It was fitting that Sunday’s Class LL championship was won on a defensive play by a team that struggled on defense the first half of the season.Brian Havlicek of Cheshire High School popped the ball loose from the grip of Staples’ Matt Kelly, and Cheshire’s Luke Scinto recoverd the ball to give his team an amazing 28-21 overtime win at West Haven High School.

Brian Havlicek of Cheshire High School popped the ball loose from the grip of Staples’ Matt Kelly, and Cheshire’s Luke Scinto recoverd the ball to give his team an amazing 28-21 overtime win at West Haven High School.“It’s true — defense wins championships,” Scinto said, clutching the ball. “That’s what got us here. That’s what won us the game.”

“It’s true — defense wins championships,” Scinto said, clutching the ball. “That’s what got us here. That’s what won us the game.”Kyle Pulek kicked a 42-yard field goal to give Cheshire a 36-34 lead with 56.5 seconds remaining, but the Green Knights drove 64 yards in seven plays, culminating in David Rose’s 9-yard touchdown run with 13.7 seconds left to give Notre Dame a 40-36 win.

Defense wasn’t Cheshire’s strong suit earlier this season, especially in its Oct. 9 loss to eventual Class L champion Notre Dame of West Haven.

Kyle Pulek kicked a 42-yard field goal to give Cheshire a 36-34 lead with 56.5 seconds remaining, but the Green Knights drove 64 yards in seven plays, culminating in David Rose’s 9-yard touchdown run with 13.7 seconds left to give Notre Dame a 40-36 win.The following week, the Rams (11-1) held on to beat Sheehan of Wallingford, 30-24.

The following week, the Rams (11-1) held on to beat Sheehan of Wallingford, 30-24.“After Notre Dame, it was an eye-opener to us,” Cheshire senior linebacker Craig Thorne said. “We knew we had to get better on defense. We really struggled tackling.”

“After Notre Dame, it was an eye-opener to us,” Cheshire senior linebacker Craig Thorne said. “We knew we had to get better on defense. We really struggled tackling.”Rams coach Mark Ecke said: “The first half of the year, we couldn’t tackle anybody.”

Rams coach Mark Ecke said: “The first half of the year, we couldn’t tackle anybody.”Cheshire gave up 50 points in its final five games, including a Class L semifinal win over Glastonbury (20-6) and the Staples victory.

Cheshire gave up 50 points in its final five games, including a Class L semifinal win over Glastonbury (20-6) and the Staples victory.Asked why the defense changed so drastically, Ecke laughed and said: “I have no idea. I don’t know what we did. You know what, it was just repetition. We just kept hammering the base fundamentals; to teach them the right way to do things. And they responded to it.”

Asked why the defense changed so drastically, Ecke laughed and said: “I have no idea. I don’t know what we did. You know what, it was just repetition. We just kept hammering the base fundamentals; to teach them the right way to do things. And they responded to it.”“I give a lot of credit to the coaches,” Thorne said. “We did a lot of work on skills (after the Notre Dame loss). Wrapping up, tackling. It helped us out in the long run. It definitely did.”

“I give a lot of credit to the coaches,” Thorne said. “We did a lot of work on skills (after the Notre Dame loss). Wrapping up, tackling. It helped us out in the long run. It definitely did.”Cheshire held the Wreckers’ successful option offense to 53 yards on 35 carries in Sunday’s win. It also used two big defensive plays to take a lead in the first half.

Cheshire held the Wreckers’ successful option offense to 53 yards on 35 carries in Sunday’s win. It also used two big defensive plays to take a lead in the first half.The Rams trailed 7-0 in the second quarter when lineman Connor Hepler sacked Staples quarterback Keith Gelman and jarred the ball lose. Thorne recovered at the Wreckers 25-yard line to give Cheshire the short field.

The Rams trailed 7-0 in the second quarter when lineman Connor Hepler sacked Staples quarterback Keith Gelman and jarred the ball lose. Thorne recovered at the Wreckers 25-yard line to give Cheshire the short field.The Rams led 14-7 with 46 seconds left in the half when Havlicek (the grandnephew of former Boston Celtics great John Havilcek) intercepted a pass at the Staples’ 35 and returned it to the 6-yard line.

The Rams led 14-7 with 46 seconds left in the half when Havlicek (the grandnephew of former Boston Celtics great John Havilcek) intercepted a pass at the Staples’ 35 and returned it to the 6-yard line.Greg Palmer ran for a touchdown on the next play to give Cheshire a 21-7 lead with 18 seconds remaining in the half.

Greg Palmer ran for a touchdown on the next play to give Cheshire a 21-7 lead with 18 seconds remaining in the half.“We made it our job to get better on defense,” Scinto said.

“We made it our job to get better on defense,” Scinto said.Staples didn’t go quietly, however. Brendan Rankowitz scored on a 16-yard pass from Gelman with 4:44 left in the game to cut the deficit to 21-14.

Staples didn’t go quietly, however. Brendan Rankowitz scored on a 16-yard pass from Gelman with 4:44 left in the game to cut the deficit to 21-14.The Wreckers forced Cheshire to go three-and-out on its next possession and took over at their own 34-yard line with 3:38 remaining.

The Wreckers forced Cheshire to go three-and-out on its next possession and took over at their own 34-yard line with 3:38 remaining.Gelman completed passes of a 22 yards to Matt Kelly and 24 and 18 yards to Rankowitz. Gelman scored on a 1-yard run with 1:44 remaining, and Santiago Cuartas’ extra point tied the game. Gelman was 16 of 19 for 245 yards with a touchdown and an interception while Rankowitz had eight catches for 119 yards.

Gelman completed passes of a 22 yards to Matt Kelly and 24 and 18 yards to Rankowitz. Gelman scored on a 1-yard run with 1:44 remaining, and Santiago Cuartas’ extra point tied the game. Gelman was 16 of 19 for 245 yards with a touchdown and an interception while Rankowitz had eight catches for 119 yards. “That was one of the best teams that I’ve ever played,” Thorne said. “They had a lot of heart coming back from two touchdowns.”

“That was one of the best teams that I’ve ever played,” Thorne said. “They had a lot of heart coming back from two touchdowns.”It looked as if Staples would have one last chance to score in regulation after it forced the Rams to go three-and-out again and punt from its own 21-yard line.

It looked as if Staples would have one last chance to score in regulation after it forced the Rams to go three-and-out again and punt from its own 21-yard line.Cheshire punter Kyle Pulek would then come up with a clutch kick. He pushed the ball to the left of Kelly, and it took a wicked bounce downfield. Kelly had to race back to chase the ball and was tackled by Max Slade at the Wreckers’ 25.

Cheshire punter Kyle Pulek would then come up with a clutch kick. He pushed the ball to the left of Kelly, and it took a wicked bounce downfield. Kelly had to race back to chase the ball and was tackled by Max Slade at the Wreckers’ 25.“Kyle Pulek got a great punt off,” Ecke said, “and Max Slade did a great job getting down there to cover the thing. We were very fortunate to hold them way back there.”

“Kyle Pulek got a great punt off,” Ecke said, “and Max Slade did a great job getting down there to cover the thing. We were very fortunate to hold them way back there.” The Rams got the ball first in overtime. Palmer was tackled for a 2-yard loss on first down, but threw to a wide-open Dan Sweeney on second down. Sweeney went out-of-bounds at the 2.

The Rams got the ball first in overtime. Palmer was tackled for a 2-yard loss on first down, but threw to a wide-open Dan Sweeney on second down. Sweeney went out-of-bounds at the 2.Fullback Michael Skibicki, who hadn’t carried the ball all day, scored on third down to give Cheshire a 28-21 lead.

Fullback Michael Skibicki, who hadn’t carried the ball all day, scored on third down to give Cheshire a 28-21 lead.Kelly ran five yards on first down for Staples, and then had the ball forced loose on second down. He finished with 19 carries for 43 yards and had three catches for 76 yards.

Kelly ran five yards on first down for Staples, and then had the ball forced loose on second down. He finished with 19 carries for 43 yards and had three catches for 76 yards.“(The comeback) was a testament. ... to the character of this football team,” Wreckers coach Marce Petroccio said. “We could’ve folded our tents at 21-7 at the end of the third quarter, but we didn’t. We came back. (Gelman) did a great job of making the throws and Rankowitz and Kelly were phenomenal. We just fell a little short at the end.”

“(The comeback) was a testament. ... to the character of this football team,” Wreckers coach Marce Petroccio said. “We could’ve folded our tents at 21-7 at the end of the third quarter, but we didn’t. We came back. (Gelman) did a great job of making the throws and Rankowitz and Kelly were phenomenal. We just fell a little short at the end.”“Both of us, we stood (at midfield) before the game and said we wished it was somebody else,” Ecke said. “He’s one of my mentors. I’ve been genuinely nervous about lining up against him because I know how hard that staff works, and I know how hard those kids work. To come into this game 12-0, that’s a great accomplishment coming out of the FCIAC (Fairfield County Interscholastic Athletic Conference).”

The win was bittersweet for Ecke. He and Petroccio are close friends and were both assistant coaches at Cheshire in the late 1980s and ‘90s under then-head coach Steve Addazio, currently the offensive coordinator at the University of Florida.

“Both of us, we stood (at midfield) before the game and said we wished it was somebody else,” Ecke said. “He’s one of my mentors. I’ve been genuinely nervous about lining up against him because I know how hard that staff works, and I know how hard those kids work. To come into this game 12-0, that’s a great accomplishment coming out of the FCIAC (Fairfield County Interscholastic Athletic Conference).”Still the oneCoaches, players and fans from other parts of Connecticut may be tired of hearing it, but the New Haven County-based SCC strengthened its status as the state’s best football conference.

As Cheshire gathered together for a team photo shortly after receiving the state title, it broke out into a chant. “SCC!,” the Rams shouted over and over.

Coaches, players and fans from other parts of Connecticut may be tired of hearing it, but the New Haven County-based SCC strengthened its status as the state’s best football conference.Cheshire knocked off Staples, the FCIAC champion.

Cheshire knocked off Staples, the FCIAC champion.“We play in the SCC, so we play teams like this week in and week out,” Thorne said.

“We play in the SCC, so we play teams like this week in and week out,” Thorne said.Ecke said: “We played this game probably about six times this year. We’ve been in this heat, and our kids, they were upset (that Staples tied the game late), but they weren’t really rattled.”

Ecke said: “We played this game probably about six times this year. We’ve been in this heat, and our kids, they were upset (that Staples tied the game late), but they weren’t really rattled.”Notre Dame beat previously unbeaten Pomperaug of Southbury, the South-West Conference champion. It also routed previously unbeaten Conard of West Hartford in the semifinals (42-14).

Notre Dame beat previously unbeaten Pomperaug of Southbury, the South-West Conference champion. It also routed previously unbeaten Conard of West Hartford in the semifinals (42-14).“Everyone is always proud of their own conference,” Green Knights coach Tom Marcucci said. “Cheshire and Notre Dame came out of the same division of the same conference (the SCC Division I East). It’s good football. Xavier was outstanding. Hamden and Shelton (were good). Then teams that were 5-5 around here, like West Haven or Hand, they could play in any conference and do well. You look at who beat them. It’s sort of like fratricide. Everyone knocks one another off.”

“Everyone is always proud of their own conference,” Green Knights coach Tom Marcucci said. “Cheshire and Notre Dame came out of the same division of the same conference (the SCC Division I East). It’s good football. Xavier was outstanding. Hamden and Shelton (were good). Then teams that were 5-5 around here, like West Haven or Hand, they could play in any conference and do well. You look at who beat them. It’s sort of like fratricide. Everyone knocks one another off.”There were fans during this season who grumbled when Notre Dame and Xavier, each with one loss, were ranked ahead of unbeaten teams such as Conard or New London.

Xavier, the third SCC team to qualify for states, lost to Staples in the semifinals, 31-28. And it was the only team to beat Notre Dame (29-28 during Week 2).

There were fans during this season who grumbled when Notre Dame and Xavier, each with one loss, were ranked ahead of unbeaten teams such as Conard or New London.The coaches had a reason for voting that way — they’re aware of the SCC’s success and respect the league (only two of the 13 voters are from that conference).

The coaches had a reason for voting that way — they’re aware of the SCC’s success and respect the league (only two of the 13 voters are from that conference).The numbers don’t lie — here are conference winning percentages in the state playoffs based on current alignment: 1. SCC (40-24, .625), 2. FCIAC (41-29, .586), 3. Naugatuck Valley League (29-22, .569), 4. Pequot (7-6, .538), 5. Central Connecticut Conference (32-44, .421), 6. Eastern Connecticut Conference (18-28, .391), and, 7. South-West Conference (12-23, .343).

The numbers don’t lie — here are conference winning percentages in the state playoffs based on current alignment: 1. SCC (40-24, .625), 2. FCIAC (41-29, .586), 3. Naugatuck Valley League (29-22, .569), 4. Pequot (7-6, .538), 5. Central Connecticut Conference (32-44, .421), 6. Eastern Connecticut Conference (18-28, .391), and, 7. South-West Conference (12-23, .343).Rams weather the weatherNew Canaan proved Saturday that passing offenses can, indeed, thrive in bad weather.On a cold rainy and snowy day, Turner Baty completed 19 of 32 passes for 224 yards with four touchdowns and an interception as the Rams beat East Lyme, 28-0, to win their fourth straight Class MM title.

On a cold rainy and snowy day, Turner Baty completed 19 of 32 passes for 224 yards with four touchdowns and an interception as the Rams beat East Lyme, 28-0, to win their fourth straight Class MM title.New Canaan has been one of the state’s best passing teams the last four years after installing Tony Franklin’s “System.” The System is a lucrative consulting business that Franklin, Middle Tennessee State’s offensive coordinator, has copyrighted, teaching his  version of the no-huddle spread to both high school and college teams.

New Canaan has been one of the state’s best passing teams the last four years after installing Tony Franklin’s “System.” The System is a lucrative consulting business that Franklin, Middle Tennessee State’s offensive coordinator, has copyrighted, teaching his  version of the no-huddle spread to both high school and college teams.The Rams have mastered the System, and with good reason — the team flew to Troy (Ala.) University during the summers of 2006 and 2007 to attend one of Franklin’s clinics when he was the offensive coordinator for that school.

The Rams have mastered the System, and with good reason — the team flew to Troy (Ala.) University during the summers of 2006 and 2007 to attend one of Franklin’s clinics when he was the offensive coordinator for that school.New Canaan led the state this fall with 276 passing yards a game.

New Canaan led the state this fall with 276 passing yards a game.Marinelli said the last sentence with a wink.

“It’s all we do is throw it,” New Canaan coach Lou Marinelli laughed. “We go out in weather like this (to practice). We get excited when it rains.”

Marinelli said the last sentence with a wink.“Meanwhile, I’m dying inside, but I don’t let them know,” he added.

“Meanwhile, I’m dying inside, but I don’t let them know,” he added.Saturday was the first time that Baty, a California transfer, had ever played in snow. The only other time he had seen snow was when he had gone skiing.

Saturday was the first time that Baty, a California transfer, had ever played in snow. The only other time he had seen snow was when he had gone skiing.“The ball was slipping out of my hands a little bit,” Baty said. “I actually like the snow (more than rain) because you can actually grip the ball a little bit better.”

“The ball was slipping out of my hands a little bit,” Baty said. “I actually like the snow (more than rain) because you can actually grip the ball a little bit better.”What made the Rams performance more impressive was that their receivers had no trouble holding on to the ball.

What made the Rams performance more impressive was that their receivers had no trouble holding on to the ball. Asked how his receivers thrived in the wet weather, Baty said: “I don’t know. They worked their magic. It’s really amazing.”

Asked how his receivers thrived in the wet weather, Baty said: “I don’t know. They worked their magic. It’s really amazing.” News and notesClass M champion Berlin (10-2), which finished 10th in The Day’s final Top 10 poll, posed a problem for some voters. For starters, it wasn’t the best team in the CCC — it lost to Class L semifinalist Simsbury (28-14) and New Britain (27-13), the latter which finished 5-5. Other CCC teams such like Glastonbury, Conard and Windsor also played, and beat, better competition than Berlin, too. Further complicating the issue was that Redcoats coach John Capodice complained after the New Britain game about having to play the latter. “It’s a stretch for us,” Capodice told The Herald of New Britain. “We have 500 boys. They have 1,500 boys. We’re in (CCC) Division III for a reason. They’re in Division I for a reason. They’re a Double-L school.” The Herald noted that Berlin’s roster had 47 players to New Britain’s 43. It was hard, then, for some to vote Berlin in the Top 10 when Capodice doesn’t believe that his team can compete with the large schools that dominated the poll.Greenwich (7-3) finishing 11th overall in the voting may surprise some. It shouldn’t, however. The Cardinals beat Class SS champion St. Joseph on Nov. 13, 34-27. And their three losses were by a combined four points — New Canaan (35-34), Bridgeport Central (14-13) and Staples (30-28). The common denometer in all three losses were special teams. Greenwich missed one of two extra points against Central, and missed two extra points against New Canaan. It also had a potential game-winning 33-yard field goal blocked on the final play of its Thanksgiving Day game against Staples.

Greenwich (7-3) finishing 11th overall in the voting may surprise some. It shouldn’t, however. The Cardinals beat Class SS champion St. Joseph on Nov. 13, 34-27. And their three losses were by a combined four points — New Canaan (35-34), Bridgeport Central (14-13) and Staples (30-28). The common denometer in all three losses were special teams. Greenwich missed one of two extra points against Central, and missed two extra points against New Canaan. It also had a potential game-winning 33-yard field goal blocked on the final play of its Thanksgiving Day game against Staples.It will be interesting to see just how big an affect playoff expansion will have next season. The current system had six, four team divisions. There will be four, eight game divisions next season. Bridgeport Central finished 9-1 in the regular season, including its 42-7 rout of New Canaan, but missed the Class LL playoffs. St. Joseph would have lost the fourth seed in Class SS had Torrington not upset Watertown on Thanksgiving Day, a bonus game that Wolcott needed. And if Masuk hadn’t lost to Newtown the night before Thanksgiving, there was a possiblity that Notre Dame or Conard could’ve been squeezed out of Class L. As it turned out, Notre Dame received enough bonuses that it would have made states had Masuk won. However Simsbury, which beat both Glastonbury (34-33 in overtime) and Berlin, would’ve been left out.

It will be interesting to see just how big an affect playoff expansion will have next season. The current system had six, four team divisions. There will be four, eight game divisions next season. Bridgeport Central finished 9-1 in the regular season, including its 42-7 rout of New Canaan, but missed the Class LL playoffs. St. Joseph would have lost the fourth seed in Class SS had Torrington not upset Watertown on Thanksgiving Day, a bonus game that Wolcott needed. And if Masuk hadn’t lost to Newtown the night before Thanksgiving, there was a possiblity that Notre Dame or Conard could’ve been squeezed out of Class L. As it turned out, Notre Dame received enough bonuses that it would have made states had Masuk won. However Simsbury, which beat both Glastonbury (34-33 in overtime) and Berlin, would’ve been left out.Sunday’s Class LL final was just the fourth overtime game in 180 state finals. The first was when Trumbull beat Glastonbury, 27-21, in the 1985 Class L championship. There were two overtime games in 1990 — Newtown beat Ledyard, 14-6, in the MM final, and Sacred Heart of Waterbury edged Morgan in the SS final, 32-26.

Sunday’s Class LL final was just the fourth overtime game in 180 state finals. The first was when Trumbull beat Glastonbury, 27-21, in the 1985 Class L championship. There were two overtime games in 1990 — Newtown beat Ledyard, 14-6, in the MM final, and Sacred Heart of Waterbury edged Morgan in the SS final, 32-26.