Howdy,

To those of you not familiar with the pro rasslin’, a “squash match” is just as it sounds — one rassler (or rasslers) squashes their opponent(s) for a dominant win.

The CIAC’s semifinals could’ve be labeled “Squash Match Sunday”.

Seven games were played. Four were blowouts.

Maloney’s 16-6 win over city-rival Platt wasn’t a rout, but the Spartans never trailed, led 16-0 at halftime, and didn’t give up a touchdown until the final minute.

Not to be a killjoy, but Saturday’s finals don’t look much better:

CLASS LL: Greenwich (12-0) vs. New Canaan (11-1).

The Cardinals went to New Canaan on Oct. 6 and leveled it, 42-14.

Greenwich is also playing at a ridiculous level. CalPreps has tracked Connecticut high school football since 2003. The only teams who have finished with a higher rating than Greenwich’s current rating were 2015 Darien and 2011 Xavier, respectively.

Dag.

CLASS L: Hand (12-0) vs. Maloney (10-2)

The only thing that’s kept the Tigers from being the No. 1 team in the state this season is their schedule. That’s it. They’ve outscored opponents 599-92.

It was over three months ago, but the Spartans needed a fourth-quarter drive to beat Windsor, 26-20.

Hand led Windsor, 22-0, less than four minutes into today’s semifinal.

Eep.

CLASS M: St. Joseph (11-1) vs. Berlin/Sheehan winner

Berlin at Sheehan was ppd. to Monday night at 6:30. due to the threat of thunderstorms.

The winner gets a Cadets team that choked out Class L finalist New Canaan in their season-opener, 28-0.

Yipes.

CLASS S: Bloomfield (11-1) vs. Haddam-Killingworth (11-1)

The WARHAWKS stopped Ansonia from reaching its ninth-straight state final and snapped its eight-year winning streak at Nolan Field (Naugatuck was the last visitor to win there, 38-20, on Nov. 25, 2010).

Bloomfield and Ansonia are a level above the rest of the division in size, speed and talent. We don’t see things going well for H-K on Saturday, even if it does use GOD’S OFFENSE.

All finals will be held at Shelton and Willow Brook Park in New Britain. The CIAC will announce the times and who-goes-where later.

And now, some quick summaries of Sunday’s events.

• • • •

CLASS LL

Greenwich 50, Newtown 0

MEIN GOTT.

The Nighthawks routed almost everyone they played this season, had allowed the second-fewest points in the state (64), and knocked off three-time, three-time, three-time defending Class LL champion Darien last Tuesday.

Greenwich beat Newtown by FIFTY and outgained them, 338-24.

These Cardinals are absurd.

Gavin Muir completed 15 of 21 passes for 216 yards and four touchdowns and scored on a 1-yard run.

Chris Elsberry of The Ruden Report and David Fierro of the Greenwich Time/GameTimeCT/Hearst Inc. Monolith reporting.

New Canaan 38, Fairfield Prep 7

The Rams are willing to run the ball, but they’ve used the pass to become the state’s most dominant program this millennium.

It’s notable, then, that New Canaan ran more and gained more yardage on the ground than with the pass on Sunday (44 carries for 268 yards).

J.R. Moore ran 23 times for 147 yards and two touchdowns for the Rams.

Dave Ruden of the eponymous Ruden Report and Dave Stewart of the GameTimeCT/Hearst Inc. Monolith reporting.

• • • •

CLASS L

Hand 49, Windsor 7

Phoenix Billings threw three touchdowns and ran for another for the Tigers, who led 42-7 at the half. The end.

Chris Rzasa of the Hartford Courant and Joe-Joe, Mor-el-lio (we want you on our team) of the New Haven Register/GameTimeCT/Hearst Inc. Monolith reporting.

Maloney 16, Platt 6

The Spartans’ D played a big role in them winning Stoddard Bowl II: THE REMATCHENING~!

Maloney’s defense stopped the Panthers twice on fourth-and-goal on their first two possessions.

The Spartans offense, after that second stop, went on an 18-play, 99-yard scoring drive that lasted 7 minutes, 5 seconds.

Maloney’s Elliott Good threw two touchdowns to Victor Marquez (eight catches, 108 yards).

Platt beat the Spartans, 36-20, to win the 61st Stoddard Bowl between the Meriden rivals on Nov. 21.

Paul Augeri of the Middletown Press/GameTimeCT/Hearst Inc. Monolith, Shawn McFarland of the Hartford Courant, and Sean Krofssik and John Pettit of the Meriden Record-Journal reporting.

• • • •

CLASS M

St. Joseph 52, Killingly 7

Maryland-bound David Summers completed 10 of 18 passes for 319 yards and four touchdowns as the Cadets dethroned the defending champions.

St. Joseph scored on five of its six first-half possessions.

Marc Allard of the Norwich Bulletin and Bill Bloxsom of the GameTimeCT/Hearst Inc. Monolith reporting. 

• • • •

CLASS S

Bloomfield 26, Ansonia 19

Daron Bryden threw two touchdown passes to Anthony Simpson (26, 35 yards) and a third to Jayvon Massey (72 yards) for the WARHAWKS.

Bloomfield’s Ky’juon Butler also ran for 162 yards and a TD.

Sheldon Schuler threw two touchdowns for the Chargers, the latter for 29 yards to Jalen Johnson with 2:01 remaining.

Ansonia recovered the onside kick. Moments later, Shykeem Harmon ran 45 yards to the Bloomfield 5-yard line but was caught and fumbled the ball away.

Sean Begin of the Hartford Courant, Handsome Mike Madera of the GameTimeCT/Hearst Inc. Monolith, and Roger Cleaveland and Mark Jaffee of the Waterbury Republican-American reporting.

Haddam-Killingworth 21, Stafford/East Windsor/Somers 14 (OT)

Tobey Callender ran for a 1-yard touchdown to start overtime and the Cougars’ defense held to send the team to their first state final since 1994.

Zach Kauffman scored on two 1-yard runs for H-K.

Julien Rivas ran for a 4-yard touchdown for the Bulldogs (11-1), and Colton Engel caught a 13-yard touchdown pass from Tyler Ouellette.

Lastly, Cromwell/Portland routed H-K (47-19, Sept. 29), S/EW/S routed Cromwell/Portland (41-6, Nov. 27), and H-K edged S/EW/S. CIRCLE OF STRIFE.

Jim Fuller of the New Haven Register/GameTimeCT/Hearst Inc. Monolith and Lori Riley of the Hartford Courant reporting.

• • • •

Ned Freeman’s cold, calculating computer rankings for CalPreps: 1. Greenwich, 2. New Canaan, 3. St. Joseph; 4. Hand, 5. Newtown, 6. Darien, 7. Shelton, 8. Fairfield Prep, 9. New Britain, and, 10. Staples.

Berlin is 13th, followed by Sheehan, Maloney and Bloomfield. H-K is No. 29.

• • • •

Thanks for reading. More soon.

Adios....