Howdy,

This is it, kiddies, the final three daze of the regular season in our darling 2017 high school foot balls year.

We’ve gots no time to tarry. We promised to keep YOU abreast on the playoffs and our word is BOND. We'll be updating this blog after Tuesday and Wednesday night's games.

Why do we continue to do this to ourselves? Stubborness. Masochism. Stupidity. Self-loathing deeper than any ocean.

Oh, yeah — we also do it because we love YOU.

Our Thanksgrabbing week extravaganza gradually starts up TONIGHT with five games. Yeah, it's a light schedule, but YOU know dang well that every game counts because of teh bonuses (the 10 points a team receives for every win by an opponent it defeated).

Tonight's menu:

Gilbert/Northwestern (4-5) at Waterbury Career Academy (3-6)

The NVL schools (Ansonia, Naugy and Watertown) are pulling for WCA to get them that sweet 10-point bonus.

Stafford/East Windsor/Somers, Old Saybrook/Westbrook and the Coventry/Windham Tech/Bolton/Lyman Memorial MIGHTY PATRIOT BULLDOGS QUAD-OP stand with their hyphenated-Pequot League brothers from Winsted.

Tolland (4-5) at E.O. Smith (6-3)

Maloney will gift E.O. with an Edible Arrangements Berry Chocolate Bouquet with dipped pineapple & banana if it wins. It will give the Spartans that bonus they need to unofficially qualify for Class L.

Windsor and Middletown also benefit from an E.O. win.

Berlin needs Tolland as it's one bonus away from unofficially clinching a Class M quarterfinal. Bloomfield and Rocky Hill will also earn a bonus.

Avon (3-6) at Simsbury (6-3)

East Hartford, South Windsor and Southington will benefit from a Simsbury win.

Berlin, Bloomfield and Rocky Hill side with Avon.

Glastonbury (3-6) at Bloomfield (7-2)

The WARHAWKS must beat Glastonbury to keep their Class S hopes alive.

Berlin gets a bonus from a Bloomfield win. Ditto Rocky Hill, which has already clinched a home quarterfinal.

South Windsor, East Hartford and Southington all love Glastonbury tonight. After tonight, who knows.

Now, then, you might be wondering why we write that teams have "unofficially" qualified for the playoffs?

Silly rabbit, haven't you learned yet? No one dare passes the gates of states until the CIAC football committee lets them through.

(The CIAC rubber-stamps the pairings the day after the end of the regular season).

These TWENTY TWO teams have unofficially passed through said metaphorical gates:

CLASS LL: No. 1 Naugatuck (9-0), No. 2 Darien (9-0), No. 3 Shelton (8-1); No. 4 Greenwich (9-0); No. 5 West Haven (8-1); and, No. 6 South Windsor (8-1).

CLASS L: No. 1 Masuk (9-0); No. 2 Windsor (9-0); No. 3 Hand (8-1); No. 4 Fitch (9-0); and, No. 5 Middletown (9-0).

CLASS M: No. 1 Killingly (9-0); No. 2 Coventry/Windham Tech/Bolton/Lyman Memorial (10-0); No. 3 Sheehan (8-1); No. 4 Berlin (8-2); No. 5 Watertown (7-2); and, No. 6 SMSA/University/Classical (7-3).

CLASS S: No. 1 St. Joseph (8-1), No. 2 Ansonia (9-0); No. 3 Rocky Hill (9-0); No. 4 Bullard-Havens (9-1); and, No. 5 Valley Regional/Old Lyme (9-1).

DO THE MATH — there are three berths left in Class S, and a mere two in Class LL, L and M.

Now, onto BRACKETOLOGY.

GROUND RULES

1. We’re going to be wrong about a bunch of these predictions and that's cool. Surprises are (usually) FUN!

Honestly, we hope we're wrong more than we're right this Thanksgrabbing week because the playoff races look too predictable. We want chaos, something that Thanksgrabbing week does better than any other week of the foots ball year.

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 picking against you is the worst insult you’ve ever suffered, then, by all means, use it as motivation to win a state title. Should you win states, then you [naviga:u]dang[/naviga:u] sure better give us an invitation and free meal at your year-end banquet for providing you with the motivation nescessary to make all your dreams come true.

3. YOU are encouraged to follow the ROBOABACUS, the magnificent creation of Matt Fischer, the CIAC’s MacGyver. It updates the playoff races in real time unlike, you know, fake time.

4. This is an exhibition, not a competition. Please, no wagering.

Note that we've added both a win and lose category when listing the teams fighting for berths. The numbers in each column are the team's minimum and maximum number of potential points.

5. Hate what we have to say? Fine. Head on over to GameTimeCT, then, and get Sean Patrick Star's take on things. Go ahead. See if we care.

We’ve also included Sean’s picks to see who is the true clairvoyant. THERE CAN BE ONLY ONE.

We've bolded our differences in opinions.

We didn’t ask for his permission to do this, either, because we don't follow man's law, man.

The quarterfinals (Tuesday, Nov. 28) and semifinals (Sunday, Dec. 3) will be played at the higher seed. The finals will be played Saturday, Dec. 9 at sites to be determined. We'll assume likely West Haven High and Willow Brook Park in New Britain based on past seasons.

We really need some rich, benevolent folks to build us a Kibbie Dome to host future finals.

Once again, into the breach:

CLASS LL

IN: No. 1 Naugatuck (9-0); No. 2 Darien (9-0); No. 3 Shelton (8-1); No. 4 Greenwich (9-0); No. 5 West Haven (8-1); and, No. 6 South Windsor (8-1).

Naugy, Darien, Shelton and Greenwich will all earn home quarterfinals with wins on Thanksgrabbing.

Naugy hosts Ansonia (9-0). Have fun storming the castle.

Darien and New Canaan (7-2) head on over to Boyle Stadium in Stamford for what's been THE GAME on Thanksgrabbing the last four years. The two-time Class LL champion Blue Wave have won 34 straight games. Another win will tie Stamford (1911-14), Ansonia (2005-08) and Bloomfield (1996-2000) for the state's fourth-longest streak for the most consecutive games without a loss, according to the Connecticut High School Football Record Book. Ansonia and Bloomfield didn't lose a game during their respective streaks, whereas Stamford was 33-0-2.

Shelton hosts Derby and has ruled over it like a tyrant the past 14 years. The Gaels have won by an average of 29 points over that time.

Greenwich plays at Staples (6-3). Nothing to add here.

South Windsor travels to Enfield (1-8) on Thanksgrabbing Eve. West Haven moseys over to Fairfield Prep the next morning. The Southies and Westies could host a home quarterfinal with a win and a loss by one of the top four teams.

WIN-AND-IN

EAST HARTFORD (8-1)

NEXT: at Manchester (3-6), Thanksgrabbing Eve.

WIN: 1,280-1,250.

LOSE: 1,150-1,120.

BONUSES (50): GLASTONBURY (3-6) over Bloomfield (7-2); NEWINGTON (2-7) over Wethersfield (4-5); ENFIELD (1-8) over South Windsor (9-0) (8-1); SOUTHINGTON (7-2) over Cheshire (6-3); SIMSBURY (6-3) over Avon (3-6).

The Hornets would also qualify with two bonuses.

WIN-AND-HOPE

SOUTHINGTON (7-2)

NEXT: at Cheshire (6-3), Thanksgrabbing.

WIN: 1,140-1,120.

LOSE: 970-960.

BONUSES (40): GLASTONBURY (3-6) over Bloomfield (7-2); ENFIELD (1-8) over South Windsor (9-0) (8-1); SIMSBURY (6-3) over Avon (3-6); MANCHESTER (3-6) over East Hartford (8-1).

The Blue Knights can really use a Prep loss because those bonuses ain't good.

FAIRFIELD PREP (7-2)

NEXT: vs. West Haven (8-1), Thankgrabbing.

WIN: 1,150-1,110.

LOSE: 970-930.

BONUSES (40): AMITY (3-6) over North Haven (7-2); HARDING (2-7) over Bridgeport Central (2-7); SHEEHAN (8-1) over Lyman Hall (5-4); NEW LONDON (3-6) over NFA (5-4).

A Southington loss would be ideal for the Jesuits, but they can still edge the former on bonuses. A win and one bonus gets them 1,120 points and beats Cheshire's max (1,110).

CHESHIRE (6-3)

NEXT: vs. Southington (7-2), Thanksgrabbing.

WIN: 1,110-1,050.

LOSE: 940-880.

BONUSES (60): NOTRE DAME-W.H. (2-7) over Hamden (1-8); HARDING (2-7) over Bridgeport Central (2-7); WILBUR CROSS (6-3) over Hillhouse (6-3); SHELTON (8-1) over Derby (3-6); LAW (5-4) over Foran (4-5); NFA (5-4) over New London (3-6).

BEAT SOUTHINGTON. And hope Prep loses.

THE EIGHT: No. 1 Darien (10-0) vs. No. 8 Southington (9-1) (AGAIN); No. 2 Greenwich (10-0) vs. No. 7 East Hartford (9-1); No. 3 Shelton (9-1) vs. No. 6 South Windsor (9-1); and, No. 4 West Haven (9-1) vs. No. 5 Naugatuck (9-1).

SEAN SEZ: No. 1 Greenwich (10-0) vs. No. 8 Southington (8-2); No. 2 Shelton (9-1) vs. No. 7 East Hartford (9-1); No. 3 West Haven (9-1) vs. No. 6 South Windsor (9-1); and, No. 4 Naugatuck (9-1) vs. No. 5 Darien (9-1).

Our differing view on Darien-New Canaan has us disagreeing on everything from the one-through-five seeds. And neither of us have that Shelton-Naugy quarterfinal all of us here at Polecat Worldwide so desperately craves.

• • • •

CLASS L

IN: No. 1 Windsor (9-0); No. 2 Masuk (9-0); No. 3 Hand (8-1); No. 4 Fitch (9-0); and, No. 5 Middletown (9-0).

Windsor hosts Middletown on Thanksgrabbing Eve in a game So consequential that you should blow off all of your family plans that night in order to attend. Who needs them anyways? Besides, you’re going to be spending almost all Thanksgrabbing with them, and you'll be sick of them long before you slip into a tryptophan-induced slumber during the Giants game.

Back on point — Middletown v. Windsor is the lone Thanksgrabbing week game involving two ranked teams (Windsor is No. 5 in The Day's coaches' poll, the Blue Dragons are No. 8). The winner gets a home quarterfinal.

Masuk earns a home quarterfinal with a win over Newtown (6-3) on Thanksgrabbing Eve. Newtown has beaten the Panthers four years in a row. Masuk is looking for the big payback.

Hand crosses the border into Guilford on Wednesay in what may be the most lopsided rivalry of Thanksgrabbing week. Hand has a ludicrous 38-5-1 edge in the series.

Fitch plays at Ledyard (2-7). It needs to win to have a shot at a home quarterfinal. It will be in its best interest for Windsor to beat Middletown, too. The Warriors, even with a loss, can beat the Falcons on points for the fourth seed.

Fitch has a minimum of 1,330 points with a win, Windsor 1,310 with a loss. Windsor has six possible bonuses, the Falcons three, and five of the Warriors bonuses look pretty good.

WIN-AND-IN

MALONEY (8-1)

NEXT: at Platt (4-5), Thanksgrabbing.

WIN: 1,280-1,250.

LOSE: 1,140-1,110.

BONUSES (30): E.O. SMITH (6-3) over Tolland (4-5); HARTFORD PUBLIC (1-8) over Bulkeley/HMTCA/Weaver (2-7); FARMINGTON (2-7) over Plainville (5-4).

The Spartans unofficially qualify if E.O. Smith wins TONIGHT. If E.O. Smith loses, the Spartans better beat Platt because one of their remaining bonuses is shaky (Public) and the other is unlikely (Farmington).

NORTH HAVEN (7-2)

NEXT: at Amity (3-6), Thanksgrabbing.

WIN: 1,200-1,150.

LOSE: 1,060-1,010.

BONUSES (50): FAIRFIELD PREP (7-2) over West Haven (8-1); HARDING (2-7) over Bridgeport Central (2-7); CHESHIRE (6-3) over Southington (7-2); FORAN (4-5) over Law (5-4); POMPERAUG (2-7) over Notre Dame-Ffld. (4-5).

A New Canaan or Bunnell loss will also do the trick.

NEW CANAAN (7-2)

NEXT: vs. Darien (9-0) at Boyle Stadium, Thanksgrabbing.

WIN: 1,200-1,140.

LOSE: 1,000-940.

BONUSES (60): TRUMBULL (2-6) over St. Joseph (8-1); FAIRFIELD LUDLOWE (1-8) over Fairfield Warde (4-5); DANBURY (1-8) over Ridgefield (6-3); NORWALK (5-4) over McMahon (1-8); WESTHILL (6-3) over Stamford (3-6); TRINITY CATHOLIC (2-7) over Wilton (5-4).

Its remarkable 12-year postseason run is in jeopardy if it loses. It will need Bunnell to lose and get enough bonuses to hold off East Lyme or Hillhouse if either wins. It has a big enough lead over East Lyme and Hillhouse to beat them on points, but Bunnell is a considerable favorite against Stratford.

WIN-AND-HOPE

BUNNELL (7-2)

NEXT: at Stratford (4-5), Thanksgrabbing.

WIN: 1,110-1,070.

LOSE: 970-940.

BONUSES (30): NEWTOWN (6-3) over Masuk (9-0); EAST HAVEN (1-8) over Branford (2-7); BETHEL (3-6) over Brookfield (3-6).

It cannot catch North Haven. It needs to win and have Darien do it a BIG favor. It will get real fun (read: fabulous mess) if Bunnell and New Canaan lose. They'll both have a 940 minimum, shaky bonuses, and will have to worry about Hillhouse or East Lyme catching up. Again, the latter isn't likely, but neither was Norwich Free Academy making states in 2014 when it began Thanksgrabbing week ranked 14th in Class LL. And then all hell broke loose in one of the daffiest Thanksgrabbings of the millennium, and NFA went on to play for a state title. You just never know.

HILLHOUSE (6-3)

NEXT: vs. Wilbur Cross (6-3), Thanksgrabbing.

WIN: 980-950.

LOSE: 810-780.

BONUSES (30): AMITY (3-6) over North Haven (7-2); HAMDEN (1-8) over Notre Dame-W.H. (2-7); FORAN (4-5) over Law (5-4).

It needs to win and have Bunnell and New Canaan lose. Hillhouse will have a minimum of 950 points and the Bulldogs and Rams will each have 940. Then they start counting bonuses. New Canaan has the highest ceiling (1,000) with six possible bonuses. Hillhouse maxes out at 980 and Bunnell at 970.

NO GOOD

EAST LYME (6-3)

NEXT: vs. Waterford (0-9), Thanksgrabbing.

WIN: 960-900.

LOSE: 860-800.

BONUSES (60): GUILFORD (4-5) over Hand (8-1); STONINGTON (3-6) over Westerly, R.I. (4-3); LEDYARD (2-7) over Fitch (9-0); BARLOW (6-3) over Weston (6-3); NEW LONDON (3-6) over NFA (5-4); STRATFORD (4-5) over Bunnell (7-2).

It’s still in bad shape even if Bunnell and New Canaan lose. East Lyme’s maximum is only 20 points better than the Bulldogs' and Rams’ minimum, and there’s little chance it’s going to reach its max as four of its bonuses look bad on paper.

E.O. SMITH (6-3)

NEXT: vs. Tolland (4-5), Thanksgrabbing Eve Eve.

WIN: 940-890.

LOSE: 800-750.

BONUSES (50): WETHERSFIELD (4-5) over Newington (2-7); PLATT (4-5) over Maloney (8-1); BRISTOL EASTERN (2-7) over Bristol Central (6-3); HARTFORD PUBLIC (1-8) over Bulkeley/HMTCA/Weaver (2-7); FARMINGTON (1-7) over Plainville (5-4).

It’s finished once it loses a bonus, or once Bunnell or New Canaan earn one.

THE EIGHT (CH-CH-CH-CH-CHANGES): No. 1 Masuk (10-0) vs. No. 8 Bunnell (8-2) (THE REMATCHENING); No. 2 Middletown (10-0) vs. No. 7 North Haven (8-2); No. 3 Hand (9-1) vs. No. 6 Maloney (9-1); and, No. 4 Windsor (9-1) vs. No. 5 Fitch (10-0).

SEAN SEZ: No. 1 Windsor (10-0) vs. No. 8 New Canaan (8-2); No. 2 Masuk (10-0) vs. No. 7 North Haven (8-2); No. 3 Hand (9-1) vs. No. 6 Middletown (9-1); and, No. 4 Fitch (10-0) vs. No. 5 Maloney (9-1).

Our Class L picks were much too similiar, we have just one difference in Class M and are in complete agreement in Class S. That confluence of events set off our contrarian urges on fire and compelled us to make a big change somewhere. We couldn't find any upset in Class M or S that we could rationally make, so we'll roll the dice with Middletown. It's not too far-fetched (on paper). And if we're wrong? Oh, well. If you can't pick against a former dormmate, who can you pick against?

• • • •

CLASS M

IN: No. 1 Killingly (9-0); No. 2 Coventry/Windham Tech/Bolton/Lyman Memorial (10-0); No. 3 Sheehan (8-1); No. 4 Berlin (8-2); No. 5 Watertown (7-2); and, No. 6 SMSA/University/Classical (7-3).

Killingly, C/WT/B/LM, and Sheehan have all clinched home quarterfinals.

Killingly will be the one if it beats Woodstock and the MIGHTY PATRIOT BULLDOGS will be seeded second. They'd flip-flop if Killingly is upset, but it won't.

Berlin concluded its regular season last Friday. It earns a home quarterfinal if it gets one of its six bonuses.

Watertown and SMSA/University/Classical are chilling, waiting to find out where they're going for the quarterfinals.

WIN-AND-IN

BARLOW (6-3)

NEXT: at Weston (6-3), Thanksgrabbing.

WIN: 960-950.

LOSE: 800-790.

BONUSES (10): NOTRE DAME-FFLD. (4-5) over New Milford (3-6).

BEAT WESTON.

WESTON (6-3)

NEXT: vs. Barlow (6-3), Thanksgrabbing.

WIN: 960-950.

LOSE: 800-780.

BONUSES (10): NEW FAIRFIELD (1-8) over New Milford (3-6).

BEAT BARLOW.

WOLCOTT (5-4)

NEXT: vs. Holy Cross (5-4), Thanksgrabbing.

WIN: 890-860.

LOSE: 740-710.

BONUSES (30): OXFORD (3-6) over St. Paul (6-3); TORRINGTON (2-7) over Watertown (7-2); WOODLAND (5-4) over Seymour (7-2).

Finished if it loses.

WIN-AND-HOPE

LAW (5-4)

NEXT: vs. Foran (4-5), Thanksgrabbing.

WIN: 840-800.

LOSE: 700-660.

BONUSES (40): EAST HAVEN (1-8) over Branford (2-7); GUILFORD (4-5) over Hand (8-1); BETHEL (3-6) over Brookfield (3-6); LYMAN HALL (5-4) over Sheehan (8-1).

Win, hope Wolcott loses, and edge Bacon Academy (if it wins) and the Barlow-Weston loser on points.

NOT GOOD

BACON ACADEMY (5-4)

NEXT: vs. RHAM (4-5), Thanksgrabbing.

WIN: 810-760.

LOSE: 660-610.

BONUSES (50): Waterford (0-9) over East Lyme (6-3); WINDHAM (2-7) over Montville (4-5); STONINGTON (3-6) over Westerly, R.I. (4-3); LEDYARD (2-7) over Fitch (9-0); NEW LONDON (3-6) over NFA (5-4).

The Bobcats must win, Wolcott must lose, and it will help if Law loses, too. That still might not be enough to beat the Barlow-Weston loser because both will have a 790-760 edge in points over Bacon before bonuses.

LYMAN HALL (5-4)

NEXT: at Sheehan (8-1), Thanksgrabbing.

WIN: 800.

LOSE: 620.

BONUSES: None.

The Trojans are almost staked. They need four of the five other contenders to lose, and even then they could still fail to catch the Barlow-Weston loser.

THE EIGHT: No. 1 Killingly (10-0) vs. No. 8 Wolcott (6-4); No. 2 C/WT/B/LM (10-0) vs. No. 7 SMSA/U/C (7-3) (THE REMATCHENING); No. 3 Sheehan (9-1) vs. No. 6 Barlow (7-3); No. 4 Berlin (8-2) vs. No. 5 Watertown (8-2).

SEAN SEZ: No. 1 Killingly (10-0) vs. No. 8 Wolcott (6-4); No. 2 No. 2 C/WT/B/LM (10-0) vs. No. 7 SMSA/U/C (7-3); No. 3 Sheehan (9-1) vs. No. 6 Weston (7-3); and, No. 4 Berlin (8-2) vs. No. 5 Watertown (7-3).

Our only disagreement is the Barlow-Weston winner (we're going with the triple option team). Unpossible to be too dissimilar here, though, because the top four seeds are almost locked up.

C/WT/B/LM's page at MaxPreps.com already has it scheduled to play Watertown. What do they know that we don't?

• • • •

CLASS S

IN: No. 1 St. Joseph (8-1); No. 2 Ansonia; No. 3 Rocky Hill (9-0); No. 4 Bullard-Havens (9-1); and, No. 5 Valley Regional/Old Lyme (9-1).

The top four have clinched home quarterfinals, while Valley/OL just needs an opponent and a bus to get to its quarterfinal.

WIN-AND-IN

STAFFORD/EAST WINDSOR/SOMERS (8-1)

NEXT: at Windsor Locks/Suffield/East Granby (4-5), Thanksgrabbing Eve.

WIN: 1,280-1,250.

LOSE: 1,130-1,100.

BONUSES (30): GILBERT/NORTHWESTERN (4-5) over Waterbury Career Academy (3-6); NORTH BRANFORD (2-7) over Coginchaug/Hale-Ray (5-4); MORGAN (0-9) over Old Saybrook/Westbrook (7-2).

All but eliminated with a loss.

CROMWELL/PORTLAND (8-1)

NEXT: at Rocky Hill (9-0), Thanksgrabbing Eve.

WIN: 1,290-1,280.

LOSE: 1,100-1,090.

BONUSES (10): ROCKVILLE (1-8) over Ellington (4-5).

See Stafford/East Windsor/Somers.

CROSS DEM FINGERS

O’BRIEN TECH (8-2)

NEXT: Regular season over.

POINTS: 1,190-1,170.

BONUSES (20): PRINCE TECH (7-2) over Capital Prep/Achievement First (4-3); QUINEBAUG VALLEY (4-5) over Thames River (4-5).

The Condors must wait until Thanksgrabbing Eve and hope one of three things happens — WL/S/EG beats S/EW/S, Rocky Hill beats Cromwell/Portland, or Woodland beats Seymour. Bloomfield will need to win and earn all its bonuses to reach O'Brien's floor (1,170). 

WIN-AND-PRAY

PRINCE TECH (7-2)

NEXT: at Capital Prep/Achievement First, Thanksgrabbing Eve.

WIN: 1,160.

LOSE: 1,020.

BONUSES: None.

On thin ice because there are so many one-and-two loss teams in contention. That and they're a big underdog to Cap/Ac.

SEYMOUR (7-2)

NEXT: vs. Woodland (5-4), Thanksgrabbing Eve.

WIN: 1,190-1,140.

LOSE: 1,040-990.

BONUSES (50): WOLCOTT (5-4) over Holy Cross (5-4); KENNEDY (3-6) over Crosby (5-4); TORRINGTON (2-7) over Watertown (7-2); DERBY (3-6) over Shelton (8-1); SACRED HEART/KAYNOR TECH (0-9) over Wilby (0-9).

Needs a win, and two of the three — Cap/Ac over Prince Tech, Rocky Hill over Cromwell, or WL/S/EG over S/EW/S.

OLD SAYBROOK/WESTBROOK (7-2)

NEXT: vs. Morgan (0-9), Thanksgrabbing.

WIN: 1,120-1,100.

LOSE: 1,020-1,000.

BONUSES (20): GRANBY (3-6) over Canton (1-8); GILBERT/NORTHWESTERN (4-5) over Waterbury Career Academy (3-6).

The Rams' upset loss to Haddam-Killingworth on Nov. 10, coupled with playing winless Morgan, has all but staked them. They have the lowest ceiling (1,120 points) among the teams at the end of this list. Plainfield and Bloomfield, by comparison, can max out at 1,170. Can.

PLAINFIELD (7-2)

NEXT: at Griswold (6-3), Thanksgrabbing.

WIN: 1,170-1,130.

LOSE: 1,010-970.

BONUSES (40): WOODSTOCK ACADEMY (4-5) over Killingly (9-0); WATERFORD (0-9) over East Lyme (6-3); STONINGTON (3-6) over Westerly, R.I. (4-3); BACON ACADEMY (5-4) over RHAM (4-5).

The Panthers' maximum looks great on paper and they can pass O'Brien and Prince (even if it wins). Two of their bonuses are too far-fetched, though (Woodstock and Waterford).

BLOOMFIELD (7-2)

NEXT: vs. Glastonbury (3-6), TONIGHT.

WIN: 1,170-1,120.

LOSE: 1,010-960.

BONUSES (50): TOLLAND (4-5) over E.O. Smith; BULKELEY/HMTCA/WEAVER (2-7) over Hartford Public; PLAINVILLE (5-4) over Farmington (1-7); AVON (3-6) over Simsbury (6-3); RHAM (4-5) over Bacon Academy (5-4).

The WARHAWKS are in the same spot as Plainfield — their maximum can get them to states, but they probably won’t cash in on all their bonuses (in particular Avon and Tolland).

THE EIGHT (CH-CH-CH-CH-CHANGES): No 1. Ansonia (10-0) vs. No. 8 Seymour (8-2) (THE REMATCHENING); No. 2 St. Joseph (9-1) vs. No. 7 O’Brien Tech (9-1); No. 3 Rocky Hill (10-0) vs. No. 6 Valley Regional/Old Lyme (9-1); No. 4 Bullard-Havens (9-1) vs. No. 5 Stafford/East Windsor/Somers (9-1).

SEAN SEZ: Same. BORING.

FYI — we flipped Valley/OL and S/EW/S back to where we orginially had them.

• • • •

GAWK SLACK-JAWED at The Day's Top 10 state coaches' poll: 1. Darien (13 first-place votes); 2. Greenwich; 3. Ansonia; 4. St. Joseph; 5. Windsor; 6. Masuk; 7. Shelton; 8. Middletown; 9. West Haven; and, 10. Hand.

• • • •

The GameTimeCT.com/New Haven Register/Hearst Inc. Top 10 media poll: 1. Darien (24 first-place votes); 2. Greenwich; 3. Ansonia; TIE, St. Joseph and Windsor; No. 6 Masuk; No. 7 Shelton; No. 8 Middletown; No. 9 West Haven; and, No. 10 New Canaan.

• • • •

Ned Freeman’s cold, calculating computer rankings at CalPreps.com: 1. Darien; 2. St. Joseph; 3. Greenwich; 4. West Haven; 5. Shelton; 6. Masuk; 7. Ridgefield; 8. Hand; 9. Windsor; and, 10. Staples.

Middletown was 11th and Ansonia 20th. The latter's NVL schedule keeps dragging it down, down, down. A win over Naugatuck and a successful postseason will move the Chargers up.

The computer rated Ridgefield’s schedule as the state’s hardest with five of its opponents having five wins or more. It’s beaten Staples (24-20) and Wilton (17-3), and lost to St. Joseph (38-35), and unbeaten Darien (38-12) and Greenwich (26-21).

Shelton shouldn't have an 8-1 record when its opponents are a combined 51-30. It’s won eight in a row since an opening-night loss to Cheshire (28-10) over the likes of Hand (21-19), Fairfield Prep (19-15), North Haven (31-20), Newtown (35-28) and West Haven (38-28). By comparison, 51-30 is the same record for the opponents of Cheshire (6-3) and New London (3-6).

Derby (3-6) has the hardest schedule based solely on its opponents' win-loss record (54-27). And it gets to play Shelton this week. Oy.

• • • •

You loyal reader of the Polecat know that we love Ned Freeman’s computer model over at CalPreps (his first name, though, yeesh).

Freeman’s model has been a pretty good bellwether for the state rankings. It has, at times, been ahead of the curve when compared to voters in both polls. The model also picks games starting in October.

Freeman wrote at his site that blindly picking the team with the better record (or the home team when both teams have the same record) is 66.8 percent.

“Anything up around 75-80-percent is pretty good,” Freeman wrote, “but it's important to understand that it's easy to pick 70 percent in regular-season high school football due to the large number of mismatched games.”

Ned's model has correctly picked Connecticut’s games 83.4 percent of the time this season (307-61). It was 15-1 this weekend.

Just for fun, we present the computer’s picks for this week:

[naviga:u]TONIGHT[/naviga:u]

E.O. Smith 34, Tolland 3

Gilbert-Northwestern Regional 21, Waterbury Career Academy 20

Glastonbury 19, Bloomfield 17

New Milford 28, New Fairfield 12

Simsbury 42, Avon 0

[naviga:u]THANKSGRABBING EVE[/naviga:u]

Capital Prep/Achievement First 42, Prince Tech 14

East Hartford 40, Manchester 14

Granby 38, Canton 14

Hand 38, Guilford 0

Masuk 40, Newtown 6

Montville 28, Windham 21

North Branford 31, Coginchaug 21

Northwest Catholic 35, East Catholic 10

Ridgefield 49, Danbury 0

Sacred Heart/Kaynor Tech 31, Wilby 27

St. Paul 31, Oxford 21

Seymour 44, Woodland 21

South Windsor 48, Enfield 20

Stafford/Somers/East Windsor 34, Windsor Locks/Suffield/East Granby 10

Wethersfield 21, Newington 14

Windsor 27, Middletown 21

[naviga:u]THANKSGRABBING[/naviga:u]

Abbott RVT/Immaculate 46, Wolcott RVT/Housatonic/Wamogo 6

Ansonia 34, Naugatuck 21

Branford 28, East Haven 17

Bacon Academy 21, RHAM 14

Bristol Central 28, Bristol Eastern 14

Brookfield 21, Bethel 17

Bunnell 35, Stratford 14

Crosby 40, Kennedy 27

Darien 34, New Canaan 10

Ellington 28, Rockville 13

East Lyme 44, Waterford 6

Fairfield Warde 44, Fairfield Ludlowe 13

Farmington 28, Plainville 21

Fitch 48, Ledyard 6

Foran 35, Law 27

Greenwich 31, Staples 21

Harding 31, Bridgeport Central 20

Hartford Public 35, Bulkeley/Trinity/Weaver 14

Killingly 62, Woodstock Academy 3

Lewis Mills 27, Nonnewaug 19

Maloney 31, Platt 20

North Haven 42, Amity 19

Norwalk 31, McMahon 20

Norwich Free Academy 31, New London 20

Notre Dame-Ffld. 28, Pomperaug 21

Notre Dame-W.H. 35, Hamden 28

Old Saybrook-Westbrook 50, Morgan 0

Plainfield 21, Griswold 17

Rocky Hill 28, Cromwell/Portland 19

St. Joseph 56, Trumbull 12

Sheehan 42, Lyman Hall 8

Shelton 52, Derby 7

Southington 27, Cheshire 21

Thames River 27, Quinebaug Valley 26

Watertown 42, Torrington 20

Weston 24, Barlow 22

West Haven 26, Fairfield College 14

Westerly 26, Stonington 8

Westhill 31, Stamford 27

Wilbur Cross 21, Hillhouse 17

Wilton 41, Trinity Catholic 7

Wolcott 42, Holy Cross 31

• • • •

Dig (or mock) the ballot Polecat HQ filed for the GameTimeCT/New Haven Register/Hearst Empire media poll:

1. Darien

2. Greenwich

3. St. Joseph

4. Ansonia

5. Masuk

6. New Canaan

7. Shelton

8. West Haven

9. Windsor

10. Ridgefield

11. Hand

12. Middletown

13. North Haven

14. South Windsor

15. Killingly

• • • •

NOTABLES~!

Tyler Blizzard blocked back-to-back punts to set up two Greenwich touchdowns as it pulled away in the second half of its 48-20 win over Xavier. The score was tied at 13 when Blizzard had his first block for the Cardinals. Tysen Comizio ran for 260 yards and four touchdowns for Greenwich and Gavin Muir completed 12 of 22 passes for 151 yards and a touchdown and scored on a 27-yard run. Penn State-bound Will Levis completed 17 of 42 passes for 279 yards and three touchdowns for the Falcons (4-6).

Tomasz Johnson ran 25 times for 191 yards and three touchdowns as Windsor scored five straight touchdowns in the first half of its 35-7 rout over Norwich Free Academy. Julian Jackson completed 7-of-9 passes for 175 yards with two touchdowns and an interception for the Warriors, which scored their first four touchdowns on seven plays.

Spencer Lockwood ran THIRTY NINE TIMES for 225 yards and four touchdowns and had nine tackles as Killingly knocked off Capital Prep/Achievement First, 41-32. Zach Caffrey had 16 carries for 118 yards and a score, 11 tackles and an interception for Killingly (9-0). Killingly ran 62 times for 373 yards and six scores and attempted just one pass. WHY CAN'T MORE OF YOU BE LIKE KILLINGLY? Kyle Zajack completed 24 of 43 passes for 399 yards with five touchdowns and two interceptions for the Trailblazers (4-3).

Tyler Nelli ran for 93 yards and two touchdowns and threw a 38-yard touchdown to Justice Ferris as Fitch thrashed Windham, 42-6, to qualify for the Class L tournament. … Josh Curtin scored on kickoff returns of 77 and 80 yards and ran for a 63-yard touchdown on his only carry in Stonington’s 49-6 win over Thames River. Nate Miller had five carries for 87 yards and two touchdowns for the Bears and Hayden Parrilla had a game-high 10 carries and 104 yards. Okay, an update on the Bears ditching GOD’S OFFENSE that game for the (gags) spread. The Westerly Sun reported that Stonington ran 30 times for 365 yards and four touchdowns (very nice) and only attempted five passes. So at least the Bears controlled themselves and didn’t succumb to an unholy compulsion to throw the ball. Still, the road to hell is paved by the spread. Look it up. It's in Revelations.

Valley Regional/Old Lyme’s defense was huge in Friday’s 22-7 win over Haddam-Killingworth. Ian Neviaser (lineman) and Blair Allen (linebacker) stopped H-K on back-to-back runs from the Warriors’ 1-yard line on third and fourth down in the third quarter. Valley/OL stopped the Cougars at its 5-yard line on the latter’s next drive. Mike Cullina completed 16 of 27 passes for 266 yards with two touchdowns and an interception and scored on a 1-yard run for the WARRIORCATS (9-1).

HATS OFF to East Lyme for one of the mas macho offensive drives of the season in its 21-6 win over Guilford. The Vikings drove 99 yards on 27 plays and bled 12 minutes, 20 seconds off the clock. Yeah, that’s a tear in our eye. Isaac Tomblin ran 19 times on that drive, including a 4-yard run on fourth-and-inches from the East Lyme 10-yard line. Tomblin ran FORTY TIMES for 180 yards.

Jonte Roc ran 21 times for 144 yards and two touchdowns and threw a 40-yard touchdown as O’Brien Tech inched closer to its first playoff berth with a 38-20 win over Platt Tech. Jommar Roc ran for a 27-yard touchdown and threw a 17-yard touchdown pass for the Condors (8-2), which is in their seventh-year as a varsity program. ... Kareem Dixon scored on runs of 42 and 45 yards and caught a 31-yard touchdown pass as the Creed/Career/Whitney Tech tri-op shredded Bassick, 61-28. John Anderson scored on a 10-yard interception return, ran for a 41-yard touchdown, and kicked seven extra points for C/C/WT and Wyatt Jackson threw a 31-yard touchdown pass and scored on a 20-yard run.

Seymour scored FORTY TWO first-quarter points as it kicked Derby from one end of the The Valley to the other, 63-14. Bobby Melms ran for a 54-yard touchdown on the game’s first play and scored a few plays later on a 65-yard punt return. Melms had five carries for 121 yards and two scores for the Wildcats (7-2) and Ian Sadick threw touchdowns of 18, 50 and 32 yards, ran for a conversion, and kicked five extra points. Tyler Ganim scored on interception returns of 30 and 80 yards for Seymour and Andrew Nimo-Sefah returned another interception for a 55-yard touchdown.

Muhammed Codjoe ran six times for. … WHAT, 198 yards and two touchdowns as New Britain snapped Berlin in half, 51-6. The Hurricanes (5-5) ran for 474 yards (neat) and seven touchdowns. Note that the Redcoats (8-2) had already clinched a playoff berth and New Britain was the one whose season ended last Friday. ... Dimitrie Ivey ran 20 times for 185 yards and four touchdowns and scored on four conversion runs as Bridgeport Central edged Fairfield Ludlowe, 46-44. Josh Evans completed 33 of 54 passes for 379 yards and three touchdowns with three interceptions for Ludlowe.

Tyrese Wright completed 6 of 10 passes for 204 yards and two touchdowns, ran 14 times for 189 yards and a score, AND had 13 tackles and one forced fumble as Bullard-Havens crushed Prince Tech, 42-8, to both win the Connecticut Technical Conference title and qualify for the Class S playoffs. Keith Gathers ran for 91 yards and two scores for B-H (9-1) and Tavon Smith added 16 tackles and a sack.

Efren Dawson and Josh Holman hooked up on three touchdown passes in Cheney Tech’s 27-6 win over the Vinal Tech/East Hampton/Goodwin Tech tri-op. First, Dawson threw a 6-yard touchdown pass to Holman. Six yards was too short for the duo, so they connected on a 17-yard touchdown for their second score. They still weren’t satisfied and wanted to try something crazy, so they made their final touchdown play for 98 yards.

Farmington had too many Conrad’s for CREC to handle in its 43-6 win. Zac Conrad completed 7 of 8 passes for 185 yards and three touchdowns and scored on a 14-yard run for the Indians. Jacob Conrad completed 7 of 8 passes for 151 yards and two scores. Also, Angel Velez had three catches for 91 yards and two touchdowns, and Dante Colagiovanni had six receptions for 111 yards and a score.

• • • •

Thanks for reading. More later tonight.

Adios.