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Xavier vies for third straight Class LL title
Xavier (11-1) will face NFA (12-0) tonight for the Class LL title at 7 at Rentschler Field in East Hartford. Below are two preview stories and a Game Day Capsule.
CHIP MALAFRONTE: Norwich Free Academy following Xavier blueprint
FOOTBALL: Red-hot Xavier ready for surprising Norwich Free Academy
♦When: Today, 7:05 p.m.
♦Where: Rentschler Field, East Hartford
♦Records: Xavier 11-1; Norwich Free Academy 12-0
♦How they got here: NFA defeated No. 4 Newtown 63-21 and No. 1 Staples 30-28; Xavier defeated No. 6 Greenwich 55-14 and No. 7 Glastonbury 30-13.
♦Previous championship game appearances: NFA, 1 (0-1, last reached the final in 1998); Xavier, 5 (3-2, won title in 2011).
♦TV: CPTV Sports
♦Radio: WELI-960
♦Players to watch: NFA — Marcus Outlow, Jr., RB/DB; Joey Paparelli, Sr., QB/DB; Anthony Gomes, Sr., OL/LB; Tuzar Skipper, Sr., TE/DL; Xavier — Tim Boyle, Sr., QB; DeAngelo Berry, Sr., RB/DB; Kris Luster, Sr., WR/DB; Andrew Meoli, Jr., RB/DB.
♦Register’s pick: Xavier.
♦Middletown Press’ take: NFA is for real. The Wildcats stunned two highly regarded teams in the playoffs, blasting undefeated Newtown then edging heavy favorite Staples. No question the Wildcats come in on a high. Everyone says the Wildcats are lightning quick. On top of that, sources say that NFA will draw a huge crowd into The Rent tonight.
However.
Xavier has been there and done that. While NFA has great team speed, Berry and Luster are not exactly mudders and in Boyle, the Falcons may have the best player on the field. And for two years running, the team with by far the biggest fan support at The Rent has been the Falcons.
The experience edge goes to Xavier. The QB edge goes to Xavier. The offensive line edge goes to Xavier. Even conceding the speed edge to NFA, will that be enough? Do the intangibles go to NFA? Will the Wildcats indeed be the David that slays Goliath?
A close game is a real possibility. A Xavier win is a stronger possibility.
♦Press’ pick: Xavier.
WHO DO YOU THINK WILL WIN? VOTE NOW
FOOTBALL: Who will win this weekend's championship games? VOTE NOW!
CHIP MALAFRONTE: Norwich Free Academy following Xavier blueprint
FOOTBALL: Red-hot Xavier ready for surprising Norwich Free Academy
GAMEDAY: CLASS LL STATE CHAMPIONSHIP:
No. 3 XAVIER vs. No. 5 NORWICH FREE ACADEMY
No. 3 XAVIER vs. No. 5 NORWICH FREE ACADEMY
♦When: Today, 7:05 p.m.
♦Where: Rentschler Field, East Hartford
♦Records: Xavier 11-1; Norwich Free Academy 12-0
♦How they got here: NFA defeated No. 4 Newtown 63-21 and No. 1 Staples 30-28; Xavier defeated No. 6 Greenwich 55-14 and No. 7 Glastonbury 30-13.
♦Previous championship game appearances: NFA, 1 (0-1, last reached the final in 1998); Xavier, 5 (3-2, won title in 2011).
♦TV: CPTV Sports
♦Radio: WELI-960
♦Players to watch: NFA — Marcus Outlow, Jr., RB/DB; Joey Paparelli, Sr., QB/DB; Anthony Gomes, Sr., OL/LB; Tuzar Skipper, Sr., TE/DL; Xavier — Tim Boyle, Sr., QB; DeAngelo Berry, Sr., RB/DB; Kris Luster, Sr., WR/DB; Andrew Meoli, Jr., RB/DB.
♦Register’s pick: Xavier.
♦Middletown Press’ take: NFA is for real. The Wildcats stunned two highly regarded teams in the playoffs, blasting undefeated Newtown then edging heavy favorite Staples. No question the Wildcats come in on a high. Everyone says the Wildcats are lightning quick. On top of that, sources say that NFA will draw a huge crowd into The Rent tonight.
However.
Xavier has been there and done that. While NFA has great team speed, Berry and Luster are not exactly mudders and in Boyle, the Falcons may have the best player on the field. And for two years running, the team with by far the biggest fan support at The Rent has been the Falcons.
The experience edge goes to Xavier. The QB edge goes to Xavier. The offensive line edge goes to Xavier. Even conceding the speed edge to NFA, will that be enough? Do the intangibles go to NFA? Will the Wildcats indeed be the David that slays Goliath?
A close game is a real possibility. A Xavier win is a stronger possibility.
♦Press’ pick: Xavier.
WHO DO YOU THINK WILL WIN? VOTE NOW
FOOTBALL: Who will win this weekend's championship games? VOTE NOW!
Labels: Class LL, Norwich Free Academy, playoffs, Xavier
posted by Mike Pucci at
12:10 PM
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