No. 4 Hand stays unbeaten, defeats West Haven

North Branford knocks off Cromwell

No. 1 Xavier rolls past Hillhouse

Torrington runs past Derby

Valley Regional/Old Lyme shuts out Coginchaug

Roundup/Box Scores

Junior Dale Hausman rushed 21 times for 101 yards and two touchdowns and also caught a 28-yard TD pass from Brandon Basil, while junior Joe DeLucia rushed three times for 64 yards and two scores and caught a 24-yard TD pass from Basil, as North Branford knocked off previously unbeaten Cromwell 41-33 in a Pequot Conference Sassacus Division contest at Colafati Field.

North Branford (5-1) scored the game's first two touchdowns before Cromwell scored three straight times to take a 19-14 lead. The Thunderbirds, on the Basil to DeLucia TD pass, took a 21-19 lead at halftime.

North Branford led 35-19 at one point in the third quarter before Cromwell (6-1) cut the deficit to 35-33.

Derrick Villard rushed 25 times for 129 yards for Cromwell. He also returned an interception 54 yards for another score.

North Branford takes on unbeaten Cromwell. Read it here.

Week 7 Predictions

Check out The Scout Team, the Register's weekly football show.

Wilson, Seymour run past Wilby.

Standings through six weeks.

North Branford (4-1) hosts unbeaten Cromwell (6-0) on Friday night at 6:30 in a key Pequot Conference Sassacus Division contest.

After graduating 19 seniors, including nine starters on the offensive side, the Thunderbirds are off to a quick start. North Branford has won four straight games since losing to Valley Regional/Old Lyme in the season opener.

"We still had high expectations," North Branford senior captain Anthony Franco said. "We have a lot of juniors who played a lot their sophomore year and did pretty well. We still expected to have high hopes. We hope to make it to the playoffs."

After Cromwell, North Branford has games remaining with Coginchaug (Nov. 4), Nonnewaug (Nov. 12), Lewis Mills (Nov. 17) and Hyde (Nov. 23). Only Coginchaug has a winning record at this point.

North Branford is currently rated seventh in the Class S state playoff race. The Top 8 teams qualify for the quarterfinals.

North Branford finished 6-4 and just missed a playoff berth by finishing 10th in the Class S standings in 2010. Last year, the Thunderbirds were forced to forfeit its contest with Lewis Mills after a bench-clearing brawled ensued. The majority of North Branford's starters were suspended for the team's next game, a loss to SMSA/University.

The current North Branford seniors have used last season's result as motivation.

"We had a real close connection (to last year's seniors)," North Branford captain Christian Perrotti said. "We played with most of them growing up and we wanted to continue what they were doing. We wanted to see if we can make it back to the playoffs because last year I like to think of it as us being cheated out of it, although not everyone does. I want to see if we can make up for it."

Explosive Cromwell, which is averaging nearly 50 points per game, is one obstacle North Branford will have to navigate in order to reach the postseason for the first time since 2008.

"We have a pretty good shot at the playoffs if we can get past this pretty big challenge we have in front of us," North Branford senior captain Damoy Hunter said.

Read more about North Branford in Friday's Register and on-line at www.nhregister.com.

Check out this video clip featuring North Branford captain Anthony Franco.

Mike Vessicchio , East Haven, football: Senior caught a 70-yard touchdown pass, threw for an 85-yard score, had an 80-yard punt return for a touchdown and had two interceptions in 34-25 win over Platt Tech.

HONOR ROLL

Michael Andranovich, Foran, soccer: Senior goalkeeper helped the Lions to a 3-0 week by posting three shutouts versus Platt Tech, Law, and Hamden. He also had 20 saves versus Hamden.

Gary Ormond, Hamden, football: Junior had nine receptions for 220 yards and four touchdowns and added a 60-yard punt return for a touchdown in Hamden’s win over Branford.

Here's a look as some of the top performances from around the state this past week in high school football:

OFFENSIVE PLAYERS OF THE WEEK

♦ Hamden Jr. WR Gary Ormond: Had nine receptions for 220 yards and four touchdowns and added a 60-yard punt return for a touchdown in a 48-41 win over Branford.

♦ Hopkins QB Greg Volpe: Rushed for 118 yards and scored on all three carries he attempted to lead the Hilltoppers to a 31-14 win over Kingswood-Oxford. Volpe also made two interceptions on defense.

♦ Lyman Hall Sr. RB Joe DeSandre: Rushed 28 times for 230 yards and five touchdowns in a 34-21 win over Law. DeSandre also had two interceptions and a fumble recovery.

♦ Rocky Hill So. RB Chris Young: Rushed 26 times for a school-record 264 yards and scored four times in a 42-39 win over Bloomfield.

DEFENSIVE PLAYERS OF THE WEEK

♦ Glastonbury Sr. DB Nick Latty: Intercepted a pass with 25 seconds left in regulation to seal a 19-16 victory over Southington.

♦ Hopkins So. S Brian Keller: Had two interceptions and recovered a fumble in a 31-14 win over Kingswood-Oxford.

♦ Stafford/East Windsor Sr. DB Tim Artruc: Made 18 tackles and a sack in a 32-22 victory over SMSA/University.

♦ Xavier Sr. DB Ryan Jacobucci: Scored on an 8-yard interception return in a 27-0 win over Shelton. Jacobucci also caught a touchdown pass in the win.

SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYERS OF THE WEEK

♦ East Haven Sr. Mike Vessichio: Had an 80-yard punt return for a touchdown in a 34-25 win over Platt Tech. He also caught a 70-yard touchdown pass, threw for an 85-yard score, and had two interceptions.

♦ Hillhouse Jr. Andre Anderson: Returned a punt 65 yards for a touchdown in a 40-0 win over Guilford. Anderson also scored on a 37-yard run.

♦ Maloney Sr. Karim St. Luce: Returned a kickoff 80 yards for a touchdown in a 53-21 win over Bristol Central. He also ran 18 times for 126 yards and a touchdown.

♦ Wolcott Sr. Pat Byrne: Returned a kickoff 55 yards in a 36-20 win over Derby.

TEAMS OF THE WEEK

♦ East Haven: Defeated non-conference opponent Platt Tech 34-25 to win its first game of the season.

♦ Hamden: Defeated Branford 48-41 to snap a 17-game losing streak.

♦ New Canaan: Defeated St. Joseph 43-14 to remain unbeaten. The victory also marked coach Lou Marinelli’s 250th win with the Rams. Marinelli has a career record of 269-91-7.

♦ Notre Dame-West Haven: Defeated previously unbeaten North Haven 27-12.

GET OUT AND GO

♦ Coginchaug (5-0) at Valley Regional/Old Lyme (5-0), Friday, 6:30 p.m.: This is a showdown between unbeatens in the Pequot Conference. Both teams are a half-game behind fellow unbeaten Cromwell in the Sassacus Division standings. There’s plenty at stake here, especially positioning for a Class S state playoff berth. Coginchaug is currently ranked No. 2 in that class, while the Warriors are rated fifth. While both offenses are effective, this game could be decided on the defensivce side. The co-op has allowed 61 points this season, while the Blue Devils have surrendered just 21. The Warriors, though, present Coginchaug with its toughest challenge yet, though.

Read Tuesday's notebook here.

The latest Playoff Ratings

Xavier remains No. 1 in Top 10 Poll

Team Points Last Class

1. Xavier (6-0) (13) 726 1 LL

2. Masuk (6-0) (12) 722 2 L

3. Ansonia (6-0) 596 3 M

4. Hand (6-0) 584 4 L

5. New Canaan (6-0) 532 5 L

6. New London (5-0) 506 6 L

7. Staples (5-0) 447 7 LL

8. Windsor (6-0) 445 8 L

9. Bunnell (6-0) 368 9 L

10. Darien (6-0) 276 NR L

Dropped out: North Haven (10).

First-place votes in parentheses.

Others receiving votes: Conard (6-0), 228; West Haven (5-1), 160; Norwich Free Academy (5-0), 151; Greenwich (5-1), 142; Notre Dame-West Haven (4-2), 110; Cromwell (6-0), 106; Pomperaug (5-1), 72; Valley Regional/Old Lyme (5-0), 60; Norwalk (5-1), 49; North Haven (5-1), 38; Northwest Catholic (5-1), 28; Ledyard (4-1), 8; Berlin (5-1), Farmington (6-0) and Hall (5-1), 7.

The following voted: Marc Allard, Norwich Bulletin; Bob Barton, New Haven Register; Sean Patrick Bowley, Connecticut Post; Don Boyle, Sporting News CT; Jim Bransfield, Middletown Press; Bryant Carpenter, Meriden-Record Journal; George DeMaio, WELI; Mike DiMauro, The Day of New London; Matt Doran, MSG Varsity; Kevin Duffy, Danbury News-Times; Tom Evans, Norwalk Hour; Noah Finz, WTNH-8; Ned Griffen, The Day of New London; John Holt, WFSB-3; Mark Jaffee, Waterbury Republican-American; Ken Lipshez, Patch/West Hartford News; Mike Madera, Elm City Newspapers; Joe Morelli, New Haven Register; Dave Phillips, Shore Line Newspapers; Mike Pucci, New Haven Register; Dave Ruden, Stamford Advocate; Mike Suppe, Hersam-Acorn; Tom Yantz, Hartford Courant; Mike Wollschlager, New Haven Register; Jimmy Zanor, Shore Line Newspapers.

— Poll compiled by Mike Pucci.

Roundup and linescores

HOW THE REGISTER TOP 10 FARED

Team — This Week — Next Game

1. Xavier (6-0) — Defeated Shelton 27-0 — Friday vs. Hillhouse, 7 p.m.

2. Masuk (5-0) — Defeated Immaculate 56-8 — Friday at New Milford, 7 p.m.

3. Ansonia (6-0) — Defeated Watertown 51-14 — Friday vs. Crosby, 7 p.m.

4. Hand (6-0) — Defeated Wilbur Cross 36-0 — Friday vs. West Haven, 7 p.m.

5. New Canaan (5-0) — Defeated St. Joseph 43-14 — Friday at Wilton, 7 p.m.

6. New London (5-0) — Defeated Windham 49-13 — Friday at Fitch, 6:30 p.m.

7. Staples (5-0) — Defeated Trumbull 38-16 — Friday vs. Danbury, 7 p.m.

8. Windsor (6-0) — Defeated Middletown 41-13 — Friday at Farmington, 7 p.m.

9. Bunnell (6-0) — Defeated Brookfield 32-26 — Friday at Bethel, 7 p.m.

10. North Haven (5-1) — Lost to Notre Dame-West Haven 27-12 — Friday vs. Bridgeport Central, 7 p.m.

VOTE for the TEAM of the WEEK