Howdy,

Dave Hodge knows how to rebuild a program.

Those of you more, ah, seasoned fans should remember Hodge’s work at Weaver during the nineties. The Beavers had fallen on hard times and were 4-26-1 over the previous three seasons before Hodge, a Montville native, took over in 1993.

Weaver made the playoffs in Hodge’s third season (1995). It went 13-0 and rolled Holy Cross in the CIAC Class L final, 47-8, to win its first state title. It won Class M the next year, concluding Hodge’s run with the Beavers.

Slowly but surely, Hodge has helped get South Windsor on track. He took over in 2014, and the program has gradually improved — from 1-10, to 4-6, to 6-4.

The Bobcats have continued trending upwards to start this season. They beat perennial Central Connecticut Conference power Glastonbury last Saturday, 14-9, to improve to 2-0.

“I’ve been blessed with some good kids,” Hodge said. “You need players, and I was fortunate to have a bunch of good kids come through. This is my youngest son’s (Dylan) group of kids that I’ve been involved with since they were seven or eight years old. So I’ve been lucky.”

Turning a struggling program around is much harder than one could imagine. Try convincing teenagers (or adults) that they can win when all they’ve known is losing. Try keeping players from believing that they’re not going to lose (again) when faced with adversity.

“It’s just getting kids to buy in and believe in what you’re doing,” Hodge said. “Many coaches do a lot of the same things. You have to care about the kids as people first.

“The goal (at the start) is not wins or losses. The goal is getting better each day at practice and each week and each day in the offseason. Putting in the hard work and effort in the weight room and the classroom and everything you do. If you put in that time and outwork other people, it shows at the weightlifting competition and other ways. The confidence builds.”

Confidence is one thing Hodge didn’t have to worry about with South Windsor’s Class of 2018. They were used to winning at the youth level.

“When they were in seventh grade, they beat Glastonbury in (a youth football) championship game at Rentschler Field,” Hodge said. “Their freshman year, there were 42 of them who beat everybody in this league. They beat Southington. They beat New Britain. They beat all the guys we’re playing now. So it was a good core.

“There hasn’t been that lack of belief.”

The Bobcats’ defense was terrific against Glastonbury and didn’t allow a touchdown until there was one minute, 14 seconds left.

“Our defensive line is very strong,” Hodge said. “We’ve got (senior) Hassan Azeem (6-foot-1, 270 pounds), who was all-state as an offensive tackle last year, who’s playing at defensive tackle. We’ve got my son (Dylan, 5-8, 224) who plays as the other defensive tackle. … At linebacker we have Ronnie Pinkard, a junior who is outstanding.

“We just have a lot of kids who have been playing for two or three years on defense and have played with a lot of passion and a lot of heart.”

Senior Connor Kapisak threw a 63-yard touchdown to senior Colin Ryan in the Glastonbury win. He also scored on a 1-yard run with 2:10 left in the game.

Seniors Julian Ibes and Jimmy Tamburro combined to rush for 94 yards for the Bobcats, and Ryan had two catches for 126 yards.

South Windsor’s next test — a road game at New Britain (1-1) on Friday.

“This game is a whole different thing for us,” Hodge said. “New Britain is without a doubt the best team we’ve faced all year. That will be a huge test for us.

“We’ve got that family feel with this group of kids. So we’ll see if it’s enough on Friday or not.”

• • • •

This is East Lyme's most experienced team in recent history and the Vikings showed that with confidence in the win over Stratford.

"They played awesome," said Bagos, whose team is 1-1. "It's tough in school, like, 'Are you guys going to win a game or what?' We had shirts made up that say, 'Change the culture.' They're going to get a winning tradition again. Visiting teams or wherever we go, people know they're going to be in a battle against the Vikings. They're hungry this year. They're hungry."

Before huddling up after the game, the East Lyme players made a dash for the sideline to greet the Vikings' fan section.

Said Dylan Hatajik: "We haven't won a game here in almost a year. ... It's great to show them how dedicated the team is to the sport."

• • • •

Fitch held Notre Dame's strong-armed quarterback Chris Elias to 110 yards passing, 55 of which came on a touchdown pass late in the game. But passing isn't what concerned Falcons coach Mike Ellis the most.

"We knew that Elias is a very good scrambler,'' said Ellis. "We'd rather have him sitting in the pocket than running all over the field.''

And Ellis was pleased with the end result. Defensive end Zach Lettelier sacked Elias, linebacker Caz Pray had a big hit on him and backs Justice Farris, Antonyo Figueroa, Sal Aiello and Kye Carper made big plays too.

• • • •

The most exhausted people on the sidelines during Cheshire’s 35-29 win over NFA? Maybe not the players. Try the chain crew. NFA, seeking to snap the ball with Chip Kelly-like speed, required its chain crew to – literally – sprint after plays resulted in first downs. One of the crew, assistant basketball coach Wes Murphy, who lost 40 pounds in the offseason, might have lost more Friday night. … NFA may have the league’s best freshman, running back Sean Preston, who had 75 yards rushing. … NFA’s best defensive play of the night: Elijah Parker’s interception at the goal line of a tipped pass. Parker defended on the play and then caught the tip, electrifying the crowd of 3,800. … Cheshire lost starting running back Elijah Allston to a shoulder injury early in the game, but sophomore Jake McAlinden stepped in to gain 196 yards on 20 carries and score three times.

• • • •

HATS OFF to New Canaan head coach Lou Marinelli as he became the winningest coach in state high school football history in last Friday's 42-7 rout of Danbury.

Marinelli has 332 career wins, breaking a tie he held with former West Haven and St. Joseph head coach Ed McCarthy.

“It’s a little anticlimactic because we would have loved to have done it last week (a 38-35 loss to St. Joseph on Sept. 8), but we did it and it’s over with so we can go back to concentrating on football and letting our kids get the credit,” Marinelli told Anthony E. Parelli of the Hearst Empire. “I’ve been very fortunate to have the staff that I do and that I’ve had throughout the years. ... I’m in a great place. New Canaan is a wonderful place.”

Nineteen of Marinelli’s wins came at the start of his career coaching in New York at Mamaronek (1976) and Yorktown (1979-80).

Marinelli’s Rams have been ridiculously consistent during his 37-year tenure. They finished 4-5 in his first season (1981). They went 8-2-1 the following year and beat Naugatuck, 20-12, to win the CIAC Class LL title.

New Canaan has finished .500 just twice under Marinelli, who’s also won a state-record 12 CIAC championships. The Rams are gunning for their fifth-straight Class L title this season.

FCIAC Oracle Dave Ruden had Marinelli talk about some of his most memorable wins over at his eponymous website. It's well worth your time.

• • • •

Wolcott Tech/Housatonic/Wamogo, henceforth known as MCW United for the merging of their mascots — Mountaineers, (Wild)Cats and Warriors — is the resurrection of Wolcott Tech and Housatonic varsity programs which dropped to JV because of falling numbers over the last two seasons. THE MORE YOU KNOW.

• • • •

Hey hey, it’s The Day’s Top 10 state coaches’ poll: 1. Darien (2-0, 13 first-place votes); 2. St. Joseph (2-0); 3. Southington (2-0); 4. Cheshire (2-0); 5. Ansonia (2-0); 6. New Canaan (1-1); 7. Windsor (2-0); 8. Masuk (2-0), 9. Greenwich (2-0), and, 10. West Haven (2-0). You can find the rest at the bottom of this here blog.

• • • •

Via Sean Patrick Starfish from the Hearst Empire, it’s The GameTimeCT/New Haven Register Top 10 media poll: 1. Darien (23 first-place votes); 2. Southington; 3. St. Joseph (two first-place votes); 4. Cheshire; 5. Ansonia (one first-place vote); 6. Windsor; 7. New Canaan; 8. Masuk; 9. West Haven, and, 10. Middletown.

• • • •

Jack Joyce threw four touchdown passes (66, 45, 15 and 5) as top-ranked Darien clobbered McMahon, 47-0. ... David Summers completed 22 of 30 passes for 254 yards and five touchdowns as No. 2 St. Joseph strafed Fairfield Warde, 52-13. Jared Mallozzi caught 12 passes for 140 yards and four touchdowns for the Cadets. ... Will Barmore completed 22 of 33 passes for 303 yards with two touchdowns and an interception in No. 3 Southington’s 35-6 rout of Simsbury. Ian Hall had 10 tackles and 2 ½ sacks for the Blue Knights (2-0).

Eric Angelone had seven tackles and intercepted a tipped pass for a go-ahead 25-yard touchdown as No. 4 Cheshire outlasted Norwich Free Academy, 35-29. Jack Raba was also 12 of 24 for 149 yards for the Rams (2-0). ... Markell Dobbs scored four times as No. 5 Ansonia rolled over Weterbury Career Academy, 54-6.

Sixth-ranked New Canaan had the ball for just 18 minutes, 12 seconds in its game against Danbury. It won in a rout because time of possession means NOTHING anymore in this age of spread offenses, four-and-five receiver sets, and rules designed to neuter a defense. The Rams finished with an edge in total plays (59-46) and first downs (30-9). Drew Pyne completed 21 of 32 passes for 275 yards with three touchdowns for New Canaan (1-1) and Owen Shin ran 10 times for 74 yards and a touchdown and added two receptions for 59 yards and a score.

Julian Jackson completed 20 of 27 passes for 236 yards and two touchdowns as No. 7 Windsor beat Bristol Central, 29-19. Ljay Walcott had nine catches for 135 yards and two touchdowns for Windsor and Kobe Foster had 11 tackles. ... Matthew Hersch completed 18 of 23 passes for 330 yards with four touchdowns and an interception and scored on an 8-yard run as No. 8 Masuk blanked New London, 50-0. The Panthers held New London to 61 yards and never allowed it to cross midfield.

Tysen Comizio ran 11 times for 132 yards and three touchdowns (including a nifty 90 yard sprint down the Trinity Catholic sideline) in No. 9 Greenwich’s 49-7 win. ... Chris Chance ran for 201 yards and three touchdowns as No. 10 West Haven rumbled past Wilbur Cross, 47-20. Kyle Godfrey added 130 yards rushing and three touchdowns for the Westies.

Greg Gatto was 15 of 18 for 313 yards and six touchdowns as Ridgefield did things to Stamford, 49-0. Jackson Mitchell added seven catches for 128 yards and two TDs. … Shelton’s Jack Carr went all (2016) David Johnson in a 21-19 win over Hand. He ran 18 times for 110 yards and a touchdowns and had four catches for 103 yards and a score.

East Lyme ran for 301 yards and two touchdowns and didn’t throw a pass in the second half of its 27-14 win over Stratford. Now THAT’S how you play football. Fullback Isaac Tomblin ran 24 times for 156 yards and a touchdown and, oh, those tricky Vikings — they pulled off a double-pass. Quarterback Chris Salemme threw to receiver Dylan Hatajik, and Hatajik tossed a 46-yard touchdown to wingback Tyler Valdez. Valdez also ran seven times for 81 yards, and Salemme threw a 28-yard touchdown to Hatajik.

Nick Braga touched the ball six times for Valley Regional/Old Lyme against Morgan. Nick Braga converted those opportunities into two catches for 67 yards and two touchdowns, and four catches for 38 yards and a score in a 48-7 win. Michael Cullina completed 8 of 9 passes for 159 yards and two TDs for the WARRIORCATS and Ryan Santos ran five times for 76 yards and two scores. VR/OL's defense allowed only two yards. TWO.

Tyler Nelli ran 27 times for 89 yards and two touchdowns and completed 4 of 6 passes for 133 yards and a TD as Fitch beat Notre Dame of West Haven, 27-20. Hamear Stephens ran 14 times for 104 yards and a touchdown for Fitch and Hollis Scott ran 10 times for 52 yards and added two catches for 66 yards and a TD. ... Chris Connors (85 yards) and Gennaro Davis (58 yards) both scored on interception returns for Montville in its 49-6 win over Woodstock Academy. Davis also caught a 32-yard touchdown from Luke Hall and Diego Garces-Cortes nailed all seven of his extra-point attempts.

North Haven, Connecticut’s favorite purveyors of GOD’S FATHER’S OFFENSE, ran 55 times (swoons) for 355 yards and seven touchdowns in a 54-35 win over Harding. Zachary Orth ran 15 times for 87 yards and three touchdowns for the Indians and Devan Brockamer had seven carries for 63 yards and two scores. Devan Brockamer added 14 carries for 81 yards and a TD, and Mark Montano scored on a 1-yard run. Coleman Adams had 19 touches for 258 total yards and three touchdowns and added an interception for the Presidents.

Speaking of the Manly Discipline of the Running Arts, it does our heart good to see that Foran head coach Jeff Bevino, a fan of the forward pass, had quarterback Jared Hubler run it instead of chucking it in a 45-27 win over Brookfield. Hubler ran 25 times for 241 yards and five touchdowns, played defensive back and was the Lions' long snapper. No slacker he, that Jared. Michael Scribner whomped a 43-yard field goal for the Bobcats.

Weston Terzi threw a 4-yard touchdown to Evan Mansfield in overtime, and then the two connected on a 2-point conversion to give Sheehan a 28-27 win over Weston. Terzi was 20 of 31 for 259 yards and four TDs for Sheehan. Weston’s James Goetz scored on a 4-yard run with 35 seconds left in regulation to tie the game, but the Trojans didn’t get the extra point because the snap was fumbled.

Bullard-Haven's Tyrese Wright is at it again this season. Wright ran six times for 226 yards (!) and two touchdowns, completed all four of his passes for 122 yards and two touchdowns, and caught a 74-yard touchdown from Tyler Northrop in a 52-8 thumping of Platt Tech. Elijah Martin had 12 tackles and Tavon Smith added 11 for B-H. … Peter Kavanaugh and Will Stenz both had interceptions as Fairfield Prep smothered Amity, 7-3. The Jesuits allowed Amity 150 yards of offense.

Zach Buffington ran 15 times for 232 yards and three touchdowns as New Fairfield downed Branford, 34-8. Chase Brindise had six tackles and two sacks and Cristiano Ciatto added seven tackles and a sack for New Fairfield, which finished with eight sacks. Oh, yeah — it ran 40 times for 296 yards and five touchdowns and attempted just three passes. Way to go, Rebels, but please cut back on the passing in the future. Thanks.

Look at what Tolland’s Ryan Carlson did to Avon — he ran 18 times for 164 yards and four touchdowns, completed 6 of 10 passes for 73 yards, had 15 tackles AND a sack as Tolland dumped Avon, 34-6. Dang, son. Collin Cook had nine tackles and forced a fumble for Tolland, and Jonny Lindquist kicked field goals of 32 and 26 yards.

Killingly senior Zach Caffrey needed just six carries to gain 148 yards and three touchdowns because he’s a FULLBACK in a 41-0 win over Stonington. Spencer Lockwood also rushed for 174 yards and two touchdowns and caught a 13-yard touchdown from Luke Desaulnier. ... Joshua Marshak ran for 195 yards and three touchdowns and scored on a 95-yard kickoff return as Hamden smashed Pomperaug, 34-7.

E.J. Dudley ran 19 times for 215 yards and two touchdowns as Platt beat Windham, 47-20, for the program’s 300th win. A.J. Marinelli was 11 of 17 for 127 yards and two touchdowns for Platt. Aaron Spicer ran eight times for 151 yards and three touchdowns for the Whippets and Nathanael Barbosa Torres had 24 carries for 139 yards. .... Zach Smith threw four touchdown passes as Law beat Bethel, 34-21.

Junior Doreon Chapman plays for the Naugatuck JV. Injuries forced him into the varsity lineup against rival Seymour, and he earned himself a promotion by running 17 times for 146 yards and two touchdowns in a 31-12 win. Ricardo Montanez, Zack Koslosky and Michael Plasky each had an interception for Naugy, and Hubert Lutrzykowski and Justin Papp both recovered fumbles. Koslosky also scored on an 80-yard punt return, and Jayden Anderson blocked a punt that Elijah Robinson took for a 50-yard touchdown.

Bunnell ran for 301 yards (neat) and four touchdowns as it shutout East Haven 38-0. Ma’Kai Curry ran six times for 126 yards and a touchdown for the Bulldogs and Christ N’dabian added nine carries for 93 yards. Tyler Phommachanh also threw for 91 yards and a touchdown (to Armstrong Antoine) and scored on a 16-yard run. ... Zaire Williams ran 19 times for 150 yards and a touchdown, had five tackles (two for a loss), forced three fumbles and recovered one as Notre Dame of Fairfield beat Lyman Hall, 46-22. Micah Brantley completed 18 of 25 passes for 240 yards and four touchdowns.

Frank Griffin ran for 53 yards and two touchdowns and threw for 220 yards as Plainville snapped its 14-game losing streak with a 27-14 win over Bulkeley/Hartford Magnet Trinity College Academy/Weaver (got to shorten that name, guys). Plainville’s Brady Callahan (3 yards) and E.J. Wynkoop (7 yards) also ran for touchdowns. ... Dylan Depersia had a wacky day in RHAM’s 30-20 win over Northwest Catholic. Depersia scored on both an interception return (30) and fumble return (30 yards). Teammate Dan Grenier felt left out, thus he took an interception 25 yards to the house.

Eli Rivera ran for a go-ahead 3-yard touchdown late in the game and Pat Ladas ran in the conversion to lift Coginchaug/Hale-Ray past Haddam-Killingworth, 34-26. Rivera threw two touchdowns to Anthony Curry (90 and 29 yards) and a 7-yard touchdown to Kevin Cross. Ladas added 18 carries for 110 yards and a TD. ... Torrington’s Josh Maldonado ran six times for 132 yards and three touchdowns in a 50-14 thrashing of Wilby. That’s pretty efficient. Dylan Myrie also ran for a 21-yard touchdown, scored on a 65-yard interception return, and ran in three conversion runs.

Old Saybrook/Westbrook’s Vince Dyer and Victor Pascoe did damage to Nonnewaug in a 35-12 win. Pascoe ran 13 times for 181 yards and two touchdowns, completed 6 of 11 passes for 117 yards and two TDs, and had an interception. Dyer had 12 carries for 100 yards and a score, caught four passes for 91 yards and two TDs, and had seven tackles and a sack. The Rams ran 41 times for 342 yards. ACCEPTABLE.

Colton Engel ran eight times for 164 yards and two touchdowns, completed 6 of 9 passes for 108 yards and a TD, caught an 18-yard pass, had two interceptions (he returned one for a 27-yard TD) and recovered a fumble to lead Stafford/East Windsor/Somers past Canton, 55-26. Busy guy. Cody Gebo had three catches for 49 yards and a touchdown and a sack, and John Kopek had eight tackles.

Billy Komons ran 24 times for 128 yards and three touchdowns and had two catches for 101 yards (WHAT) as Gilbert/Northwestern beat Rockville, 28-16. … Kyle Zajack completed 10 of 12 passes for 308 yards and five touchdowns and ran for another as Capital Prep/Achievement First thanked its new friends from New Mission (Mass.) for swinging by Hartford for a visit by crushing it, 45-8. John Edwards had six catches for 152 yards and two touchdowns and O’Neil Robinson caught two touchdown passes (13, 62 yards).

Manny Sanchez scored on runs of 55, 20 and 10 yards as CREC wrecked Springfield High School of Commerce (Mass.), 34-0. Jesus Matos also caught passes of 49 and 11 yards from Issac Torres. ... Roberto Sanchez threw a 30-yard touchdown to Luke Pappalardo with 31.8 seconds to push Newington past Farmington, 26-20. Sanchez also threw two touchdowns to Carlum Caldwell. Zac Conrad threw two touchdowns and ran for a third for Farmington.

Larue Graham was 13 of 23 for 231 yards with three touchdowns and scored on a 9-yard run as Maloney beat Hartford Public, 49-14. Preston Studley (FANTASTIC name) and Aden Valentin both ran for and caught a TD and Chris Infante had six catches for 137 yards for the Spartans. Lavarey Banton ran 29 times for 184 yards and two TDs for the Owls and added 12 tackles and a sack.

Tahje Yopp ran for two touchdowns, caught two touchdowns, and, get this, scored on a fake punt of NINTY NINE YARDS as New Britain beat Manchester, 62-38. The teams combined for 15 touchdowns, nine in the first half. Jahfari Newman threw four touchdowns and ran for two more for New Britain and Kaiyon Gunn had two interceptions. Manchester's Jevin Frett had eight catches for 90 yards and two touchdowns and 178 yards on kickoff returns, including one for a 90-yard touchdown. And remember kids — there are NO 100-yard plays in high school football according to the National Federation of State High School Associations. “Only the yardage from goal line to goal line is recorded statistically”, so sayeth the NHFS in its statisticians’ manual. LOOK IT UP.

Nick D’Elia completed 12 of 19 passes for 311 yards and a touchdown and ran nine times for 116 yards and two scores as Watertown downed Woodland, 42-21. Adam Alenckis scored on runs of 10, 2 and 2 yards for Watertown and Dan Graziano had five catches for 148 yards. ... Middletown stuffed Bristol Eastern, 35-0, holding the latter to 58 yards. STONE BELZO completed 14 of 20 passes for 156 yards and two touchdowns and ran for another. ... Will Levis (he’s going to Penn State) threw four touchdowns as Xavier smacked Newtown, 30-14.

Like, everyone on the Westhill roster had an interception in its 26-21 win over Norwalk. Okay, the Vikings had just five. John Mendez, Alan Nowlin, Jakai Young, Josh Morris and NOODLES METAYER all had picks. Saquan Kelly ran 21 times for 170 yards and two touchdowns for Westhill and Nicholas Nunes and Morris both had 11 tackles. Also, NOODLES caught a 9-yard touchdown. YAY NOODLES.

Lastly, but first-ly in our hearts, The Polecat Dudes of the Week — the St. Paul Falcons. Not only did they not attempt a pass (getting lightheaded) in a 36-33 win over Sacred Heart — they’re running the WISHBONE. SPUD CASON BE PRAISED. St. Paul ran 49 times for 298 yards and four touchdowns. Kevin Ashworth had 16 carries for 114 yards and a touchdown, and Connor Bogdanski ran 14 times for 87 yards and two touchdowns. We haven’t felt this warm and fuzzy since Metallica and 10,000-plus loonies literally tore up Lake Compounce in ’89.

• • • •

Thanks to Charles Xerses Banning (MCW United), David Davidson Davis (Fitch-ND), Michael Handley DiMauro (Cheshire-NFA), and Victoria Fulkerson (East Lyme-Stratford) for their contributions to this writing endeavor.

• • • •

“I’m a legend in this sport. If you don’t believe me, ask me.”

“The money's the same, whether you earn it or scam it.”

“There’s nothing better than a good, blind referee.”

“I know all about cheating. I've had six very successful marriages.”

“Hawaii's the 50th state? I thought it was a suburb of Guam.”

“Are there any swamps in Oklahoma? Yes, there is. It's called Tulsa.”

“If you're poor and you do something stupid, you're nuts. If you're rich and do something stupid, you're eccentric.”

"Parts Unknown, it usually means Downtown Newark."

"North Dakota State. What do you have to do there to graduate? Milk a cow with your left hand?"

“Now remember this: When a man sticks his hand out to you, you shake it. Then kick him really hard when he’s not looking.”

“A friend in need is a pest.”

Thanks for all the good times, Brain.

Vaya con dios.

THE DAY TOP 10 STATE COACHES' 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. Darien (13) 2-0 390 1

INTEL: It was lights on for Darien and lights out for McMahon last Friday. The Blue Wave played their first night home game under their new lights, and they racked up nearly six times the total yards that McMahon had (481 to 82). NEXT: vs. St. Joseph, Saturday, 1:30 p.m.

2. St. Joseph 2-0 326 2

INTEL: Cadets receiver Jared Mallozzi had 100 receptions last year, the third-most in a season in state history. He’s already going all-out to top the state record set last year by Brett Huber of Foran (107). Mallozzi had 12 catches for 140 yards and four touchdowns in last Saturday’s win over Fairfield Warde. NEXT: at Darien, Saturday, 1:30 p.m.

3. Southington 2-0 304 3

INTEL: Is it too early to wonder if anyone in Central Connecticut Conference Division I can hang with the Blue Knights this season? No, it’s not. South Windsor is the only other unbeaten team in D1, and Southington handled Glastonbury in Week 1 (34-7) much easier than the Bobcats did last Saturday (14-9). NEXT: vs. Manchester, Friday, 7 p.m.

4. Cheshire 2-0 298 5

INTEL: Elijah Allston, the Rams’ top running back, was knocked out of last Friday’s game at NFA with a shoulder injury. Sophomore Jake McAlinden stepped up and ran 20 times for 196 yards and three TDs. NEXT: vs. North Haven, Friday, 7 p.m.

5. Ansonia 2-0 287 4

INTEL: The Chargers have outscored their first two opponents 115-12. Extrapolate that over a 10-game regular season, and Ansonia will overwhelm the Naugatuck Valley League. NEXT: vs. Oxford, Friday, 7 p.m.

6. New Canaan 1-1 254 6

INTEL: HATS OFF to Rams head coach Lou Marinelli. New Canaan thumped Danbury 42-7 last Friday, giving Marinelli a state-record 332 wins. Nineteen of those wins came at the start of his career coaching in New York at Mamaronek (1976) and Yorktown (1979-80). Marinelli took over the Rams in 1981. They finished 4-5 that year. They haven’t had a losing season since. Marinelli has also won a state-record 12 CIAC championships. Good luck beating those records. NEXT: vs. Trumbull, Friday, 7 p.m.

7. Windsor 2-0 238 7

INTEL: The Warriors beat Bristol Central last Friday, 29-19. That’s the most points the Warriors have allowed in a regular season game since their 46-20 rout of Middletown on Nov. 25, 2014. They held opponents to single digits in 15 of their previous 21 games, including nine shutouts. NEXT: at Farmington, Friday, 6 p.m.

8. Masuk 2-0 218 8R

INTEL: Matthew Hersch starts his third season at QB for the Panthers. His command of the offense was pretty obvious in last Friday’s 50-0 thumping of New London. Hersch completed 18 of 23 passes for 330 yards with four touchdowns and an interception for Masuk and added an 8-yard TD run. NEXT: at Barlow, Friday, 7 p.m.

9. Greenwich 2-0 176 9

INTEL: Tysen Comizio has quickly become the Cardinals’ top running back. He ran 11 times for 132 yards and three touchdowns in last Saturday’s 42-7 rout of Trinity Catholic. One of his touchdowns was a swank 90-yard sprint down the Trinity sideline. NEXT: v. Norwalk, Oct. 2, 6 p.m.

10. West Haven 2-0 163 10

INTEL: Chris Chance and Kyle Godfrey combined to rush for 331 yards and six touchdowns in last Friday’s 47-20 win over Wilbur Cross. Up next — the battle for West Haven supremacy. NEXT: vs. Notre Dame-West Haven, Friday, 3:30 p.m.

Also receiving votes: Ridgefield (1-1), 139 points; Shelton (1-1), 104; Middletown (2-0), 88; Staples (2-0), 63; Norwich Free Academy (1-1), 60; Tie, Rocky Hill (2-0) and Xavier (1-1), 57; South Windsor (2-0), 31; Tie, Hand (1-1) and Killingly (2-0), 23; Fairfield Prep (2-0), 9; Capital Prep/Achievement First (2-0), 7.

The following coaches voted: Rich Angarano, Brookfield; Tom Brockett, Ansonia; Scott Daniels, Glastonbury; Joe DellaVecchia, St. Joseph; Mike Ellis, Fitch; Rob Fleeting, Windsor; Tanner Grove, Montville; Andy Guyon, Xavier; Tim King, Valley Regional/Old Lyme; Joe Lato, Masuk; Tom Lennon, Seymour; Marce Petroccio, Staples; Jeff Roy, Shelton.