Local playoff focus (life is real good if you're a Whaler), Week 10 review, notables, etc.
Howdy,
New London unofficially qualified for the CIAC football playoffs this weekend.
Now the Whalers have the chance to earn themselves a home quarterfinal. … and ruin the season for two rivals.
Life is real fun right now if you're a Whaler.
The top eight teams in each of the four classes qualify for states. The participants aren't official until they're approved by the CIAC's football committee the day after the end of the regular season.
New London (8-0) heads over the border to play Waterford (6-2) on Friday (6:30 p.m.) in a game that will have repercussions for both Class L and M.
The Whalers end their regular season at home on Thanksgiving against Norwich Free Academy (7-2) in the 141st year of the nation's oldest rivalry. The Wildcats are seventh in Class LL and will clinch a berth by winning. A loss would nearly end its chances.
One win gets the Whalers a home quarterfinal. Two wins guarantee they will be ranked no worse than second.
Waterford must win it final two games in order to ensure itself a place in Class M. A loss to either New London, or at home to winless East Lyme on Thanksgiving, means the Lancers have to rely on others to get them to states.
It’s a helpless feeling.
One loss means that Waterford cannot under any circumstances catch No. 3 Hillhouse (8-1), No. 4 Killingly (8-1), No. 5 Bunnell (7-2), or No. 6 Wolcott (7-2).
Waterford will have 980 points if it beats East Lyme. It has four bonuses, (10 points a team receives for every victory by an opponent they beat).
Friday night, the Lancers need East Lyme to beat Law (4-4) and Windham (6-2) to take down Woodstock Academy (4-4).
Waterford will be huge fans of Fitch (3-6) when it plays Ledyard (3-6) on Thanksgiving. It will also put aside its issues with Stonington (5-4) when it plays Westerly (5-5).
Say the Lancers earn all of their bonuses. Well, they’re far from out of the woods. They still need three of the following four to lose — No. 7 New Fairfield (7-2), No. 9 Berlin (7-2), No. 10 Gilbert/Northwestern Regional (7-2) and No. 11 Foran (5-3).
Can it happen? New Fairfield is the only one that looks like a safe bet to win.
Berlin hosts New Britain (5-4) on Friday in perhaps the state’s most venomous rivalry.
New Fairfield hosts New Milford (5-4) on Thanksgiving. New Milford hasn’t beaten a winning team and dropped three of its last four.
Gilbert/NW hosts to Waterbury Career (4-5) on Thanksgiving. G/N hasn’t beaten a winning team and enjoyed a bad schedule (its opponents are a combined 28-48). Career has beaten just one winning team, Sacred Heart/Kaynor Tech, in the highest scoring game in state history (72-70).
That leaves Foran. It hosts Creed/Career/Whitney Tech (3-6) on Thursday, then Law on Thanksgiving. It's the favorite in both games, although Law is its Milford rival, so one never knows.
New Fairfield is the only team from that foursome that could lose and still outpoint the Lancers.
In the interest of being thorough, there is a minuscule mathematical scenario in which No. 12 Abbott Tech/Immaculate outpoints Waterford. There’s also a chance that the Trumps will receive the Clinton's annual Christmas letter, too (well, Chelsea and Ivanka will).
Not to be forgotten, Valley Regional/Old Lyme (8-1) is one of two teams to unofficially qualify in Class M. Top-ranked St. Joseph (8-1) is the other.
VR/OL earns a home quarterfinal by defeating beat Haddam-Killingworth (4-5) on Nov. 22.
Now, after all of that, back to NFA. It makes Class LL with a win.
The Wildcats cannot get a home quarterfinal because top-ranked Darien (9-0), No. 2 West Haven (9-0), No. 3 Southington (9-0), and No. 4 Newtown (9-0) have all clinched those spots.
What are NFA’s odds if it loses to the Whalers? Difficult. Not impossible, but difficult.
It will be the upset of the season if No. 6 Ridgefield (7-2) loses at Danbury (2-7) on Nov. 23. Ditto if No. 5 Shelton (7-2) loses at home to Derby (2-7).
Let’s work on the assumption that there are only two spots available, shall we?
Eight teams can pass NFA with a win. Six of those teams are involved in games that range anywhere from brutal to slight favorite.
No. 8 Fairfield Prep (6-3) plays at No. 2 West Haven on Thanksgiving.
No. 9 Cheshire (6-3) goes to No. 3 Southington on Thanksgiving, too.
No. 10 Hall (6-3) hosts Conard (5-4) on Saturday in the annual West Hartford fray.
No. 11 Greenwich (6-3) hosts reeling Staples (5-4) on Thanksgiving. Staples has lost four of its last five.
No. 12 Glastonbury (6-3) ended its regular season last Friday (yes, it finished on Nov 11). It has four bonuses and has a slight chance to outpoint the Wildcats provided they earn no more than two of their seven bonuses.
No. 13 Wilbur Cross (5-3), ugh-hhhh. It hosts to No. 14 Xavier (5-4) on Thursday. That’s the same Xavier that leveled NFA and Prep and gave Shelton hell.
Xavier needs all five of its bonuses and the Wildcats to earn no more than two to pass NFA.
Finally, No. 15 Trumbull (6-3) hosts St. Joseph, which is playing for a Class M home quarterfinal.
• • • •
NFA has slowly embraced offensive diversity.
The Wildcats’ offense showed how they've changed on their first drive during Saturday’s game at Stamford. R.J. Darby and Jawaun Johnson split a few carries, and Shea McManaway sprinkled in two screen passes.
NFA didn’t score on that drive, but it scored on many others in its 39-14 rout.
“(Defenses) are not coming in playing a traditional NFA team of the last couple of years where you know they’re going to run the ball so, ‘we’re going to put eight, nine, maybe 10 guys in the box,’” Wildcats head coach Jemal Davis said. “We’re able to do that with the screen passes because while they have to respect R.J. or Jawaun in the backfield, we can get outside with our quick screen game, our tunnel screen game. Those things do give us more dimensions and make us a better football team.”
Darby did the majority of the scoring as he ran for five touchdowns. NFA used Johnson's sprinter speed on an end-around for a big gain. He also caught a 20-yard touchdown from McManaway.
“It’s gotten really diverse,” McManaway said about the offense. “We have great blocking on the outside, so if we can get the ball to those speedy, fast guys, it helps us win the game.”
• • • •
A few games of note in Week 10:
No. 3 West Haven 59, No. 7 Shelton 52
OH MY GOD OH MY GOD OH MY GOD OH MY GOD THIS GAME
The Gaels trailed by two touchdowns with 3 minutes, 27 seconds left. David Wells threw a 79-yard touchdown to receiving hellion Anthony Schiavo. Shelton's Dan Barone recovered a Westies fumble. Ronnie Rich tied it with a 1-yard run with 45 seconds left.
The Westies' Chris Chance wasn't about to let this sucker go into overtime and thus broke loose for a 40-yard run. Anthony Godfrey lept over his offensive line for a 1-yard TD with 8.7 remaining.
Two touchdowns in 36.3 seconds.
Godfrey had his most Godfrey game this season as he ran 30 times for 345 yards and four touchdowns for West Haven (9-0), which clinched a playoff berth.
Wells ran 12 times for 139 yards and three TDs for the Gaels (7-2) and completed 12 of 22 passes for 190 yards and two TDs.
This was the equivalent of a Class LL play-in game as Greenwich was eighth in the rankings before the game and the Tigers ninth. Ridgefield scored the final 14 points for the win. Drew Fowler completed 19 of 32 passes for 277 yards and a touchdown and added seven carries for 43 yards and a score. Kevin Iobbi ran for two touchdowns for the Cardinals.
The Terriers used GOD’S OFFENSE to rush for 236 yards and four TDs. Grant Nieves ran 20 times for 82 yards and two scores for Rocky Hill. Its defense held the Redcoats to 67 yards on 28 carries.
Tylon Papallo ran for 132 yards and three touchdowns, ran for three conversions and caught another as the Panthers stayed in contention for the Class L playoffs and damaged Hall's in LL. EJ Dudley also ran for 133 yards and two touchdowns for Platt (7-2), which will play town-rival Maloney (7-2) in a winner-gets-the-playoff berth game at the annual Stoddard Bowl on Thanksgrabbing.
Jack Raba threw a game-tying 3-yard touchdown to Michael Jeffery with 16 seconds to play, and Ethan Bronson’s extra point gave the Rams a win they desperately needed to stay in the LL race. Elijah Allston ran 21 times for 163 yards and two touchdowns and Raba completed 21 of 42 passes for 174 yards and a touchdown.
Fairfield Prep 43, North Haven 42
Patrick Conte escaped a sack and threw to Chris Duffy, who made a swank catch to keep the ball hitting the ground for an 11-yard touchdown with 25 seconds left. Conte threw for the conversion. Doug Harrison had 20 carries for 187 yards and two touchdowns.
North Haven (3-6), man. Connecticut's finest exporters of GOD'S FATHER'S OFFENSE have also been the state's leader in kick-to-the-nethers losses, and this was its most painful of them all. It has also scored more points (292) than its allowed (256) thanks to blowout wins over Hamden (54-0) and Hand (33-7).
Mark Montano ran 15 times for 130 yards and three touchdowns and threw for 45 yards.
Brian Harner both forced and recovered a Westhill fumble with over two minutes left in the Cadets' red zone and they held on for the win. The Vikings had a first-and-goal from the St. Joseph 9 in the closing minutes. They took a 5-yard loss on first down, threw an incompletion on second, followed by the fumble. Jaden Shirden ran for 94 yards and a touchdown and had 100 yards receiving and scored for the Cadets. Corey Babineau also completed 13 of 26 passes for 197 yards and two touchdowns.
• • • •
NOTABLES~!
Finlay Collins caught a 22-yard touchdown and ran for a 69-yard touchdown as top-ranked Darien took down Staples on Friday, 27-0. ... Graham Braden ran 15 times for 177 yards and three touchdowns as No. 2 New Canaan did what it wanted against winless Fairfield Ludlowe, 48-6. The Rams ran 36 times for 371 yards and five touchdowns while throwing 21 times for 135 yards and two scores. Always jarring to see a game in which New Canaan runs it more than it throws it given the latter is in its DNA. Oh, yeah — its defense gave up just four first downs.
Vance Upham scored on runs of 24, 12 and 3 yards and a 16-yard fumble return as Southington blanked winless Bulkeley/HMTCA/Weaver on Friday, 42-0. ... Jahkari Grant threw for 340 yards and three touchdowns as No. 5 Windsor vanquished Northwest Catholic on Friday, 41-7. Timothy Gardner had 10 catches for 104 yards and two touchdowns for the WARRIORS and scored on an 18-yard run. Jason Pinnock added nine catches for 150 yards for Windsor and Tah-Jee Holley rushed for 135 yards.
Hunter Cobb ran eight times for 175 yards and three touchdowns as No. 6 Newtown crushed Brookfield on Friday, 49-0. ... Senior Jake Butler had just nine carries for 47 yards in five games this year for No. 7 Ansonia. He got his chance to shine on Friday as he ran for five touchdowns in a 68-14 mangling of Holy Cross. Butler scored on runs of 24, 1, 34, 1 and 31 yards. Justin Lopez also ran for touchdowns of 8 and 56 yards and caught a 20-yard touchdown from Bryson Cafaro. Albert Hooks (63, 76) ran for the Chargers’ last two touchdowns.
Tyler Rudolph had 10 catches for 148 yards and two touchdowns and ran five times for 31 yards and three scores as Sacred Heart/Kaynor Tech dispatched Crosby on Thursday, 57-38. Trey Dawson completed 26 of 42 passes for 310 yards and three touchdowns for the Hearts (5-4). MINUTIA — Sacred/Kaynor has scored 335 points and allowed 358. We cannot remember another points for-against spilt that’s as absurd as the Hearts. They're the living embodiment of Texas Tech football. We dearly hope they win on Thanksgrabbing, 65-42, to finish with 400 points for AND against.
Zach Davis ran 37 times for 370 yards and four touchdowns in Sheehan’s 32-6 win over Creed/Career/Whitney Tech on Friday. Davis has rushed for 3,045 yards in nine games this season. He joined Tim Washington of Bristol Central and Ansonia’s Montrell Dobbs, Arkeel Newsome, and Alex Thomas as the only players in state history to run for over 3,000 yards in a season.
Stonington ran the ball a sensual 53 times for 274 yards an five touchdowns in Friday’s 42-6 win over Griswold. GOD’S OFFENSE. Hayden Parrilla ran for 62 yards and three scores for the Bears (5-4). Speaking of sexy running games, Spencer Lockwood had 24 carries for THREE HUNDRED AND 10 YARDS and five touchdowns as Killingly ran over Fitch on Friday, 51-10. ... Nate Barbosa ran 17 times for 170 yards and three touchdowns as Windham held off East Lyme on Friday, 24-22.
Tom Smith ran 17 times for 280 yards and two touchdowns as Woodland thumped Kennedy on Friday, 40-20, its first win of the season. Isaac Negron had 22 carries for 153 yards and two scores for the Hawks (1-8). ... Conard's Declan Flaherty threw a school single-game record six touchdown passes in Friday's wacky 48-41 win over Newington in double overtime. ... Matthew Brehon ran 11 times for 234 yards with a touchdown as Hillhouse clobbbered Lyman Hall on Friday, 54-22.
Tom Abel ran 19 times for 255 yards and three touchdowns as Derby beat Watertown, 41-12. Alijah Ellis scored on an 80-yard kickoff return for the Red Raiders (2-7), who have suffered through a rough season. They were maimed the previous week by Division Street-rival Ansonia, 60-8, so good for them getting to enjoy a ‘W.’ Especially since they have to visit a very angry (and motivated) Shelton on Thanksgrabbing.
Mike Plasky completed 15 of 20 passes for 291 yards and four touchdowns as Naugatuck stifled Waterbury Career on Friday, 55-18. Jalen Datil had 10 catches for 214 yards and two touchdowns for the Greyhounds, who scored 30 in the game's first 10 minutes. ... ZHYAIRE Fernandes scored on runs of 2 and 13 yards and a 31-yard pass from Michael Castelot as Bunnell took that long trip up to New Milford and dominated, 35-0. ... Julice Sams ran for 160 yards and three touchdowns in Glastonbury’s 26-21 win over Simsbury on Friday. Sims scored the game-winning on a 24-yard run with 2:18 left.
Alejandro Ortiz had touchdown catches of 30, 15 and 38 yards and returned an interception 65 yards for another score as Maloney dunked East Catholic last Friday, 45-20. Larue Graham completed 12 of 21 passes for 220 yards and four touchdowns for the Spartans (7-2) and Freddie Hidalgo added 20 carries for 202 yards and two scores. ... Cody Ouellette ran for five touchdowns as Tolland crushed Rockville last Friday, 51-6. Ouellette scored on runs of 18, 2, 30, 17, and 3 yards.
Khyon Gillespie ran for 148 yards and four touchdowns and added a 45-yard touchdown from Kyle Zajack as Capital Prep/Achievement First laid waste to Vinal Tech/East Hampton/Goodwin Tech on Friday, 50-0. Gillespie scored on runs of 40, 27, 15 and 14 yards. .... Tyshaun James ran for 134 yards and three touchdowns and completed 8 of 18 passes for 80 yards as Middletown overwhelmed winless Bristol Eastern on Friday, 35-7. ... J'quan A. Hall had 14 carries for 168 yards and three touchdowns as Prince Tech bounced Thames River on Friday, 50-8.
Kristian Sapp ran for 153 yards and two touchdowns as Cromwell/Portland ran over Granby on Friday, 49-14. Jon Siena ran for 106 yards and three touchdowns for C/P. ... Alex Segaline ran for 130 yards and three touchdowns and caught a 31-yard touchdown from Jon Grasso as Haddam-Killingworth beat Nonnewaug on Friday, 36-20.
R.J. Darby needed just 10 carries to accumulate 78 yards and five touchdowns in Norwich Free Academy's 39-14 win over Stamford on Saturday. ... Matt Sapere completed all five of his passes for 123 yards and three touchdowns as Valley Regional/Old Lyme squished Canton on Saturday, 41-0. Ian Humphreys scored on a 23-yard catch and 36-yard interception. ... Ray Iorio had 24 carries for 223 yards and a touchdown as Wolcott rallied in the second half to beat Torrington on Saturday, 28-19.
We here at Polecat Worldwide are fanatical advocates for the Manly Discipline of the Running Arts, thus we must commend Old Saybrook/Westbrook for its efforts during Saturday’s 35-7 win over Gilbert/Northwestern Regional. The Rams ran 52 times (squeals excitedly) for 311 yards and five touchdowns. Chase Cook ran 31 times for 209 yards and three touchdowns (and kicked five extra points). Vince Dyer added 13 carries for 66 yards and two scores
Dejean Canada had 14 tackles, a sack and an interception as SMSA/University/Classical clocked Windsor Locks/Suffield/East Granby on Saturday, 44-14. Devon Hill was 16 of 25 for 272 yards and four touchdowns for SMSA.. ... Tyrese Wright ran for three touchdowns, threw for another and passed for a two-point conversion as Bullard-Havens beat Abbott Tech/Immaculate on Saturday, 36-29.
Jonmichael Bivona scored on runs of 2, 27 and 85 yards as Trinity Catholic downed Bridgeport Central on Saturday 48-8. ... Connor Dunn ran 18 times for 101 yards and a touchdown and had five catches for 85 yards and two scores as South Windsor topped Farmington on Saturday, 33-14. Connor Kapisak completed 11 of 17 passes for 192 yards and four touchdowns for South Windsor.
• • • •
Thanks for reading. More Monday night or Tuesday morning.
Vaya con dios....
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