Howdy,

There have been all sorts of theories about both the universe and our reality. Phenomenalism is the belief that only that which we perceive exists. Our existence could be the creation of our imagination. We could be part of a multiverse. Or we could be the figment of an autistic boy's mind as he gazes for hours at his treasured snow globe.

Should we all be part of some "Truman Show", then Week 6 will be known as, "The One With the Records."

West Haven coach Ed McCarthy won his 321st game Friday night as his team edged Xavier, 35-34. He now shares the state record for most coaching wins with former Ledyard coach Bill Mignault.

"We've never mention it once in the locker room," McCarthy told Sean Patrick Bowley and Mike Madera of the New Haven Register. "I'm sure the coaches have talked about it, not in front of me.

"Someday, I'll be very, very proud of it. Right now is the fifth win."

McCarthy has a career record of 321-112-9. He coached at St. Joseph from 1971-82 and led it to three CIAC state titles. He moved to West Haven before the 1983 season and has won four state titles there.

Thursday night, Ansonia's Arkeel Newsome became the state career-rushing leader in a 56-21 rout of Masuk. Newsome has 8,397 yards.

McCarthy and the Westies earned their fifth win of the season in riveting fashion. The game was tied four times, the last time after Duane Gary ran for a 57-yard touchdown run seconds into the fourth quarter to knot the game at 28.

Syracuse-bound Ervin Philips ran for a 9-yard touchdown in overtime. Tayvon Gibbs' extra point gave West Haven the lead.

Joe Carbone's 1-yard touchdown run pulled Xavier within a point of the Blue Devils. Falcons' head coach Sean Marinan opted to go for the win rather than the extra point and the tie.

"We talked about it and said, 'How long are we going to keep playing with them?" Marinan told Madera. "We felt we had a little momentum at that point and my gut said to go for it."

Nyrell Moore and Philips stopped Carbone at the 1 to give West Haven the win.

It was an odd finish given that neither offense could be stopped all night. The trio of Marshont Little, Gary and Philips combined to run for 378 yards and five touchdowns for the Blue Devils (5-1).

Andrew Meoli and Carbone combined to run for 342 yards and five touchdowns for Xavier (4-2), ranked 10th in The Day state coaches' poll.

"What a great game," Philips told Madera. "We wanted to get this win for Coach Mac."

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Other notables from Friday night:

• Farmington 13, No. 7 Windsor: Farmington quarterback Jeremy Buck ran for two touchdowns while the defense held the Warriors to 25 yards in the second half.

• Hand 35, No. 8 Fairfield Prep 27: Hey, look who's back. Nick van Dell completed 18 of 23 passes for 221 yards and two touchdowns as the Tigers won their fifth straight. Tom Wilson also caught touchdowns of 25 and 76 yards and scored on an 85-yard kickoff return.

• Platt 34, Bloomfield 32: Tyzhan LEATHERWOOD ran 48 times for 233 yards and three touchdowns as the Panthers rallied from a 13-point, first-quarter deficit to remain unbeaten. Norvell Stewart had 15 carries for 221 and four touchdowns for Bloomfield and completed 7 of 14 passes for 118 yards and a TD.

• Trumbull 50, Greenwich 44: Marc Cesar ran for a game-winning 10-yard touchdown with one minute, 49 seconds left. Trumbull quarterback Nick Roberts threw for 371 yards and three TDs. Austin Longi had 26 carries for 330 yards and five TDs for the Cardinals.

• Valley Regional/Old Lyme 38, North Branford 13: Phil Cohen completed 20 of 29 passes for 291 yards and three touchdowns for the unbeaten WARRIORCATS (5-0). It was also another big win for them as the Thunderbirds have been one of the best teams in the Pequot Football Conference.

• Montville 41, Waterford 37: Jeremiah Crowley ran 27 times for 346 yards and six touchdowns for Montville.

• Bulkeley 14, E.O. Smith 7: Roderic Crocker threw a 15-yard touchdown to James Hudson with 35 seconds remaining in the game. Bulkeley (3-3). Crocker ran 26 times for 255 yards and a TD.

• Newington 52, South Windsor 36: Jake Hedberg completed 26 of 39 passes for 459 yards and four TDs and ran for two touchdowns.

• Stratford 21, Kennedy 18: Jack Duffy threw a game-winning 12-yard touchdown pass to Dovon Davidson with 90 seconds left in the game.

• New Britain 14, Simsbury 7 (OT): Kyshawn Gunn ran for a game-winning 6-yard touchdown.

• Griswold 16, Fitch 14: David Jackson kicked a game-winning 36-yard field goal with 1:42 left in the game.

• Naugatuck 39, Bunnell 0: Jason Bradley completed 20 of 32 passes for 396 yards and four TDs to give first-year head coach Craig Bruno a win over his alma mater and former team.

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Here's how those in The Day coaches' poll fared:

No. 1 Ansonia beat Masuk on Thursday, 56-21: Doug Bonjour and Kevin Duffy of Hearst Inc., Kountry Kyle Brennan of the Waterbury Repubican-American, Pooch Diggity Dogg of JRC Amalgamated, and a Polecat lackey all reporting.

No 2. New Canaan trounced Chicopee, Mass., 48-20: The Rams scored on their first seven possessions. Jon Chik of Hearst Inc. reporting.

No. 3. St. Joseph thumped Bassick, 49-6: Jordan Vazzano completed 12 of 17 passes for 169 yards and three TDs. Hearst Inc. had a blurb HERE.

No. 4 Southington (5-0) plays at Hall (4-1) today at 1:30 p.m.: Check it out if you don't have any plans.

No. 5 Middletown beat Bristol Central, 49-21: Dario Highsmith ran 24 times for 346 yards and two TDs and completed all five of his passes for 58 yards and two scores. Gentleman Jim Bransfield of the Middletown Press reporting.

No. 6 Newtown 56, Wolcott 14: Cooper Gold ran 20 times for 291 yards and three TDs. Rich Gregory of Hearst Inc. reporting.

Farmington knocked off No. 7 Windsor, 13-7: Tom Yantz of the Hartford Courant reporting.

Hand outscored No. 8 Fairfield Prep, 35-27: Doug Bonjour and Pooch Diggity Dogg reporting.

No. 9 Glastonbury 56, East Hartford 26: Jalen Ollie threw for 170 yards and three TDs and ran for another. The Hartford Courant has a blurb HERE.

West Haven outpunched No. 10 Xavier, 35-34 (OT): Mike Madera reporting.

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Thanks for reading. More later.

Vaya con dios….