FOOTBALL: Hand smacks Platt, sets up rematch with Masuk

MADISON — Last year’s CIAC Class L Game of the Century is now this year’s semifinal rematch.

Top-seeded Hand assured itself of a spot in Sunday’s rematch with Masuk with a 55-26 blowout of eighth-seeded Platt Wednesday night at the Surf Club.

“It’s a good matchup for us and for them,” said Hand coach Steve Filippone, whose Tigers beat Masuk, 35-14, last December in the Class L semifinals. “It’s two teams that do basically the same exact thing.”

PHOTOS: Check out Wednesday's action from the Surf Club.


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Basils, North Branford break playoff losing skid
with win over Trinity Catholic

GUILFORD — Brandan Basil called it the curse.

In the 11 seasons that Mark Basil, Brandan’s father, has been the football coach at North Branford, the Thunderbirds have failed to win a state playoff game.

But buoyed by Brandan’s efforts, the curse has been broken.

Basil, a senior quarterback, tossed three touchdown passes — all to fellow senior Joe DeLucia — and third-seeded North Branford remained unbeaten after withstanding a challenge from No. 6 Trinity Catholic, winning 49-28 in the Class S state quarterfinals Wednesday in a game played at Guilford High.

The Thunderbirds (11-0) will face No. 7 Woodland in Sunday’s semifinals.

North Branford hadn’t won a playoff game since 2001, before Basil’s tenure began. Under Basil, the Thunderbirds lost in the semifinals in 2005, 2006 and 2008, and in the quarterfinals last season.

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Arkeel Newsome, Ansonia run all over Prince Tech

ANSONIA — Running back Arkeel Newsome set the tone early for the Ansonia football team against Prince Tech in the Class S quarterfinal game at Jarvis Stadium on Wednesday.

Newsome, who only played in the first half, scored on the Chargers’ first possession of the game and ended up with five touchdowns to lead No. 1 Ansonia to a 53-16 win over No. 8 Prince Tech. The Chargers will play No. 5 Hyde in the semifinals on Sunday at a site and time to be announced. Hyde defeated No. 4 Rocky Hill 15-14 in a quarterfinal game played on Tuesday.

Newsome ended up rushing for 81 yards on 11 carries.

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Xavier blows out Greenwich to reach Class LL semifinals,
will face Glastonbury for third straight year

MIDDLETOWN — The Xavier offense is frightening.

Greenwich, losers only to undefeated and second-ranked Staples, became the latest team to get run over by the Falcons.

Led by another brilliant passing performance from Tim Boyle (16-for-22, 263 yards), third-seeded Xavier piled up 505 yards of total offense in blasting No. 6 Greenwich 55-14 in front of 1,000 at Palmer Field Wednesday night in the Class LL quarterfinals.

The Falcons will play seventh-seeded Glastonbury, a 23-14 winner over No. 2 Southington, in the semifinals Sunday at a time and site to be announced. It will be the third consecutive year the two teams have met in the LL semis.

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FOOTBALL: OTHER QUARTERFINAL RESULTS AND BOX SCORES


FOOTBALL: Sites, times announced for semifinal contests