BRANFORD
Coach: Mike Tracy (3rd year)
Last season: 2-8 (0-4 SCC Division II West)
Top players
Alex Tomasello (6-0, 185), QB, Sr.
Zack Cast (6-1, 215), SE, Sr.
Mark Williams (6-1, 285), DL, Sr.
Kyle Pacileo (5-7, 155), HB, Sr.
Strengths
Young group of players eager to improve and excel in system.
Weaknesses
Inexperience, lost most skill players from last season.
Outlook
Will look to improve on last year's record. Keys are to gain experience each week and to stay healthy. Should fall somewhere in the middle of the pack within the division.
Note
Tomasello rushed for 154 yards and scored twice last season.

I recently sent out 2011 season preview forms to state coaches. I've already received quite a few back. Starting today, I'll occasionally post preseason information about state teams leading up to the 2011 season (first game is Sept. 14!).


DERBY
Coach: George French (2nd year)
Last season: 5-5 (5-1 NVL Brass Division)
Top players
Jacob Tomczak (6-1, 200), Sr., WR/FS
Raymond Kreiger (6-0, 185), Sr., QB/DB
Brian Dobek (5-10, 175), Sr., WR/LB
Tim Adanti (6-4, 215), Sr., WR/DE
Strengths
Team speed, talent in the skill positions.
Weaknesses
Depth, Defense (allowed over 26 points per game last season).
Outlook
A contender for the NVL Brass Division title and Class S playoff berth.
Note
Will fly solo this year after its co-op with O'Brien Tech was disbanded.

This week, I sent out a preseason information form to every coach in the state, either by e-mail or US postal service (sent to the school).

If you don't receive one in the next week, feel free to contact me at mpucci@nhregister.com.

Masuk QB Casey Cochran received an offer from UCONN earlier today, as it was first reported on various internet sites.

When reached by phone moments ago, Casey's father, Jack Cochran, said it was "great news".

Cochran has also received an offer from Boston College.

Jack Cochran said that Yale, Princeton and Penn have also offered Casey a "spot" with their program. Ivy League schools don't offer athletic scholarships.

Jack Cochran added that "the goal was to make a decision before the start of school. Hopefully we'll make a decision in a few weeks."

It's been Casey's dream to play at a D-I state school, according to Jack, and right now UConn is Casey's "No. 1 choice."

Coginchaug will play its first true home game in program history this season after a new athletic complex was built at the Durham school.


From a Middletown Press article in May 2011
"Construction on the new complex, which includes an expanded eight-lane track, new tennis courts, and — for the first time — a football field, began at the end of last school year."

Coginchaug will open up the 2011 season at home on Sept. 17 against Nonnewaug at 1 p.m. The field has a turf surface but no lights.

The program has been in existence for 11 years. The school previously played home games at Palmer Field in Middletown or at Middletown High School.

Read Joe Morelli's article here.

Below is a list of scrimmages from state teams, as listed on CIAC.
Times, dates and sites are subject to change.

Aug. 25
Canton at Haddam-Killingworth, 9 a.m.

Aug. 26
Joel Barlow at Ridgefield, 5 p.m.

Aug. 27
East Haven at Derby, 10 a.m.
Housatonic/Wamogo at Pine Plains (NY), 10 a.m.
Northwest Catholic at Middletown, 10 a.m.
Torrington at Norwich Free Academy, 10 a.m.
Wilcox Tech at East Hampton/Vinal Tech, 10 a.m.
Woodstock Academy at Putnam, 10 a.m.
Granby at Capital Prep/Classical Magnet, 10:30 a.m.
Lewis Mills at Wolcott, 6 p.m.
Sacred Heart at Pomperaug, 6 p.m.
Morgan at Guilford, TBA

Aug. 28
Newington at Wolcott, 12 p.m.
Daniel Hand at Berlin, 12:30 p.m.
Fairfield Ludlowe at Bunnell, 4 p.m.
Seymour at Shelton, TBA

Aug. 29
Platt Tech at Seymour, TBA

Aug. 30
East Catholic at RHAM, 3:30 p.m.
Notre Dame-West Haven at Ansonia, 3:30 p.m.
Wilbur Cross at Guilford, 3:30 p.m.
Branford at Fitch, 3:45 p.m.
Griswold at Windham, 3:45 p.m.
Manchestser at Wethersfield, 3:45 p.m.
Bethel at Danbury, 4 p.m.
Immaculate at Westhill, 4 p.m.
St. Paul Catholic at Canton, 4 p.m.
New Fairfield at Newtown, 5 p.m.
Enfield at Longmeadow, TBA
Putnam at West Warwick (RI), TBA
Seymour at Platt Tech, TBA

Aug. 31
Bristol Eastern at Berlin, 2:45 p.m.
Hyde Leadership at North Haven, 3 p.m.
Naugatuck at Amity, 3:30 p.m.
Derby at Fairfield Warde, 3:45 p.m.
Lewis Mills at Watertown, 3:45 p.m.
Rockville at Cromwell, 3:45 p.m.
Rocky Hill at Daniel Hand, 3:45 p.m.
Fairfield Warde at Fairfield Prep, 4 p.m.
Hartford Public at Hall, 4 p.m.
Jonathan Law at Coginchaug, 4 p.m.
Middletown at Southington, 4 p.m.
Staples at Bunnell, 4 p.m.
Tolland at Simsbury, 4 p.m.
Weston at Wilton, 4:15 p.m.
St. Joseph at Joel Barlow, 4:30 p.m.
Brookfield at Ridgefield, 5 p.m.
Cheney Tech at Morgan, 5 p.m.
Ledyard at Platt, 5 p.m.
West Haven at Norwalk, 6 p.m.
Glastonbury at Berlin, TBA
Hamden at Coginchaug, TBA

Sept. 1
Oxford at Woodland, 3:30 p.m.

Sept. 2
Plainfield at Griswold, 3:45 p.m.
Manchester at Windsor, 4 p.m.
Ansonia at West Haven, 6 p.m.
Newtown at Seymour, TBA

Sept. 3
Darien at Branford, 9 a.m.
Derby at Bacon Academy, 9 a.m.
Northwest Catholic at Hall, 9 a.m.
South Windsor at Daniel Hand, 9 a.m.
Trumbull at Bunnell, 9 a.m.
RHAM at Windham, 9 a.m.
Rockville at Stafford/East Windsor, 9:30 a.m.
Amity at Pomperaug, 10 a.m.
Bethel at New Canaan, 10 a.m.
Canton at Rocky Hill, 10 a.m.
Coventry/Windham Tech at Cheney Tech, 10 a.m.
Danbury at Lyman Hall, 10 a.m.
East Hartford at Enfield, 10 a.m.
Fairfield Warde at Hillhouse, 10 a.m.
Farmington at Torrington, 10 a.m.
Hamden Hall at East Haven, 10 a.m.
Granby at Nonnewaug, 10 a.m.
Guilford at Woodland, 10 a.m.
Immaculate at New Fairfield, 10 a.m.
Immaculate at Jonathan Law, 10 a.m.
Jonathan Law at Westhill, 10 a.m.
Morgan at Rocky Hill, 10 a.m.
Shelton at St. Joesph, 10 a.m.
St. Paul Catholic at Gilbert/NW Regional, 10 a.m.
Tolland at Enfield, 10 a.m.
Trinity Catholic at Wilton, 10 a.m.
Wilbur Cross at Hamden, 10 a.m.
SMSA at Woodstock Academy, 10:30 a.m.
Cromwell at Hillhouse, 11 a.m.
Platt Tech at Wilcox Tech, 3 p.m.
Fairfield Prep at Fairfield Ludlowe, TBA
Glastonbury at New London, TBA

Sept. 5
Ridgefield at Staples, 9 a.m.
Torrington at Seymour, 10 a.m.

Sept. 6
Manchester at Berlin, 2:45 p.m.
Haddam-Killingworth at Rocky Hill, 3:30 p.m.
Cromwell at Platt, 4:30 p.m.

Sept. 7
East Hartford at Coventry/Windham Tech, 3 p.m.
Trinity Catholic at King & Low-Heywood Thomas, 3:30 p.m.
Lewis Mills at Gilbert/NW Regional, 3:45 p.m.
Fairfield Prep at Trumbull, 4 p.m.
New Milford at Danbury, 4 p.m.
Woodstock Academy at South Windsor, 4 p.m.
Norwalk at Newtown, 5 p.m.
Oxford at Seymour, 6 p.m.
Bassick at Jonathan Law, 7 p.m.

Sept. 8
Westhill at Joel Barlow, 5 p.m.
Bethel at Watertown, 6 p.m.
Enfield at Fermi, 6 p.m.
Greenwich at Hamden, 6 p.m.
Hyde Leadership at Torrington, 6 p.m.
Naugatuck at Wolcott, 6 p.m.
Notre Dame-West Haven at Amity, 6 p.m.
White Plains (NY) at Fairfield Warde, 6 p.m.
Wilbur Cross at Middletown, 6:30 p.m.
Wilton at Bunnell, 6:30 p.m.
Branford at Derby, 7 p.m.
West Haven at Bridgeport Central, TBA

Sept. 9
Woodland at Bristol Eastern, 3:30 p.m.
Staples at Fairfield Prep, 4 p.m.
E.O. Smith at Killingly, 4 p.m.
Manchester at Northwest Catholic, 4 p.m.
Wethersfield at Glastonbury, 4 p.m.
Abbot Tech at East Hampton/Vinal Tech, 4:30 p.m.
Simsbury at Platt, 4:30 p.m.
Strarford at Ridgefield, 5 p.m.
Ansonia at Shelton, 6 p.m.
Conard at Daniel Hand, 6 p.m.
Cromwell at Berlin, 6 p.m.
Tolland at Cheney Tech, 6 p.m.
Ellington/Somers at Rockville, 6:30 p.m.
Old Saybrook/Westbrook at East Haven, 7 p.m.
Pomperaug at Rocky Hill, 7 p.m.
St. Joseph at Foran, 7 p.m.
Griswold at Montville, TBA
Morgan at Notre Dame-Fairfield, TBA

Sept. 10
Guilford at Hall, 9 a.m.
East Hartford at Plainville, 10 a.m.
Trinity Catholic at Rye Country Day (NY), 10 a.m.
Windsor Locks/Suffield/East Granby at Tolland, 10 a.m.
Wolcott Tech at Granby, 11 a.m.
St. Paul Catholic at Haddam-Killingworth, 11:30 a.m.
Putnam at Pomfret, TBA

Some returning members of the Xavier football team are receiving college interest and offers from several D-1 schools, including QB Tim Boyle (Syracuse and BC).

Check out Xavier's football page here.

Xavier won the Class LL state title and finished as the No. 1 team in the Final Register Top 10 Poll last season.