Berlin has heart, and BRACKETOLOGY (through Saturday!)
The Berlin football team marched into Wilcox Cemetery two-by-two, two hours before Friday night’s game against New Britain.
The Redcoats would be playing for a Class M playoff berth against their rival, but family came first as they paid their respects to former teammates Tyler Cop and Nick Zuk.
“We went and saw both their gravesites,” Berlin head coach Joe Aresimowicz said. “Not that you can ever make things right when you lose somebody that close to you, but to draw a little inspiration to continue to be out (on the field) and fight like a team and pure heart.”
The Redcoats made their former teammates proud. Senior Jack Hamel ran for a game-ending 4-yard touchdown that gave Berlin a 28-25 overtime win and a trip to the Class M playoffs.
“That was a goal going into the season for Nik,” Hamel said.
Aresimowicz said, “What you saw in those last few plays was pure heart, and I think it showed. These kids are great kids.”
The Redcoats have endured a lot the past two years. Cop, 15, was shot with a pellet gun by a teenage relative and died on July 12, 2015.
Zuk, 17, died from leukemia on June 25 of this year.
If that wasn’t enough, the CIAC ruled days before last season’s New Britain game that Berlin had to forfeit seven games for using four ineligible players. It cost the Redcoats a playoff berth, the school $4,000 ($1,000 for each ineligible player) and head coach John Capodice his job. Capodice had led the program to its only CIAC state title.
Oh, yeah — it was New Britain that had brought up recruiting charges on Berlin.
Then-freshman Giancarlo Tufano kicked a game-winning 22-yard field goal to give the Redcoats a 31-28 win over New Britain last season.
Still, no playoffs and no head coach.
“About a couple of weeks after that, we started working out,” Hamel said. “We knew we had to get right back at it. We didn’t want to miss out again, so we put a lot of hard work into the offseason and it got us into the playoffs.”
Aresimowicz took over as head coach. He’d been a Berlin assistant since 2009 and, oh yeah, is also the Connecticut House Majority Leader.
“The previous coach was with these kids since they were little,” Aresimowicz said. “I think they needed to trust that we could get them ready for big games like this, and I think the first game we were all a little out of sorts and we lost to Bloomfield (36-14, Sept. 9). And then Rocky Hill came in and we made mistakes (and lost, 28-14, Nov. 11).
“All-in-all, we’ve learned to trust them, and I think they’ve learned to trust us.”
Oddly enough, a late field goal attempt was involved in Friday’s game. New Britain had rallied from a 10-point deficit in the fourth quarter and lined up for a field goal with seconds left in regulation.
It was originally a 22-yard field goa until a Hurricanes penalty pushed it back five yards. The kick fell just short and the game went into overtime.
“I actually closed my eyes,” Aresimowicz said. “I said, ‘Let me know when they miss.'
“Hey, whether Nick Zuk or Tyler Cop reached down a hand and made that field goal go a little short, I’ll take it. Yeah. One of the coaches said the football gods are on our side tonight. I said, ‘Nah, we have a couple of angels up there on our side.’”
Berlin held New Britain to a field goal to start overtime.
Hamel scored on second down on the Redcoats' sideline to set off a delirious celebration.
Hamel finished with 18 carries for 127 yards and two touchdowns, completed 5 of 13 passes for 67 yards and a touchdown, and ran for a conversion.
“That’s a play we scored on in the first half,” Aresimowicz said. “Alex Halkias is a talented sophomore, Larry St. Pierre Jr. is a talented freshman, but we figured we were going to ride the seniors. We told them before the game they had to own it.
“It was actually a broken play. It was supposed to go to the right. As he turned and rolled, there was pressure, and he just took a couple of steps and bounced it (left). Then we just said, ‘Please make it to the pylon; please make it to the pylon.
“It was pure athleticism, heart and desire.”
• • • •
The season, as you know, gets crazier as it draws closer to its end.
Saturday, the crazy went full tilt and shook up the CIAC playoff rankings and BRACKETOLOGY.
The fun began when the Stafford/East Windsor/Somers co-op went on the road and beat Old Saybrook/Westbrook, 21-16, contrary to what some fool at Polecat Worldwide predicted.
S/EW/S finished 0-11 in 2014. Somers joined the program last season and they finished 4-6. Now the Bulldogs are a win away from their first playoff appearance. HATS OFF.
Later, Capital Prep/Acheivement First beat Prince Tech, 44-30, to clinch at least a top two seed in Class S.
Finally, Conard wasn't going to the Class LL playoffs, so it made sure Hall didn't, either. The Chieftains won, 24-18, to up their advantage to 34-23-3 in the series against their West Hartford rival.
As always, please remember that no one officially qualifies for states until the CIAC football committee approves the pairings the day after the end of the regular season.
Nineteen teams have unofficially qualified:
CLASS LL: Darien, West Haven, Southington and Newtown.
CLASS L: New Canaan, New London, Windsor and Middletown.
CLASS M: St. Joseph, Valley Regional/Old Lyme, Killingly, Hillhouse, Bunnell, Wolcott and Berlin (only two teams had unofficially qualified as of 8 p.m. Friday night).
CLASS S: Capital Prep/Achievement First, Ansonia, Bloomfield, and Cromwell/Portland.
Four spots are left in Class LL, L and S, and one in Class M.
Now, onto BRACKETOLOGY.
GROUND RULES:
1. We’re going to be wrong about a bunch of these predictions and it’s cool. Surprises are often FUN!
2. Just because we didn’t pick your team to qualify doesn’t mean we hate you. Hell, we DON'T EVEN KNOW YOU, MAN. Should you choose to believe us not picking you to win states is the worst insult you’ve ever suffered, cool. Use it as fuel to win said state title. That written, you dang well better give us an invitation and free meal at your year-end championship banquet for providing you with the proper motivation needed for you to succeed.
3. YOU are encouraged to follow the ROBOABACUS, the magnificent creation of the CIAC’s Matt Fischer, a man savvy enough to hack any server armed with just a paperclip, Ethernet chord, and a Speak-and-Say. It updates the playoff races in real time unlike, you know, fake time.
4. To quote David Letterman, “This is an exhibition, not a competition. Please, no wagering.”
Remember, kids — the top eight teams in each division qualify, a bonus is the 10 points a team earns for every win by any opponent it defeated, and tiebreaker points are the two points that a team receives for every win by an opponent even if it lost to said opponent.
The quarterfinals (Tuesday, Nov. 29) and semifinals (Monday, Dec. 5) will be played at the higher seed. The finals will be played Saturday, Dec. 10 at sites to be determined.
Once again, into the breach:
CLASS LL
IN: Darien (9-0), West Haven (9-0), Southington (9-0), and Newtown (9-0).
All four have clinched home quarterfinals.
Darien will earn the top seed with a win over New Canaan (9-0) on Thanksgrabbing in the GAME OF THE YEAR (of the regular season).
Next.
WIN-AND-IN
SHELTON (7-2)
Bonuses (40): Hamden (2-7) over Notre Dame-W.H. (6-3), Hand (1-8) over Guilford (3-6), Branford (4-5) over East Haven (4-5), and Cheshire (6-3) over Southington (9-0).
Next: vs. Derby (2-7), Thanksgrabbing. It’s beaten the latter 13 straight years.
Shelton will qualify with a loss by two of the four — Ridgefield, Norwich Free Academy, Fairfield Prep, Cheshire and Greenwich.
Xavier, Glastonbury and Trumbull cannot catch Shelton under any circumstances.
The Gaels, then, would prefer a Cheshire loss than getting 10 bonus points.
RIDGEFIELD (7-2)
Next: at Danbury (2-7), Thanksgrabbing Eve.
Bonuses (50): Fairfield Ludlowe (0-9) over Fairfield Warde (2-7), Westhill (3-6) over Stamford (3-6), Bridgeport Central (2-7) over Harding (6-3), Norwalk (3-6) over McMahon (0-8) and Trumbull (6-3) over St. Joseph (8-1).
A loss gives Ridgefield a floor of 960 points with a chance at a 1,010 maximum. Glastonbury, Greenwich, Trumbull, and Xavier cannot catch it under any circumstances.
A loss prevents the Tigers from catching Cheshire (1,040 minimum) if the latter won.
NORWICH FREE ACADEMY (7-2)
Bonuses (50): East Lyme (1-8) over Waterford (6-2), Bacon Academy (2-7) over RHAM (2-7), Stamford (3-6) over Westhill (3-6), Stonington (5-4) over Westerly (5-5) and Staples (5-4) over Greenwich (6-3).
Next: at New London (8-0), Thanksgrabbing. Nation’s oldest football rivalry. And we're continuing to waffle back-and-forth over who we believe will win.
The Wildcats will be seeded between fifth and seventh with a win, depending on how the other contenders fare and bonuses.
NFA has the highest ceiling among these three teams. A win gives it a 1,120 minimum, which is 10 points less than Shelton and Ridgefield’s maximum. Thus NFA will clinch the fifth seed with a win and two bonuses.
The Wildcats are quite vulnerable with a loss. They will have a floor of 930 points with five potential bonuses. A Wildcats loss and Cheshire win gives the Rams a berth.
The Wildcats can lose and still catch Greenwich and Trumbull even if both win, provided they receive enough bonuses.
The Wildcats will beat out Xavier with one bonus.
WIN-AND-COUNT-BONUSES
FAIRFIELD PREP (7-2)
Next: at West Haven (9-0), Thanksgrabbing.
Bonuses (40): Hamden (2-7) over Notre Dame-W.H. (6-3), North Haven (3-6) over Amity (3-6); Hand (1-8) over Guilford (3-6) and Shelton over Derby.
The Jesuits all but qualify with a win. They will have a minimum of 1,060 points and will top Cheshire's max (1,070) by receiving two bonuses. Prep and the Rams share a bonus (Hand), so it would tie Cheshire's max. Should Prep and Cheshire tie, the Rams own the head-to-head tiebreaker (a 10-0 win).
CHESHIRE (6-3)
Next: at Southington (9-0), Thanksgrabbing.
Bonuses (30): Prep (6-3) over West Haven (9-1), Hand over Guilford and Sheehan (5-4) over Lyman Hall (1-8).
A win gets Cheshire to 1,040 points. Its max is 1,070. It needs a win and a loss by Ridgefield, NFA or Prep.
HELP
GREENWICH (6-3)
Next: vs. Staples (5-4), Thanksgrabbing.
Bonuses (60): Ludlowe (0-9) over Warde (2-7), Westhill (3-6) over Stamford (3-6), Bridgeport Central (2-7) over Harding (6-3), Norwalk (3-6) over McMahon (0-9), Trinity Catholic (6-3) over Wilton (6-3) and Trumbull (6-3) over St. Joseph (8-1).
The Cardinals will have 950 points with a win and a chance to max out at 1,010. They cannot catch Ridgefield under any circumstances, but can catch Shelton, NFA, Prep or Cheshire if either of those four lose and don't earn enough bonuses.
NEED A MIRACLE
XAVIER (6-4)
Next: SEASON OVER.
Bonuses (50): North Haven (3-6) over Amity (3-6), Prep (6-3) over West Haven (9-0), Hand (1-8) over Guilford (3-6), NFA (7-2) over New London (8-0) and Wilbur Cross (5-4) over Hillhouse (8-1).
The Falcons have a floor of 880 points with a chance to max out at 930. They cannot catch Shelton or Ridgefield under any circumstances. They can’t catch NFA, either, if it gets one bonus.
GLASTONBURY (6-3)
Next: SEASON OVER.
Bonuses (20): Bulkeley/HMTCA/Weaver (0-9) over Public (2-7) and Simsbury (4-5) over Avon (1-8).
Glastonbury will finish with an average of 91.11-88.89 points depending on its bonuses (its average must be used instead of its point total because it didn't play 10 games). It cannot catch Shelton, Ridgefield or NFA under any circumstances.
TRUMBULL (6-3).
Next: vs. St. Joseph (8-1), Thanksgrabbing.
Bonuses (40): Ludlowe (0-9) over Warde (2-7), Westhill (3-6) over Stamford (3-6), Central (2-7) over Harding (6-3) and Trinity (6-3) over Wilton (6-3).
The Eagles will finish between 970-930 with a win depending on its four bonuses. Problem is that Trinity looks like the only safe bet to win.
THE EIGHT: 1. West Haven (10-0) vs. No. 8 Greenwich (7-3), No. 2 Newtown (10-0) vs. No. 7 Cheshire (7-3), No. 3 Darien (9-1) vs. No. 6 Ridgefield (7-3), No. 4 Southington (9-1) vs. No. 5 Shelton (8-2). Every game is a beaut.
CLASS L
IN
New Canaan (9-0), New London (9-0), Windsor (9-0) and Middletown (8-1).
New Canaan, New London, and Windsor have clinched home games.
Middletown will clinch a home quarterfinal with a win, too. It can even lose and still get one.
New Canaan will earn the top seed with a win over Darien.
New London will earn at least a top two seed with a win over NFA.
The Windsor at Midddletown game on Thanksgrabbing Eve has ginormous implications on the division even though both have unofficially qualified.
WIN-AND-IN
Platt (7-2)
Next: vs. Maloney (7-2), Thanksgrabbing.
Bonuses (40): Bristol Eastern (0-9) over Bristol Central (5-4), E.O. Smith (3-6) over Hartford Public (3-6), Public (2-7) over Bulkeley/HMTCA/Weaver (0-9) and South Windsor (5-4) over Rockville (3-6).
Platt can still qualify with a loss because Masuk (Newtown) and Naugatuck (Ansonia) end their respective regular seasons against an unbeaten Top 10 team. The Panthers might even be able to lose and beat out Harding if it wins. Their floor with a loss is 960 points. Harding's is 960 with a win. The majority of Harding’s bonuses aren’t promising. Wilton cannot catch Platt, either.
MASUK (7-2)
Next: at Newtown (9-0), Thanksgrabbing Eve.
Bonuses (30): Brookfield (3-6) over Bethel (1-8), Stratford (2-7) over Bunnell (7-2) and New Milford (5-4) over New Fairfield (7-2).
Masuk is in better shape than Maloney or Naugatuck if all three lose. Masuk’s floor is 960 with three bonuses, Maloney's is 940 with three bonuses and Naugatuck is way back with 880 points and 50 bonuses. Wilton cannot catch Masuk under any circumstances.
MALONEY (7-2)
Next: vs. Platt (7-2), Thanksgrabbing.
Bonuses (30): East Catholic (5-4) over Northwest Catholic (4-5), Farmington (2-7) over Plainville (0-9) and Public (2-7) over B/H/W (0-9).
The easiest way in for the Spartans, if they lose to Platt, will be if two of the three lose — Notre Dame-W.H., Naugatuck or Harding.
Maloney will still have a slim chance to qualify if Harding and Naugy or ND win. Maloney's floor with a loss is 940. Harding's floor is 960 with a win. Maloney's bonuses are promising. Harding's four bonuses don't look good on paper. So if the Spartans receive all of their bonuses and Harding gets none, they get the berth.
Wilton will struggle to catch Maloney under any circumstance.
NOTRE DAME-W.H. (6-3)
Next: at Hamden (2-7), Thanksgrabbing.
Bonuses (30): North Haven (3-6) over Amity (3-6), Prep (6-3) over West Haven (9-0) and Cheshire (6-3) over Southington (9-0).
The Green Knights are in great shape after surviving the state's second-most hellish schedule (only SCC Tier I mate Xavier played a tougher one). They will pass the Platt-Maloney loser with a win over Hamden.
NAUGATUCK (7-2)
Next: at Ansonia (9-0), Thanksgrabbing.
Bonuses (50): Waterbury/Career (4-5) over Gilbert/Northwestern (7-2), Sacred Heart/Kaynor Tech (5-4) over Wilby (0-9), Crosby (3-6) over Kennedy (4-5), Derby over Shelton Woodland (1-8) over Seymour (7-2).
The Greyhounds haven’t beaten a winning team and were smashed by Seymour (48-12) and Wolcott (49-20). Ansonia devoured both of those teams.
Naugy, if it wins, can jet up to the sixth spot.
HELP
HARDING (6-3)
Next: vs. Bridgeport Central (2-7), Thanksgrabbing.
Bonuses (30): Bassick (4-5) over Bullard Havens (8-1), Danbury (2-7) over Ridgefield (7-2) and Platt Tech (3-6) over O’Brien Tech (4-3).
A win gets the Presidents to 960 points. It will struggle to reach their 990-point max as every team they needs to win has a worse record than their opponent. It doesn’t look like Harding can catch Platt if it loses. It might be able to catch Masuk if it loses. It has good odds to leapfrog Maloney if it loses. It will pass ND or Naugy if either lose. That’s a lot of “ifs.”
WILTON (6-3)
Next: vs. Trinity Catholic (6-3), Thanksgrabbing.
Bonuses (40): Stamford (3-6) over Westhill (3-6), Guilford (3-6) over Hand (1-8), Danbury (2-7) over Ridgefield (7-2) and McMahon (0-9) over Norwalk (3-6).
A win gets it to 920. Its max is 960. It cannot catch Platt or Masuk under any circumstances. The Warriors can catch Maloney, but it's hard to envision them collecting more than two bonuses.
THE EIGHT: No. 1 New Canaan (10-0) vs. No. 8 Maloney (7-3), No. 2 New London (10-0) vs. No. 7 Masuk (7-3), No. 3 Windsor (10-0) vs. No. 6 Notre Dame-West Haven (7-3), No. 4 Middletown (8-2) vs. No. 5 Platt (8-2).
CLASS M
IN
St. Joseph (8-1), Valley Regional/Old Lyme (8-1), Killingly (8-1), Hillhouse (8-1), Bunnell (8-1), Wolcott (8-1) and Berlin (8-2).
This division filled up quickly.
St. Joseph, Valley/Lyme, Killingly and Hillhouse wil all earn home quarterfinals with a win.
Valley/Lyme hosts to Haddam-Killingworth (4-5) on Thankgrabbing Eve Eve.
Bunnell plays Stratford (2-7) on Thanksgrabbing Eve.
St. Joseph plays at Trumbull (6-3) on Thanksgrabbing. It will all but clinch the top seed with a win because it will have 1,350 points. That’s Valley/Lyme’s maximum with a win and all bonuses, and no one else in the class can reach that number.
Killingly plays at Quinebaug Valley (2-7) on Thanksgrabbing.
Hillhouse plays Wilbur Cross (5-4) on Thanksgrabbing in the Elm City Bowl.
Wolcott plays at Holy Cross (3-6) on Thanksgrabbing.
Berlin has finished its regular season. It can be seeded anywhere between third and eighth, depending on the other teams and bonuses.
WIN-AND-IN
NEW FAIRFIELD (7-2)
Next: vs. New Milford (5-4), Thanksgrabbing.
Bonus (10): Masuk (7-2) over Newtown (9-0).
The Rebels most likely have to win to qualify. A loss gives it a floor of 1,000, and it’s unlikely to get that bonus. That will give Foran and Gilbert/Northwestern Regional a chance to beat them out for a berth if either wins, and Foran is the favorite in its game (Law).
HUGE NEW MILFORD FANS
WATERFORD (6-3)
Next: vs. East Lyme (1-8), Thanksgrabbing.
Bonuses (20): Fitch (3-6) over Ledyard (3-6), and Stonington (5-4) over Westerly (5-5).
The Lancers are in trouble. A win will give them between 1,020-1,000 points, depending on their two bonus games.
Gilbert/Northwestern’s floor is 1,000 with a win and the chance to earn five bonuses.
Foran’s floor with a win is 1,000 and can earn three bonuses.
Waterford’s best chance is for G/N to lose (in addition to New Fairfield), as Foran will struggle to get more than one bonus.
GILBERT/NORTHWESTERN (7-2)
Next: vs. Waterbury Career (5-4), Thanksgrabbing.
Bonuses (40): Canton over Granby (1-8), Windsor Locks/Suffield/East Granby (1-7) over Stafford/East Windsor/Somers (7-1), Coginchaug (1-8) over North Branford (5-4) and H-K (4-5) over Valley/Lyme (8-1).
The Yellowjackets' game against Career may be the most interesting one next week because there’s no telling who wins. G/N hasn’t beaten a winning team and played a weak schedule. Career has beaten just one winning team.
A win gets G/N to 1,040-1,000 depending on bonuses.
FORAN (6-3)
Next: vs. Law (4-5), Thanksgrabbing.
Bonuses (30): Hamden (2-7) over Notre Dame-W.H. (6-3), Amity (3-6) over North Haven (3-6) and Sheehan (5-4) over Lyman (1-8).
It will have 1,000 points with a win over Law. That matches New Fairfield’s floor with a loss to New Milford. New Fairfield has one bonus (Masuk over Newtown). Foran has three bonuses, but only Sheehan looks like a winner.
THE EIGHT (this changed a bit since Tuesday): No. 1 Valley Regional/Old Lyme (9-1) vs. No. 8 Berlin (8-2), No. 2 Hillhouse (9-1) vs. No. 7 St. Joseph (8-2) (EGAD), No. 3 Killingly (9-1) vs. No. 7 New Fairfield (8-2), No. 4. Wolcott (8-2) vs. No. 5 Bunnell (8-2).
CLASS S
IN
Capital Prep/Achievement First (9-0), Ansonia (9-0), Bloomfield (10-0) and Cromwell/Portland (9-0).
Cap/Ac, Ansonia and Bloomfield have unofficially clinched a home quarterfinal.
Cap/Aca and Bloomfield have finished their regular seasons.
Crom/Port will earn a home quarterfinal with a home win against Rocky Hill (8-1) on Thanksgrabbing in one of the week's most important games.
Ansonia hosts Naugatuck (7-2) on Thanksgrabbing.
The top two seeds will go to Cap/Ac and Ansonia should all four of these teams win out.
Cap/Ac presently has a 161.11 in average points (averages must be used as Cap/Ac has a nine-game schedule). It can max out at 166.67 if it receives all five of its bonuses.
Ansonia will max out with a 165 point average if it beats Naguatuck and earns all five bonuses. It won't be easy, though.
WIN-AND-IN
BULLARD HAVENS (8-1)
Next: at Bassick (4-5), Thanksgrabbing Eve.
Bonuses (30): Quinebaug (2-7) over Killingly (8-1), Harding (6-3) over Bridgeport Central (2-7) and Wilcox Tech (0-8) over V/EH/GT (1-8).
Bridgeport has a big game next Wednesday.
STAFFORD/EAST WINDSOR/SOMERS (8-1)
Next: vs. Windsor Locks/Suffield/East Granby (1-7), Thanksgrabbing Eve.
Bonuses (70): C/WT/B (5-4) over Ellington (6-3), G/N (7-2) over Waterbury Career (4-5), Granby (1-8) over Canton (0-8), Coginchaug (1-8) over North Branford (5-4), H-K (4-5) over VR/OL (8-1), Nonnewaug (1-7) over Lewis Mills (3-6), Old Saybrook/Westbrook (7-1) over Morgan (6-3).
You're almost there, S/EW/S.
SEYMOUR (7-2)
Next: at Woodland (1-8), Thanksgrabbing Eve.
Bonuses (50): SH/KT (5-4) over Wilby (0-9), Naugatuck (7-2) over Ansonia (9-0), Torrington (4-5) over Watertown (3-6), Kennedy (4-5) over Crosby (3-6) and Derby (2-7) over Shelton (7-2).
The Wildcats should be feeling pretty good.
ROCKY HILL (8-1)
Next: at Cromwell/Portland (9-0), Thanksgrabbing Eve.
Bonuses (50): Plainville (0-9) over Farmington (2-7), RHAM (2-7) over Bacon (2-7), Tolland (5-4) over E.O. Smith (3-6), Avon (1-8) over Simsbury (4-5) and Rockville (3-6) over South Windsor (5-4).
Now you see why that game at Crom/Port is so-oooo important.
HELP
OLD SAYBROOK/WESTBROOK (7-2)
Next: at Morgan (6-3), Thanksgrabbing Eve.
Bonuses (60): C/WT/B (5-4) over Ellington (6-3), G/N (7-2) over Waterbury Career (5-4), WL/S/EG (1-7) over S/EW/S (7-1), Coginchaug (1-8) over North Branford (5-4), H-K (4-5) over VR/OL (8-1), Nonnewaug (1-7) over Lewis Mills (3-6).
The Rams must win and have one of the team's ahead of them lose in order to qualify.
OXFORD (7-2)
Next: vs. St. Paul (6-3), Thanksgrabbing Eve.
Bonuses (50): Wolcott (7-2) over Holy Cross (3-6), Watertown (3-6) over Torrington (4-5), Crosby (3-6) over Kennedy (4-5), Derby (2-7) over Shelton (7-2) and Woodland (1-8) over Seymour (7-2).
See Old Saybrook/Westbrook.
TRINITY CATHOLIC (6-3)
Next: at Wilton (6-3), Thanksgrabbing.
Bonuses (40): Ludlowe (9-0) over Warde (2-7), Central (2-7) over Harding (6-3), Ridgefield (7-2) over Danbury (2-7), and Norwalk (3-6) over McMahon (0-9).
The Crusaders will most likely miss states because they played the toughest schedule in this division (they beat Ridgefield and lost to New Canaan, Greenwich and Trumbull). They must win and earn all of their bonuses to max out at 1,190 points. TC will also need three of the six to lose — Bullard Havens, S/EW/S, Seymour, Rocky Hill, Old/West, and/or Oxford — and, if Seymour, Bullard Havens or Rocky Hill loses, hope that they don’t each collect enough bonuses. That’s a lot to expect.
NEED MORE THAN A MIRACLE
Windham (7-2).
Windham has to beat Montville (2-7) on Thanksgrabbing Eve and earn all three of its bonuses just to get to 1,140.
Windham cannot catch Seymour, Bullard Havens or Rocky Hill. It might not be able to catch S/EW/S even if it is upset on Thanksgrabbing Eve.
It cannot catch Oxford if it wins.
It’s painful for any team that doesn’t make states, but it’ll be more so for Windham because its two losses were in the final 26 seconds.
Waterford scored the go-ahead touchdown with 26 seconds left to beat the Whippets, 27-20, to open the regular season.
Windham led Killingly by 12 points with four minutes left in their Oct. 23 game. Killingly rallied and scored the go-ahead touchdown on the final play to win, 14-12.
Ouch.
THE EIGHT (BIG changes): No. 1 Capital Prep/Achievement First (9-0) vs. No. 8 Seymour (8-2), No. 2 Ansonia (10-0) vs. No. 7 Stafford/East Windsor/Somers (9-1), No. 3 Bloomfield (10-0) vs. No. 6 Cromwell/Portland (9-1), No. 4 Rocky Hill (9-1) vs. No. 5 Bullard Havens (9-1).
• • • •
That's all for now. The plan is to update this again before Thanksgrabbing.
Thanks for reading. More soon.
Vaya con dios....
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