New London a win away from states
Howdy,
New London, you're one win away from the state playoffs.
A combination of the Whalers' 52-6 rout of Wilbur Cross on Friday and losses by Harding and Naugatuck over the weekend have them on the cusp of unofficially qualifying for the CIAC Class L playoffs.
The top eight teams in each of the four divisions qualify. The seeding isn't official until its approved by the CIAC football committee at the end of the regular season.
New London is second in the Class L rankings behind three-time defending champion New Canaan. It plays at Ledyard (3-5) on Friday.
The Whalers have 940 points. A win over the Colonels would give them 130 points (100 points for a win, 30 points for Ledyard's wins). They'd also earn 10 guaranteed points for beating Ledyard and Fitch, which play on Thanksgiving, giving them 1,080 points
Only eight teams could top New London's 1,100 points should it beat Ledyard. Two of those teams, No. 7 Platt (6-2) and No. 8 Maloney (6-2), play on Thanksgiving. The loser would finish with less than 1,080 points, which would clear the way for the Whalers.
Platt and Maloney have challenging games this Friday, too. Platt plays Hall (6-2), while Maloney faces East Catholic (5-3).
New London finishes the season at Waterford (5-2, Nov. 18) and at home against Class LL hopeful Norwich Free Academy (5-2) on Thanksgiving in the nation’s oldest rivalry (it began in 1875).
A ninth win would earn the Whalers a home quarterfinal. New Canaan (8-0), which has unofficially clinched, and third-ranked Windsor (8-0) are the only other unbeaten teams.
Middletown (7-1) is fourth, but plays host to Windsor on Thanksgiving eve.
Every team after Middletown has at least two losses, which is why New London is in such great shape.
Here’s a look at the other classes involving local teams:
Class LL: NFA continues to win while the rest of the division knocks one another around. It's ninth in the rankings after maiming Bacon Academy on Friday, 55-7.
The Wildcats should qualify for states if it wins out at Stamford (3-5, Saturday) and New London because other contenders will continue to pick one another off. For example, No. 8 Ridgefield plays host to No. 7 Greenwich this Friday in the equivalent of a Class LL elimination game. Both teams are 6-2.
No. 11 Fairfield Prep helped scramble the division over the weekend by stunning unbeaten Shelton, 38-15. The loss dropped Shelton (7-1) to fifth, and it plays host to No. 4 West Haven (8-0) this Friday.
West Haven plays host to Fairfield Prep on Thanksgiving.
No. 6 Hall (6-2) plays at Platt on Friday and finishes at home against rival Conard (4-4, Nov. 19).
There's a chance that a 7-3 team could qualify. No. 10 Xavier (5-3) kept itself afloat by smashing North Haven on Friday, 42-10. Xavier, one might rememember, opened the season with a 36-0 win over NFA. It's accumulated more playoff points than the average five-win team thanks to playing a schedule that would scare most SEC West teams. It must, however, win out against Notre Dame-West Haven (5-3, Friday) and at Wilbur Cross (4-3, Nov. 17).
Prep plays at North Haven on Friday and would keep its hopes alive with a win.
No. 12 Cheshire (5-3) was hurt by its 27-21 loss to Notre Dame of West Haven last Friday. It must win out against Hand (1-7, Friday), and at No. 1 Southington (8-0, Thanksgiving).
CLASS M: Valley Regional/Old Lyme (7-1) leads the division by tiebreaker over St. Joseph (7-1).
VR/OLs final two games are against winless Canton (Saturday) and home against Haddam-Killingworth (3-4) on Nov. 22. So, yes, it's in great shape to to qualify. Odds are it wouldn't be the top seed if both it and St. Joseph won out as the latter would earn more points beating Class LL teams with better records (a team earns an extra 20 points for beating any team two divisions than it).
Hillhouse, Killingly and Berlin, ranked third through fifth respectively are the only other 7-1 teams.
No. 10 Waterford (5-2) kept itself in the race by beating Stonington on Friday, 26-7. It plays at Plainfield (5-3) on Friday and finishes at home against New London (Nov. 18) and winless East Lyme (Thanksgiving). It's conceivable that the Lancers could qualify at 7-3, but it's very risky.
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Juan Roman is a defensive guy. It’s where he shined at linebacker when he played at New London in the eighties and was a co-captain of the 1983 CIAC M-II championship. It’s what he coached as a long-time assistant before taking over as head coach this season.
Roman, then, is a tough mark when it comes to defense. And he’s amended his opinion about his team’s defense as the season has progressed.
“A few weeks ago, I said we might not have a superstar on defense,” Roman said after Friday’s win. “I probably misspoke.”
Roman laughed and added, “We probably have a couple of kids who can play defense pretty damn well and can play for anybody. But overall, our defense is playing well as a team.”
New London ranked 10th in The Day Top 10 state coaches’ poll, held Wilbur Cross to 136 total yards with six turnovers. Monty Johnson scored on a 52-yard interception return, and Star Stokes had two interceptions and a fumble recovery. The Whalers scored after two of Stokes' defensive plays.
“The thing about Star is that he’s turned around his game,” Roman said. “Last year, he was a receiver who didn’t want to be physical; who didn’t want to get in the mix. This year, he’s understanding (that he must). He’s a great blocker.
“You know, that’s one of the things that people don’t notice when you see our guys running the ball, that he’s a great blocker. He’s catching the ball and he’s making plays for us. Star has come a long way, and he’s a good student.”
Stokes was scheduled to visit Westfield State on Saturday.
Will Clark and Elijah Parker both recovered fumbles that set up touchdowns for the Whalers.
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Fitch got a lot of contributions from its underclassmen in Friday’s 49-27 win over Montville, led by sophomores Tyler Nelli and Hamear Stephens. The duo were involved in all of the Falcons’ points, as Stephens ran for two touchdowns and passed for one and Nelli ran for four touchdowns and kicked seven extra points.
Junior Zach Letellier and sophomore Pedro Mojica recovered fumbles, junior Dean Faulise recovered an onsides kick and sophomore Sal Aiello intercepted a pass. Seven plays after Faulise’s second-quarter play, Fitch scored to tie the game at 14-14. Nelli’s 15-yard touchdown run in the third quarter came one play after Letellier’s recovery and upped Fitch’s lead to 35-21.
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Montville senior Bradley Johnson turned in a big game, catching six passes for 137 yards and three touchdowns in the Indians’ 49-27 loss to Fitch on Friday night. His first TD catch came on a perfect throw from Luke Hall in the first quarter, two plays after Johnson had picked off a Tyler Nelli pass.
His second one came in the final minute of the first half. Fitch’s Hamear Stephens tipped away Hall’s pass, but Johnson was there to gather it in. And in the final minute of the game he made a diving catch for Montville’s final score.
Montville senior Jack Ware had the only defensive touchdown of the game, returning a fumble 18 yards for a first-quarter touchdown which gave Montville a 14-0 lead. And senior lineman Steven Bollinger recovered a fumble that led to a touchdown that broke a 14-14 tie and gave Montville a 21-14 lead.
Finally, Montville junior Nick Tibbetts made linemen everywhere proud when he chased down Stephens from behind on a 61-yard run in the fourth quarter.
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There was some weird, head-shaking stuff during New London's win. For instance, its defense was flagged for a rarely seen "cadence" penalty for trying to mess with the Governors' offense before the snap. It's a personal foul, yet the officials only marked off 13 yards.
Wilbur Cross (4-3) was penalized eight times in the first half and finished with an Oakland Raiders-esque 15 penalties for 109 yards. That was 27 yards less than its total yards on offense. Among those penalties was a personal foul when Governors' head coach John Acquivita stormed the field to argue with the officials after his team tried a shovel pass that was dropped, but ruled a fumble and recovered by Elijah Parker of the Whalers at the Wilbur Cross 22-yard line. It set up Jacob Commander's 9-yard touchdown to tie the game at 6 in the first quarter.
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Some statewide games of note from Week 9:
No. 2 New Canaan 44, Trumbull 14
Trumbull was in the Class LL race. Was.
Frosh Drew Pyne completed 16 of 21 passes for 261 yards and three touchdowns and scored on a 1-yard run as the Rams led 37-0. New Canaan also caused all this havoc even after Ryan O’Connell, its Swiss Army Knife, left in the first quarter with a sprained ankle.
[naviga:u]Fairfield Prep 38, No. 3 Shelton 15[/naviga:u]
Prep's season had been spiraling out of control having lost three of its last four games, so this result was quite the WHAT. Doug Harrison ran 32 times for 334 yards and five touchdowns for the Jesuits (5-3).
Note that Shelton beat Notre Dame-West Haven (33-21), Xavier (38-35) and Cheshire (34-20). Prep lost to ND-W.H. (34-7), Cheshire (10-0), and Xavier (31-7).
Life is never dull in the SCC Tier I bloodpit.
Notre Dame-West Haven 27, Cheshire 21
Speaking of the SCC Tier I bloodpit. ... Nico Ragaini caught a 34-yard touchdown and ran for a 19-yard touchdown as the Green Knights held off the Rams in a game between teams who are better than their records show (5-3).
Cheshire had a chance to go ahead late in the game, but Mike Millea was tackled at ND’s 1-yard line on a fourth-and-goal at the 3-yard line.
Cory Babineau threw touchdowns of 16 and 5 yards to Jared Mallozzi and ran for a 7-yard touchdown as the Cadets beat the Wreckers for the first time since 2000. Be wary of St. Joseph (7-1), fellow Class M contenders. The Wreckers, meanwhile, have gone from being considered a FCIAC and Class LL contender in the preseason to 5-3 and their playoff hopes all but toast.
Ray Iorio ran 31 times for 267 yards and two touchdowns and ran for a conversion to keep the Eagles alive in the Class M playoff race. Mike Polzella completed 9 of 17 passes for 128 yards and two touchdowns and ran eight times for 85 yards and two scores for Wolcott (6-2). The Greyhounds are 6-2.
[naviga:u]Bristol Central 25, Newington 19[/naviga:u]
Cardiac Central was at it again on Friday night. Isaiah Miller threw a 24-yard touchdown to Jaekwon Spencer with one minute, 4 seconds left in the game to give the Rams the win.
Central scored on the game’s final play to beat E.O. Smith, 20-19, in Week 8 (Oct. 28).
Tyrese Wright threw three touchdowns (two to Mike-Lee Joseph) as the Tigers helped their Class M playoff cause while hurting the Presidents. Wright also ran 25 times for 82 yards for Bullard Havens (7-1). Harding (5-3) went unbeaten last season in its first year in the Constitution State Conference.
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NOTABLES~!
Brian Peters threw two touchdowns and Finlay Collins ran for two more as top-ranked Darien skunked Fairfield Warde on Friday, 50-21. The Blue Wave (8-0) also welcomed back head coach Rob Trifone, who had been suspended four weeks for slapping one of his players in the helmet. ... Anthony Godfrey ran 14 times for 169 yards and three touchdowns and added a 66-yard touchdown catch as No. 3 West Haven beat Hand on Friday, 33-23.
Anthony Plantamuro had four catches for 116 yards and three touchdowns, threw a touchdown, and had an interception as No. 5 Southington routed East Hartford on Friday, 47-21. Will Barmore completed 13 of 17 passes for 240 yards and four touchdowns for the Blue Knights (8-0) and Vance Upham ran 26 times for 228 yards and two scores. ... Boston College-bound Jason Pinnock had seven catches for 150 yards and three touchdowns as No. 6. Windsor triumphed over South Windsor on Friday, 37-0. Jahkari Grant completed 11 of 13 passes for 202 yards with three touchdowns for the Warriors (8-0), which have five shutouts and allowed a state-low 38 points.
Ben Mason scored on a 7-yard run, a 28-yard catch, and a 58-yard interception return as No. 7 Newtown scored on six of its first seven possessions as it drilled Notre Dame of Fairfield on Saturday, 49-7. It was Mason's fifth career interception for a touchdown. Hunter Cobb scored on runs of 49, 35, and 35 yards for the Nighthawks (8-0). ... Markell Dobbs scored on runs of 54, 14 and 45 yards and ran for three conversions as No. 8 Ansonia kicked neighbor Derby up-and-down Division Street on Friday, 60-8. To think this was once among the state’s premiere rivarlies.
Dexter Lawson completed 6 of 14 passes for 170 yards and two touchdowns and ran 12 times for 84 yards and a touchdown as No. 9 Bloomfield beat Northwest Catholic on Saturday, 33-7. Thomas Norman ran 17 times for 171 yards and a touchdown and caught two passes for 61 yards and a TD for the WARHAWKS (8-0) and Kade Buchanan had three sacks. ... Melquann Gomez completed 11 of 22 passes for 170 yards and three touchdowns and scored on a 1-yard run for New London in Friday’s win.
Jhavion Haddock ran for 272 yards and two touchdowns on nine carries (yes) as Creed/Career/Whitney Tech beat East Haven on Friday, 20-17. ... Kristian Sapp ran for 174 yards and a touchdown as Cromwell/Portland vanquished Ellington last Thursday, 34-0. Bryce Karstetter completed 9 of 13 passes for 104 yards and two touchdowns for the Panthers (7-0) and Jon Siena ran seven times for 82 yards and two touchdowns and had five tackles and an interception.
Garrett Burdick had five catches for 94 yards and two touchdowns, had his eighth and ninth interceptions to set the program’s single-season record, and kicked six extra points as Valley Regional/Old Lyme walloped Lewis Mills on Friday, 42-0. Matt Sapere completed 8 of 16 passes for 134 yards and three touchdowns for the WARRIORCATS (7-1). ... Shea McManaway completed 15 of 16 passes for 273 yards and five touchdowns as Norwich Free Academy demolished Bacon Academy on Friday, 55-7. Caleb Parker had five catches for 84 yards and two touchdowns and scored on a 42-yard punt return for the Wildcats (5-2) while Elijah Parker scored on a 40-yard interception return and kicked seven extra points.
Luke Barrs ran 18 times for 73 yards and four touchdowns as Waterford downed Stonington on Friday, 26-7. ... Windham ran 34 times for 372 yards and five touchdowns in its 42-7 rout of Ledyard on Friday. Nate Barbosa ran 17 times for 169 yards and two touchdowns for the Whippets (5-2) and Luis Torres added five carries for 57 yards and three scores.
Spencer Lockwood ran for 199 yards and four touchdowns as Killingly scored on all seven possessions of its 56-6 clobbering of East Lyme on Friday. ... Jaylen Kelley completed 7 of 8 passes for 310 yards and six touchdowns and ran seven times for 47 yards as Seymour tore up St. Paul on Friday, 45-8. Bobby Melms had three catches for 186 yards and three touchdowns and ran 10 times for 114 yards for the Wildcats (6-2).
Drew Fowler completed 13 of 22 passes for 223 yards and five touchdowns and scored on a 1-yard run as Ridgefield squished Westhill on Friday, 55-3. Shane Palmer added three catches for 59 yards and two touchdowns and ran 12 times for 92 yards for the Tigers (6-2), who play host to Greenwich this Friday in the equivalent of a Class LL elimination game. ... Speaking of the Cardinals, Kevin Iobbi ran for 222 yards and three touchdowns as Greenwich downed Norwalk on Friday, 62-34. The Cardinals (6-2) scored 41 in the first half.
Brookfield quarterback Nick Merkle ran for touchdowns of 15 and 25 yards and scored on a 5-yard fumble return at linebacker in Friday’s 30-14 win over New Milford. ... … Matt Hersch threw four touchdowns in Friday’s 48-26 win over Weston. Ryan Shaw caught three of those touchdowns passes for 5, 61 and 8 yards.
Lance DiNatale completed 18 of 21 passes for 293 yards and three touchdowns and scored on an 8-yard run as Foran thumped Branford on Friday, 42-12. Brett Huber caught all of DiNatale’s touchdown passes (22, 54, 8 yards). ... Nate LaJoie completed 20 of 28 passes for 355 yards and four touchdowns and ran for another as Stafford/East Windsor/Somers overcame SMSA/University/Classical on Friday, 42-34. Justin Grant ran 36 times for 206 yards and a touchdown for the Bulldogs (7-1) and Joe Monigillo had seven catches for 125 yards and two scores.
Grant Nieves had four catches for 81 yards and two touchdowns ran for an 8-yard touchdown, and scored on a 65-yard punt return as Rocky Hill overwhelmed RHAM on Friday, 55-0. The Terriers (7-1) led 35-0 after one quarter. GOD'S OFFENSE. ... Tyshaun James threw for 118 yards and two touchdowns and ran seven times for 46 yards and a score as Middletown overpowered E.O. Smith on Friday, 48-6. Justin McMillian scored on catches of 34 and 29 yards and a 53-yard run for the Blue Dragons (7-1). ... Zac Conard threw for 250 yards and four touchdowns as Farmington edged Hartford Public on Friday, 35-28. Laverey Banton ran for 136 yards and three touchdowns for Public.
Mark Henry ran for 159 yards and three touchdowns in Rockville’s 48-26 win over Avon on Friday. Jacob Krupa added 14 tackles for Rockville. ... Joe Mugford scored on catches of 6, 7, and 41 yards and ran for a 38-yard touchdown as Law smashed Lyman Hall on Friday, 50-18, on the night that the latter dedicated its newly renovated facility after former head coach Phil Ottochian. Ouch. Mitchell Smith threw four touchdowns for the Lawmen.
Tylon Papallo scored on catches of 9 and 8 yards, an 80-yard punt return, and caught three two-point conversions as Platt throttled Bristol Eastern on Friday, 52-17. Aurelio Marinelli completed 14 of 22 passes for 162 yards and three touchdowns for Platt (6-2). ... Kennedy forced six turnovers as it mauled Sacred Heart/Kaynor Tech on Friday, 46-8. Marc Anthony Telusma ran nine times for 138 yards and three touchdowns for Kennedy. The Hearts averaged 38.6 points prior through seven games.
Mathew Brehon ran for 170 yards and three touchdowns as Hillhouse smashed Sheehan on Friday, 50-26. Shawn Ogarro added 110 yards and two touchdowns for Hillhouse (7-1). Record-setting Zach Davis missed most of the first half for the Titans after taking a cleat to the lower back. He finished with 171 yards and three touchdowns. ... Dylan Myrie ran for 229 yards and five touchdowns as Torrington trucked Woodland on Friday, 40-15.
Mike Castelot threw for 307 yards and four touchdowns as Bunnell bounced Barlow on Saturday, 35-21. Brett Bogdwicz caught three of Castelot’s touchdown pases for 55, 68, and 65 yards for the Bulldogs (6-2), who, if you haven’t figured out yet, are a Class M threat. ... Nick Granata threw for touchdown passes of 12, 9 and 9 yards as Trinity Catholic beat Stamford on Saturday, 38-13, to win the Paul Kuczo Trophy representing the Stamford city championship.
Mark Zazzaro had 10 catches for 128 yards, caught touchdowns of 30 and 64 yards, and ran for a two-point conversion as East Catholic downed Plainville on Saturday, 34-7. GOD'S OFFENSE. ... Dimitrie Ivey ran 24 times for 131 yards and three touchdowns as Bridgeport Central beat Fairfield Ludlowe on Saturday, 45-22, for its first win of the season. Navaughn Austin added 22 carries for 115 yards and two scores for the Hilltoppers.
Davaughn Luty ran 16 carries for 107 yards and four touchdowns as Griswold beat Woodstock Academy on Saturday, 35-22. Griswold had troubles with penalties as it was flagged 13 times (including six personal fouls) for 157 yards. ... Jared Neal ran 11 times for 176 yards and five touchdowns and completed 8 of 12 passes for 166 yards and a score as Thames River beat Wilcox Tech on Saturday, 56-39. Thames River led 48-7 at halftime.
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Thanks to Day Staffer David Davison Davis for contributing the Fitch and Montville notes.
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Thanks for reading. More Monday evening or Tuesday morning. Well, probably Tuesday. And the evening.
Vaya con dios.
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