OXFORD

Coach: Joe Stochmal (6th year, 13-28)

League: SWC

Last season: 5-5

Top offensive players: Bucky Gumbrewicz, Sr., OL; Dave Lavorgna, Sr., WR

Top defensive players: Brennen Diaz, Sr., LB; Jeff Haney, Jr., LB

Key losses: Alex Miller, QB/DB; Joe Carbonaro, OL/DL; Matt Hanna, OL/DL; Chris Hovan, RB/LB; Jordan Biagioni, WR/DB; Brian Spicer, TE/DE; Anthony Paternoster, FB/LB (playing at Fitchburg St.); Justin Lasto, WR/LB (playing at University of New Haven)

Inside the huddle: Stochmal says: “We will be young and have to show to grow up quickly. We must play with a sense of urgency. Staying healthy will be a key factor in our success, as we are young and inexperienced at the varsity level.” Most of the Wolverines’ skill players graduated, so replacing those starters will be a challenge, as will adjusting to a new offensive set. Stochmal lists Newtown and Bunnell as the top two teams in the South-West Conference.

Stat Facts: Diaz made five sacks and recovered two fumbles last season and will anchor the defense.

Naugatuck football coach Rob Plasky resigned Friday, a day after being suspended for his alleged involvement in the recruitment of two players who wished to transfer to the school from Sacred Heart High.

The Connecticut Interscholastic Athletic Conference, the governing body of high school sports in this state, said it is aware of the situation in response to an email from the Register:

“The CIAC has been notified by Naugatuck High School of a potential recruiting violation. The school will be submitting a report to the CIAC Board of Control. When the report is received it will be reviewed and acted upon. Prior to the report being received it would be inappropriate to comment on what action could be taken.”
Read more here.

Naugatuck coach Rob Plasky has resigned Friday.
Below is an excerpt from the Waterbury Rep-Am. 


Rob Plasky, head football coach at Naugatuck High School, has submitted a letter of resignation in the face of an investigation into possible violations of Connecticut Interscholastic Athletic Conference violations, according to Principal Jan Saam.

This would have been Plasky's twelfth season coaching the Greyhounds.

Saam declined to disclose which conference rules might have been violated, citing the ongoing investigation, which is being handled by borough Attorney Ned Fitzpatrick.


Read more here.



This story broke Thursday. Below is the story that ran in the Naugatuck Patch.


Naugatuck High School football coach Rob Plasky is on paid leave as borough officials investigate whether he violated CIAC rules by giving money to the mother of standout players who wanted to transfer to Naugy.

Plasky, a 42-year-old Naugy alum who has been head coach at NHS since 2001, is alleged to have given $2,000 to a mother who complained of trouble paying bills. Sources identified the woman as Meme Martin, the mother of quarterback Javon Martin and legal guardian of David Coggins, a wide receiver who has verbally committed to Div. 1 football power Boston College. Both players wanted to transfer to Naugy for their senior years from Sacred Heart in Waterbury, where they excelled on the gridiron for three years.

While it is unclear what the money went toward, the Republican-American of Waterbury posted a blog on Tuesday stating the academic transcripts of Martin and Coggins are being withheld by Sacred Heart because part of the tuition for both had not been paid.

Reached by phone Thursday evening, Plasky said he could not discuss the issue.

XAVIER

Coach: Sean Marinan (10th year)

League: SCC

Last season: 13-0 (SCC Division I champs, Class LL champs)

Top offensive players: Tim Boyle, 6-4, 220, Sr., QB; DeAngelo Berry, 5-9, 170, Sr., RB

Top defensive players: Kris Luster, 5-10, 175, Sr., CB; Max Tylki, 6-0, 210, Sr., LB

Key losses: Mike Mastroianni, RB; Pat D'Amato, QB; Jake Whalen, C/DE; Ryan Murphy, TE/SS; Ryan Jacobucci, WR/CB; Ryan Craig, LB; Sean Marinan, G/DE: Jovan Santos-Knox, TE/LB

Inside the huddle: The Falcons must replace of plethora of starters from last season, when Xavier won its second straight Class LL championship.  Five graduated starters were Register All-State selections. Marinan, the coach, believes that if his team can fill the holes and stay healthy, they should be competitive against any opponent. Berry will likely be the team's featured running back after rushing for 340 yards and five touchdowns last season. Tylki made 69 tackles and three sacks last season.

Recruiting watch: Boyle has already orally committed to play at Boston College. Boyle completed 31-of-48 passes for 716 yards and eight touchdowns last season.

By KEVIN D. ROBERTS
Assistant Sports Editor

The Register Citizen

 

KEVIN D. ROBERTS/Register Citizen Nonnewaug head football coach John Oko talks to his team after Tuesday's practice at Nonnewaug High School.

WOODBURY -- The Nonnewaug football team is moving quickly through the preseason.

With a new offense and new defense to learn before the first game, there's no choice.

Chiefs head coach John Oko ended Tuesday’s practice pleased with the effort that his team had put in.

“We did a good job,” Oko told the team in the post-practice huddle.
Nonnewaug had a few seniors decide not to come out for the team, but there are 37 others who are ready to work.

“I like their enthusiasm, their work ethic has been very good,” Oko said.

For more, click here.

By JOHN NESTOR
Register Citizen Correspondent

JOHN NESTOR/Register Citizen Correspondent Lewis Mills players work during a drill at Tuesday’s conditioning session at the school.

BURLINGTON — The numbers and enthusiasm are both up for the Lewis Mills football team as the Spartans look to move into the program’s next phase.

Coach Greg Todd is in his second season with the Spartans and the team is in its third year as a full-fledged varsity program. Lewis Mills has won the first and last games on its schedule in each of the last two seasons while building the foundation for a lasting program.

That work appears to have paid off at least in participation as the Spartans opened preseason camp this week with 65 players out for the team. The increased numbers are a good sign as is the fact that the Spartans are coming off a productive offseason.

“We’re really happy with the number of kids we have out for the team.” Todd said. “We had a good offseason in the weight room and with the spring passing league. With football, if you want to have a quality program it’s a year-round commitment. When I first got here the kids were a little hesitant with that. Things have changed and they have put in the work. We’re ready to go.”

For more, click here.

VIA PRESS RELEASE

Throughout the 2012 High School Football season Sports Illustrated will profile 10 programs from across the United States, selected for having overcome obstacles that include dilapidated facilities, crime-ridden communities, severe funding deficits and disasters, both personal and natural. SI editors have selected nine of the schools and together, SI and POWERADE have launched a nationwide search for the 10^th school that has persevered through hardship. The 10 programs will be unveiled throughout the season as a part of one of the largest High School Football editorial initiatives in Sports Illustrated’s history. 

Starting today players, coaches, parents, teachers, classmates and fans can log on to www.Facebook.com/SportsIllustrated to enter an Underdog team in their community. Submissions will be accepted through October 23 after which a 10^th finalist school will be selected. Fans will be able to vote for which team receives the grand prize, a $25,000 program grant and a trip to New York City and SI’s annual “Sportsman of the Year” awards gala. 

“The genuine teamwork, perseverance and sportsmanship we’ve found at these high schools are remarkable and make for extremely compelling editorial content.” said BJ Schecter, executive editor of Sports Illustrated’s SI.com. “This series illustrates that the most inspirational sports stories don’t always come from the pros or big budget programs.”

On SI.com each Underdog school’s story will be told though video of extensive first-person interviews with coaches, players and administrators. Two inspirational athletes, who embody perseverance, were interviewed for the video series on SI.com— POWERADE partner, NBA champion and recent Olympic gold medalist LeBron James and paralyzed retired NFL football player Eric LeGrand.

“Every athlete and every team has obstacles they have to power through, and POWERADE stands for the hard work and belief it takes to overcome those adversities” said Yolanda White, Group Director, Marketing, POWERADE. “This series is a way to shine a light on some of the teams that have succeeded in doing so and celebrate others that are on the journey.”

By JOHN NESTOR
Register Citizen Correspondent

Hungry for wins, Dunaj, Torrington football open practice

TORRINGTON — Torrington High football coach Dan Dunaj is looking to build a championship-caliber program and got to work on that goal with the current edition of Red Raiders on Monday at Torrington High School.

Entering his fifth season as head coach at Torrington, Dunaj has guided the Red Raiders to 14 wins over the past two seasons but is not content.

The Naugatuck Valley League had three playoff teams last season and two — Ansonia and Holy Cross — won state titles. Torrington has been competitive in the league of late and has gone 7-3 the past two seasons. Dunaj wants more.

“We’ve been moving forward as a program, but I’d like us to move forward faster,” he said. “We want to build a championship program, not just a team that is good for a year here and there. We’ve been 7-3 the last two seasons — that’s a nice record, but we want to get better.”

For more, click here.

LEDYARD

Coach: Jim Buonocore (13 years overall, 92-47-1)

League: ECC

Last season: 11-2 (ECC Medium Division champions, Class M finalists)

Top offensive players: John Rainey, 6-0, 185, Sr., QB; Kyle Wilson, 6-2, 255, Sr., OL

Top defensive players: Cal Karpi, 5-11, 185, Sr., LB; Chevy Perry, 6-0, 215, Sr., DE

Key losses: Dallas Smith, TE/LB; Alex Manwaring, RB; Slade Baxley, WR/DB; Matt Daggett, FB/LB

Inside the huddle: Keys to the season will be strong play on the line, balance on the offensive side of the ball, rush defense and strong special teams play. Rainey returns under center, but Colonels must replace the bulk of their offense with the graduation of their top running back (Manwaring) and receiver (Baxley). Wilson is expected to be one of the top linemen in the ECC, as should senior Bobby Bozym. 

Championship Fact: Ledyard has appeared in 10 state title games and has won four titles, but none since 2007.

GLASTONBURY

Coach: Scott Daniels (2nd year, 8-3)

League: CCC

Last season: 8-3 (Class LL quarterfinalists)

Top offensive players: Ben Berey, 5-11, 180, Sr., QB; Josh Hill, 6-2, 220, Sr., WR

Top defensive players: Ty Janssen, 5-11, 190, Sr., LB; Andy Cavana, 6-0, 220, Jr., DL

Key losses: Devin O'Reilly, CB; Nick Latty, CB; Nick Colasante, C; Bobby Volle, LB

Inside the huddle: Team speed is above average, according to Daniels. Defense should be a team strength. Development of the offensive line will be key. Berey, who also plays safety, is expected to be one of the top players in the CCC.

Championship Fact: The Tomahawks will attempt to qualify for the postseason for the fifth straight year.

Stories by Kevin D. Roberts

GRANBY

Rich Gadoury ready for challenges as new head coach of Bears

GRANBY – There is a new head football coach in Granby.

He may have been dressed in a similar hat, T-shirt, shorts and flip-flops that were his dress code as head swimming coach, but Rich Gadoury donned a different persona as Granby Memorial’s head football coach on Aug. 16 at Ahrens Park.

Gadoury raised his voice several times during the second day of conditioning on a warm, sunny afternoon and let his players know how he felt. The players got in line, and followed directions.

Gadoury likes what he sees out of his young football team.

Read more here.

CANTON 

Paul Philippon looking to bring discipline, respectability in first season as Warrior coach

CANTON – There is a new leader of the Warriors.

Paul Philippon is in his first season as Canton’s head football coach. Philippon has been around Connecticut football for a long time.

He spent last year coaching at Trinity College. Before that, there were stints at Glastonbury, Bristol Eastern for five years as head coach, and Conard in West Hartford for 15 years. Philippon takes over for Roger Pearl.

Philippon looks to instill discipline in the Warriors, who have 30-35 players.

Read more here.

AVON

Falcons working with less numbers, but still return talented running back Colin Moore

AVON – There are plenty of questions for the Avon football team as it enters the 2012 season.

The Falcons are down about 20 players from their normal numbers. Avon has varsity numbers in the low to mid 40s, along with about 25 freshmen, according to head coach Brett Quinion.

“That’s high school football, the ebbs and flows of it,” Quinion said during conditioning on Aug. 16.

A large group of seniors, along with players moving on to soccer or not coming back, led to the lower numbers.

Read more here.

SEYMOUR

Coach: Tom Lennon (4th year, 6-24)

League: NVL

Last season: 5-5

Top offensive players: Mike Conlan, 6-0, 185, Sr., QB/WR/DB; Jim Vartelas, 5-10, 165, Sr., RB/LB

Top defensive players: Dan Bonney, 5-9, 165, Sr., DL/OL; Zach Sirowich, 6-2, 215, Jr., DL/LB/OL

Key losses: Luke Grabowski, QB/DB; Dylan Sadick, OL/LB; Josh Tilton, OL/LB; Jon Wilson, RB/DB; Rob Brito, OL/DL

Inside the huddle: Young team, 40 of 55 players on roster are sophomores or freshmen. Team needs to mature quickly. Development of offensive line will be key.Seymour must replace its top two rushers (Grabowski and Wilson) who combined for more than 1,400 yards and 19 touchdowns. Vartelas and senior fullback Jack Briggs will likely get most of the hand offs.

Stat Facts: Conlan made a team-leading 26 catches last season, but may get the call under center. Bonney and Sirowich combined for 63 tackles and three sacks in 2011, and the two will likely anchor the defense this year.