Fairfield County erased a 13-point second half deficit and scored 23 unanswered points to defeat New Haven County in the 16th Hall of Fame Classic before 1,849 fans Saturday at West Haven's Ken Strong Stadium.

HIGHLIGHTS

FAIRFIELD COUNTY

Bunnell's J.J. Bivona returned an interception 50 yards for a touchdown on the final play of the third quarter.
Bunnell's Jawad Chisholm caught eight passes for 97 yards and two touchdowns.

NEW HAVEN COUNTY

Cheshire's Kyle Pulek kicked field goals of 27 and 42 yards.
Sheehan's Brodie Corless caught a 1-yard touchdown pass from Amity's Tyler Vallie.

MVPs

Fairfield County

Offensive: Chisholm
Defensive: Bivona

New Haven County

Offensive: Pulek
Defensive: Ansonia's Jake LaRovera (blocked punt)

WEST HAVEN — While at Hamden, Tim Dube often played multiple positions, and usually excelled at all of them.

With the Green Dragons struggling through another rebuilding season, winning just one game, Dube was his team’s featured player on both sides of the ball.

Dube was the lone Hamden player selected to the all-Southern Connecticut Conference team, making it as a defensive back. Connor Falaguerra was in a similar situation at Law. Falaguerra played quarterback, running back, receiver, safety and returned punts and kickoffs. Despite his efforts, the Lawmen didn’t win a game. Falaguerra made all-SCC as a wide receiver after catching 44 passes.

Both Dube and Falaguerra will likely play integral roles for New Haven County in the 16th Hall of Fame Classic against Fairfield County tonight. Kickoff is set for 5 p.m. at West Haven’s Ken Strong Stadium.

Read more here.

Ansonia offensive lineman Dylan Vano will play one last high school football game before heading off to Southern Connecticut State University.

Vano will suit up for New Haven County in the 16th Hall of Fame Classic on Saturday at 5 p.m. at West Haven's Ken Strong Stadium. Then it's off to SCSU.

Vano decided to play for the Owls over St. Anselm, the University of New Haven and Monmouth.

"I really liked the family atmosphere (at Southern)," Vano said. "It's really close to home. I like the campus, the coaches and where the program's headed. I fell in love with the campus and the school itself."

Last fall, Vano helped lead the Chargers to the Class M and NVL titles. Vano knows there will likely be transition period from high school to the college level, but he's ready for the challenge.

"Coming out of Ansonia, we don't throw the ball," Vano laughed. "In college, you're going to throw the ball more, so I'm working on my footwork for pass blocking. That's the biggest transition. You can't really complain, though. I am just going to go out there and play my game and hopefully I can get on the field that first year."

Ansonia coach Tom Brockett believes Vano has the tools necessary to become an elite college player.

"He had good technique," Brockett said. "He loves football, he loves to play and he's willing to work at it. I expect him to have a great career at Southern."

Vano was a two-year starter for the Chargers, a Register All-State and All-Area selection last fall in addition to being selected to the coaches all-state team, the all-NVL team and the Walter Camp all-state team. He received the Richard Ewen Lineman Award given to Ansonia's most outstanding lineman.

Above is a submitted photo from when Vano signed to play at SCSU in March.

Read more about Vano and the Hall of Fame Classic here.

WEST HAVEN — A stout defense has been the difference in many football contests.

New Haven County is hoping that’s the case against Fairfield County in the 16th Hall of Fame Classic, set for 5 p.m. Saturday at Ken Strong Stadium in West Haven.

The squads have split the last four meetings, but New Haven County holds a 10-5 series lead. Fairfield County, though, won 34-14 last year.

New Haven County coach Mark Ecke believes defense is, unquestionably, his team’s strength.

Read more here.

NEW HAVEN COUNTY

No.    PLAYER    HIGH SCHOOL    POS.    HEIGHT    WEIGHT    COLLEGE
1    Amihr Bess    Notre Dame-W.H.    RB    5-9    175    Morgan State
2    Anthony Masucci    Notre Dame-W.H.    DB    5-10    200    Stonehill
3    Michael Ecke    Cheshire    QB    6-0    175    Western New England
4    Connor Falaguerra    Law    WR    6-1    180    Western Conn.
5    Tim Dube    Hamden    LB    5-9    195    Southern Conn.
6    Ryan Murphy    Xavier    CB    6-2    220    Southern Conn.
7    Seth Karlins    Branford    WR    6-1    165    Undecided
9    Brodie Corless    Sheehan    K/WR    5-11    190    St. Lawrence
10    Tim Adanti    Derby    WR/TE    6-4    215    UConn
11    Jay’Len Mahan    Wilby    WR    5-11    170    Lincoln
12    Tyler Vallie    Amity    QB    5-10    185    Marist
16    John Marks    Platt    QB    6-2    215    Western New England
20    Joe Parent    Holy Cross    LB    6-0    203    Rhode Island
21    David DiGiorgi    Holy Cross    RB    5-6    187    Gunnery
23    Devante Bonvillian    Wolcott    CB    5-10    170    Undecided
25    Matt Zaccagnini    Woodland    LB    5-7    175    Undecided
26    Mike Mastroianni    Xavier    RB    5-8    185    Springfield
31    Kyle Pulek    Cheshire    K/P    5-10    190    Trinity
32    Curtis Antrum    Hamden Hall    RB    5-11    170    Johns Hopkins
36    Joe Costanzo    East Haven    LB    6-0    230    Curry
44    Mark Zurlis    North Haven    LB    5-11    215    Gateway CC
48    Joe Ortoli    Shelton    LB    6-2    210    Norwich
54    Devante Mallard    Notre Dame-W.H.    LB    5-11    195    AIC
55    David Brzozowski    Cheshire    OL    6-4    275    Suffield Academy
58    Anthony Franco    North Branford    OL    5-9    195    Western New England
60    Andrew Savenelli    North Haven    DL    6-2    260    Springfield
64    Michael Giugno    Naugatuck    DL    6-2    205    Naugatuck Valley CC
66    Josh Dellacruz    Wilbur Cross    DL    6-1    235    Undecided
68    Ian Rorke    Guilford    DL    6-1    225    Bridgewater State
72    Kortney Leftridge    Hamden    DL    6-3    315    Monroe
74    Jacob Mikos    North Haven    OL    6-2    260    Stonehill
76    Dylan Vano    Ansonia    OL    6-6    295    Southern Conn.
80    Eric Ford    Watertown    DB    5-9    170    Bridgewater State
88    Jake LaRovera    Ansonia    TE    6-2    210    Union


FAIRFIELD COUNTY

No.    PLAYER    HIGH SCHOOL    POS.    HEIGHT    WEIGHT    COLLEGE
1    Dylan Moye    Westhill    WR    5-11    176    UConn
2    Asia Bolling    Stratford    DE    6-3    215    Milford Academy
3    Jiwad Chisholm    Bunnell    WR/DB    6-0    180    Bridgeton Academy
4    Alexander Ward    Wilton    WR/DB    6-3    185    Wesleyan
5    Matt Paola    Pomperaug    K    5-9    165    Undecided
7    Donald Graham    Stratford    WR/DB    5-11    165    Anna Maria
8    Damien Vega    McMahon    QB/SS    5-10    190    Deerfield Academy
9    Brandon Cusmano    Masuk    WR    6-0    190    Central Conn.
10    Bryan Boderick    Stamford    QB    5-11    175    Monroe
11    Jared Vasquez    Bunnell    WR/DB    5-10    155    Nichols
14    Barry Boderick    Stamford    WR    6-0    185    Monroe
15    Shawn Flynn    Masuk    DB    6-0    175    Assumption
16    Liam Lynch    New Milford    WR/DB    5-9    180    Catholic University
17    Brandon Williams    Bassick    OL/DE    6-3    245    Monroe
22    Bill O’Keefe    Trumbull    WR/LB    5-8    165    Nichols
25    Frederick Tucker    Bridgeport Central    FB    5-8    200    Globe
32    Colin Markus    Masuk    RB    6-1    185    Stonehill
33    Zack O’Connor    McMahon    DE/LB    6-0    190    Stonehill
36    Seon Ramsay    Trumbull    LB/DE    5-10    160    Undecided
40    Jon Carter    Westhill    FB/DE    5-8    210    South Carolina
44    J.J. Bivona    Bunnell    FB/LB    5-9    185    Catholic University
48    Shane Nastahowski    Greenwich    RB/LB    6-2    225    Milford Academy
50    Brian Zapata    Stratford    OL    6-2    235    New Haven
58    Kyle Camache    Greenwich    DL    6-0    230    Milford Academy
65    Jackson Sennett    Barlow    OL/DE    6-1    210    Middlebury
71    Hunter Geraghty    Wilton    OL    6-3    280    Undecided
75    Anthony Zucaro    Masuk    OL    6-1    235    Trinity
76    Matt Morlock    Newtown    OL    6-3    275    Undecided
78    Kwasi Duodu    Bridgeport Central    OL/DE    5-11    200    Bentley
79    Nick Salza    Bunnell    OL    6-5    320    Southern Conn.

Stopped up to the New Haven County practice on Monday at West Haven High.

NHC coach Mark Ecke said the team is coming along. Defense has been a strength led by Xavier corner back Ryan Murphy and linebackers Joe Ortoli (Shelton) and Tim Dube (Hamden).

We'll run a few stories this week in advance of the game, most likely Wednesday, Friday and Saturday in both print editions of the Register and on-line.

16TH HALL OF FAME CLASSIC 

What: New Haven County vs. Fairfield County
When: Saturday, 5 p.m.
Where: Ken Strong Stadium, West Haven
Tickets: $7 at the door, $5 in advance by calling Paul at (203) 231-3992
Last year’s result: Fairfield County 34, New Haven County 14
Series history: New Haven County leads 10-5.
Coaches: New Haven County: Mark Ecke; Fairfield County: John Svatik
For more information: Visit www.newhavenfootballfoundation.com.