The Lonesome Polecat: Wednesday's BRACKETOLOGY~! update
Haddam-Killingworth had endured the same ending to its previous six seasons — lose to Valley Regional/Old Lyme, and wait until next year.
The Cougars put an end to that on Tuesday and earned themselves a twofer in the process. They knocked off the Warriors, 27-21, and (unofficially) qualified for the CIAC Class S playoffs.
Tobey Callender (16 carries, 96 yards) and Dalton Modehn (22 carries, 118 yards) both ran for two touchdowns and had two interceptions for H-K, which could be seeded anywhere from five to seven (the safe money is on seven).
The Cougars’ win leaves one spot left in Class S, and Plainfield (8-1) is all but a lock to earn it.
And now. ... 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 too 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.
3. Matt Fischer, the CIAC’s admiral of robotics, built the ROBOABACUS so that you may stay updated on all the playoff races. USE IT.
4. No one officially qualifies until the CIAC football committee says they qualified. They’ll give everything a big A-OK the day after the end of the regular season, whenever that is.
5. This is an exhibition, not a competition. Please, no wagering.
Remember, kids — the top eight teams in each division qualify, and bonuses 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. Teams that are listed as “IN” and are in bold have earned a home quarterfinal.
The state quarterfinals (Tuesday, Nov. 27) and semifinals (Sunday, Dec. 2) are hosted by the higher seeds. The finals are on Saturday, Dec. 8 at sites to be determined.
We plan on posting and update after tonight’s games. You should really be on the Twit at #cthsfb, too, because FOURTY ONE games will be played due to our (alleged) impending Arctic doom.
Twenty-two teams in. TEN more berths to be claimed.
• • • •
CLASS LL
IN: No. 1 Shelton (8-0), No. 2 Southington (9-0), No. 3 Darien (9-0), No. 4 Newtown (9-0), No. 5 Greenwich (9-0) and No. 6 New Britain (9-1).
The top four seeds are up for grabs.
WIN-AND-IN
7. FAIRFIELD PREP (8-1)
NEXT: Thanksgrabbing at West Haven (5-4).
HIGH: 1,360
LOW: 1,160
BONUSES (50): NORTH HAVEN over Amity; NFA over New London; SHEEHAN over Lyman Hall; CHESHIRE over Southington; HARDING over Bridgeport Central.
The Jesuits can lose and still qualify. Their minimum (1,160) is very close to New Canaan (1,180) and Staples’ (1,170) maximum, and those two won’t reach those numbers without beating one of the state’s top two teams.
East Hartford cannot catch Prep.
TWO SPOTS FOR FOUR
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.
CalPreps’ computer model predicts Darien 24-19, should you care.
9. EAST HARTFORD (7-2)
NEXT: TONIGHT vs. Manchester (4-5).
HIGH: 1,080
LOW: 930
BONUSES (10): NEWINGTON over Wethersfield.
Which seems like a safer route to playoffs — beating Manchester and hoping that Darien and/or Greenwich win, or by having to beat Darien or Greenwich?
10. STAPLES (7-2)
NEXT: Thanksgrabbing at Greenwich (9-0).
HIGH: 1,170
LOW: 930
BONUSES (50): BRIDGEPORT CENTRAL over Harding; FAIRFIELD WARDE over Fairfield Ludlowe; WILTON over Trinity Catholic; RIDGEFIELD over Danbury; STAMFORD over Westhill.
CalPreps’ computer model predicts Greenwich 31-14.
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 Southington (10-0) vs. No. 5 Greenwich (10-0).
• • • •
CLASS L
IN: 1. Naugatuck (9-0), 2. Hand (9-0), 3. Middletown (8-0), 4. Maloney (8-1).
Maloney clinches a home quarterfinal with a win over Platt tonight.
WIN-AND-IN
5. BUNNELL (8-1)
NEXT: TONIGHT 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 RHAM is the only team outside of the top eight that can catch them. One problem — their bonuses are AWFUL.
6. WINDSOR (7-2)
NEXT: TONIGHT at Middletown (9-0).
HIGH: 1,240
LOW: 1,000
BONUSES (50): HARTFORD PUBLIC over Bulkeley/HMTCA/Weaver; FARMINGTON over Plainville; NFA over New London; PLATT over Maloney; BRISTOL CENTRAL over Bristol Eastern.
The Warriors can lose to Middletown and still qualify if North Haven, Platt or RHAM lose.
7. NORTH HAVEN (7-2)
NEXT: TONIGHT vs. Amity (5-4).
HIGH: 1,200
LOW: 980
BONUSES (60): WEST HAVEN over Fairfield Prep; CHESHIRE over Southington; BROOKFIELD over Bethel; FORAN over Law; MASUK over Newtown; HILLHOUSE over Wilbur Cross
North Haven can also lose and qualify if Windsor, Platt or RHAM lose.
8. PLATT (7-2)
NEXT: TONIGHT at Maloney (8-1).
HIGH: 1,150
LOW: 950
BONUSES (20): FARMINGTON over Plainville; BRIDGEPORT CENTRAL over Harding.
The Panthers must beat Maloney. They cannot catch Windsor if they both lose. They can catch North Haven if they both lose, but it’s very unlikely.
REPLY HAZY, TRY AGAIN
9. RHAM (7-2)
NEXT: TONIGHT vs. Bacon Academy (3-6).
HIGH: 1,070
LOW: 910
BONUSES (30): BULKELEY/HMTCA/WEAVER over Hartford Public; PLAINVILLE over Farmington; ROCKY HILL over Cromwell/Portland
The Sachems should beat Bacon, but need a loss by Bunnell, Windsor, North Haven or Platt, and perhaps bonuses, too.
10. WETHERSFIELD (6-3)
NEXT: TONIGHT at Newington (3-6).
HIGH: 960
LOW: 790
BONUSES (30): HARTFORD PUBLIC over Bulkeley/HMTCA/Weaver; NW CATHOLIC over East Catholic; WINDSOR over Middletown
The Eagles cannot catch the top seven ranked teams. RHAM will beat them out if it wins, too.
11. GUILFORD (6-3)
It plays at Hand TONIGHT.
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 (9-1), 3. Sheehan (9-1), 4. Killingly (8-1), and 5. Cheney Tech (8-2).
WIN-AND-IN
6. BROOKFIELD (7-2)
NEXT: TONIGHT vs. Bethel (1-8).
HIGH: 1,140
LOW: 980
BONUSES (50): NOTRE DAME-FFLD over Pomperaug; NEW FAIRFIELD over New Milford; STRATFORD over Bunnell; MASUK over Newtown; HILLHOUSE over Wilbur Cross
The Bobcats are about to punch their ticket.
7. EAST HAVEN (7-2)
NEXT: Thanksgrabbing over Branford (5-4).
HIGH: 1,100
LOW: 900
BONUSES (50): BETHEL over Brookfield; LYMAN HALL over Sheehan; COGINCHAUG/HALE-RAY/EAST HAMPTON over North Branford; NOTRE DAME-FFLD. over Pomperaug; WILBUR CROSS over Hillhouse.
The Yellowjackets have never made states.
10. WOLCOTT (6-3)
NEXT: Thanksgrabbing at Holy Cross (6-3).
HIGH: 1,040
LOW: 860
BONUSES (20): SEYMOUR over Woodland; WATERBURY CAREER over Gilbert/Northwestern.
The Eagles would’ve qualified last season with a win over Holy Cross. They led by 15 points in the second quarter, only to have the Crusaders zip past them for a 42-28 win.
REPLY HAZY, TRY AGAIN
8. ROCKVILLE (6-3)
NEXT: TONIGHT vs. Ellington (1-8).
HIGH: 990
LOW: 860
BONUSES (20): WINDSOR LOCKS/SUFFIELD/EAST GRANBY over Stafford/East Windsor/Somers; GILBERT/NORTHWESTERN over Waterbury Career.
The Rams will beat Ellington, but they're also going to need East Haven or Wolcott to lose, and then beat out other teams in this grouping via bonuses.
9. ABBOTT TECH/IMMACULATE (6-3)
NEXT: TODAY vs. MCW United (0-9).
HIGH: 980
LOW: 870
BONUSES (10): QUINEBAUG VALLEY over Thames River.
What was written about Rockville applies to ATI.
11. LAW (6-3)
NEXT: Thanksgrabbing at Foran (1-8).
HIGH: 1,000
LOW: 840
BONUSES (50): LYMAN HALL over Sheehan; STRATFORD over Bunnell; CHESHIRE over Southington; BRANFORD over East Haven; GUILFORD over Hand.
The LAWMEN’s best hope is a Wolcott loss and to get enough bonuses to beat out other hopefuls (they have some pretty improbable bonuses, though). They’ll be in bidness if Branford beats East Haven, too.
12. WESTON (6-3); and, 13. BRANFORD (5-4)
Weston is too far behind. Branford is a few time zones behind.
THE EIGHT: No. 1 St. Joseph (9-1) vs. No. 8 Wolcott (7-3); No. 2 Sheehan (9-1) vs. No. 7 East Haven (8-2); No. 3 Berlin (9-1) vs. No. 6 Brookfield (8-2); No. 4 Killingly (9-1) vs. No. 5 Cheney Tech (8-2).
• • • •
CLASS S
IN: No. 1 Bullard-Havens (9-0), No. 2 Ansonia (9-0), No. 3. Stafford/East Windsor/Somers (9-0), No. 4 Cromwell/Portland (8-1), No. 5. Bloomfield (9-1), No. 6 Haddam-Killingworth (9-1), and No. 7. Woodland (8-1).
S/EW/S earns a home quarter with a win tonight over Windsor Locks/Suffield /East Granby (5-4).
Bloomfield earns a home quarter if it earns one bonus, or Woodland loses one.
ALL-BUT-IN
8. PLAINFIELD (8-1)
NEXT: TONIGHT vs. Griswold (5-4).
HIGH: 1,260
LOW: 1,090
BONUSES (20): STONINGTON vs. Westerly (R.I.); BACON ACADEMY over RHAM
There’s a remote chance that the Panthers will be staked by a loss and a Seymour win. That will, however, require the Wildcats to cash in on bonuses. A win gives them 1,170 points. They can max out at 1,110 if Kennedy beats Crosby (probable), Derby beats Shelton (nope), Watertown beats Torrington (unlikely) and Holy Cross beats Wolcott (possible). IF Seymour and Plainfield tie, the Wildcats win via tiebreaker points.
11. SEYMOUR (6-3)
It lost QB Ian Sadick to a season-ending injury, which puts it in a bad spot for tonight’s game at Woodland.
THE EIGHT: No. 1 Ansonia (10-0) vs. No. 8 Plainfield (9-1); No. 2 Bullard-Havens (10-0) vs. No. 7 Haddam-Killingworth (9-1); No. 3 Stafford/East Windsor/Somers (10-0) vs. No. 6 Cromwell/Portland (9-1); No. 4. Bloomfield (9-1) vs. No. 5 Woodland (9-1).
• • • •
That's all for now. More late tonight.
Adios....
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