Howdy,

ARE YOU READY TO GET MOIST?!

Well, you have no choice if you plan to head to a state semifinal tonight, which you should because it's your civic duty to support your local folk.

You say you don't care about your local high school's sporting teams, your neighbors, or the great North American game of football? Fine. Then show up to see your tax dollars at work which are paying for equipment, facilities and the 69 cents an hour that coaches' receive.

(We'd be a great used car salesman.)

All games kick off at 6:30 tonight. You are encouraged to follow via GameDay at this here website, the NFHSNetwork, the radio (hi, George), and via Twit at #cthsfb.

NOTE: The CIAC announced this morning that two games have been moved because the home team's field was deemed unplayable.

Weston-Rockville will be played at Simsbury High School (yes — assuming it's the closest field to Vernon that's been plowed since the storm because the school hosted a quarterfinal last Wednesday).

Sheehan-Ansonia has been moved to Ryan Field at Derby High School, which hosted the Chargers' quarterfinal last week.

Let's do this:

• • • •

CLASS LL

No. 1 NEWTOWN vs. No. 4 SIMSBURY

WHERE: (Silver) Blue and Gold Stadium, Newtown High.

RECORDS: Newtown 11-0; Simsbury 10-1.

LOOK: NHFS Network (you have to pay to watch, you tax cheats); WSIM (103.5-FM).

NEWTOWN DUDES: Sr. LB-RB Jared Dunn (6-foot-3, 220 pounds; 75 tackles, 9 sacks); Sr. DL James Knox (6-4, 245 pounds; 45 tackles, 8.5 sacks); Sr. OL-DL Zach Loomis (45 tackles, 6.5 sacks); Sr. QB Brandon Lombardo (74-of-118 passing, 997 yards, 13 TD; 49 carries, 254 yards, 2 TDs); Sr. RB-DB Miles Ricks (77 carries, 490 yards, 9 TDs); Jr. QB Jack (not "John") Street (56-of-104, 774 yards passing, 8 TD); Sr. Will Swierbut (42 tackles, 5 INTs); Sr. WR-DB Riley Ward (39 catches, 468 yards, 6 TDs); Sr. WR-DB Jack Zingaro (26 catches, 367 yards, 2 TDs; 32 tackles, 3 INTs).

SIMSBURY DUDES: Jr. QB-DB Aiden Boeshans (1,396 yards passing, 17 TDs; 127 carries, 645 yards, 8 TDs); Jr. WR-DB Jeffrey Coleman (21 catches, 480 yards, 4 TDs); Sr. WR-DB Zach Gilbert (31 catches, 536 yards, 10 TDs); Sr. Sr. OL-LB Tommy Guilfoyle; Sr. RB-S Dan Sohn (902 yards rushing, 10 TDs).

WORDS: HATS OFF to Simsbury for winning its first playoff game, 17-14 over Cheshire last Wednesday. The Trojans fell behind 14-0 after the first quarter, then piled up all their points in the second quarter and relied their defense to preserve the lead. The Rams got within six yards of the Simsbury end zone twice in the final 6 minutes, 16 seconds, but Sohn recovered a fumble to end the first drive and Gilbert had an interception to stop the last drive.

Simsbury did just enough on the ground (47 carries, 195 yards) to score twice. We’re not sure how they’re going to move the ball on the Nighthawks because their defense is nasty. Norwich Free Academy found that out last Wednesday when it was ambushed, 35-0. Newtown allowed just 81 yards on 44 offensive plays (54 which came on the final drive) and five first downs (three of which came on the final drive). It also had TEN sacks (Knox had 2.5 sacks and Jack Mulligan and Loomis each had two) and recovered three fumbles (Loomis also blocked a punt).

The Trojans only gained 99 yards the last time they faced a defense this good (a 35-7 loss to Southington, Nov. 1).

CALPREPS SEZ: Newtown 22-14.

POLECAT SEZ: Newtown.

No. 2 SOUTHINGTON vs. No. 3 DARIEN

WHERE: Southington High.

RECORDS: Southington 10-1; Darien 10-1.

LOOK: NHFS Network; Darien Athletic Foundation via the YouTube.

SOUTHINGTON DUDES: Sr. LB Billy Carr (113 tackles, 10 sacks); Sr. Max Casella (88 tackles, 7.5 sacks); Jr. DL Riley Clingan (52 tackles, 6 sacks); Sr. RB-DB Dillon Kohl (163 carries, 1,113 yards, 13 TDs); Jr. QB Brady Lafferty (162 of 264 passing, 2,016 yards, 24 TDs); Jr. WR-LB Jack McManus (21 catches, 283 yards, 4 TDs; 50 tackles); Sr. LB-RB Angelo Plantamuro (47 tackles, 2 INTs); Sr. WR-DB Carter Uhlman (57 catches, 640 yards, 7 TDs); Sr. WR-DB Joshua Vitti (56 catches, 646 yards, 8 TDs).

DARIEN DUDES: Sr. DE Will Bothwell (67 tackles, 11 sacks); Sr. WR-S Austin Dehmel (44 tackles, 2 INTs); So. DE David Evanchick (48 tackles, 12 sacks); Sr. QB Peter Graham (177 of 304 passing, 2,768 yards, 25 TDs); Sr. RB Will Kirby (132 carries, 638 yards, 12 TDs); Sr. WR-FS Mike Minicus (23 catches, 535 yards, 6 TDs); Sr. LB James Morrissey (56 tackles, 5 sacks); Sr. WR-CB Jackson Peters (36 catches, 677 yards, 7 TDs; 3 INTs); Sr. OLB John Henry Slonieski (51 tackles, 3 sacks); Sr. OLB Sam Wilson (73 tackles, 5 INTs).

WORDS: Welcome the first of three REMATCHENINGS — the Kind of Blue Bowl.

There were enough players who walked away from their Sept. 21 game black-and-blue. Darien won, 24-8, in which was a bit of an offensive slog. That might read strange given that the Blue Wave scored over 20, but both offenses went three-and-out on their first five drives of the second half and neither could run.

Both defenses also snuffed out the run. The Blue Knights had 18 yards on 26 carries, Darien ran 20 times for 17 yards.

Expect more of the same tonight, especially since we believe both defenses are better than the offenses.

Southington’s defense has been terrific in its previous two wins, 21-20 over Cheshire in double overtime on Thanksgrabbing (it was tied at 7 at the end of regulation), and last Wednesday’s 13-9 quarterfinal grind over Ridgefield. Keep an eye on No. 51, Billy Carr. Graham and Darien sure will.

We still cannot process that New Canaan ran 49 times for 207 yards and two touchdowns against the Blue Wave in its 20-0 Thanksgrabbing win because we thought it was unpossible to run on the latter (that and the Rams throwing on 49 of 59 offensive plays is as unlikely as us going to see the Jonas Brothers).

Darien was far more Darien-like in its 26-16 quarterfinal win over Greenwich last Wednesday. It gave up 331 yards but did good work holding the Cardinals to two touchdowns.

Bothwell (30 yards) and Wilson (20 yards) both scored on interception returns for the Blue Wave and, yeah, keep an eye on those two as well (Wilson is No. 9, Bothwell is No. 52).

Darien's offense had another worrisome showing, though. It managed just two touchdowns and Graham threw three interceptions.

CALPREPS SEZ: Southington 21-20.

POLECAT SEZ: Darien.

• • • •

CLASS L

No. 1 ST. JOSEPH vs. No. 4 NEW CANAAN

WHERE: Bunnell High, Stratford.

RECORDS: St. Joseph 11-0; New Canaan 9-2.

LOOK: NHFS Network.

ST. JOSEPH DUDES: Sr. LB Cole daSilva (78 tackles, 7.5 sacks); Sr. WR Will Diamantis (36 catches, 611 yards, 12 TDs); Jr. WR Brady Hutchinson (50 catches, 860 yards, 14 TDs); Sr. DL Michael Morrissey (66 tackles, 7 sacks); Sr. LB Alex Pagliarini (88 tackles, 4 sacks); Sr. RB Jaden Shirden (175 carries, 1,633 yards, 28 TDs; 13 catches, 207 yards, 3 TDs); Jr. QB Jack Wallace (126 of 189 passing, 2,085 yards, 36 TDs; 40 carries, 145 yards, 5 TDs); Sr. Jermaine Williams (5-11, 320; 62 tackles, 6 sacks.

NEW CANAAN DUDES: Sr. TE-OLB Chris Carratu (65 tackles, 13 sacks); Sr. FB-ILB Jack Finnigan (89 tackles); Sr. DB Drew Guida; Sr. WR-CB Zach LaPolice (56 catches, 941 yards, 12 TDs; 2 INTs); Sr. TE-ILB Andrew Morse (56 tackles, 5 sacks); Sr. QB Drew Pyne (161 of 252 passes, 2,107 yards, 24 TDs; 57 carries, 259 yards, 8 TDs); Jr. RB-WR-CB Christian Sweeney (38 catches, 419 yards, 6 TD); Jr. RB-ILB John Wise (140 carries, 656 yards, 11 TDs).

WORDS: St. Joseph treated the Rams like a catapult treats Wile E. Coyote in a 58-14 beatdown on Oct. 4.

The Cadets scored on the game’s first play.

The Cadets led by as much as 51-0 late in the first half.

It was New Canaan’s worst home loss since losing to Staples, 36-0, on Sept. 12, 2003.

It was New Canaan’s worst loss since Bloomfield squished it, 55-6, in the 2000 Class M final.

THE REMATCHENING ain't going to be much better.

CALPREPS SEZ: St. Joseph, 42-17.

POLECAT SEZ: St. Joseph.

No. 2 HAND vs. No. 3 MALONEY

WHERE: Strong Field at the Surf Club, Madison, on the shores of Long Island Sound. Bring your dinghy.

RECORDS: Hand 11-0; Windsor 10-1.

LOOK: NFHS Network.

HAND DUDES: Jr. OL-DL Tom Bambrick (6-4, 285); Sr. QB Phoenix Billings (96 of 154 passing, 1,561 yards, 27 TDs); Sr. Ben Corniello (6-2, 245 pounds; 47 tackles, 5 sacks); Sr. WR-OLB Ethan Haberman (6-4, 225; 39 catches, 753 yards, 13 TDs); Sr. RB-WR Jesse Lutz (76 carries, 586 yards, 9 TD); Sr. RB Colin McCabe (103 carries, 1,290 yards, 19 TDs); Sr. WR-DB-K Isaiah McNeilly (19 catches, 259 yards, 6 TDs); So. DL Kevin Nizolek (46 tackles, 8 sacks); Sr. ILB Shane Reiner (67 tackles).

MALONEY DUDES: So. QB Angel Arce; So. WR-LB Ian Graham; So. RB-LB Kenny McMillian; Sr. WR-DB Kamron Moreno; Sr. WR-DB Sergio Muniz; Sr. OL-DL Trevor Santiago (6-6, 300); Sr. TE-LB Kody Talento; Jr. RB James Tarver; So. RB-DB Kuron Wiggins.

WORDS: Theoretically, the Tigers shouldn’t maul the Spartans as badly as they did in last year’s L final because that’s tough to replicate (a 54-14 clobbering that wasn’t even that close).

In theory, communism works. In theory.

Newington was the only team that beat Maloney this season (42-35). Hand punted Newington into Long Island Sound last Wednesday, 52-0, with Billings completing 10 of 12 passes for 187 yards with a school-record six touchdowns.

Maloney couldn't stop the Tigers last season. We don't think it can stop them this year, either.

CALPREPS SEZ: Hand 40-20.

POLECAT SEZ: Hand.

• • • •

CLASS M

No. 1 ROCKVILLE vs. No. 5 WESTON

WHERE: Simsbury High School.

RECORDS: Rockville 11-0; Weston 10-1.

LOOK: NHFS Network.

ROCKVILLE DUDES: Sr. WR-DB Jaquan Dufour (40 catches, 723 yards, 13 TDs); Jr. RB-LB Kevin Foley (65 carries, 428 yards, 8 TDs); Jr. Nasir Knighton (5-10, 285; 78 tackles; 6.5 sacks); Sr. WR-DB Christopher Mierez (24 catches, 357 yards, 5 TDs; 45 carries, 300 yards, 4 TDs; 77 tackles, 6 INTs); Sr. Jonathan O’Coin (99 of 182 passing, 1,786 yards, 24 TDs; 54 carries, 287 yards, 5 TDs; 47 tackles, 5.5 sacks, 3 INTs); Sr. OL-LB Avery Wilson (80 tackles).

WESTON DUDES: Sr. RB-LB Tyler Bower (138 carries, 138 yards, 10 TDs; 74 tackles); Sr. James Goetz (41 of 75 passing, 890 yards, 13 TDs; 47 carries, 430 yards, 6 TDs; 45 tackles, 4 INTs); Sr. T-DE Francis Okine (36 tackles, 4 sacks); Sr. Brendan Sawyer (98 carries, 739 yards, 11 TDs; 44 tackles); Sr. WR-LB Jack Sawyer (35 catches, 319 yards, 10 TDs); So. WR-DB Dominic Tarantino (53 tackles).

WORDS: The Voices (in our head) tell us that Killingly and Weston are the teams to beat in this division.

We’ll admit, though, that we don’t have the clearest vision of how this sucker will go down. The quarterbacks will be fun to watch, though.

How about Rockville probably hasn’t played anyone as good as Masuk, which the Trojans beat (62-41). Masuk, which beat M quarterfinalist New Fairfield (43-12).

(New Fairfield also beat Weston when Goetz and others were out hurt, 29-6.)

Yeah, we’ve got nothing insightful here for you. Sorry.

CALPREPS SEZ: Rockville, 26-21.

POLECAT SEZ: Weston.

No. 2 WATERFORD vs. No. 3 KILLINGLY

WHERE: Alumni Turf Field, Waterford High.

RECORDS: Waterford 10-1; Killingly 10-1.

LOOK/LISTEN: GameDay at THEDAY.COM BAY BAY.

WATERFORD DUDES: Sr. QB-DB Ryan Bakken (118 of 251 passing, 1,872 yards, 32 TDs, 7 INTs; 85 carries, 237 yards, 4 TDs); Sr. WR-DB Trey Brennan; Jr. RB-DB Christian Hightower (100 carries, 564 yards, 3 TDs); Jr. RB-LB Jackson Harshberger (108 carries, 476 yards, 5 TDs); Sr. OL-DT Jeremiah Harshberger; Jr. WR-DB Sam Menders (28 catches, 423 yards, 8 TDs); Sr. OL-DT Jose Rosario-Gonzalez; So. OL-DE Will Sutman; Sr. WR-DB Mike Vincent (23 catches, 491 yards, 12 TDs); Sr. OL-DT Ethan Welch.

KILLINGLY DUDES: Sr. FB-LB John Creswell (86 tackles); Sr. WR-LB Kameron Crowe (10 catches, 274 yards, 4 TDs; 50 tackles, 3 INTs); Jr. T-DE Jacob Galarza (40 tackles, 6.5 sacks); Sr. WR-CB Josh Heaney (26 catches, 439 yards, 7 TDs; 39 tackles, 4 INTs); Jr. FB-LB-K-P Chris Jax (46 tackles, 4 sacks; 42-of-47 PATs); So. T-NG Connor Leduc (40 tackles, 4.5 sacks); Sr. RB-S Jackson Lopes (124 carries, 633 yards, 14 TDs; 40 tackles, 4 INTs); Sr. QB Jacob Nurse (52 of 90 passing, 962 yards, 14 TDs, 3 INTs; 51 carries, 232 yards, 5 TDs); So. RB-LB Jack Sharpe (232 carries, 1,721 yards, 13 TDs).

WORDS: It’s hot Eastern Connecticut Conference on Eastern Connecticut Conference action featuring the Division II champs (Waterford) and the Division I runner-up (Killingly).

The Red Hawks want to bully you with their RPOs (RUN PEOPLE OVER), and we’re not confident that Waterford can stop the latter’s power running game enough to get it off the field. To be fair, few teams have. Even Class LL quarterfinalist NFA couldn’t stop Killingly from running two nine-minute drives in the second half of their Nov. 8 game, which the Wildcats won 27-21 on a game-ending hook-and-lateral.

We’re curious to see how the Lancers attack Killingly. They ran on 49 of 69 plays in last Wednesday’s 10-6 quarterfinal win over Granby/Canton. That allowed themt to hold the ball for over 19 minutes in the second half (they also had a crazy 69-32 edge in offensive plays).

A team can throw in the rain, contrary to popular belief, and Bakken and Waterford have proven countless times they are more than capable.

CALPREPS SEZ: Killingly 34-22.

POLECAT SEZ: Killingly.

• • • •

CLASS S

No. 1 ANSONIA vs. No. 4 SHEEHAN

WHERE: Ryan Field, Derby High School.

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

LOOK/LISTEN: NHFS Network; WELI (960-AM), iheartradio.com.

ANSONIA DUDES: Sr. TE-DL Garrett Cafaro (6-1, 230); Sr. RB-LB Tyler Cafaro (65 carries, 526 yards, 9 TDs); Sr. RB-DB Skykeem Harmon (148 carries, 1,709 yards, 20 TDs); Sr. LB Troy Sanders; Jr. QB Sheldon Schuler (11 TD passes, 6 TD runs).

SHEEHAN DUDES: Sr. RB-DB Terrance Bogan (160 carries, 1,820 yards, 26 TDs); Sr. WR-RB-DB Jordan Davis (80 carries, 780 yards, 15 TDs; 35 catches, 673 yards, 9 TDs; 45 tackles); Sr. OL-DL Mickey Deming (6-0, 245; 36 tackles, 4 sacks); Sr. OL-LB TJ DiPasquale (65 tackles, 3 sacks); Sr. TE-LB Braedon McCarthy (6-2, 250; 6-2, 250); Sr. RB-LB Russell Rutkowski (72 tackles, 2.5 sacks); Sr. QB-OLB Kyle Simmons (57 of 82 passes, 1,232 yards, 16 TDs).

WORDS: It’s like this — we picked Ansonia to get to the final because its Ansonia, it has dudes, and Ansonia generally makes you look dumb when you pick against it. That written, man, last Wednesday’s quarterfinal results made us quickly question our prediction.

It’s one thing that Ansonia “only” beat Plainfield, 30-12. The Chargers were not pleased with their performance, most especially head coach Tom Brockett.

It’s another thing that Sheehan ripped Woodland’s arms out of its collective sockets Wookie-style that same evening, 51-0.

That’s the same Woodland team that Ansonia squeezed past on Nov. 8, 26-20. It scored the go-ahead touchdown after a blocked punt gave it the ball at the Hawks’ 3-yard line with 21.8 seconds left.

Oh, boy.

You can understand our mental crisis here (unlike our usual mental crises).

Maths don’t always translate in sports, i.e. if Team A clobbered Team B more than Team C did, then Team A surely will beat Team C.

Cheshire, for instance, took Southington to double overtime before losing on Thanksgrabbing. It played Simsbury less than a week later, which was ransacked by Southington in early November, thus the feeling was that the Rams would beat Simsbury.

WRONG.

Still, this is that rare non-championship game in which Ansonia's opponent isn't outgunned. Both teams run the ball exceptionally well. Simmons and Davis give the Titans a better passing threat. One could even argue that Sheehan will have two of the three best wepons on the field in Bogan and Davis, too.

Feels like our heads is about to bust open.

CALPREPS SEZ: Sheehan, 35-34.

POLECAT SEZ: Ansonia (we must stick with our original pick — NO WAFFLING).

No. 3 BLOOMFIELD vs. No. 7 PLAINVILLE

WHERE: Phil Rubin Stadium, Bloomfield High.

RECORDS: Bloomfield 11-0; Plainville 9-2.

LOOK: NHFS Network.

BLOOMFIELD DUDES: Jr. RB-DL Brandon Bish (83 tackles, 4 sacks; 43 carries, 362 yards, 7 TDs); Jr. QB Daron Bryden (149 of 211 passing, 2,861 yards, 36 TDs); Sr. OL-DL Kyle Davis (6-4, 230; 85 tackles, 14.5 sacks); So. WR Jayvon Massey (6-2, 210; 39 catches, 1,030 yards, 14 TDs); Sr. WR-RB-DB Anthony Simpson (77 carries, 1,023 yards, 23 TDs; 61 catches, 1,043 yards, 16 TDs; 10 INTs).

PLAINVILLE DUDES: Jr. QB-DB Christian Collin; Jr. RB-LB Beau Lasher, Jr. WR-DB Javan Paradis. Sorry, we don't have much info on you, Blue Devils, and your stats are inputted into the trusty MaxPreps.com database.

WORDS: It's the third and final REMATCHENING of the day.

The WARHAWKS strafed Plainville on Oct. 4, 47-0.

Daron Bryden completed 20 of 28 passes for 363 yards with six touchdowns and two interceptions for Bloomfield, and Anthony Simpson caught eight passes for 129 yards and four touchdowns (and ran eight times for 72 yards).

This won’t be pretty.

CALPREPS SEZ: Bloomfield, 41-7.

POLECAT SEZ: Bloomfield.

• • • •

In the interest of transparency, we went 15-1 picking the quarterfinals (you proved us wrong, Simsbury).

CalPreps’ went 14-2. So man beat machine. TAKE THAT, SKYNET.

• • • •

Ned Freeman’s cold, calculating computer rankings for CalPreps: 1. St. Joseph; 2. Hand; 3. Southington; 4. Darien; 5. Newtown; 6. New Canaan; 7. Greenwich (9-2); 8. Bloomfield; 9. Shelton (7-3 — over Cheshire, which beat it on the road and qualified for the LL playoffs?); and, 10. Simsbury.

The other semifinalists: 11. Maloney; 16. Sheehan; 17. Killingly; 19. Rockville; 21. Ansonia; 26. Weston; 32. Waterford; and No. 37 Plainville.

• • • •

Thanks for reading. More soon.

Stay dry tonight.

Adios.