Howdy,

Brian Mazzone’s mother used to ask him why he was a loser.

“My mom was from Worcester, so it was ‘loo-sah’,” Mazzone laughed as he talked about how his mother, Mary Wiechniak, would rib him during his days as an assistant at Fermi.

“Why are you such a loser? Can’t you ever win a game?’”

Mazzone has endured a lot of losing and pain. Wiechniak died of brain cancer in 2009. Four years ago, he took over a Stafford/East Windsor program that was winless the season before and hadn’t had a winning year this millennium.

The Bulldogs rocked Cromwell/Portland on Tuesday, 41-6, in a CIAC Class S quarterfinal.

It was just the second playoff win for the program, which added Somers after the 2014 season when Ellington became too big to be a co-op. They’ll host Haddam-Killingworth a semifinal Sunday afternoon at Enfield High (12:30).

Losers no longer.

“They’re special, you know, they’re really special kids,” Mazzone said after Tuesday’s win.

“I think of my mom, watching the games, making fun of me after I lost. … I miss that. I miss it. I miss it, but it’s (part of) this journey.”

Mazzone was an assistant at Fermi from 2005-2009. The team went 9-42 during that time. That included a 60-0 loss to East Hartford that made national news and got then-Hornets head coach Dan Lawrence suspended a game for violating the CIAC’s score management rule.

“We were in Sports Illustrated, we were on ESPN, it was embarrassing,” Mazzone said. “We were 1-9. We had seven points going into Week 8. Seven points.”

Fermi lost 48 straight games after Mazzone left, the fourth-longest losing streak in state history according to the Connecticut High School Football Record Book.

The Bulldogs finished 0-11 prior to Mazzone’s arrival. They were 26-128 this millennium, finishing over three wins just once (5-5 in 2011) with four winless seasons.

“I tried to get all of my friends to come coach,” Mazzone grinned. “Nobody would come with me. They knew what we were getting into. They all stayed in Ellington or went to Rockville. They knew what was going on.”

The current senior class of Stafford/East Windsor/Somers were freshmen when Mazzone took over in 2015. They were used to winning at the youth level.

“It’s been 10, 11 years playing with this same group of guys,” Bulldogs senior Colton Engel said. “Youth football was really bad for a while. We were able to go in there and turn it around.

“We changed the program down there, and we knew we could all come up here and do it.”

Stafford/East Windsor had been shut out six times during its winless 2014 season, including four weeks in a row. It was outscored 361-31.

The Bulldogs won their first game with Mazzone, 22-0 over the Coventry/Windham Tech/Bolton/Lyman Memorial co-op. They finished 4-6.

“They (the players) all bought in from day one,” Mazzone said, “and I didn’t have this master plan. It’s hard work, you know. George Thomas was my coach (at Enfield). George Thomas (was) grind it out, play tough defense, run the ball, and I tried to do what George did with us. And I took all the stuff I learned at Westfield (State) and Pat Welkley at Fermi. We may have stunk (at Fermi), but man I learned a ton from him and the guys in Ellington, too. And (the kids) bought into all of it.

“These kids, they won championships (at the youth level). They come here, the first year, I had to start four of them as freshmen at times. The second year, I’m starting seven sophomores, and I’m saying, ‘we’re going to stink’. We went 9-1.”

The Bulldogs went to states for the first time in 2015 and lost to Ansonia in the Class S quarterfinals, 48-0. The Chargers went on to win their state-record 20th CIAC state title.

Stafford/East Windsor/Somers got its first playoff win last season against Bullard-Havens, 20-12, in the Class S quarterfinals. It lost to Ansonia in the semis (52-19).

A year later, the Bulldogs are one again a win away from a state final.

“(It’s) incredible,” Engel said of the turnaround. “The year before we entered, we were 0-11 and scored 31 points all year, and then to turn it all around. Our senior year, (to) come out and play a good team like this (Cromwell/Portland) and win, it’s awesome.”

Mazzone said: “I talked to my wife the other night. I’ve got (assistant) Andrew (Turnbull), he was with me at Fermi. I’ve got Jeff Russell. He was with me at Fermi. I’ve got all these guys here, and we’ve all been through awful. We’ve all been through such awful teams in high school. My brother (Dan), they lost 39 games in a row (at Enfield). We’ve been through it, and I think that’s why it means more.

“This is a funny story — so this is about me and my brother (Dan). I’m close to him. So, my mom, she got (brain) cancer, so she goes out and visits him. We lose (a game), and he leaves me a message. ‘Hey, it’s Dan. Uh, Mom wanted me to tell you she loves me more because you suck at coaching. Talk to you tomorrow!”

Mazzone burst out laughing.

• • • •

We here at Polecat Worldwide believe in transparency. And metal. And that otters are awesome.

It is in the spirit of said transparency that we admit that Sean Patrick Star, Pete Papagoogahgoogahgoogah and CalPreps’ cold, unfeeling computer model all wrung our pants picking the quarterfinals.

TO THE TOTE BOARD

SEAN PATRICK STAR: 13-3

PETEY P: 13-3

CALPREPS: 11-5.

POLECAT: 10-6.

SING IT, Dr. Percival Ulysses "Perry" Cox, M.D.

Yes, betting right 60 percent of the time would make you rich. Getting a hit 60 percent of the time would get you both in the Hall of Fame and an international youth baseball league named in your honor.

When it comes to picking high school playoff games correctly, 60 percent is a catastrophe.

We are undeterred by our stupid, though, and will both forge on, preview, and pick the semifinals.

DON’T FORGET — follow all of Sundaze action at the Twit at #cthsfb. Everything kicks off at 12:30 p.m.

• • • •

CLASS LL

No. 2 GREENWICH vs. No. 3 NEWTOWN

WHERE: Cardinal Stadium, Greenwich (not “Broodwich”).

RECORDS: Greenwich 11-0; Newtown 11-0.

LOOK/LISTEN: NHFS Network (you have to pay to watch, you tax cheats); WGCH-1490.

GREENWICH DUDES: So. WR-FS A.J. Barber (16 catches, 205 yards, 6 TDs); Sr. WR Stephen Bennett (24 catches, 404 yards, 7 TDs); Sr. DE Mozi Bici (15 sacks); Sr. DE Emilio Camou (5 sacks); Sr. RB Tysen Comizio (95 carries, 572 yards, 13 TDs; 13 catches, 248 yards, 1 TD); Sr. MLB Jack Feda; Jr. C-DT Eddy Iuteri; Sr. WR Lance Large (30 catches, 506 yards, 5 TDs); Sr. G-DT Jack McBreairty; Sr. QB Gavin Muir (132-of-234 passing, 1,999 yards, 24 TDs, 6 INTs; 45 carries, 190 yards, 6 rushing TDs); Sr. CB Ryan Raybuck; Jr. OLB Evan Weigold.

NEWTOWN DUDES: Sr. RB Dan Mason (196 carries, 1,299 yards rushing, 30 TDs); Sr. QB Luke Melillo (88-of-161 passing, 1,474 yards, 10 TDs, 2 INTs; 55 carries, 414 yards, 5 TDs); Sr. LB Easton Ricks (58 tackles, 4 sacks); Jr. LB Jared Dunn (49 tackles, 2 ½ sacks); Jr. DE James Knox (37 tackles, 4 ½ sacks); Sr. WR-SS Joe Pagett (21 catches, 319 yards; 4 INTs); Sr. WR-LB Shea Talbot (21 catches, 388 yards, 2 TDs);  Jr. WR-DB Riley Ward (23 catches, 372 yards, 6 TDs); Jr. CB-WR Jack Zingaro (5 INTs).

WORDS: Newtown, you’re the next contestant to try to stop the Cardinals. The Nighthawks managed to do something few teams have the past few years against three-time, three-time, three-time Darien during Tuesday’s 26-16 win — run the ball. Newtown ran 41 timers for 184 yards, led by brute Dan Mason (22 carries, 97 yards, 3 TDs). The Nighthawks' offensive line will need to be even stronger against what’s been the state’s toughest defense. Greenwich has allowed a state-low 54 points and, prior to Tuesday’s 49-13 rout over New Britain, just 1.2 yards per carry. Bici and Camou have made life hell for offensive tackles and quarterbacks alike coming off the edge.

Newtown has allowed the second-fewest points in the state (64), so its defense has been pretty dang tight, too. Greenwich hasn’t run the ball as efficiently the past four games as it had earlier in the season, averaging 3.2 yards on 93 carries in November. That would be of no relief to any opposing defensive coordinator as the Cardinals’ o-line and Comizio, a Class LL All-State pick last season, are more than capable of grinding up yards on the ground. Muir had one of his best games of the season against New Britain as he completed 16 of 25 passes for 321 yards with three touchdowns and ran seven times for 53 yards and a score. He’s also mastered the art of keeping a defense wondering if he’s going to let his running back take that ball or pull it back and throw to an open receiver. The Cardinals have been too much for anyone to handle this season and will continue to do so on Sunday.

CALPREPS SEZ: Greenwich 28-21.

SEAN PATRICK STAR’S PICK: Greenwich.

PETE P’S PICK: Greenwich.

POLECAT SEZ: Greenwich.

No. 5 FAIRFIELD PREP vs. No. 8 NEW CANAAN

WHERE: Rafferty Stadium, Fairfield.

RECORDS: Fairfield Prep 10-1; New Canaan 9-2.

LOOK: NFHS Network.

PREP DUDES: Sr. LB Connor Boyle (57 tackles, 2 sacks); Sr WR Finn Duran (28 catches, 626 yards, 14 TDs); Sr. OL-DL Campbell Halloran; Sr. RB Doug Harrison (158 carries, 955 yards rushing, 14 TDs); Sr. QB J.P. Iaropoli (122-of-195 passing, 1,702 yards, 22 TDs, 7 INTs); Sr. SS-WR Peter Kavanaugh (58 tackles); Jr. WR-CB Max McGillicuddy (24 catches, 420 yards, 3 TDs); So. OLB Nick Morris Jr. (47 tackles, 3 INTs); Sr. WR-CB Sam Roberto (32 catches, 302 yards, 3 TDs); Sr. RB-CB T.J. Walton (39 carries, 306 yards, 6 TDs); Jr. MLB Charles Wilcox (72 tackles).

NEW CANAAN DUDES: Sr. OLB Garrett Braden (51 tackles, 4 ½ sacks); So. Chris Canet DB-WR (65 tackles, 1 INT) Sr. T-DT Jack Conley (6-foot-8, 290 pounds, 21 tackles, 3 sacks); Jr. RB-DB Drew Guida (49 tackles, 6 INTs); Sr. CB-WR Zach LaPolice (23 catches, 343 yards, 4 TDs); Sr. WR Quintin O’Connell (72 catches, 1,039 yards, 14 TDs; 30 carries, 167 yards, 4 TDs); Jr. QB Drew Pyne (166-of-256 passing, 2,262 yards, 28 TDs, 3 INTs); Jr. DE Matt Rigione (34 tackles, 9 sacks); Sr. T-DT Jack Stewart (6-5, 275 pounds, 44 tackles, 4 sacks); Sr. WR-CB Wyatt Wilson (31 catches, 517 yards, 5 TDs).

WORDS: Wondered earlier in the week if the Rams' offense was indeed back in gear against top teams, something they weren’t in losses to St. Joseph (28-0) and Greenwich (42-14). Both of their touchdowns in their 17-14 Thanksgiving win over Darien were products of a short field (a bad punt gave them the ball at the latter’s 37 on the first touchdown drive, and a sack and fumble gave them the ball at the Blue Wave’s 20 on their last scoring drive). Whelp, New Canaan’s offense beat Shelton with big plays in Tuesday’s 42-34 win. Pyne threw a 78-yard touchdown pass to O’Connell and ran 38 yards for New Canaan’s final score. J.R. Moore also scored on a 42-yard run. O’Connell, even though everyone in Shelton knew he was Pyne's primary receiver, still managed 13 catches in that win (for 173 yards and three TDs).

The Jesuits will need to be as good defensively against New Canaan as they were in Tuesday’s 28-21 quarterfinal win at Southington. They came away with three turnovers and had a goal line stand with over a minute left, stopping the Blue Knights on fourth-and-1 inside their 2-yard line. Offensively, Prep converted 3-of-5 fourth-down plays. It also had Iaropoli throw 28 times to stop Southington from crowding the line and get running room for Harrison (17 carries, 77 yards) and Walton (11 carries, 53 yards, 2 TDs).

Should you care about common opponents, Shelton is the only one. Prep held the Gaels without an offensive touchdown and lost on a go-ahead punt return, 10-7 (Sept. 21). We’re not confident it can hold New Canaan to so few points.

CALPREPS SEZ: New Canaan 21-20.

SEAN PATRICK STAR’S PICK: New Canaan.

PETE P’S PICK: New Canaan.

POLECAT SEZ: New Canaan.

• • • •

CLASS L

No. 1 HAND vs. No. 4 WINDSOR

WHERE: Surf Club, Madison.

RECORDS: Hand 11-0; Windsor 9-2.

LOOK/LISTEN: NFHS Network.

HAND DUDES: Sr. WR-CB Chris Bartosic (21 catches, 525 yards, 7 TDs); Jr. QB Phoenix Billings (74-of-112 passing, 1,523 yards, 17 TDs, 4 INTs; 31 carries, 479 yards, 9 TDs); Sr. WR-CB Ian Butler (18 catches, 402 yards, 3 TDs; 32 tackles, 3 INTs); Jr. T-DE Ben Corniello (43 tackles, 7 ½ sacks); Sr. DE-G Jack Flanagan (54 tackles, 7 1/2 sacks); Jr. RB-OLB Colin McCabe (102 carries, 1,120 yards, 29 TDs; 36 tackles, 5 sacks); Sr. OL-DT Macken McDonald (22 tackles); Jr. FS-K Isaiah McNeilley (4 INTs, 35-38 XPs).

WINDSOR DUDES: Sr. RB-LB Chanty Adger; Sr. WR-DB Gabriel Bryan; Sr. OL-DL Dohnje Cassanova; Jr. WR-LB Torayl Dale; Sr. RB-LB Shaun Hunter; So. QB Courtenay Jackson; Jr. WR-DB Tishay Johnson.

WORDS: Windsor’s offense has been erratic this season, so what it did in Tuesday’s 34-14 win over North Haven was impressive. Chante Adger ran for 130 yards and a touchdown, and Courtenay Jackson was an efficient 10-of-14 for 218 yards and two touchdowns. Credit the Warriors defense, too, as they came through with another strong showing.

Windsor’s reward is a second-straight semifinal game against what has been an unstoppable beast. The Tigers’ first-team defense mauled Bunnell in Tuesday’s 56-0 beating, holding the latter to minus-25 yards. Offensively, Hand only needed Colin McCabe to run nine times for 175 yards and five touchdowns. The Tigers mashed Windsor in last year’s semifinals (31-6). It’s hard to see it going much better for it.

CALPREPS SEZ: Hand 38-14.

SEAN PATRICK STAR’S PICK: Hand.

PETE P’S PICK: Hand.

POLECAT SEZ: Hand.

No. 6 PLATT vs. No. 7 MALONEY

WHERE: Falcon Field, Meriden.

RECORDS: Platt 9-2; Maloney 9-2.

PLATT DUDES: Sr. WR-S Jake Baker (47 catches, 695 yards, 10 TDs; 2 INTs); Jr. WR-CB Tremayne Carter (33 catches, 619 yards, 5 TDs); So. LB-TE Jasiah Cooper (2 sacks); Jr. NG-G Jaylen John; So. RB-OLB Roberto Salas (186 carries, 1,237 yards, 10 TDs); Sr. QB-S Lorenzo Sanson (101-of-194 passing, 1,387 yards, 18 TDs, 9 INTs; 63 carries, 302 yards, 5 TDs).

MALONEY DUDES: Sr. QB Elliot Good; Jr. RB Freddy Hidalgo; Sr. WR-DB Victor Marquez; Sr. C Ryan Martel (6-5, 330); Sr. OL D.J. Posey (6-4, 290); Jr. OT-DT Trevor Santiago (6-5, 300); So. RB-DB James Tarver.

WORDS: Maloney and Platt aren’t Top 10 teams, but as storylines and drama goes, nothing this Sunday will beat Stoddard Bowl II: THE REMATCHENING~! There is always heat between the Meriden rivals, and the Spartans should be screaming for vengeance after Platt rolled them 36-20 to both win the 61st Stoddard Bowl game on Nov. 21 and clinch a playoff berth.

The biggest curiosity here is will the Panthers attack Maloney the same way twice. Sanson, Baker and Carter can ruin a pass defense (just ask Middletown), but Platt saw the light and unleashed GOD’S OFFENSE (double wing) to control the game. It ran 52 times for 355 yards and four touchdowns, led by Salas (16 carries, 144 yards, two TDs). It was also the perfect way to play keep away from the high-scoring Spartans, featuring one of the state’s best receivers (Marquez) and some very, very large hosses up front.

That old NFL chestnut that it’s difficult to beat a team three times in a season is a LIE. We don’t, however, know the maths about beating a team twice in a Connecticut high school football season, thus we’ll take Maloney to win THE REMATCHENING~!

CALPREPS SEZ: Maloney 27-26.

SEAN PATRICK STAR’S PICK: Maloney.

PETE P’S PICK: Platt.

POLECAT SEZ: Maloney.

• • • •

CLASS M

No. 1 ST. JOSEPH vs. No. 4 KILLINGLY

WHERE: McDougall Stadium, Trumbull High.

RECORDS: St. Joseph 10-1; Killingly 10-1.

ST. JOSEPH DUDES: Sr. WR Jesse Bike (28 catches, 439 yards, 8 TDs); Jr. LB Cole DaSilva (56 tackles, 6 sacks); Jr. WR Will Diamantis (36 catches, 782 yards, 12 TDs); Sr. LB Jesse Lawson (72 tackles); Sr. DB-WR Ace Luzietti; Jr. DE Michael Morrissey (53 tackles, 8 sacks); Jr. LB Alex Pagliarnini (74 tackles, 7 ½ sacks); Jr. RB Jaden Shirden (169 carries, 1,093 yards, 21 TDs; 20 catches, 154 yards, 3 TDs); Sr. QB David Summers (125-of-228 passing, 1,959 yards, 29 TDs, 10 INTs; 65 carries, 226 yards, 4 TDs); Jr. NG Jermaine Williams (5-11, 303, 30 tackles, 4 ½ sacks).

KILLINGLY DUDES: Sr. QB-CB-K Luke Desaulnier (47-of-84 passing, 799 yards, 9 TDs, 2 INTs; 60 carries, 229 yards, 8 TDs; 60-64 XP, 4-6 FG); Sr. DE-TE Quinn Gervasio (48 tackles, 10 1/2 sacks); Sr. RB-DE Nsaiah Harriet (117 carries, 798 yards, 13 TDs; 36 tackles, 8 sacks); Jr. RB-OLB Jackson Lopes (93 carries, 620 yards, 8 TDs; 38 tackles); Sr. WR Josh Montpelier (25 catches, 494 yards, 7 TDs; 2 INTs); Sr. G-MLB Matt Phelan (110 tackles, 5 sacks); Sr. MLB-FB Dylan Sanford (53 tackles, 9 sacks); Sr. FB-ILB Derek Turner (62 carries, 372 yards, 6 TDs; 79 tackles, 2 1/5 sacks).

WORDS: It’s last season’s Class M champion (Killingly) vs. the consensus choice to be this season’s Class M champion. Okay, NOBODY outside of Attawaugan, Dayville and Ballouville loves TEAM RPO (RUN PEOPLE OVER) more than the staff here at Polecat Worldwide. They are staunch advocates of the Manly Discipline of the Running Arts and, for that, they’ll always have a place close to our dead heart (provided they don’t ever, barf, switch to the Air Raid).

The Cadets are far different (and better) than anyone Killingly has played the past two years. Their defense has been strong enough to shut out New Canaan this season and kept Darien in check for a half before losing, 22-7. Their passing game is consistently among the state’s best and helmed for the second-straight season by the Maryland-bound Summers. And, yes, the game was over two months ago, but if Killingly couldn’t stop New London from using the pass to rally from a 13-point deficit in the final seven minutes for a 25-24 win, it’s hard to envision the Redmen being able to slow St. Joseph.

CALPREPS SEZ: St. Joseph 42-14.

SEAN PATRICK STAR’S PICK: St. Joseph.

PETE P’S PICK: St. Joseph.

POLECAT SEZ: St. Joseph.

No. 2 SHEEHAN vs. No. 3 BERLIN

WHERE: Riccitelli Field, Wally World.

RECORDS: Sheehan 10-1; Berlin 10-1.

SHEEHAN DUDES: Sr. OLB-TE Nick Barbieri (80 tackles, 6 ½ sacks); Jr. RB-OLB-CB Terrence Bogan (218 carries, 2,335 yards, 33 TDs); Jr. WR Jordan Davis (24 catches, 348 yards, 6 TDs); Sr. OLB Tyler Ekstrom (98 tackles, 2 ½ sacks); Jr. FS-WR Mike Lemay (80 tackles, 2 INTs); Jr. MLB-TE Braedon McCarthy (89 tackles, 4 sacks); Sr. SS Ryan Paul (129 tackles, 3 INTs); Sr. G-DT Willie Seay (5-10, 290, 47 tackles); Sr. WR-CB Aaron Simmons (33 catches, 543 yards, 9 TDs; 2 INTs); Sr. WR-OLB Jake Smith (33 catches, 612 yards, 4 TDs; 65 tackles, 2 sacks); Sr. QB-CB Wes Terzi (106-of-174 passing, 1,631 yards, 21 TDs, 3 INTs; 3 rushing TDs); Sr. G-DT Luke Willette (5-10, 280, 55 tackles, 3 ½ sacks).

BERLIN DUDES: Sr. QB Kevin Dunn (105-of-170 passing, 1,797 yards, 23 TDs, 2 INTs; 31 carries, 265 yards, 2 TDs); Sr. Alex Halkias (90 carries, 863 yards, 14 TDs; 18 catches, 370 yards, 3 TDs; 57 tackles); Jr. RB-DL Zach Hrubiec (53 carries, 353 yards, 4 TDs; 17 catches, 191 yards, 3 TDs; 87 tackles; 6 sacks); Jr. RB-LB Larry St. Pierre (35 carries, 317 yards, 4 TDs; 24 catches, 503 yards, 7 TDs; 63 tackles); Sr. G-LB Domenic Scarano (87 tackles); So. Marco Scarano (32 carries, 335 yards, 6 TDs; 117 tackles); Sr. LB-OL Tyler Tralli (73 tackles); Sr. Giancarlo Tufano (25 catches, 445 yards, 6 TDs); Jr. CB-WR Tony Undercuffer (28 tackles, 4 INTs).

WORDS: It’s too bad St. Joseph was only moved up one division as Berlin-Sheehan would be a fine Class M final.

Statistically speaking, this game looks like it should be an ode to the Big 12 as both teams can pile on the points. The guess (and these are all edumikated guesses) is that Berlin’s defense can slow down the Titans' offense more than the Sheehan defense can slow down the Redcoats’ O.

Brookfield made its bones offensively this season smashing away with the run out of the I-formation. Berlin held it to 3.1 yards on 33 carries in Tuesday’s 16-6 quarterfinal win and forced five turnovers.

Terzi, Simmons and most especially Bogan have been terrific this season. The Redcoats went to Bloomfield on Nov. 2 and shut out a crazy collection of offensive talent, 37-0.

Sheehan is no slouch. Bogan, in the last four weeks, has produced what some backs couldn’t produce in a full season (109 carries, 1,098 yards, 17 TDs). The Titans even hung tough in their lone loss (to Fairfield Prep, 23-13, Sept. 28), no small feat given how the Jesuits smashed teams this season.

CALPREPS SEZ: Sheehan 34-28.

SEAN PATRICK STAR’S PICK: Berlin.

PETE P’S PICK: Sheehan.

POLECAT SEZ: Berlin.

• • • •

CLASS S

No. 1 ANSONIA vs. No. 4 BLOOMFIELD

WHERE: Nolan Field, Ansonia.

RECORDS: Ansonia 11-0; Bloomfield 10-1.

LISTEN: WELI-960 with the gruff but lovable George DeMaio.

ANSONIA DUDES: Sr. OL-DL Martin Antoine; Sr. RT-DE Luca Belechia; Sr. RB-ILB Terjuan Burney; Jr. TE-DL Garrett Cafaro; Jr. LB Tyler Cafaro; Jr. RB-DB Shykeem Harmon (178 carries, 1,948 yards, 18 TDs; 10 catches, 175 yards, 2 TDs); So. WR-DB Jalen Johnson (22 catches, 417 yards, 7 TDs); Sr. WR-DB Noah Jy’Mere Jones; Sr. OL-LB Tyler Navarro; So. ILB Troy Sanders; Jr. QB Sheldon Schuler (46-of-83 passing, 779 yards, 15 TDs, 3 INTs).

BLOOMFIELD DUDES: Jr. DE-OT Kyle Barrow (78 tackles, 9 sacks); So. QB Daron Bryden (104-of-164 passing, 1,981 yards, 31 TDs, 9 INTs); Sr. RB-LB Ky’juon Butler (199 carries, 2,036 yards rushing, 21 TDs; 59 tackles); Jr. DL-OL Kyle Davis (48 tackles, 7 ½ sacks); Fr. LB Aaron Jones (71 tackles); Fr. WR Jayvon Massey (26 catches, 496 yards, 13 TDs); Sr. WR David Robinson (27 catches, 464 yards, 7 TDs); Jr. WR-DB Anthony Simpson (11 catches, 344 yards, 4 TDs).

WORDS: Ansonia and the WARHAWKS have been a level above anyone else in the division and, as such, is the Class S final many wanted to see.

Two things intrigue us about this game — how will the Chargers handle Bloomfield’s passing game, and how will the Warhawks fare against Ansonia’s run game?

It’s a NO DUH that the Chargers must get to Bryden because that’s what any team needs to do against a good passing attack at any level. Garrett Cafaro, Belenchia and company are going to need to bring pressure because it’s going to be tough for the Ansonia backfield to handle receivers with the size of Robinson (6-3, 180) and Massey (6-2, 210). The Chargers can’t go blitz-happy, either, lest Butler carve them up with the run.

The Chargers have annually had one of the state’s best running games during head coach Tom Brockett’s 13-year career (his 93 percent winning percentage, 148-11, is the best in state history). They want to physically batter defenses. Bloomfield struggled to stop Berlin’s run game in a 37-0 loss, even though the latter was giving up size. The Redcoats ran 33 times for 307 yards and three touchdowns, and Harmon has been as good as any of Berlin’s backs.

This is the toughest call of the eight quarterfinals, and we’re going to go with Ansonia because it gets the game at home instead of Bloomfield’s turf. It won’t surprise us if the Warhawks win, even if the Chargers haven’t lost at Nolan Field since Thanksgiving 2010 (to Naugatuck, 38-20, Nov. 25).

CALPREPS SEZ: Ansonia 28-24.

SEAN PATRICK STAR’S PICK: Bloomfield.

PETE P’S PICK: Ansonia.

POLECAT SEZ: Ansonia.

No. 3 STAFFORD/EAST WINDSOR/SOMERS vs. No. 7 HADDAM-KILLINGWORTH

WHERE: Enfield High (Stafford’s field is suitable for mass production of mud pies).

RECORDS: S/EW/S 11-0; H-K 10-1.

S/EW/S DUDES: Sr. QB-SS Colton Engel (32-of-64 passing, 462 yards, 8 TDs, 5 INTs; 163 carries, 1,118 yards, 15 TDs; 26 tackles); Sr. RB-LB Cody Gebo (19 carries, 134 yards, 3 TDs; 7 catches, 107 yards, 2 TDs; 51 tackles, 10 sacks, 1 INT); Sr. OL-DL Tyler Gilbert (68 tackles, 2 sacks); Sr. WR-DB Jeff Kology (23 carries, 151 yards, 3 TDs; 13 catches, 232 yards, 3 TDs; 37 tackles, 3 INTs); Sr. OL-LB John Kopek (77 tackles, 7 sacks); Sr. OL-DL Kody Messier (40 tackles, 2 sacks); Sr. RB-DB Julien Rivas (201 carries, 1,301 yards, 19 TDs; 14 catches, 209 yards, 3 TDs; 21 tackles, 3 INTs); Jr. NG-TE Will Spellman (32 tackles, 6 sacks).

H-K DUDES: Sr. RB-MLB Tobey Callender (178 carries, 1,402 yards, 19 TDs; 74 tackles; 5 INTs); Jr. OL-DT Trey Callender (6-2, 285, 57 tackles, 6 sacks); Sr. Aiden Maher (6-5, 235, 40 tackles, 2 sacks); Jr. RB-CB Dalton Modehn (155 carries, 1,168 yards, 21 TDs; 49 tackles, 4 INTs); Sr. RB-LB Zach Kauffman (106 carries, 652 yards, 7TD; 50 tackles, 1 INT).

WORDS: THIS is our favorite semifinal (and a game straight out of our dreams) as both teams both want and love to run-and-run-and-run-and-run-and-run-and-run-and-run-and-run-and-run-and-run-and-run-and-run-and-run-and-run-and-run-and-run.

(Drools).

H-K gets two HATS OFF because it’s thrown just 32 times and uses GOD’S OFFENSE. Actually, it gets elebenty HATS OFF for the latter alone. The Cougars have run 513 times for 3,635 yards and 56 touchdowns.

The Bulldogs run out of a spread set with Engel taking direct snaps and either taking off with the ball or handing it off (most often to Rivas). S/EW/S has run 448 times for 2,936 yards and 42 touchdowns.

Why did we print both team’s running statistics? Self-indulgence, dear reader.

Cromwell/Portland was the only team to beat H-K. It was an oddball game, too, because the Cougars led 13-0 after a quarter before everything went haywire.

The Bulldogs, as you know, rolled C/P on Tuesday, 41-6.

We don’t think because S/EW/S thwacked C/P means that it will thwack H-K (SO MANY HYPHENS). We will always respect and love any team that will let large linemen play fullback (and you should, too) like the Cougars have done with Trey Callender. We nonetheless think the Bulldogs will win.

CALPREPS SEZ: S/EW/S 28-27.

SEAN PATRICK STAR’S PICK: S/EW/S.

PETE P’S PICK: S/EW/S.

POLECAT SEZ: S/EW/S.

• • • •

Ned Freeman’s cold, calculating computer rankings for CalPreps: 1. Greenwich, 2. Newtown, 3. St. Joseph, 4. Hand, 5. New Canaan, 6. Darien, 7. Fairfield Prep, 8. Shelton, 9. New Britain, and, 10. Southington.

The other semifinalists: Sheehan (11), Windsor (12), Berlin (14), Maloney (15), Ansonia (16), Bloomfield (17), Platt (22), Killingly (26), Stafford/East Windsor/Somers (33), and Haddam-Killingworth (40).

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Thanks for reading. More soon.

Adios....