YOUR semifinal previews. Unedited. Unadept. UNPOSSIBLE.
This ain't going to be much of an intro. There's not much more we can write as we provided MOAR than enough information in the previews. That and you don't need to be reading more words.
We encourage YOU to follow all the fun live tonight and via The Twit at #cthsfb.
Mike DiMauro (@BCgenius) and some dude (@MetalNED) will twit LIVE from the gorgeous Ledyard-New Fairfield demolition derby.
• • • •
CLASS LL
No. 1 SHELTON vs. No. 8 NEWTOWN
WHERE: Shelton.
RECORDS: Shelton 11-0; Newtown 10-1.
SHELTON’S BEST: Sr. LB Ron Hubbard (124 tackles, 4 sacks); Sr. TE-DB Alex Kirk (20 catches, 437 yards, 6 TDs; 64 tackles); Sr. RB-DB Keith Prior (73 tackles, 4 INTs; 4 rushing TDs); Sr. WR-DB Kevin Robinson (34 catches, 751 yards, 10 TDs; 2 INTs); Sr. QB Zach Tuskowski (67.9 completion percentage, 195 ypg, 27 TDs); Sr. OL Matt Zelanin (6-4, 295).
NEWTOWN’S BEST: Sr. WR-SS Ethan Carpenter (27 catches, 529 yards, 4 TDs); Jr. RB-S Hunter Cobb (596 yards rushing, 10 TDs); Jr. QB Justin Dunn (142.8 ypg, 17 TDs); Jr. MLB Thomas Long (63 tackles); Jr. LB-RB Ben Mason (96 tackles, 4 sacks; 6 rushing TDs); Sr. G-DT Christian Morlock (48 tackles, 5 sacks); Sr. RB-FS Jared Pearson (647 rushing yards, 12 TDs).
WHEN SHELTON HAS THE BALL: How many more players can the Gaels’ lose before it costs them wins? Hell, how many more players do the Gaels have LEFT to lose? Leading rusher Peter Hoff broke his leg during Tuesday’s 40-20 win over West Haven (he didn’t realize he broke his leg until he woke up Wednesday and found his leg swollen from blood — true story). That’s the third starter Shelton has lost in over six weeks (receiver-defensive backs Chris Kanios and Sam Kirk are the others). It’s now Prior to all those rushing yards. The line battle should be something else as Zelanin leads a veteran line again Mason, Morlock and a defnse that’s allowed just 9.3 ppg.
WHEN NEWTOWN HAS THE BALL: The Nighthawks offense is a statistical curiosity. They have modest passing numbers and no one with gaudy rushing or receiving numbers, yet Newtown has scored 52 touchdowns. It ran 52 times for 236 yards and three scores in last Tuesday’s 21-20 win over Glastonbury (Pearson led the way with 16 carries for 120 yards and a score). Hubbard (16 tackles, 1 sack) and Kirk (14 tackles) made themselves well known to West Haven last week.
CALPREPS SEZ: Shelton 28-20.
WINNER: Shelton.
No. 2 DARIEN vs. No. 3 SOUTHINGTON — CAN YOU DIG IT~!
WHERE: Boyle Stadium, Stamford.
RECORDS: Darien 10-0; Southington 11-0.
WATCH: CPTVSports; NFHS Network.
DARIEN'S BEST: Sr. DE Mark Evanchick (71 tackles, 21.5 sacks); Sr. QB Timmy Graham (70.2 completion percentage, 269.6 ypg, 34 TDs); Sr. RB Shelby Grant (596 yards rushing, 11 TDs; 32 catches, 426 yards, 5 TDs); Hudson Hamill (32 catches, 515 yards, 7 TDs); Sr. WR Colin Minicus (52 catches, 829 yards, 11 TDs); Jr. OT-DT Andrew Stueber (6-6, 305); Sr. DB Bobby Trifone (3 INTs); Sr. DB Christian Trifone.
SOUTHINGTON'S BEST: Sr. RB-WR-DB Alessio Diana (1,138 yards rushing, 12 TDs; 21 catches, 422 yards, 3 TDs); Sr. OT Trevor Godston (6-4, 235); Sr. OT Dylan Kulas (5-9, 220); Sr. LB Logan LaRosa (111 tackles, 4 sacks); Sr. DL; John Meade (58 tackles, 7 sacks); So. LB-RB Ryan Montalvo (102 tackles, 3 sacks); Sr. WR Austin Morin (56 catches, 1,213 yards, 22 TDs); Sr. QB Jasen Rose (62.1 completion percentage, 2,417 yards, 39 TDs; 13 rushing TDs); Jr. RB-LB Vance Upham (895 yards rushing, 7 TDs; 75 tackles, 7.5 sacks).
WHEN DARIEN HAS THE BALL: The Blue Wave’s offensive world revolves around the pass and has overall averaged a state-best 298.8 yards with the fourth-most attempts (308). Graham operates a passing game that’s at a different level than almost anyone in Connecticut and the likes Southington hasn’t faced this season. The Blue Knights’ D has been leaky at times (their high-tempo offense puts the defense on the field a lot, too). Their pass rush is going to have to be on point. Darien isn’t really built to run and sets it up with the pass. It has averaged 21.6 attempts at 5.2 yards a carry.
WHEN SOUTHINGTON HAS THE BALL: The most important match-up may be Godston vs. Evanchick on the left side given how the latter has been a historically dominant pass rusher (state career record 64.5 sacks). Reckon left guard Mark Threlkeld (6-0, 225) will help Godston out with double teams on Evanchick. Rose gets the most attention and for good reason given his production (he’s averaged 11.9 yards per attempt). The Blue Knights’ have run far more than they’ve passed (359-214), though with Diana and Upham. We’re no Guy Chamberlin, but Southington's best weapon might be its running game coupled with one of the state's fastest tempos. Darien hasn’t faced a good running game since perhaps Greenwich in late September (the Blue Wave faced Staples twice when the former was missing lead back Ethan Burger). The Blue Knights could use the run as rapid body blows to Darien's front. That's of easier said than done against the Blue Wave's DT Cord Fox (5-9, 212), DE Quinlin Fay, Evanchick and Stueber. The Trifone’s looming in the defensive backfield are another reason for the Blue Knights to consider running more than throwing.
CALPREPS SEZ: Darien 42-28.
WINNER: Darien.
• • • •
CLASS L
No. 1 NORTH HAVEN vs. No. 5 WETHERSFIELD
WHERE: North Haven.
RECORDS: North Haven 11-0; Wethersfield 10-1
NORTH HAVEN'S BEST: Sr. OL-DL Patrick Casey (6-1, 275); Jr. DB-RB Tom Dodge; Sr. TE-DL Jeremy Imperati (14 catches, 410 yards, 7 TDs; 46 tackles); Sr. DL-OL Mike Masnato; Sr. LB-RB Dave Mikos (141 tackles); Sr. QB-DB Mike Montano (1,539 yards rushing, 24 TDs; 444 yards passing, 6 TDs; 44 tackles, 4 INTs); Sr. DL-RB Conner Suraci (937 yards rushing,13 TDs; 59 tackles).
WETHERSFIELD'S BEST: Jr. OLB-RB Jamal Bagley; Sr. CB-WR Jae-quan Brown; Sr. QB-S Devin Smith (63.9 completion percentage, 2,032 yards, 26 TDs; 715 yards rushing, 6 TDs); Sr. RB-LB Richard Williams (994 yards rushing, 9 TDs; 41 catches, 571 yards, 7 TDs); Sr. CB-WR Elijah Young.
WHEN NORTH HAVEN HAS THE BALL: America's favorite operators of GOD'S FATHER'S OFFENSE have mashed-and-bashed their way to a state-high 50.45 points a game. Fellow Class L semifinalist Notre Dame off West Haven gave the Indians their closets game in its 42-21 loss. North Haven showed off its physical and lethal single wing running game during its 48-13 beating of Middletown in last Tuesday’s quarterfinals. It had 10 players combine to run 41 times for 597 yards and six touchdowns. Crazy thing was that Montano, the Indians’ leading rusher, only touched the ball seven times and still ran for 133 and 2 TDs (Suraci had a game-high 11 caries for 243 yards and 3 TDs). The Eagles’ defense should be a great test for North Haven as they are a bunch of roughnecks. Just look what they did to Torrington in the quarterfinals. The Red Raiders averaged 44.1 points during the regular season and had only been held under 34 points once by Class S semifinalist Ansonia (54-14). Wethersfield held them to 191 yards and had three interceptions in a 33-6 romp. Williams is a defensive marvel as he had 151 tackles, 11 sacks and three INTs during the regular season.
WHEN WETHERSFIELD HAS THE BALL: Smith and Williams have carried the offense and have to take on more responsiblity beacuse leading receiver Kyle Klavins is out of the playoffs with a broken ankle. The Eagles’ like to run with Smith and Williams their leading rushers, but neither has been overworked (Williams has 104 carries, Smith 86). Smith is a dangerous athlete who can improvise when the play goes to hell. Williams ran 15 times for 135 yards and a score and caught six passes for 79 yards and two TDs in a 33-6 romp over Torrington in the quarterfinals.
CALPREPS SEZ: North Haven 41-19.
WINNER: North Haven.
No. 6 NEW CANAAN vs. No. 7 NOTRE DAME-WEST HAVEN VARIENT
WHERE: New Canaan.
RECORDS: New Canaan 9-1; Notre Dame-W.H. 9-2.
WHERE: New Canaan.
WATCH: NFHS Network; GoGreenKnights.com.
NEW CANAAN'S BEST: Sr. Matt Cognetta (553 yards rushing, 4 TDs; 27 catches, 433 yards, 5 TDs); Sr. OLB Michael Cognetta (55 tackles); Sr. QB Michael Collins (2,787 yards passing, 48 TDs); Sr. DL Matthew Hall (6-5, 230); Sr. OL Lucas Niang (6-7, 298); Sr. WR Kyle Smith (38 catches, 699 yards, 11 TDs); Sr. OLB David Strupp (48 tackles, 4 sacks); Sr. WR-K Peter Swindell (28 catches, 570 yards, 11 TDs); Sr. MLB Thomas Williams (65 tackles).
NOTRE DAME'S BEST: Jr. MLB-WR Tristan Andrzejewski (88 tackles); Sr. RB-CB Prince Brooks (433 yards rushing, 5 TDs); OL James Campbell; Sr. LB Matt Jambor (92 tackles, 4 sacks); Jr. ILB-WR Frank Longley (67 tackles); Sr. QB Christian Lupoli (1,499 yards passing, 13 TDs; 616 yards rushing, 10 TDs); Sr. WR-CB Wyatt Miller (30 catches, 355 yards, 4 TDs); Jr. WR-CB Nico Ragaini (54 catches, 749 yards, 4 TDs; 317 yards rushing, 6 TDs; 40 tackles, 4 INTs); Sr. RB-OLB Kobe Wiggins (321 yards, 5 TDs; 5 sacks).
WHEN NEW CANAAN HAS THE BALL: Here's where New Canaan's strength meets the Green Knights' strength. The Rams passing game has long ranked in the state's top 1-percent with Collins perhaps their best quarterback during that run. Smith is a tough matchup has he's built like a tight end (6-2, 220). New Canaan uses the pass to set up the run and averaged 119.5 yards and 10 TDs. We wish ND Good luck getting to Collins as the Rams offensive line is huge with Niang being wooed by FBS schools. That written, the Green Knights' defense has been terrific playing against one of the state's most brutal regular season schedules (North Haven, Shelton, West Haven, Hand, and Fairfield Prep). Most of the 118 points they've allowed were to North Haven. They only allowed Shelton 10 points in a 17-7 loss in which the Green Knight's offense was dead in the water with Lupoli out injured (Kanios' interceptoin accounted for the Gaels' other points). ND has lots of speed with its most experienced players at linebacker and the backfield. It made life miserable for Taisun Phommachanh and Harding in the quarterfinals. Phommachanh completed 61.2-percent of his passes for an average of 228 yards with 30 TDs to 3 INTs during the regular season. He only managed to complete 5 of 14 passes for 38 yards in a 34-0 loss.
WHEN NOTRE DAME HAS THE BALL: The Green Knights are in their second season with the spread and its suited them well given they have quickness but not a lot of bulk. What’s weird is that they’ve run double the times that they’ve thrown (444 to 208) but don’t have a 1,000-yard rusher. ND has used democracy to average 210.5 yards with Lupoli (116), Josh Witkowsky (87), Brooks (81) and Wiggins (60) sharing carries. Lupoli is the only Green Knight to rush for over 100 yards in a game (he’s done it three times). Watch carefully how the Rams guard Ragaini because he’s been a nightmare the last two years. New Canaan is coming off easily its best defensive effort of the season in its 21-6 quarterfinal win at Windsor, snapping the latter’s 22-game winning streak. The Rams held running back Bennie Fulse, one of the best in the state, to 50 yards on 11 carries and no touchdowns and had three interceptions.
CALPREPS SEZ: New Canaan 28-24.
WINNER: New Canaan.
• • • •
CLASS M
NO. 1 KILLINGLY vs. NO. 5 BROOKFIELD
WHERE: Killingly.
RECORDS: Killingly 10-1; Brookfield 9-2.
KILLINGLY'S BEST: Sr. FB-LB Austin Caffrey (1,821 yards, 23 TDs; 93 tackles, 3 sacks); Jr. QB Kyle Derosier (717 yards passing, 13 TDs; Sr. OT-DE Josh Angel-James (61 tackles, 8.5 sacks); Jr. TB-LB Spencer Lockwood (1,097 yards, 10 TDs); Jr. WR-CB Vasileios Politis (17 catches, 343 yards, 7 TDs; 5 INTs).
BROOKFIELD'S BEST: Sr. C-DT Nick Acquanita (6-1, 297); Sr. WINGBACK-OLB-SS Bobby Drysdale (1,224 yards, 12 TDs; 75 tackles, 4 sacks, 3 INTs); Sr. Matt Melby (64 tackles); Sr. FB-MLB Austin Reich (512 yards, 10 TDs; 76 tackles); Sr. QB-DB John Roscigno (795 yards, 9 TDs); Sr. OT-DT Nick Seis (88 tackles, 12 sacks).
WHEN KILLINGLY HAS THE BALL: Oh, these Class M semis are goingto be ravishing as all four teams want to use copious amounts of sexy power running to mangle the opposing defense. Killingly has used the I as its base formation with a fullback (Caffrey), a position that parastic spread offense has all but rendered extinct. Having Angel-James run at you with Caffrey behind him kind of sucks. The Bobcats have a large senior class that won a Pop Warner Midget national championship and were built to win a state championship this season. They couldn’t wait and went and took home the M-Large title last December, thus their used to the playoffs and have a defense that held fellow M semifinalist New Fairfield to 13 points in Week 1. Drysdale and Reich’s stats are deceiving as both were hobbled by injuries early in the season with the latter missing games. Seis can get to the QB seemingly at will.
WHEN BROOKFIELD HAS THE BALL: It’s been the state’s best artist of GOD’S OFFENSE. The Bobcats like to push people around. Drysdale is a menace coming around the edge on those superpower sweeps (he was a no-brainer pick to the state coaches’ all-state overall team, i.e. the one with the best-of-the-best, regardless of division). Focus too much on him and Reich will run up the middle and over your chest. There will be some mighty collisions tonight between them and Caffrey and Angel-James.
CALPREPS SEZ: Brookfield 27-26.
WINNER: Brookfield.
No. 2 NEW FAIRFIELD vs. No. 3 LEDYARD
WHERE: New Fairfield.
RECORDS: New Fairfield 10-1; Ledyard 10-1.
LISTEN: WJFF 94.9-FM.
NEW FAIRFIELD'S BEST: Sr. OT-DL Kyle Brennan (6-1, 250); Sr. OG-DT Russell Howard (6-2, 250; 6 sacks); Sr. RB-LB James Lewis; Sr. LB Brian McGonnigle (87 tackles); Jr. OT-DT Reed Oettinger (6-2, 250); Sr. FB-LB A.J. Pearl (77 tackles, 2.5 sacks); Sr. TE-DB Greg Radovic (325 yards receiving, 5 TDs); Sr. TE-DB Rudy Sarro (19 catches, 318 yards, 3 TDs; 4 INTs); Sr. RB-MLB Zach Tripodi (270 carries, 1,884 yards, 25 TDs); QB Mike Zanca (1,044 yards passing, 11 TDs).
LEDYARD'S BEST: Sr. FB-DB Justin Carter (387 yards rushing, 10 TDs; 4 TD catches); Sr. NG-FB Tannor Daggett (5-10, 285); Jr. WINGBACK-LB Manny Deshields-Sanabria (1,619 yards, 18 TDs); Sr. QB Ty Ebdon (500 yards passing, 8 TDs; 7 rushing TDs); Sr. C Shawn Hundley (6-2, 300); Sr. TE-LB Daric Johnson; Sr. TE-LB Collin Krauth; Sr. OG-DE Mike Leandri (6-0, 235); Sr. OT-DE Matt Nova (6-1, 225); Sr. WINGBACK-DB-K-P Luke Saccone (500 yards rushing, 6 TDs.
WHEN NEW FAIRFIELD HAS THE BALL: The Rebels junked their spread offense for the power I formation after their 27-13 Week 1 loss to Brookfield. They haven't lost since. Coincidence? NO. Tripodi's status is the biggest question about tonight's game as he left before halftime of Tuesday's 24-0 quarterfinal win over St. Joseph with a shoulder injury. Head coach Anthony Fata said the senior is "50-50", but added that Tripodi has told him he'd play. Lewis took over for him against St. Joseph and ran 24 times for 126 yards and a score. It's on Daggett, Leandri and Nova to take out as many Rebel linemen as they can to free up the Colonels' linebackers.
WHEN LEDYARD HAS THE BALL: The Colonels dumped their spread after a Week 3 loss to Bacon Aacdemy (25-22, Sept. 26) and saw the light as they let GOD'S OFFENSE into their hearts. The good Lord helps those who help themselves. Its maximized the speed and strength of Deshields-Sanabria and Carter while using Saccone, a converted receiver and one of Ledyard's fastest players, on counters and jet sweeps. It also suits the bulk and strength of the Colonels' line, and they'll augment it with Daggott at fullback when they need MORE SMASHING POWER. The Rebels ain't 97-pound weaklings themselves and shut down Newtown on Nov. 13, 13-7, ending the latter's 40-game South-West Conference winning streak. McGonnigle and Pearl will be in and around the Ledyard o-line tonight.
CALPREPS SEZ: New Fairfield 22-19.
WINNER: New Fairfield.
• • • •
CLASS S
No. 1 ANSONIA vs. No. 4 TRINITY CATHOLIC
WHERE: Jarvis Field, Ansonia.
RECORDS: Ansonia 11-0; Trinity 9-1.
WATCH/LISTEN: WELI 960-AM; NFHS Network.
ANSONIA'S BEST: Jr. QB-K-P Bryson Cafaro (883 yards passing, 11 TDs); Sr. RB-DB Tajik Bagley (1,643 yards, 27 TDs); Sr. WR-DB Tyler Bailey (17 rushing TDs, 5 TD catches), Sr. TE-DL Angel Falero (6-3, 215); Jr. RB-LB Malcolm Martin; Sr. OL-LB Keith Zdep (6-0, 185).
TRINITY CATHOLIC'S BEST: Jr. RB-WR-SS Jonmichael Bivona (1,247 yards rushing, 14 TDs; 3 INTs); Sr. OG-DE DL Will Dorvilier (5-11, 230); Jr. OT-NG Sean Eilertsen (6-3 290); Jr. LB Nick Granata (59 tackles); Sr. QB Anthony Lombardi (1,453 yards passing, 18 TDs; 5 rushing TDs); So. LB-RB Nick Melia (66 tackles, 4 sacks); Sr. WR-FS Izaiah Sanders (32 catches, 694 yards, 10 TDs; 3 INTs); Sr. TE-OLB Johnny Somers (25 catches, 596 yards, 7 TDs); Jr. OT-DE Timmy Val (6-2, 265).
WHEN ANSONIA HAS THE BALL: Bagley and Bailey. Bailey and Bagley. Rinse-and-repeat. Bagley was the NVL Player of the Year and will make all-state again this season. Bailey is the reason why teams list "athlete" as a position nowadays as he will beat defenses several different ways. Trinity will be sick of them by the end of the night. Ansonia will have Cafaro use play action to keep defenses from going berserk defending the run. It’s not often that the Chargers don’t have superior size up front, but that’s been the case this season. Cats like Zdep have used technique and toughness to compensate for a lack of brawn. Very curious how they’ll do against the Trinity as the latter has size, but can the Crusaders' handle the speed of Bagley and Bailey?
WHEN TRINITY CATHOLIC HAS THE BALL: Trinity believes in the power of the run and have welcomed the addition of Stamford High transfer Bivona to help the cause. Now can Trinity’s offensive line use their size advantage to overpower the Chargers and free up Bivona. The Crusaders have the better passing game of the two teams and could be a difference in the result. Lombardi has thrown 18 touchdowns on just 140 attempts. Sanders (6-2, 200) and Somers (6-3, 185) are two large targets and will make for a fun battle between them and d-backs Bagley and Bailey. Ansonia loves itself a good blitz, too.
CALPREPS SEZ: Ansonia 31-27.
WINNER: Ansonia (were most jittery about this pick).
No. 2 BLOOMFIELD vs. No. 6 SEYMOUR
WHERE: Bloomfield.
RECORDS: Bloomfield 11-0; Seymour 10-1.
BLOOMFIELD'S BEST: Sr. WR-DB Jose Crespo (24 catches, 494 yards, 8 TDs); Sr. WR-DB Isaiah Colebrook (21 catches, 422 yards, 4 TDs); Jr. LB-WR Dillon Harris (138 tackles, 6.5 sacks); Sr. QB Rayshawn Phillips (67.9 completion percentage, 2,439 yards passing, 29 TDs; 556 yards rushing, 8 TDs); Sr. RB-LB Andrell Pinnock (1,134 yards rushing, 13 TDs); Sr. OL-DL Kahari Scarlett (109 tackles, 16.5 sacks); Jr. WR-DB Russell Thompson-Bishop (35 catches, 606 yards, 9 TDs).
SEYMOUR'S BEST: Sr. DB-WR Jake Bleau (32 catches, 771 yards, 4 TDs); Sr. WR-DB Mike Burns (30 catches, 715 yards, 9 TDs); Sr. OL-DL C.J. Falcioni (75 tackles, 9 sacks); Jr. QB-LB Jaylen Kelley (64.5 completion rate, 2,949 yards, 22 TDs; 1,275 yards rushing, 22 TDs); So. RB-LB Bobby Melms (698 yards, 14 TDs; 217 yards receiving, 5 TDs; 72 tackles); Jr. LB-OL Charlie Ritchel (102 tackles); Sr. DL-OL Tyler Sirowich (89 tackles).
WHEN BLOOMFIELD HAS THE BALL: Phillips quarterbacked Capital Prep/Achievement First to the Class S-Small title last season and he’s trying to help the WARHAWKS get their first since 2003. He’s the fulcrum of the offense and ran 18 times for 132 yards and a TD and completed 4 of 7 passes for 110 yards and 2 TDs in a 28-20 quarterfinal win over East Catholic. Crespo (20.6 yards), Colebrook (20.1) and Thompson-Bishop (17.3) sure get a lot of yardage per catch (Thompson-Bishop also had top six finishes in the 100 and 200 meters at last spring’s Class S outdoor track and field championships). Pinnock is built to hurt people (6-0, 205) and averages 8.2 yards a carry. Bloomfield is probably the best combination of size and athleticism Seymour has seen all year. East Catholic coach Steve Calande told the Hartford Courant after last Tuesday’s quarterfinal loss to the Warhawks, “I think they've got four guys faster than my fastest and four or five guys bigger than my biggest. I mean, they're loaded.” Falcioni is one tough dude, and he, Ritchel, Sirowich and the rest of the Wildcats’ defense are going to need to be as good as they’ve been all fall.
WHEN SEYMOUR HAS THE BALL: Seymour had its chances to score against Ansonia but kept flubbing the dub in a 35-14 loss on Oct.1 (the Chargers outscored it 21-0 in the second half). The Wildcats’ offense has raised hell since then and averaged 52.3 points over their last seven games. Kelly is so, so dangerous, more so as a runner. He ran 33 times for 187 yards and four TDs in his team’s 56-28 quarterfinal win over Granby. Melms did damage that night, too (15 carries, 133 yards, 3 TDs). Seymour is going to have to execute to get their yards against the larger Warhawks. Bloomfield’s defense is by no means invincible. It lost its season opener to Berlin (23-14) before the former was forced to forfeit nine wins. Rocky Hill (26-19) and East Catholic (38-32, 28-20) gave it fits, too. Note that both teams relied heavily on the run.
CALPREPS SEZ: Bloomfield 35-31.
WINNER: Seymour. Yes, after all that, we're picking the Wildcats. And, yes, we picked Bloomfield to play Ansonia for the title before the playoffs. We believe we erred. We’ve flipped due to a combination of the Warhawks’ struggle with East Catholic and Seymour's PATH OF RAGE since the Ansonia loss.
CALPREPS.COM LAST WEEK: 15-1. That includes picking New Canaan to beat Windsor, 38-22. The computer model wasn't close on the score, but nearly nailed the Rams' margin of victory (they won by 15 points, 21-6). It erred on picking Granby to beat Seymour, 31-30. The Wildcats won, 56-28.
POLECAT WORLDWIDE: 14-2 (Newtown and New Fairfield PROVED US WRONG).
• • • •
Ned Freeman’s computer rankings for CalPreps.com and MaxPreps.com updated through Tuesday’s games: 1. Darien; 2 Shelton; 3. North Haven; 4. New Canaan; 5. Notre Dame-W.H.; 6. New Fairfield; 7. Newtown; 8. Southington; 9. West Haven (7-4), and, 10. Windsor (10-1).
That’s five SCC teams. Even computer models love that league.
West Haven is helped by a schedule against teams with a combined record of 71-42. That’s the kind of mark you expect to see against an 0-10 team, not a winning program. It lost twice to Shelton (48-27, and 40-20), Notre Dame-W.H. (40-18), and Hand (35-21). The computer rates its schedule the toughest.
Windsor lost to New Canaan in Tuesday’s quarterfinals (21-6).
The computer ranked Ansonia No. 12. It’s seventh in The Day coaches’ poll.
No. 8 Glastonbury is rated 22nd by the computer, too.
No. 9 Wethersfield is rated 17th.
Class S semifinalist Bloomfield is the lowest rated playoff team remaining (26th).
• • • •
Thanks for reading. More soon.
Vaya con dios....
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