Shelton's thrilling 26-21 victory over Fairfield Prep on Friday will be shown on the MSG network on Sunday morning at 9 a.m.

For those not in attendance Friday night, I suggest you get up early and watch. The game was indeed a classic.

Ansonia running back Alex Thomas rushed 44 times for 518 yards and seven touchdowns in the top-ranked Chargers' 62-35 NVL victory over Woodland Thursday.

The 518 yards sets a single game state record previously held by Farmington's Brandon Willard (508 yards) set in 2002.

Thomas also broke his brother Ryan's school record for career touchdowns. Alex now has 80. Ryan tallied 78.

Alex's seven TDs in a single game ranks second in state history and ties a school record set by Buddy Natowich in 1936. Former New Britain standout and current Yale star Mike McLeod scored eight touchdowns in a game in 2004.


Read the game story in Friday's Register.

There are several key area games this weekend, starting with Woodland's visit to top-ranked Ansonia tonight at 6.

On Friday, Bunnell visits Masuk and Shelton hosts Fairfield Prep.

All of those games will likely have a major effect on league standings and state playoff implications.

But if fans can't get enough of football this weekend, I am sure most of us will be eager for more, then head out to New Haven on Saturday afternoon and check out Hopkins against Brunswick in a pivotal Fairchester League showdown. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m.

Last season, the Greenwich school defeated Hopkins 31-6 before going on to win the Fairchester title. The game marked the only loss for the Hilltoppers last season.

This year, the game should again decide the league title.

"This is probably going to decide who wins it," Hopkins coach Tom Parr said. "They (Brunswick) lost their quarterback (the graduated Kevin Decker) but they scrimmaged Greenwich High and it was 14-14 in the fourth quarter so they're a pretty good football team."

Led by junior quarterback John Powers, running backs Ben Gusberg and Harri Kim and wide receivers Doug Prusoff and John Gudjohnsen, Hopkins (2-0) has scored 76 points in its first two games this season. The defense has allowed just eight.

"We've progressed each week," Parr said. "We took a good positive step this week (in a 36-0 victory over Rye). We threw the ball well. (Powers) started last season and he has a good year under his belt. A lot is going to ride on him this week. We've worked hard. We're ready for it."

Woodland visits top-ranked Ansonia on Thursday. Kickoff is set for 6 p.m.

In Thursday's Register, I will preview the key Naugatuck Valley League matchup. The focus is on Woodland's talented senior Will Volage and the Hawks's newly installed Wing-T offense.

There is the potential that the two teams can meet again to decide the NVL championship, which will be held the week before Thanksgiving. Ansonia is in the Brass Division of the NVL and Woodland is in the Copper Division. The two division winners will meet in the NVL championship.

While many observers believe Ansonia should win convincingly, Chargers coach Tom Brockett expects Woodland to be competitive.

"They present many different challenges," Brockett said. "They do a great job running the Wing-T. But they are still capable of doing the spread offense. They have a ton of experience. They have great players with a ton of speed. They definitely don't lack talent."

Junior WR/DB Tristan Roberts was dismissed from the team this week following an arrest. Sources indicate that drugs were involved.

Ansonia coach Tom Brockett wouldn't elaborate on the charges but confirmed that Roberts was dismissed for "violating team policy."

Roberts is top-ranked Ansonia's best receiver. He has scored three touchdowns this season, one rushing, one receiving and one on a kickoff return.

Ansonia hosts Woodland in a key Naugatuck Valley League game on Thursday. Kickoff is set for 6 p.m.

Notre Dame will hold its 1st Alumni Homecoming Day on Saturday October 20.

The varsity game between Notre Dame and Weston will kickoff at 3 p.m.

Notre Dame will honor the 1964 state championship team at halftime.

For more information, please contact the Notre Dame Alumni Office at (203) 372-6521 Ext. 38 or e-mail Marzik@notredame.org.

Here is the weekly update on Ansonia's Alex Thomas, who is closing in on second place in three categories in the state record book.

In a 41-13 victory over Wilby-Waterbury on Friday, Thomas rushed for 151 yards on 10 carries and scored three times.

Thomas now has 5,009 career yards, moving him to within just 44 yards of seventh place all-time. It's possible that Thomas can climb to as high as fourth in that list. He needs to gain 142 yards against Woodland on Friday to pass Cheshire's Kyle McIntosh (5,150). If he gains 153 yards or better, he would move past Bristol Eastern's Reinaldo Soto (5,161) into third place.

Thomas has now scored 73 touchdowns, which is now eighth best in state history and just five short of tying the school record of 78 set by his brother Ryan, who played for the Chargers from 2001-2003.

With 18 points this past weekend, Alex has tallied 501 for his career, which keeps him in fifth place all-time.

The Register will release the latest Top 10 Poll in Tuesday's paper.
There was some movement in this week's poll, and while the Top 3 remain the same, one of those teams is really gaining ground.
With Bloomfield's loss to Southington over the weekend, the Warhawks fall out of the poll and a new team enters.
Feel free to take a guess as to who it is. Is it Bunnell or Fairfield Prep or Maloney? What about Hand or Windham? Could be. Find out Tuesday.

My notebook will discuss Amity's fast start as it gears up to play Guilford this weekend as well as a look at the SCC's interest in possibly implementing a tie-breaker format next season.

Playoff rankings are up on the CIAC website. We usually hold off from printing them in the Register until Week 5 but feel free to click on the link and see where your team stands after two weeks.

If the season ended today, Southington, Staples and New London would not qualify. It's a good thing there are 10 weeks to the season.