The Lonesome Polecat (state variant): BRACKETOLOGY~!
The CIAC playoff brackets have finally started to fill up, but what happened off the field last week was equally impactful.
Anthony Glasper, Wolcott’s Superintendent of Schools, had Wolcott High forfeit last Friday’s game against Sacred Heart/Kaynor Tech as he did not believe that every player responsible for vandalizing St. Paul’s locker room during an Oct. 26 game came forward to admit their wrongdoing. The forfeit gave Wolcott a third loss.
The Eagles could could still qualify in Class M with a win over Holy Cross on Thanksgrabbing, but the forfeit will lead to a lower seed and a tougher matchup.
Bristol Central announced last Friday that it had self-reported itself to the CIAC for using an ineligible player and forfeited two games.
The forfeits dropped Central from 5-3 to 3-5 and ruined its longshot hopes in Class L.
The forfeits also gave wins to Platt and Capital Prep/Achievement. It was a big boost for Platt (7-2), which is in contention for a Class L berth. It also gave teams who had beaten Cap/Ac (3-5) an extra 10 bonus points. Among those teams are defending Class M champion (and qualifier) Killingly, and Class L longshots Fitch and New London.
Back to non-buzzkill items — 14 teams (unofficially) qualified for states via wins last week. They’re unofficial, though, as nothing is official until the CIAC’s football committee rubber stamps the rankings the day after the regular season ends.
The 14 who’ve (unofficially) qualified are:
CLASS LL: Darien, Newtown, Shelton and Southington.
CLASS L: Hand, Maloney, Middletown and Naugatuck.
CLASS M: Berlin, Killingly and St. Joseph.
CLASS S: Ansonia, Bullard-Havens and Stafford/East Windsor/Somers.
Fourteen teams in. Nineteen spots still left to be filled.
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 as things have been a bit predictable thus far.
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. Sheesh.
3. Repeat after us — if you already have three losses, then the odds are against you making states.
Three-loss teams have rarely qualified since the CIAC expanded to four, eight-team divisions in 2010. Just 18 out of 192 playoff qualifiers had three losses (9.4 percent) during 10-game seasons.
Chances are that one-or-two teams will quailfy with three losses this year, but pulling that off is akin to winning a lottery.
4. CIAC robotics savant Matt Fischer lost his hair (and swimsuit figure) creating the ROBOABACUS to keep YOU updated about all the playoff races. Honor his sacrifice by soliciting his creation.
5. This is an exhibition, not a competition. Please, no wagering.
Remember, kids — the top eight teams in each division qualify, and bonus points are the 10 points a team receives for every win by an opponent it defeated.
We've added “high” and “low” categories when listing the teams fighting for berths. They represent a team’s maximum and minimum number of potential playoff points.
The state quarterfinals (Tuesday, Nov. 27) and semifinals (Sunday, Dec. 2) are both hosted by the higher seeds. The finals are on Saturday, Dec. 8 at sites to be determined.
Here we go. ... INTO THE PIT....
• • • •
CLASS LL
IN: No. 1 Shelton (8-0); No. 2 Darien (9-0); No. 4 Southington (9-0); No. 5 Newtown (9-0).
WIN-AND-IN
3. GREENWICH (8-0)
NEXT: Thursday vs. Xavier (2-7); Thanksgrabbing vs. Staples (7-2).
HIGH: 1,480 points
LOW: 1,140
BONUSES (60): NORWALK over McMahon; TRUMBULL over St. Joseph; FAIRFIELD LUDLOWE over Fairfield Warde; NEW CANAAN over Darien WESTHILL over Stamford; TRINITY CATHOLIC over Wilton.
The Cardinals are ranked third, but haven’t yet qualified due to a mathematical quirk. They have two games in which to qualify, but it’s a safe bet they’ll get in this week by beating Xavier. There’s also a good chance they won’t be among the top four seeds because they’ll get few points for beating Xavier, and half of their bonuses aren’t promising.
6. FAIRFIELD PREP (8-1)
NEXT: Thanksgrabbing Eve at West Haven (5-3).
HIGH: 1,380
LOW: 1,150
BONUSES (80): NORTH HAVEN over Amity; NFA over New London; SHEEHAN over Lyman Hall; CHESHIRE over Southington; XAVIER over Greenwich; SHEEHAN over East Haven; HARDING over Bridgeport Central; WEST HAVEN over Shelton (with a win over West Haven).
The Jesuits can lose and still qualify as their minimum with no bonuses (1,150) is very close to the maximum for both New Canaan (1,180) and Staples (1,170) if both win their final game and max out on bonuses. They will, at worst, get to 1,170 as North Haven and Sheehan will be favored to beat Amity and Lyman Hall, respectively.
There’s also the matter of who New Canaan and Staples must beat to qualify.
East Hartford and West Haven cannot catch Prep.
7. NEW BRITAIN (8-1)
NEXT: Friday at Berlin (9-0).
HIGH: 1,320
LOW: 1,100
BONUSES (20): GLASTONBURY over Bloomfield; SIMSBURY over Avon.
The Hurricanes won’t be doomed if they lose Friday because they will qualify if either New Canaan or Staples loses. East Hartford and the Westies can’t catch them, either.
8. NEW CANAAN (7-2)
NEXT: Thanksgrabbing vs. Darien (9-0) at Boyle Stadium, Stamford.
HIGH: 1,180
LOW: 930
BONUSES (60): NORWALK over McMahon; TRUMBULL over St. Joseph; FAIRFIELD LUDLOWE over Fairfield Warde; DANBURY over Ridgefield; WESTHILL over Stamford; TRINITY CATHOLIC over Wilton.
The Rams opened the season with a loss to St. Joseph (28-0), which Darien shut down two weeks later (22-7).
9. STAPLES (7-2)
NEXT: Thanksgrabbing at Greenwich (8-0).
HIGH: 1,170
LOW: 930
BONUSES (60): BRIDGEPORT CENTRAL over Harding; FAIRFIELD WARDE over Fairfield Ludlowe; WILTON over Trinity Catholic; RIDGEFIELD over Danbury; GREENWICH over Xavier (with a win over Greenwich); STAMFORD over Westhill (with a win over Stamford).
The Wreckers are no slouch, and we think they’re a top 10 team. They held Darien to three points in the first half of a 24-0 loss (Oct. 6). They gave St. Joseph hell in a 17-14 loss (Nov. 2). There aren’t many teams capable of beating both Darien and St. Joseph. Matter of fact, we think there’s only one team that can beat both. The problem is that one team is Greenwich.
BEAT THE ODDS
10. EAST HARTFORD (7-2)
NEXT: Thanksgrabbing Eve vs. Manchester (4-5).
HIGH: 1,090
LOW: 920
BONUSES (30): GLASTONBURY over Bloomfield; SIMSBURY over Avon; NEWINGTON over Wethersfield
Ordinarily, a team wouldn’t feel comfortable needing outside help from multiple teams to qualify. It’s also not often that a team has the good fortune to be relying on wins by the top two teams in The Day’s state coaches’ poll (Darien and Greenwich, respectively). Course the Hornets still have to do their part by beating Manchester.
14. WEST HAVEN (5-3)
The Westies cannot catch the top seven teams in the rankings. They also play at Shelton this Friday, and host Prep on Nov. 21.
THE EIGHT: No. 1 Shelton (10-0) vs. No. 8 East Hartford (8-2); No. 2 Darien (10-0) vs. No. 7 New Britain (9-1); No. 3 Newtown (10-0) vs. No. 6 Fairfield Prep (9-1); No. 4 Greenwich (10-0) vs. No. 5 Southington (10-0).
The race for the fourth seed will be very, very close between the Cards and Blue Knights.
• • • •
CLASS L
IN: 1. Naugatuck (9-0); 2. Hand (9-0); 3. Middletown (8-0); 4. Maloney (8-1).
Naugy and Hand also (unofficially) clinched home quarterfinals.
WIN-AND-IN
5. BUNNELL (8-1)
NEXT: Thanksgrabbing Eve vs. Stratford (1-8).
HIGH: 1,180
LOW: 1,030
BONUSES (40): LEDYARD over Fitch; BETHEL over Brookfield; FORAN over Law; MASUK over Newtown
The Bulldogs can lose and still qualify because, (a) RHAM, New London and Guilford are the only two teams outside the top eight who can catch them; (b) RHAM, New London and Guilford will have to win their respective games (Guilford’s finale is a doozy, and New London has two doozies); (c) Guilford must max out, and Bunnell will have to earn no bonuses, for the two to tie; (d) Windsor, ranked sixth, plays at Middletown on Thanksgrabbing Eve; and, (e), Platt, seeded eighth, plays Maloney on Thanksgrabbing. So Bunnell is in pretty good shape.
6. WINDSOR (7-2)
NEXT: Thanksgrabbing Eve at Middletown (8-0).
HIGH: 1,250
LOW: 980
BONUSES (90): HARTFORD PUBLIC over Bulkeley/HMTCA/Weaver; FARMINGTON over Plainville; NFA over New London; PLATT over Maloney; FARMINGTON over CREC; E.O. SMITH over Tolland; BRISTOL CENTRAL over Bristol Eastern; HALL over Conard; MIDDLETOWN over New London (with a win over Middletown).
It’s conceivable that the Warriors can back their way into states. They have a chance to earn more bonuses than Platt if both lose, and they share three of Platt’s four bonuses.
Wethersfield and Fitch cannot catch Windsor.
7. NORTH HAVEN (7-2)
NEXT: Thanksgrabbing vs. Amity (5-4).
HIGH: 1,220
LOW: 980
BONUSES (80): WEST HAVEN over Fairfield Prep; WEST HAVEN over Shelton; CHESHIRE over Southington; BROOKFIELD over Bethel; FORAN over Law; XAVIER over Greenwich; MASUK over Newtown; HILLHOUSE over Wilbur Cross
The Indians are in almost an identical situation as Windsor, although they’ll be favored to beat Amity, whereas Windsor will be the underdog against Middletown. Another big difference between North Haven and the Warriors is that its bonuses are awful.
Wethersfield and Fitch cannot catch North Haven.
8. PLATT (7-2)
NEXT: Thanksgrabbing at Maloney (8-1).
HIGH: 1,160
LOW: 940
BONUSES (40): FARMINGTON over Plainville; E.O. SMITH over Tolland; BRIDGEPORT CENTRAL over Harding; FARMINGTON over CREC
The Panthers will certainly earn their way in if they beat Maloney. It’s possible, too, as they lost to Windsor in overtime, and were a yard away from stunning Middletown on the final play of last Thursday’s game (more on that later).
REPLY HAZY, TRY AGAIN
9. RHAM (7-2)
NEXT: Thanksgrabbing Eve vs. Bacon Academy (3-6).
HIGH: 1,080
LOW: 910
BONUSES (50): BULKELEY/HMTCA/WEAVER over Hartford Public; PLAINVILLE over Farmington; AVON over Simsbury; TOLLAND over E.O. Smith; ROCKY HILL over Cromwell/Portland
Odds are that the Sachems beat Bacon, but it needs a loss by Bunnell, Windsor, North Haven or Platt, too.
10. WETHERSFIELD (6-3)
NEXT: Nov. 21 at Newington (3-6).
HIGH: 970
LOW: 790
BONUSES (40): HARTFORD PUBLIC over Bulkeley/HMTCA/Weaver; NW CATHOLIC over East Catholic; E.O. SMITH over Tolland; WINDSOR over Middletown
The Eagles cannot catch the top seven ranked teams. RHAM will beat them out if it wins. Fitch might be able to beat them out if it wins (it has bad bonuses). New London will blow past them if it wins out. Guilford can pass them if it wins out, too (but it won’t win out).
12. NEW LONDON (5-3)
NEXT: Thursday at Middletown (8-0); Thanksgrabbing vs. Norwich Free Academy (5-4).
HIGH: 1,060
LOW: 700
BONUSES: STONINGTON over Westerly (R.I.); MIDDLETOWN over Windsor (with a win over Middletown).
The Whalers must win out and have Bunnell, Windsor, North Haven or Platt lose. We’re not confident they can win out, though, because they’ve been unpredictable. They’ve been good enough to beat Killingly, but bad enough to lose to Hillhouse.
Based on the struggles Middletown had defending the pass against Platt last week, we’d give New London a puncher’s chance to beat the Blue Dragons on Thursday if, by some chance, quarterback Owen George returns from injury.
11. FITCH (6-3); and, 14. GUILFORD (5-3).
Platt is the only team in the top eight that Fitch can catch, but Platt would need just one bonus to tie Fitch’s maximum and will be in on tiebreaker points.
Guilford plays at Hand next Wednesday. Eep.
THE EIGHT: No. 1 Middletown (10-0) vs. No. 8 Windsor (7-3); No. 2 Hand (10-0) vs. No. 7 RHAM (8-2); No. 3 Maloney (9-1) vs. No. 6 Bunnell (9-1); No. 4 Naugatuck (9-1) vs. No. 5 North Haven (8-2).
• • • •
CLASS M
IN: 1. St. Joseph (8-1); 2. Berlin (9-0); 4. Killingly (8-1).
WIN-AND-IN
3. SHEEHAN (7-1)
NEXT: Friday vs. East Haven (7-1); Thanksgrabbing at Lyman Hall (5-3).
HIGH: 1,390
LOW: 990
BONUSES (80): GUILFORD over Hand; Bunnell over STRATFORD; BRANFORD over East Lyme; BARLOW over Weston; LAW over Foran; GRISWOLD over Plainfield; BRANFORD over East Haven; GUILFORD over Lyman Hall.
Note: Guilford over Lyman Hall guaranteed with win vs. Lyman Hall; East Haven v. Branford guaranteed with win vs. East Haven.
Win one of your next two, Titans. Win both and gets a home quarter.
5. EAST HAVEN (7-1)
NEXT: Friday at Sheehan (7-1); Thanksgrabbing over Branford (5-3).
HIGH: 1,310
LOW: 900
BONUSES (90): LYMAN HALL over Guilford; BETHEL over Brookfield; LYMAN HALL over Sheehan; COGINCHAUG/HALE-RAY/EAST HAMPTON over North Branford; NOTRE DAME-FFLD over Pomperaug; XAVIER over Greenwich; BASSICK over Barlow; WILBUR CROSS over Hillhouse; BRANFORD over East Lyme (with a win over Branford).
The good — the Yellowjackets don’t need to rely on anyone but themselves to qualify.
The bad — they finish with Sheehan and Branford.
Odds are they won’t beat Sheehan. A win over Route 1 blood rival Branford will get them in.
6. BROOKFIELD (7-2)
NEXT: Thanksgrabbing vs. Bethel (1-8).
HIGH: 1,140
LOW: 970
BONUSES (60): NOTRE DAME-FFLD over Pomperaug; NEW FAIRFIELD over New Milford; BARLOW over Bassick; STRATFORD over Bunnell; MASUK over Newtown; HILLHOUSE over Wilbur Cross
The odds are heavily in the Bobcats' favor vs. Bethel, so we won’t waste any more words.
7. CHENEY TECH (7-2)
NEXT: Friday vs. Thames River (5-3).
HIGH: 1,160
LOW: 980
BONUSES (30): PRINCE TECH over Bullard-Havens; MCW UNITED over Quinebaug Valley; THAMES RIVER over Quinebaug Valley (with a win over Thames River)
There’d be some chaos if the Beavers lose Friday night. They won’t be cooked, but backing in is never the safest road to states.
8. WOLCOTT (6-3)
NEXT: Thanksgrabbing at Holy Cross (6-3).
HIGH: 1,040
LOW: 860
BONUSES (80): SEYMOUR over Woodland; OXFORD over Woodland; WATERBURY CAREER over Gilbert/Northwestern.
The Eagles won’t lack motivation given the events of last week. All but done if they lose.
REPLY HAZY, TRY AGAIN
9. ROCKVILLE (6-3)
NEXT: Thanksgrabbing Eve vs. Ellington (1-8).
HIGH: 990
LOW: 850
BONUSES (30): WINDSOR LOCKS/SUFFIELD/EAST GRANBY over Stafford/East Windsor/Somers; WINDSOR LOCKS/SUFFIELD/EAST GRANBY over Lewis Mills; GILBERT/NORTHWESTERN over Waterbury Career.
The Rams ought to be sending Thames River a dozen pizzas for knocking off Abbott Tech/Immaculate on Saturday as it opened the door WIDE OPEN for teams like themselves. It’s in trouble if Thames wins out, though. Or if East Haven beats Sheehan, Sheehan beats Lyman Hall, and Branford beats East Haven. It can beat out Law as the latter has some unreliable bonuses.
10. LAW (6-3)
NEXT: Thanksgrabbing at Foran (1-8).
HIGH: 1,020
LOW: 840
BONUSES (70): LYMAN HALL over Sheehan; STRATFORD over Bunnell; CHESHIRE over Southington; BRANFORD over East Lyme; BRANFORD over East Haven; GUILFORD over Hand; BASSICK over Barlow.
The Lawmen should beat Foran, but it’s bonuses are so bad that it’s going to need a few fellow M hopefuls to fail.
11. BRANFORD (5-3)
NEXT: Thursday vs. East Lyme (3-5); Thanksgrabbing at East Haven (7-1).
HIGH: 1,090
LOW: 700
BONUSES (80): LYMAN HALL over Guilford; AMITY over North Haven; LYMAN HALL over Sheehan; NORTH BRANFORD over Coginchaug/Hale-Ray/East Hampton; STONINGTON over Westerly (R.I.); POMPERAUG over Notre Dame-Ffld; EAST LYME over Waterford (with a win over East Lyme); EAST HAVEN over Sheehan (with a win vs. East Haven).
The Hornets are almost home free with two wins. Almost. Let’s wait and see what they do Thursday before going any further.
12. ABBOTT TECH/IMMACULATE (5-3); 13. WESTON (6-3); 14. THAMES RIVER (5-3); and, 15. LYMAN HALL (5-3).
AT/I hosts O’Brien on Saturday. O’Brien just gave Bullard-Havens its toughest game of the season on Saturday (B-H won, 28-26).
Weston can certainly win at Barlow (4-4) on Thanksgrabbing, but it cannot catch the top seven ranked teams and needs a bunch of teams ahead of it to fail.
We don’t like Thames' odds against Cheney.
We don’t think Lyman Hall will beat Guilford this Thursday. We could be wrong. We don’t think we’ll be wrong picking Sheehan to beat Lyman, though.
THE EIGHT: No. 1 St. Joseph (9-1) vs. No. 8 Wolcott (7-3); No. 2 Berlin (9-1) vs. No. 7 East Haven (8-2); No. 3 Sheehan (9-1) vs. No. 6 Brookfield (8-2); No. 4 Cheney Tech (8-2) vs. No. 5 Killingly (9-1).
• • • •
CLASS S
IN: No. 1 Ansonia (9-0); No. 2 Bullard-Havens (9-0); 3. Stafford/East Windsor/Somers (9-0).
Ansonia and B-H have both clinched home quarters.
Ansonia hosts Naugatuck in THE biggest game next week. It clinches the top seed with a win.
B-H plays Saturday at Prince Tech (4-5). It all but clinches the second seed with a win and will likely be No. 1 if Ansonia loses.
S/EW/S hosts Windsor Locks/Suffield/East Granby (4-4) on Thanksgrabbing Eve.
WIN-AND-IN
4. CROMWELL/PORTLAND (8-1)
NEXT: Thanksgrabbing Eve over Rocky Hill (2-7).
HIGH: 1,330
LOW: 1,170
BONUSES (40): ROCKVILLE over Ellington; MORGAN over Old Saybrook/Westbrook; LEWIS MILLS over Windsor Locks/Suffield/East Granby; WOODSTOCK ACADEMY over Old Saybrook/Westbrook.
There’s no way the Panthers lose to Rocky Hill as the latter is a shell of its usual self, which saddens us greatly as it was a fine master of GOD’S OFFENSE.
5. BLOOMFIELD (8-1)
NEXT: Tuesday, Nov. 20 at Glastonbury (5-4).
HIGH: 1,380
LOW: 1,140
BONUSES (60): AVON over Simsbury; ROCKY HILL over Cromwell/Portland; BULKELEY/HMTCA/WEAVER over Hartford Public; TOLLAND over E.O. Smith; PLAINVILLE over Farmington; RHAM over Bacon Academy
All but sunk if it loses to Glastonbury. That’s a big “if.”
6. WOODLAND (8-1)
NEXT: Thanksgrabbing Eve vs. Seymour (6-3).
HIGH: 1,340
LOW: 1,140
BONUSES (40): CROSBY over Kennedy; DERBY over Shelton; TORRINGTON over Watertown; WOLCOTT over Holy Cross
Have a real hard time seeing the Hawks losing to Seymour after the latter lost QB/offensive catalyst Ian Sadick to a season-ending collarbone injury during its Nov. 1 game against Naugatuck.
7. HADDAM-KILLINGWORTH (8-1)
NEXT: Tuesday, Nov. 20 at Valley Regional/Old Lyme (7-1).
HIGH: 1,310
LOW: 1,090
BONUSES (20): LEWIS MILLS over Windsor Locks/Suffield/East Granby; OLD SAYBROOK/WESTBROOK over Woodstock Academy.
The Valley/Old Lyme game is a Class S play-in game.
8. PLAINFIELD (8-1)
NEXT: Thanksgrabbing vs. Griswold (5-4).
HIGH: 1,260
LOW: 1,080
BONUSES (30): STONINGTON vs. Westerly (R.I.); CREC over Farmington; BACON ACADEMY over RHAM
Griswold has beaten the Panthers in 14 of their last 15 meetings. Their senior class will forget all about those losses if they beat the Wolverines.
9. VALLEY REGIONAL/OLD LYME (7-1)
NEXT: Tuesday, Nov. 20 over Haddam-Killingworth (8-1).
HIGH: 128.89 average (it plays a nine-game schedule).
LOW: 106.67.
BONUSES (20): OLD SAYBROOK/WESTBROOK over Woodstock Academy; LEWIS MILLS over Windsor Locks/Suffield/East Granby
Again, that H-K game is a Class S play-in game.
REPLAY HAZY, TRY AGAIN
10. O'BRIEN TECH (6-2)
NEXT: Saturday at Abbott Tech/Immaculate (5-3); Thanksgrabbing at Platt Tech (1-7).
HIGH: 1,210
LOW: 880
BONUSES (40): VINAL TECH/GOODWIN TECH/WHITNEY TECH over Platt Tech; MCW UNITED over Abbott Tech/Immaculate; THAMES RIVER over Cheney Tech; PRINCE TECH over Bullard-Havens.
Note: Vinal Tech/Goodwin Tech/Whitney Tech over Platt Tech guaranteed with a win over Platt Tech; Abbott Tech/Immaculate over MCW United guaranteed with a win over Abbott Tech/Immaculate.
First, the Condors must win out. Secondly, they need Bloomfield, Woodland and/or Plainfield to lose. A Cromwell/Portland loss doesn’t do them much good as they can be out-pointed by it.
11. SEYMOUR (6-3)
Remember what we wrote in the Woodland blurb.
THE EIGHT: No. 1 Ansonia (10-0) vs. No. 8 O’Brien Tech (8-2); No. 2 Bullard-Havens (10-0) vs. No. 7 Valley Regional/Old Lyme (8-1); No. 3 Stafford/East Windsor/Somers (10-0) vs. No. 6 Woodland (9-1); No. 4. Bloomfield (9-1) vs. No. 5 Cromwell/Portland (9-1).
• • • •
Fairfield Prep 42, North Haven 20
The Jesuits turned what was supposed to be the weekend’s best game into a beating. It wasn’t even as close as the score shows as North Haven scored on the final play. Doug Harrison, our new favorite running back for 2018, bullied his way to 192 yards and two touchdowns on 24 carries. J.P. Iaropoli completed 13 of 16 passes for 195 yards with two touchdowns and an interception for Prep, and receiver Finn Duran (four catches, 112 yards, TD) is a pain to cover. Soph Nick Morris. Jr. added a team-high eight tackles.
Ky’juon Butler, another Polecat fav, ran 34 times for 281 yards and two touchdowns with eight tackles as the Warhawks took a 13-0 lead in the first quarter and never looked back. Anthony Simpson ran five times for 66 yards and a touchdown and caught two passes for 25 yards and a score, Myles Davis had three catches for 93 yards and a score with seven tackles, and Daron Bryden completed 10 of 13 passes for 161 yards with two touchdowns and a pick for the WARHAWKS.
The Sachems’ Cal Redman threw a 9-yard touchdown pass to Dylan Depersia and ran for an 11-yard touchdown.
The game also featured the nuttiest down and distance sequences we’ve seen in well over a decade. RHAM had a first-and-10 at the 50 late in the first quarter. A bad snap, holding penalty, 5-yard loss on a run, and a false start resulted in a third-and-40 at its own 20.
This. Crazy. Game. An entire blog post could be written about it.
What seemed like a comfortable win early for Middletown instead had everyone at Falcon Field on tilt at the end.
Middletown had just gone ahead 7-0. The Panthers turned it over on their next play from scrimmage, and the Blue Dragons quickly had first-and-goal at the 1.
Middletown was stopped for no gain on first down and tried to get cute on second down by having bruising back Xzavier Reyes try a pop pass. Reyes hesitated, was hit, and fumbled the ball away at the goal line. Platt proceeded to go on a 99-yard scoring drive.
The Blue Dragons pulled ahead, 21-6, early in the third, but then kept stalling out.
Platt quarterback Lorenzo Sanson and receivers Jake Baker and Treymane Carter kept exploiting the Blue Dragons’ pass defense. And when that trio wasn’t wreaking havoc, Middletown was getting flagged for pass interference.
Sanson threw a 12-yard touchdown to Baker with over a minute left in the third quarter to cut Platt’s deficit to 21-12.
The Panthers’ were stuck in a third-and-33 from the Middletown 40 when Sanson and Baker hooked up for another touchdown to shrink Middletown’s lead to 21-18 with 5 minutes, 58 seconds remaining. The conversion attempt failed.
Platt forced the Blue Dragons to punt and got the ball back at its own 9 with 3:19 left in the game. It quickly rattled off eight plays and got to the Middletown 6 with under a minute left.
Roberto Salas was dropped for a 1-yard loss on first down, and Sanson spiked the ball on second down to stop the clock.
Sanson threw an incompletion on third down. There was 8.9 seconds left when Platt tried what has become known as the “Philly Special,” a reverse pass with a receiver looking to throw to the quarterback.
Panthers receiver Chase Bessler couldn’t get a clean look at Sanson, so he instead tucked the ball in and took off to the end zone. He was hit near the goal line, fumbled and, perhaps appropriately enough, Reyes recovered the ball at the 1 to end the game.
Such a looney finish.
Reyes ran 20 times for 62 yards and two touchdowns for Middletown. Kenneth Fountain also took a screen pass from Jonta’e Dempsey for a 22-yard touchdown.
Sanson completed 13 of 26 passes for 244 yards with three touchdowns and two interceptions for Platt. Baker had seven catches for 141 yards and three touchdowns, and Carter had four catches for 81 yards.
Platt did damage to itself with five turnovers.
This game lived up to the hype, too.
The game went to overtime tied at 6 when Killingly’s Jonathan Creswell had an interception on third down to foil NFA, which got the ball first in OT.
Derek Turner followed with a game-winning 12-yard touchdown run on the next play.
Luke Desaulnier threw a 27-yard touchdown to Quinn Gervasio on fourth down early in the third quarter to give Killingly a 6-0 lead. The extra point failed.
The Wildcats’ Sean Preston tied the game on a 2-yard touchdown run with 6:23 left in the game. NFA missed the extra point, too.
That the game was played in the rain and mud made the game more special. Playing in crappy and crazy weather differentiates football from almost every other team sport (is mudding a team sport?), yet another reason why football is the greatest.
And speaking of games played in rain, mud and swampy conditions ...
Trumbull 14, Griswold 6
… this here game was quite the styles clash, and it had nothing to do with the teams.
Trumbull plays in the FCIAC, which has only turf fields.
Griswold has perhaps the state’s worst field when it comes to the elements, and we don’t write “state’s worst” to be a jerk. The conditions on Friday night clearly gave the Wolverines a home-bog advantage.
Imagine, then, what was going through the Eagles’ heads when they stepped onto Griswold’s field Friday night and immediately sank into it.
Athena bless “Coach C” who uploaded a short video on YouTube from the game (hat tip to Dave Ruden of The Ruden Report).
There ain’t no way, no how, that any of these players (or coaches) will ever forget this game. And they’ll be laughing about it when telling family, friends and strangers about it from now until they’re old and gray and old.
Awesome. Freaking awesome (again, watch the above video for proof).
You ever hear of a team rallying from a 20-point deficit by scoring FIFTY-SEVEN unanswered points?
No? Well, then meet Sheehan.
Branford seemed in control when it led 27-7 with 9:43 left in the second quarter.
Terrence Bogan and the Titans proceeded to go muy loco. They scored a touchdown late in the first half and poured on 50 successive points in the second half.
Bogan ran for FOUR HUNDRED AND FIVE YARDS and EIGHT touchdowns. He scored on runs of 72, 80, 10, 25, 25, 10, 51 and 39 yards and ran for 287 yards in the second-half.
Dang.
Bogan’s 405 yards would rank 19th all-time according to the Connecticut High School Football Record Book. He also tied Kameron Janice (Woodstock Academy), Mike McLeod (New Britain), John Weaver (Weaver) and Zach Davis (Sheehan) for the third-most most touchdowns in a game in state history.
Bogan’s 405 yards ranks fifth all-time at Sheehan because of the aforementioned Zach Davis. Davis has four of the top 10 single-game rushing marks, including a state-record 543 against rival Lyman Hall on Nov. 24, 2016.
Bullard-Havens 28, O’Brien Tech 26
Cyrus Cotto threw two second-half touchdown passes to help the Tigers rally past the Condors in a Saturday night thriller.
Cristian Pagano caught a 23-yard touchdown pass from Cotto in the third quarter to pull B-H within a point of O’Brien. Edward Holmes ran in the conversion to tie the game at 22.
Barry Jean-Pierre caught a go-ahead 55-yard touchdown pass from Cotto in the fourth quarter.
Holmes ran 20 times for 149 yards and two touchdowns for the Tigers.
Jommar Roc had 16 carries for 53 yards and a touchdown and ran for two conversions, Jonte Roc ran 15 times for 64 yards and a touchdown, and Devon Mero ran for a 20-yard touchdown for the Condors. Bobby Hudak added nine tackles.
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BEHOLD, The Day of New London Top 10 state coaches' poll: 1. Darien (nine first-place votes); 2. Greenwich (four first-place votes); 3. Hand; 4. St. Joseph; 5. Shelton; 6. Newtown; 7. Southington; 8. Ansonia; 9. Fairfield Prep; and, 10. New Britain.
The GameTimeCT.com/New Haven Register/Hearst Inc. Monolith Top 10 media poll: 1. Darien (13 first-place votes); 2. Greenwich (12 first-place votes); 3. Hand (four first-place votes); 4. Shelton; 5. St. Joseph; 6. Southington. 7. Newtown; 8. Berlin; 9. Naugatuck; and, 10. New Britain.
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Ned Freeman’s cold, calculating computer rankings for CalPreps: 1. Greenwich; 2. Darien; 3. St. Joseph; 4. Newtown; 5. Hand; 6. Shelton; 7. Fairfield Prep; 8. New Canaan; 9. Staples; and, 10. Southington.
New Britain was 13th, Ansonia 17th, and Berlin 18th.
Cheshire (3-6) still has had the state’s hardest schedule and it’s not even close. Its opponents are a combined 60-19 including three unbeaten teams ranked in The Day coaches’ poll — Hand, Newtown and Shelton. The Rams also lost to Fairfield Prep and North Haven. And they play at unbeaten and No. 7 Southington on Thanksgiving.
Such an insane schedule.
Should you care, the computer would seed the playoffs as follows:
CLASS LL
No. 1 Greenwich vs. No. 8 Southington
No. 2 Darien vs. No. 7 Staples
No. 3 Newtown vs. No. 6 New Canaan
No. 4 Shelton vs. No. 5 Fairfield Prep
CLASS L
No. 1 Hand vs. No. 8 Wilton (5-4). Its strength of schedule has it ranked so high with four losses as its played (and lost to) Darien, Ridgefield, St. Joseph and Staples.
No. 2 North Haven vs. No. 7 Naugatuck
No. 3 Middletown vs. No. 6 Windsor
No. 4 Bunnell vs. No. 5 Maloney
CLASS M
No. 1 St. Joseph vs. No. 8 East Haven
No. 2 Sheehan vs. No. 7 Law
No. 3 Brookfield vs. No. 6 Killingly
No. 4 Berlin vs. No. 5 New Fairfield (5-4). Another case in which strength of schedule impacts a team with four losses. The Rebels have lost to Hand and Newtown, in addition to playoff hopefuls Bunnell and Brookfield.
CLASS S
No. 1 Ansonia vs. No. 8 Seymour
No. 2 Bloomfield vs. No. 7 Valley Regional/Old Lyme
No. 3 Cromwell/Portland vs. No. 6 Haddam-Killingworth
No. 4 Woodland vs. No. 5 Stafford/Somers/East Windsor
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Dig the ballot Polecat HQ filed for the GameTimeCT.com/New Haven Register/Hearst Inc. Monolith media poll:
1. Greenwich
2. Darien
3. Hand
4. St. Joseph
5. Shelton
6. Southington
7. Newtown
8. Fairfield Prep: Contended for weeks that the Jesuits were underrated. They're only loss was to Shelton, 10-7 (Sept. 20), despite holding the latter without an offensive touchdown (the Gaels scored the go-ahead touchdown on a punt return). Shelton has scored 35 offensive touchdowns in its other seven games. Realized that we were underrating Prep, too, as we watched it dismantle North Haven.
9. New Britain
10. New Canaan
11. Staples
12. Berlin
13. North Haven
14. Middletown
15. Sheehan
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NOTABLES~!
We’ve written (and said) this elebenty thousand times, and we’re going to keep writing (and saying) it until every mammal finally grasps this simple concept — YOU CAN THROW IN THE RAIN. Greenwich proved that while kicking around Danbury last Friday, 42-3. Gavin Muir completed 14 of 28 passes for 226 yards with five touchdowns and an interception while Garrett Murphy had six catches for 62 yards and two touchdowns. The Cardinals ran 11 times for just 20 yards. YOU CAN THROW IN THE RAIN. Just not during a twister. Also, Jack Feda had 13 tackles, Mozi Bici had 11 tackles (including a sack, of course), and Lawrence Deluca had 10 tackles.
Another week, another smackdown by Hand. Colin McCabe ran 16 times for 134 yards and three touchdowns and added a team-high five tackles in a 50-14 stomping of Wilbur Cross. Jesse Lutz added nine carries for 63 yards and two touchdowns for Hand.
David Summers completed 13 of 21 passes for 234 yards with three touchdowns and an interception and scored on a 3-yard run for St. Joseph as it piledrove McMahon on Saturday, 55-6. Will Diamantis had four catches for 124 yards and three touchdowns, Jaden Shirden ran 13 times for 122 yards and two scores, Cole DaSilva had five tackles, including a sack, with a fumble recovery for the Cadets.
Shelton’s Jack Carr ran for 135 yards and three touchdowns and caught a 70-yard TD in the first half of last Friday’s 44-13 beating of Notre Dame of West Haven. ... Dan Mason ran three times and scored three times as Newtown did bad things to New Milford last Friday, 55-0. Mason ran for 94 yards and Jared Dunn scored on a 30-yard interception return.
Southington ran 23 plays during Friday’s game against South Windsor. It had the ball for just 11:14. It won, 55-0. Tanner LaRosa had nine carries for 80 yards and four touchdowns, Dillon Kohl ran five times for 100 yards and two scores, and Kyle Messenger and John Miller each had nine tackles. ... Seymour ran 18 of the game's first 21 plays from scrimmage against Ansonia last Thursday. It mattered not. Shykeem Harmon ran 23 times for 200 yards and two touchdowns as the Chargers blanked Seymour, 35-0. It was the Chargers third shutout in four weeks.
Shawn Robinson and New Britain trucked Enfield last Friday, 48-6. Robinson ran 12 times for 273 yards and four touchdowns, and Tarik Hetmyer had 13 carries for 128 yards and two touchdowns. New Britain attempted just one pass. That's our kind of team.
Eighty-six percent of Berlin residents got a carry during last Friday’s 43-0 assault on Rocky Hill. TWELVE Redcoats had at least one carry, no one had more than three, and they combined on 18 carries for 254 yards and five touchdowns. Alex Halkias ran two times for 116 yards and two touchdowns for Berlin and Kevin Dunn scored on a 45-yard run and hooked up with Giancarolo Tufano (five extra points) for a 70-yard touchdown. ... Naugatuck got back to shutting out overmatched teams last Friday against Holy Cross. Jay Mezzo threw two touchdown passes and ran for another in a 42-0 rout. Mezzo threw touchdowns to Malachi Gatison (15 yards) and Isaiah Williams (60 yards) and scored on a 2-yard run. Nick Airall ran seven times for 107 yards and a touchdown for the Greyhounds and Gatison ran for a 38 yard touchdown.
New Canaan’s Quintin O’Connell shifted from receiver to running back in last Friday’s game against Fairfield Ludlowe. He did alright. He ran 14 times for 163 yards and two touchdowns and scored on a 3-yard catch in a 41-7 rout. He good. ... Maloney sophomore James Tarver ran a mas macho 38 times for 202 yards with four touchdowns as Maloney conquered Conard last Saturday, 40-22. Elliot Good completed 19 of 30 passes for 280 yards with two touchdowns and an interception for Maloney, while Victor Marquez had seven catches for 130 yards and a touchdown and had two interceptions.
Staples quarterback Jack Thaw got last Friday's game off against Stamford. DIDN'T MATTER. Reserve Jack Saltus threw four touchdowns and scored on a 1-yard run in a 37-0 beating. ... East Hartford unleashed two weeks of frustration on Newington last Friday for a 45-15 win. Raquan Tompkins completed 7 of 9 passes for 204 yards and two touchdowns and ran for 99 yards and two touchdowns for the Hornets. David Ortiz added 11 carries for 199 yards and two scores for East Hartford, which had been routed in back-to-back games by Southington (42-27) and New Britain (63-26).
Fitch’s Tyler Nelli ran 28 times for 154 yards and two touchdowns, kicked three extra points and ran for a conversion when another extra point attempt went awry during last Friday’s 39-6 rout of East Lyme. Kennard Tate (17 yards) and Austin Beebe (30 yards) both scored on fumble returns and Brandon Hamilton’s tackle in the end zone forced a safety for the Falcons. ... Jake Commander ran nine times for 71 yards and a touchdown and tossed a 45-yard touchdown pass to Zehki Burgis in New London’s 19-0 win over Stonington last Friday. Geremiah Ballinger added 10 carries for 114 yards and a score for the Whalers. FULLBACK Nate Miller had 23 carries for 105 yards for the Bears.
Nick Braga ran for two touchdowns (43, 25 yards) and scored on a 50-yard screen pass as Valley Regional/Old Lyme said its goodbye to Lewis Mills via a 47-7 thrashing last Friday. Mills is headed to the Central Connecticut Conference next season. ... Josh Brown ran 25 times for 175 yards and a touchdown as Thames River scored the final 20 points to rally and beat Abbott Tech/Immaculate on Saturday, 42-20. Albert Velazquez had six carries for 65 yards and a touchdown and 50 receiving yards and scored for Thames and Logan Starr rushed for one TD while threw an 84-yard touchdown pass.
Neal Eley had 22 carries for 157 yards and three touchdowns as Hillhouse beat Foran on Thursday night, 42-27. ... Charles Walcott ran just six times for 98 yards and three touchdowns as Guilford sacked Bassick last Thursday, 54-12. Charles Schioppo had 14 carries for 102 yards and a touchdown, Miles Gabriel scored on a 90-yard kickoff return, Owen Nizolek (46 yards) and Paula Eldridge (16 yards) returned an interception for a touchdown, and Joe Palmer and Ryan Eldridge both had interceptions.
Jon Glick had six carries for 33 yards and two scores and scored on a 99-yard interception return as Tolland shutout Bulkeley/HMTCA/Weaver last Friday, 42-0. Collin Cook ran 14 times for 110 yards and a touchdown and had six tackles for Tolland, which ran 39 times for 310 yards.
Derek Gendreau completed 9 of 17 passes for 188 yards and four touchdowns as Wilcox Tech downed Platt Tech last Friday, 26-0. Troy Mitchell was Gendreau’s accomplice as he had five catches for 118 yards and three touchdowns. Alberto Sarris ran 23 times for 136 yards with a team-high 12 tackles for Wilcox while Jaheem Green added 10 tackles and two sacks.
Law, by its very actions, told Mike Plaskon, “you’re going to have to carry us to victory, bro,” during last Friday’s 20-7 win over Lyman Hall. Plaskon carried a mas macho 36 times for 225 yards and three touchdowns for the LAWMEN. Austin Ruiz ran 21 times for 136 yards for the Trojans. ... More manly rushing — Jake McAlinden ran 23 times for 262 yards and three touchdowns as Cheshire blanked Harding last Friday, 40-0.
Still more manly rushing — Julien Rivas ran 34 times for 189 yards and two touchdowns and completed a 22-yard pass to lead Stafford/Somers/East Windsor/ Southwick/Montpelier to its 21-6 win over North Branford last Friday as well as its third straight trip to the Class S playoffs. Tyler Gilbert had eight tackles and two sacks and Cody Gebo added six tackles and two sacks for the SPARTAN BULLPANTHERS.
MORE MORE MORE, HOW DO YOU LIKE IT, HOW DO YOU LIKE IT MANLY RUSHING — ZERION Montgomery ran 23 times for 354 yards (ya-aaaassss) and four touchdowns as Derby and Kennedy conspired to beat the over in the latter’s 44-32 win last Friday.
Manchester Logan Tomlinson had his dual-threat-quarterback thing going during last Friday’s 29-13 triumph over Bristol Eastern. He ran 10 times for 111 yards and three touchdowns and completed 14 of 25 passes for 174 yards with a touchdown and interception. ... Isiah Lovell had six tackles, including four sacks, as E.O. Smith impeded Hartford Public’s progress via a 20-2 win last Friday. Matt Jameson added 21 carries for 178 yards and a touchdown for E.O.
Granby went into straight bully mode against Coventry/Windham Tech/Bolton/Lyman Memorial last Friday as it forced eight turnovers in a 54-6 beatdown. Granby finished with a school-record seven fumble recoveries. Ben Kibby had six tackles and recovered two fumbles, while Dylan Disabella, Sam Attianese, Daniel Liton, Tyler Perez and Devin Flagg all recovered one fumble. Jackson Rome ran seven times for 76 yards and two touchdowns for the Bears while Attianese ran five times for 54 yards and two touchdowns.
Plainfield’s Connor Peasley set up the game’s only touchdown with a wacky sequence in the third quarter of last Friday’s 6-0 win over Windham. Peasley forced a fumble late and accidentally kicked the ball at the Windham 45-yard line. The ball skidded 20 more yards before Peasley finally snared it a the Whippets’ 20 and ran for 10 more yards before being tackled. Windham was also flagged for a late hit, giving the Panthers’ first-and-goal at the latter’s 5. Liam Smith scored on a 1-yard run on fourth down.
NIJZIR Van Allen had a team-high 10 tackles with an interception to help Cheney Tech scrape past Vinal Tech/Goodwin Tech/Whitney Tech last Friday, 12-6. Jaedon Jones ran 18 times for 179 yards and a score for Cheney. ... Jackson Butler completed 10 of 17 passes for 130 yards and two touchdowns and ran 13 times for 63 yards in Simsbury’s 30-7 win over Glastonbury last Friday. Mark Bedson had 19 carries for 129 yards and two scores for the Trojans.
Ah, we can always count on Brookfield to rack up some sweet, sweet rushing totals. Nick Henderson ran 23 times for 183 yards and two touchdowns in last Friday’s 32-12 triumph over Weston. Conor McVey had eight carries for 179 yards and two scores, Nick Henderson had a sack and a fumble recovery, and Michael Quinn had an interception and fumble recovery for Brookfield.
Sammy Bitoushana had a sack, blocked a punt and forced a fumble in Rockville’s 49-12 rout of Canton last Friday. ... Frank Griffin (almost the perfect surname) ran 14 times for 77 yards and three touchdowns as Plainville blanked Avon last Friday, 37-0. ... Mitchell Quadrato had seven tackles, 3 ½ sacks and ran for a 24-yard touchdown to help Wethersfield shutout Northwest Catholic last Friday, 33-0.
SMSA/University/Classical’s Mark Boyer ain’t no slacker. He was 12 of 20 for 137 yards with two touchdowns, had 14 tackles, an interception and a fumble recovery in Saturday’s 20-0 shutout over Gilbert/Northwestern Regional. ... Will Enright was an economical 8 of 9 pass for 177 yards and three touchdowns as New Fairfield thrashed Barlow on Saturday, 48-7, its fourth win in five games. Zach Buffington ran 17 times for 55 yards and two touchdowns and caught a 26-yard touchdown pass and Liam Ford had nine tackles for the REBELS.
Tobey Callender ran 11 times for 206 yards and two touchdowns as Haddam-Killingworth ran over Old Saybrook/Westbrook on Saturday, 42-12. Dalton Modehn ran 13 times for 163 yards and two touchdowns for H-K. ... Woodland’s Edit Krivca kept battering away at Oxford on Saturday as he ran 30 times for 130 yards and two touchdowns in a 21-7 win.
Had Norwalk’s Jakari Walker played for our fantasy football team, then we wouldn’t have gotten stomped in the fake football this weekend. Walker ran nine times for 109 yards and two touchdowns and had four catches for 118 yards and a score to help the Bears get past Trinity Catholic on Saturday, 42-32. Kyle Gordon completed 8 of 17 passes for 183 yards and two touchdowns and ran 14 times for 96 yards and a score for Norwalk, and Izayah Valentine had nine tackles.
HATS OFF to Notre Dame of Fairfield for its first win of the season on Saturday, 20-19 over Bethel. Nehemiah Harris ran 18 times for 136 yards and threw a 23-yard touchdown for the Lancers, and John Fassett completed 9 of 17 passes for 114 yards and a score. Jeremy Reid (five catches, 56 yards) caught both of ND’s touchdowns and Ziair Williams had nine tackles and a sack.
Freshman Victor Rosa is already making an impact for Bristol Central. He ran eight times for 117 yards and two touchdowns and caught two passes for 44 yards during Saturday’s 34-13 win over East Catholic. Also of interest, at least to us, is that East Catholic opened the game with a 19-play, 69-yard touchdown drive that took 11 minutes and 36 seconds. We earnestly congratulate the Eagles on such a magnificently plodding and lumbering drive and are certain that it irritated everyone but them. Such is the obnoxious beauty of GOD’S OFFENSE.
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Thanks for reading. More soon.
Adios....
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