Trumbull — Brendan Rankowitz limped around McDougall Stadium to hug well-wishers, the game ball tucked under one arm.

"I tweaked it," the Staples of Wesport receiver/defensive back said of his ankle injury. "That's one of the things about football."

Rankowitz was emblematic of the punishment Staples took in its 14-10, come-from-behind win over Bridgeport Central in the Fairfield County Interscholastic Athletic Conference Championship game. Calling it a game, however, is pushing it because this was more a street brawl.

"It was a heavyweight fight," Staples coach Marce Petroccio said. "We were getting beat up pretty good. They've (Central) got one heck of a football team. They played great defense. They're physical. We just kind of tried to match them blow-for-blow."

The Wreckers got the worst end of the punishment. It seemed as if every other play the Staples offense ran, a capacity crowd responded with an "oh-hhhh" after a Central defender hammered a Wreckers' ballcarrier.

"It's nothing like we played this year," Rankowitz said. "They're a real physical team."

Staples is the unanimous No. 1 team in The Day's Top 10 high school state coaches poll after No. 2 Glastonbury was upset by Simsbury, 34-33.

The Wreckers came so very close to losing both their ranking and their first game, though.

Bridgeport Central (8-2) dominated the first half and led 10-0. Its defense didn't allow a first down and only 28 yards.

"That's a very good football team," Petroccio said of the Hilltoppers. "They're physical, tough and well coached. Coach (Dave) Cadelina deserves all the credit in the world and his staff."

The score would have been worse had it not been for Staples' defense. That unit has allowed a state-best 35 points and held Central to 138 yards for the game.

To put the Wreckers' defensive performance in perspective, Central had rushed for 333 yards and five touchdowns the previous week in a 42-7 rout over then top-ranked New Canaan.

Central has also won the state weightlifting competition three of the last four years, a testament to both its power and commitment.

Staples didn't give up a first down in the second half.

"We have a great defense," Rankowitz said. "We knew it would pay off in the end, and we knew a great defense would keep us in the game."

The Wreckers' triple option offense finally gained some traction in the second half. They opted to run some of their "Cheetah" package, a name for their single wing package in which running back Matt Kelly takes the direct snap.

"We just tried to get them to bite a little bit more on Matt Kelly," Petroccio said. "It's like, 'Listen, let's get our Cheetah set in. Let's get Matt Kelly the ball at quarterback. Let's run a little bit.' And I think that's what really opened things up for us a little bit."

Kelly scored on a 1-yard run with five minutes, 36 seconds left in the third quarter to cut the Hilltoppers' lead to 10-7.

Central had a chance to score late in the fourth quarter when, on a third-and-14 play at its 48, a wide-open Lucas Desouza dropped a pass.

The Hilltoppers couldn't run out the clock, either. They had the ball with over five minutes left and had a 3-yard run to set up third-and-2, but were flagged after the play for a personal foul.

Staples got the ball back, and on third-and-11, Rankowitz got behind the defense, but dropped what would have been a 44-yard touchdown.

"All we were thinking about," Petroccio said, "'was, 'I can't believe this kid's career is going to end here as a Staples captain, and as a great receiver and great defensive back, by dropping the ball.'"

Rankowitz would get his chance at retribution, however. Central took over on downs at its own 44 with 2:14 remaining, but had to punt after three runs netted only seven yards.

Staples got the ball back at its own 26 with 1:39 left and no timeouts. Keith Gelman, who took over at quarterback after starter Brandon Pacilio broke his ankle in Week 6, threw an 8-yard pass to Rankowitz.

Central called timeout to settle its defense with 1:22 left.

On second down, Gelman threw a short out to Rankowitz, who was at his team's 39. Rankowitz juked a defender, got a great block from Kelly, then cut towards the middle of the field for a 66-yard touchdown.

"It was terrible (dropping the ball earlier)," Rankowitz said. "I just felt so bad for my teammates. I thought I had let them down. I was lucky enough to get another shot."

Rankowitz intercepted a pass at the Staples 38 to end the game.

"We just kept perservering and perservering," Petroccio said. "We kept taking the body blows. I guess, in the end, we threw the knockout punch, and that's why were FCIAC champs."

The Wreckers have just five days to get ready for their Thanksgiving Day game against Greenwich (7-2) after being brutalized by Central. A win gets them the top seed in Class LL. A loss probably knocks them out.

"We're going to have to do what we have to do," Petroccio said. "We'll give them a couple of days off and we'll get ready to go."

Pomperaug power■ It was perhaps fitting that a Pomperaug of Southbury team known for its brute power had Thursday's South-West Conference final saved by 6-foot, 230-pound fullback-linebacker C.J. Elser.

Masuk of Monroe trailed by eight points and had a fourth-and-5 at the Panthers 11 with 2 minutes left.

Elser intercepted a Casey Cochran pass at the 6 and returned it to the Masuk 37. It allowed Pomperaug to score again and escape with a 38-23 win in a battle of unbeatens.

"Coming out of the huddle, I made sure that I had the running back coming out of the backfield," Elser said. "As soon as he took that one step, I was like, 'they're going to look at this kid because they didn't hit him all game coming out of the backfield.' They had one play left and they're going to try to go to this kid.

"I used my thinking cap a little bit."

Pomperaug (10-0), ranked second in The Day's poll, led 31-10 with less than five minutes left in the third quarter. It then tried to throw the ball and failed, giving Masuk the ball back.

Masuk scored twice to cut the deficit to 31-23 with over seven minutes left.

"It's great playing Masuk because you know it'll be a fun game and it's going to be a challenge," Elser said. "They're a great team."

Masuk had Cochran, a New London transfer, throw nearly all game — he was 34 of 67 for 544 yards with four interceptions and two touchdowns — and Pomperaug spent the majority of the game on defense.

Pomperaug looked gassed in the fourth quarter, but Elser said their conditioning paid off.

"It was tough because I play both ways," he said. "I just had to suck it up. It's a part of football. I'm going to go on to play in college and a bunch of the other players are looking at college. We train all week with our conditioning. Coach (Chuck) Drury instills that in us; that we have to keep our breath."

Ben Crick ran 24 times for 162 yards and three touchdowns for Pomperaug while Elser had six carries for 59 yards, including a 28-yard touchdown. Elser was also named game MVP.

Mathematics of chaos

■ As a public service, here is a brief (as brief as they possibly can) look at the CIAC's six playoff races:

Class LL

■ Staples (9-0): In with a win and gets the top seed. It will need help if it loses because several teams could pass it.

■ Xavier (8-1): In with a win and likely the second seed. In danger with a loss to winless Middletown.

■ Glastonbury (9-1): Finished its season Saturday. It needs to either earn one of six bonuses, or have Bridgeport Central lose just one bonus.

■ Bridgeport Central (8-1): The Hilltoppers are in serious trouble. They will only get 100 points from beating winless city-rival Harding, giving them 1,230 points with a chance at 60 bonus points. Fifth-seeded Cheshire would get 150 points from a win over Southington (5-4), and have a minimum of 1,270 points with a possible 40 bonus points. Central's best shot, then, is to win and have either Cheshire or Xavier lose.

■ Cheshire (8-1): All but qualifies with a win given Central's plight.

■ Hamden (7-2): Beat Notre Dame of West Haven (8-1) and have Central and Cheshire lose. It would have trouble catching Xavier if it lost to Middletown.

■ Greenwich (7-2): Beat Staples and have Central, Hamden and Cheshire lose. Cheshire could still beat the Cardinals out, however.

■ Ridgefield (8-1): Beat Danbury (2-7), have Central, Cheshire, Hamden and Greenwich all lose, and hope that bonuses go its way.

■ Newtown (7-2): Beat Masuk, then have Central, Cheshire, Hamden, Greenwich and Ridgefield all lose, then pray.

Class L

■ Masuk (9-0): Likely the top seed with a win. Not cooked with a loss, but it won't be easy.

■ Pomperaug (9-0): Beat Oxford (5-4). It would be in jeopardy if it lost, provided Notre Dame wins.

■ Simsbury (9-1): Bonus points, baby. Bonuses.

■ Conard (10-0): Ditto.

■ Notre Dame: Win and max out on bonuses.

Here's where it gets fun — if Notre Dame wins, it will be in a dogfight with Conard and Simsbury for the last two spots.

Conard will have a minimum of 1,320 points, Simsbury 1,310 and Notre Dame 1,300. The race then comes down to bonus points.

Notre Dame may look to be in the worst shape, but on paper it has better bonuses than Simsbury. And should both Berlin and Windsor lose their respective games Wednesday night — two of Simsbury's bonus games — then Notre Dame's chances get a whole lot better with a Thanksgiving win.

Class MM

■ Vinal Tech (9-0): Already qualfied and the top seed with a win Wednesday over injury-plagued Cromwell (7-2).

■ New Canaan (8-1): A win over Darien (7-2) likely gets the three-time division champs a home semifinal. It's not finished with a loss, but would be in a tight race with fifth-ranked Darien.

■ East Lyme (8-1): In with a win over Waterford (2-7), or a loss by either a Darien or St. Paul.

■ St. Paul (7-2): In with a win over Rocky Hill (4-5), or a Darien loss.

■ Darien: Beat New Canaan and max out on bonuses.

Class M

New London (9-0), Avon (10-0) and Berlin (8-1) have already qualfied.

■ New London would be the top seed with a win over Norwich Free Academy (4-5). The Whalers would be second if it lost.

■ Avon has finished its regular season and has clinched a home semifinal.

■ Berlin is locked in at number three.

And then...

■ Bethel (7-2): In with a win over Brookfield (2-7), or losses by Branford, Coventry and Watertown.

■ Coventry (7-2): A win over Ellington (5-4) and a Bethel loss.

■ Branford (7-2): A win over winless East Haven and losses by both Bethel and Coventry. It would be in a bonus point race with Watertown should it win.

■ Watertown (7-2): A win over Torrington (4-5) and losses by both Bethel and Coventry.

Class SS

■ Holy Cross (8-1): Plays Wolcott (8-1) in a game in which the winner gets the Naugatuck Valley League title and the top seed in SS. The Crusaders still have a reasonable chance to qualify if they lose.

■ Montville (8-1): Clinches the two seed with a victory over winless St. Bernard/Norwich Tech tonight.

■ Wolcott (8-1): Top seed with a win. It would also qualify if either Bullard-Havens of Bridgeport or St. Joseph of Trumbull lost.

■ Bullard-Havens (8-1): Beat city-rival Bassick (2-7) and hope St. Joseph loses.

■ St. Joseph (8-1): Beat Trumbull (5-4) and have Bullard-Havens lose. If St. Joseph and Bullard-Havens both win, St. Joseph is in much better shape because Bullard-Havens has horrible bonus games.

Class S

■ Bloomfield (9-0): The Warhawks have qualified and get the top seed with a win over Windsor (7-2).

■ NW Catholic of West Hartford (8-1): Earns at least the two seed with a win over winless Plainville.

■ Hyde of New Haven (8-1): In with a win over North Branford (4-5). In trouble with a loss.

■ Ansonia (7-2): In with a win over Naugatuck (4-5). Nearly finished with a loss.

■ Prince Tech of Hartford (7-1): Beat Hartford's Capital Prep/Classical Magnet (5-4) and have two of the three lose — Cromwell, Hyde or Ansonia.

■ East Catholic of Manchester (7-2): Beat city-rival Cheney Tech (4-5) and have three of the four lose — Cromwell, Hyde, Ansonia or Prince.

■ Cromwell: Win and have either Ansonia or Hyde lose — it will get 200 points from beating Vinal, thus rocketing past the likes of Prince and East Catholic.

Games of the week

■ Bloomfield at Windsor, Wednesday, 6 p.m.; Vinal Tech/Coginchaug at Cromwell, Wednesday, 6:30 p.m.; Berlin at New Britain (4-5, but unpredictable and beat Simsbury), Wednesday, 7 p.m.; Newtown at Masuk, Wednesday, 7 p.m.; Fitch at Ledyard, Thursday, 10 a.m.; Southington at Cheshire, Thursday, 10 a.m.; Greenwich at Staples, Thursday, 10:30 a.m.; Holy Cross at Wolcott, Thursday, 10:30 a.m.; Trumbull at St. Joseph, Thursday, 10:30 a.m.; Notre Dame of West Haven at Hamden, Thursday, 10:30 a.m.

News and notes

■ Simsbury stopped Sean McQuillan inches from the goal line on a 2-point conversion Saturday to beat Glastonbury in overtime, 34-33, snapping the Tomahawks' 22-game winning streak. Simsbury, a triple option team, ran 56 times for 365 yards and four touchdowns. Kevin Kucinskas led the way with 185 yards and two touchdowns. The Tomahawks trailed 27-14 with over four minutes left, but tied it with 34.4 seconds remaining. The extra point failed after a high snap.

■ Cochran's 67 pass attempts left him three shy of setting a state record. Southington's Matt Kelleher threw 69 on Sept. 16, 2004 against Platt of Meriden. Cochran's 544 yards ranks third all-time. New Canaan's Kurt Horton threw for 599 in a game against Rippowam-Stamford on Nov. 14, 1970.

■ The plight of Bridgeport Central and Notre Dame of West Haven are good examples why the CIAC Board of Control passed playoff expansion for next season. Central could finish 9-1 with a win over New Canaan, but get squeezed out. Notre Dame, meanwhile, lost by 1-point to third-ranked Xavier, but could also miss states. The Green Knights have also played the toughest schedule of any team in Class L, too. Conard, even though it is unbeaten, has a reasonable shot at missing states because seven opponents finished with three wins or worse.

n.griffen@theday.com