieves ran 16 times for 136 yards and two touchdowns, scored on a 50-yard punt return, and caught two passes for 85 yards as Rocky Hill beat Rockville last Friday, 35-0, to win the battle of rocks. Ricky Montalvo added 15 tackles, including a sack.
Conard scored 31 in the third quarter of last Friday’s 59-38 win over Manchester. Nate Richam ran 22 times for 340 yards and six touchdowns for Conard, which trailed 24-21 at halftime. Edison Galan threw touchdown pases of 34, 15, 45 and 27 yards for Manchester. ... Bristol Central’s Noah Cruz, the official quarterback of The Lonesome Polecat, ran 13 times for 147 yards and five touchdowns and threw for 47 yards in last Friday’s 47-14 rout of Bulkeley/Hartford Magnet/Weaver. … Five different players ran for touchdowns as Fairfield Prep powered past Amity last Friday, 42-7. Dillon Mirabile (7, 24), Nick Franchuk (61), Connor Bercik (3) and Dane Audet (1) all ran for Jesuits’ touchdowns. Note that Prep has won three straight since starting quarterback Patrick Conte was knocked out of a Week 1 loss with a collarbone injury.
Christian Trefz ran for 243 yards and three touchdowns and caught a 5-yard touchdown as St. Joseph ran down Wilton last Friday, 35-0. Cory Babineau completed 16 of 32 passes for 210 yards passing and two touchdowns and Brian Hamer added three sacks. … Branford scored on its first three possessions and had three interceptions for its first win of the season last Friday, 25-12 over Sheehan. Zach DeGoursey ran THIRTY SEVEN TIMES for 161 yards and two touchdowns for the Hornets and Luke DiStasio caught two touchdowns from Griffin Lynch.
Bobby Melms ran four times for 63 yards and three touchdowns as Seymour christened its new turf field with a 49-6 romp over Wilby. … Derby’s Ricky Bartone ran 27 times for 233 yards and four touchdowns and added seven tackles as Derby downed Kennedy last Friday, 33-7.
Xavier had five interceptions and a fumble recover in Saturday’s 18-6 win over Norwich Free Academy. ... Chuck Kostek completed 15 of 20 passes for 265 yards and four touchdowns in last Saturday’s 34-0 win over Coginchaug. Mateo Zumpano caught nine passes for 202 yards and three touchdowns, and Gabe Eriksen ran for 107 yards and a touchdown and scored on a 24-yard catch. ... St. Paul’s Ben Pryor scored on runs of 19, 10, 46 and 25 yards in last Saturday’s 36-6 win over Crosby.
Hyde’s Jhavion Haddock scored on a 70-yard punt return and a 90-yard run in last Saturday’s 29-0 win over Windsor Locks/Suffield/East Granby. … Clayton Stewart kicked a 27-yard field goal with 10 seconds left to give Northwest Catholic a 16-14 win over Plainville. Stewart also scored on a 34-yard fumble return. ... Tyrese Wright ran 26 times for 205 yards and three touchdowns and threw two touchdowns as Bullard-Havens beat Platt Tech on Saturday, 34-22.
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Thanks for reading. More soon.
THE DAY OF NEW LONDON TOP 10 STATE COACHE' POLL
First-place votes in parentheses, record through Saturday, points tabulated on a 30-28-26-24-22-20-18-16-14-12-11-10-9-8-7 basis and last week’s ranking
1. Southington (11) 5-0 382 1
KNOW THIS: Conard lost on an untimed down to Glastonbury in Week 2 (50-49). Glastonbury led Southington after three quarters before losing in Week 4 (61-41). Let’s see what happens when Conard plays the Blue Knights (other than a 216 combined points).
NEXT: at Conard, Friday, 7 p.m.
2. Darien (2) 4-0 352 2
KNOW THIS: Hudson Hamill scored on a 53-yard fumble return and catches of 7 and 14 yards as No. 2 Darien bounced McMahon last Friday, 42-10.
NEXT: vs. Danbury, Saturday, 1:30 p.m.
3. New Canaan 4-0 346 3
KNOW THIS: There’s Marinelli vs. Marinelli action this Saturday. New Canaan, coached by Lou Marinelli, travels to play rival Greenwich, coached by Marinelli’s son (and former offensive coordinator), John.
NEXT: at Greenwich, Saturday, 3 p.m.
4. Shelton 5-0 284 4
KNOW THIS: The last time the Gaels played Xavier, they lost the CIAC Class LL-Small final last December in brutal fashion. Reckon they’ll all be foaming at the mouth by the time they step on Palmer Field this Friday.
NEXT: at Xavier, Friday, 7 p.m.
5. Windsor 5-0 264 5
KNOW THIS: Only 10 more days before Windsor vs. Wethersfield. Praise the maker.
NEXT: vs. E.O. Smith, Oct 23, 7 p.m.
6. North Haven 5-0 244 6
KNOW THIS: North Haven loves playing its bully-ball brand of single wing offense. They might find that difficult this Friday against the big and physical Jesuits.
NEXT: vs. Fairfield Prep, Friday, 7 p.m.
7. Newtown 5-0 241 7
KNOW THIS: Ben Mason is a junior fullback-linebacker for the Nighthawks. He’s also a FBS-recruit and a large dude (6-foot-3, 240 pounds). He leads the team in tackles (45). He also has a team-leading five touchdown catches. We’re not sure what’s worse — being tackled by him, or trying to tackle him.
NEXT: at Barlow, Friday, 7 p.m.
8. Ansonia 5-0 193 9
KNOW THIS: The Chargers head to Torrington this week for the unofficial Naugatuck Valley League championship game.
NEXT: at Torrington, Friday, 7 p.m.
9. Glastonbury 4-1 192 8
KNOW THIS: The Tomahawks’ final four opponents are a combined 5-15 — Manchester (1-4), Hartford Public (1-4), New Britain (3-2), and Simsbury (0-5). Pencil them in for an eighth straight Class LL playoff berth.
NEXT: vs. Manchester, Friday, 6:30 p.m.
10. Wethersfield 5-0 128 10
KNOW THIS: Richard Williams scored five FIRST-QUARTER touchdowns in the Eagles’ 42-24 rout of RHAM last Saturday. Williams ran for touchdowns of 65, 20 and 30 yards, caught a 12-yard touchdown, and scored on a 15-yard interception return. Oh, yeah — Wethersfield scored all of its points that quarter.
NEXT: vs. Platt, Friday, 7 p.m.
Also receiving votes: Staples (5-0), 124 points; Hand (5-0), 115; Brookfield (4-1), 109; Torrington (6-0), 81; Berlin (5-0), 71; Notre Dame-W.H. (3-2), 59; New Fairfield (4-1), 27; West Haven (3-2), 22; Conard (4-1), 19; Capital Prep/Achievement First (4-0), 16; Tie, Middletown (4-1) and St. Joseph (3-1), 11; Harding (5-0), 10; Tie, Ellington (5-0) and Bloomfield (4-1), 7.
The following coaches voted: Rich Anganaro, Brookfield; Tom Brockett, Ansonia, Jim Buonocore, Ledyard; Craig Bruno, Naugatuck; Scott Daniels, Glastonbury; Joe DellaVecchia, St. Joseph; Steve Filippone, Hand; Rob Fleeting, Windsor; Steve George, Newtown; Tanner Grove, Montville; Tim King, Valley Regional/Old Lyme; Sean Marinan, Xavier; Marce Petroccio, Staples.
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