I went to Saturday's quad scrimmage between Hillhouse, Cromwell, Oxford and Fairfield Warde at Bowen Field in New Haven.

Below is a video of a series between Hillhouse and Warde.

Hillhouse looked pretty good. They moved the ball well, scoring several times. For as long as I stayed, Hillhouse did not surrender a touchdown.

The Academics seem to certainly be a Class M contender.

I went down to Ken Strong Stadium Friday and checked out the scrimmage between Ansonia and West Haven.

When I left, Ansonia held a 21-0 lead after three quarters. Looked like each teams' B-Unit was about to enter the game.

Final ended up being 28-7.

Some thoughts: 

• Ansonia junior running back Arkeel Newsome, the reigning Register player of the year, scored three times, including one on a long gain. The two other scores came near the goal line, although he did break off another long run to set up the Chargers' first score.

• Senior Andrew Matos caught a few passes from sophomore quarterback Jai'Quan McKnight. McKnight took over the QB duties from expected starter Tyler Lester, who broke his leg in a preseason camp. Lester may return late in the year. McKnight did a decent job directing the offense. McKnight was expected to be the second option after Newsome in the backfield before Lester's injury. McKnight also had an interception on West Haven's first offensive series.

• Ansonia's young and inexperienced offense line is coming along. The Chargers' defense was impressive.

• West Haven's defense was also solid despite surrendering those three scores. The Westies have some big and athletic kids. Senior Bobby Sampson had a solid game at defensive back, making several tackles and swatting away a few pass attempts.

• Offensively, West Haven struggled to get a rhythm. Junior Ervin Philips and senior Eddy Williams had some nice runs, though. Philips was open several times in the flat but quarterback Javon Taylor, a transfer from Wilbur Cross, was unable to make the completion. Taylor, standing around 6-feet-3, has a good arm and should be quite a weapon this season.

Overall, both Ansonia and West Haven looked good, and both should make runs at qualifying for the postseason. Ansonia, the defending Class M champions, move down to Class S. West Haven has a strong shot to qualify in Class LL, although its regular season schedule is again brutal.

Via press release.

NEW HAVEN, CT (August 31, 2012) –MyTV9’s High School Football Game of the Week, returns on Saturday nights this fall. The fifth season of MyTV9’s High School Football Game of the Week will feature some of the best of this year’s football match-ups from 10 different locations around the state. 

If you can’t make it to the football field, you still have two chances to watch your favorite teams in action. The High School Football Game of the Week will be streamed live each week on wtnh.com. It will then be broadcast on Saturday night, at 7pm on MyTV9. Keep up with the latest news about the High School Football Game of the Week on wtnh.com.

Date/Time                                          Teams                                                     TV Date/Time
Sept. 14, 7 p.m.                              Hamden at West Haven                               Sept. 15, 7 p.m.
Sept. 21, 7 p.m.                              Foran at Shelton                                          Sept. 22, 7 p.m.
Sept. 28, 7 p.m.                              Derby at Ansonia                                        Sept. 29, 7 p.m.
Oct. 5, 7 p.m.                                 Masuk at Bunnell                                         Oct. 6, 7 p.m.
Oct. 12, 7 p.m.                               Hillhouse at North Haven                             Oct. 13, 7 p.m.
Oct. 19, 7 p.m.                               West Haven at Hand                                    Oct. 20, 7 p.m.
Oct. 26, 6 p.m.                               Branford at Guilford                                     Oct. 27, 7 p.m.
Nov. 2, 7 p.m.                                 Fitch at New London                                   Nov. 3, 7 p.m.
Nov. 9, 7 p.m.                                 Wilbur Cross at Amity                                 Nov. 10, 7 p.m.
Nov. 21, 6 p.m.                               Berlin at New Britain                                    Nov. 24, 7 p.m.

(photo posted on University of New Hampshire website)

Sean Goldrich, a former standout at Notre Dame-West Haven, threw two touchdown passes in his collegiate debut. Goldrich's teammate at ND, Rob Bowman, started on the offensive line for New Hampshire. Below, read the article posted on the University of New Hampshire website. 

Worcester,  Mass. - The University of New Hampshire football team scored touchdowns on back-to-back drives of 98 yards and 95 yards in the second half to pull away from Holy Cross for a 38-17 Thursday night victory in the season opener for both schools at Fitton Field.

The Wildcats (1-0, 0-0 CAA) outscored the Crusaders (0-1, 0-0 Patriot League) 19-7 after halftime and amassed 531 yards of offense (279 rushing, 252 passing) to improve to 11-3 all-time in season-opening games under head coach Sean McDonnell.

Sean Goldrich (West Haven, Conn.) shined in his collegiate debut, completing 21 of 31 passes for 193 yards and two TDs. The redshirt freshman added a team-high 71 rushing yards on 10 carries.

NORTH HAVEN

Coach: Anthony Sagnella (19 years, 99-94-2)

League: SCC

Last season: 9-2 (SCC Division II East Champions, Class L quarterfinalists)

Top offensive players: Jalon White, 5-9 ,165, Sr., TB (#21 in above photo); Matt Marcarelli, 6-0, 240, Sr., OL

Top defensive players: Quincy Pecora, 5-10, 175, Sr., LB (also is RB); Mike Halloran, 6-1, 185, Jr., LB

Key losses: Mark Zurlis (#44 in above photo), FB/LB; Jake Mikos, OL/DL; Andrew Savenelli, OL/DL; Joe Schwab, QB/DB; J.P. Deviglia, RB; Matt Manemiet, DB.

Inside the huddle: Need to develop younger players quickly, lacking experience due to large, productive senior class that graduated. Will again operate out of the single-wing formation. Sagnella hopes the Indians can be competitive in every game. He said this is a good group that lacks a lot of varsity experience. Team will be led by a strong junior class. 

Stat Facts: White rushed 140 times for 1,197 yards and 13 touchdowns as a junior, and he's expected to be one of the top players in the SCC.  

From press release:

The National Football Foundation & College Hall of Fame (NFF) announced today the names of the 26 finalists for the 2012 NFF High School National Scholar-Athlete Awards, which will honor one young man from each of the country's five regions as the best and the brightest for their accomplishments as athletes, scholars and citizens at the high school level. The five winners, who are now playing college football but are being recognized for their previous accomplishments in high school, will be announced the week of October 8. 

Former Xavier standout Sean Marinan, Jr., now at UConn, is a Northeast nominee.

"We take great pride in the work of the NFF Chapter Network," said NFF President & CEO Steve Hatchell. "Each year our chapters honor thousands of student-athletes who have excelled in all aspects of their lives. It is an incredibly difficult task choosing 26 finalists from thousands of honorees, and even nearly impossible to select just one winner from each of our five regions."

With 120 chapters and more than 12,000 members, the NFF Chapter Network impacts more than 400,000 student-athletes at 4,800 high schools in 47 states each year. The centerpiece of their efforts are the annual chapter awards banquets, which recognize more than 3,300 of the nation's top scholar-athletes and distribute $1 million in scholarships. From this pool of 3,300 scholar-athletes, the chapters have nominated 26 individuals in 2012 as finalists for the highly sought-after NFF High School National Scholar-Athlete Awards. During the week of October 8, a national committee will select and announce the five winners, one from each region, of the 2012 NFF High School National Scholar-Athlete Awards.

The five winners will travel to New York City to be honored during the NFF Chapter Awards Luncheon, presented by Under Armour, on Tuesday, December 4, 2012, at the Waldorf-Astoria. First bestowed in 1991, the NFF National High School Scholar-Athlete Award has become one of the most prestigious high school honors in the country. Criteria for the award include but are not limited to academic achievement, athletic accolades and community involvement. 

EAST REGION NOMINEES

·  Benjamin Fowler from Mifflin County High School in Lewistown, Pa. Nominated by the NFF Central Pennsylvania Chapter and currently attending Juniata College (Pa.).

·  Ryan James from Piscataway High School in Piscataway, N.J. Nominated by the NFF Bill Denny/Central Jersey Chapter and currently attending Lehigh University.

·  Charles Kassis from Pope Paul IV High School in Fairfax, Va. Nominated by the NFF National Capital (Va.) Chapter and currently attending Johns Hopkins University (Md.).

MIDWEST REGION NOMINEES

·  Luke Duffy from St. Edward Central Catholic High School in Elgin, Ill. Nominated by the NFF Chicago Metro Chapter and currently attending Washington University in St. Louis (Mo.).

·  Jesse Hiss from Basehor-Linwood High School in Basehor, Kan. Nominated by the NFF Sunflower (Kan.) Chapter and currently attending the University of Colorado.

·  Shawn Shillcox from Two Rivers High School inTwo Rivers, Wis. Nominated by the NFF Wisconsin Chapter and currently attending the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater.

·  Dayton Snyder from West Lafayette High School in West Lafayette, Ind. Nominated by the NFF Joe Tiller/Northwest Indiana Chapter and currently attending Case Western Reserve University (Ohio).

·  Patrick Towles from Highlands High School in Fort Thomas, Ky. Nominated by the NFF Greater Cincinnati Chapter and currently attending the University of Kentucky.

NORTHEAST REGION NOMINEES

·  John Bieren, Jr. from Nashua High School South in Nashua, N.H. Nominated by the NFF Joe Yukica/New Hampshire Chapter and currently attending the University of Massachusetts.

·  Sean Marinan, Jr. from Xavier High School in Middletown, Conn. Nominated by the NFF Gene Casey/New Haven (Conn.) Chapter and currently attending the University of Connecticut.

·  Will Twyman from Lincoln Sudbury Regional High School in Sudbury, Mass. Nominated by the NFF Jack Grinold/Eastern Massachusetts Chapter and currently attending Brown University.

·  Samuel Jay Yules from Moses Brown School in Providence, R.I. Nominated by the NFF Emo DiNitto/Rhode Island Chapter and currently attending Stanford University.

SOUTH REGION NOMINEES

·  John Thomas Blasingame IV from Benjamin E. Mays High School in Atlanta, Ga. Nominated by the NFF Greater Atlanta Chapter and currently attending Rice University.

·  Richard Tyler Campbell from Northwest Guilford High School in Greensboro, N.C. Nominated by the NFF Corrigan/Faircloth (N.C.) Chapter and currently attending Guilford College (N.C.).

·  Britt Colcolough from Memphis University High School in Memphis, Tenn. Nominated by the NFF Memphis (Tenn.) Chapter and currently attending Princeton University.

·  Alex Lyons from DeSoto High School in DeSoto, Texas. Nominated by the NFF Gridiron Club of Dallas Chapter and currently attending Rice University.

·  Tanner Moore from Seminole High School in Seminole, Texas. Nominated by the NFF Texas Tech Chapter and currently attending West Texas A&M University.

·  Darius Paulk from Richland Northeast High School in Columbia, S.C. Nominated by the NFF Midlands (S.C.) Chapter and currently attending North Greenville University (S.C.).

·  Alex Yacoubian from Jesuit High School in New Orleans, La. Nominated by the NFF Allstate Sugar Bowl (La.) Chapter and currently attending Washington and Lee University (Va.).

WEST REGION NOMINEES

·  Jeremiah Allison from Dorsey High School in Los Angeles, Calif. Nominated by the NFF Los Angeles Chapter and currently attending Washington State University.

·  Charles Bertoli from St. Helena High School in St. Helena, Calif. Nominated by the NFF Northern California Chapter and currently attending Boise State University.

·  Jeff Lindquist from Mercer Island High School in Mercer Island, Wash. Nominated by the NFF Seattle/King County Chapter and currently attending the University of Washington.

·  Gerard Martinez from Cimarron-Memorial High School in Las Vegas, Nev. Nominated by the NFF Bill Ireland/Las Vegas Chapter and currently attending the University of Notre Dame.

·  David Trompke from Rocky Mountain High School in Meridian, Idaho. Nominated by the NFF Southern Idaho Chapter and currently attending Harvard University.

·  Joshua Weeks from Show Low High School in Show Low, Ariz. Nominated by the NFF Valley of the Sun (Ariz.) Chapter and currently attending Brigham Young University.

·  Cooper Wise from Powell High School in Powell, Wyo. Nominated by the NFF Wyoming Chapter and currently attending the University of Wyoming.

For tickets to the Dec. 4 luncheon in New York, please contact Ron Dilatush at rdilatush@footballfoundation.com or by calling 972-556-1000.

By Joe Morelli, Register Schools Sports Editor
jmorelli@nhregister.com / Twitter: @nhrJoeMorelli

An anonymous source told the Register that the Fairfield County Interscholastic Athletic Conference football coaches unanimously voted down a proposal to play the Southern Connecticut Conference in Week 6 in 2013 and 2014.

The matchup between two of the premier football conferences in Connecticut was originally supposed to be in the opening week each of the next two seasons, but Amity had already scheduled a non-conference, home-and-home series with Seymour to open both seasons.

The source also said that Tuesday’s vote does not kill the two-year deal. If the games were moved back to the season opener, the coaches would approve the games. And even still, the FCIAC board of directors and athletic directors can override their vote and have the games played in the sixth week.

Wilton athletic director Christy Hayes, who is also on the league board of directors, said his FCIAC school is still for the proposal no matter what week it is.

“This does not mean it’s dead or we are not doing it,” Hayes said. “I’m kind of surprised (by the unanimous vote). Whether it is Week 1 or Week 6, I don’t think it really should be an issue.”

Amity athletic director Paul Mengold said he and Seymour AD Ed Rostowsky agreed to the two-year series three years ago. Seymour’s only open date in 2013 is in the season opener, so the game cannot be moved.

The NVL Blog reported that David Coggins and Javon Martin have re-enrolled at Sacred Heart, although their eligibility has yet to be determined.

The Waterbury Rep-Am's Kyle Brennan also wrote an article on where the investigation stands.


According to the article:

Depending on the findings, the CIAC could impose a number of penalties, including a fine of up to $10,000, probation, a postseason ban or the suspension of Naugatuck's athletics program.

It's unclear when the CIAC would make a decision, although CIAC Executive Director Karissa Niehoff said last week there should be a "quick" decision. The Board of Control will meet Sept. 20, a day before Naugy's second game against Derby.

HAND

Coach: Steve Filippone (23 rd year, 188-66-6)

League: SCC

Last season: 13-0 (Class L champions)

Top offensive players: Kyle Anderson, 6-4, 190, Sr., WR; Ian O'Toole, 5-9, 175, Sr., RB

Top defensive players: Matt Walsh, 6-1, 225, Sr., LB (also a fullback); Peter Gerson, 6-3, 215, Sr., DE

Key losses: Henry Foye, QB; Kevin Frey, RB; Joe DeMichele, OL/DL; Vance Giarratana, DB; Nick Vitale, WR

Inside the huddle: Graduated 16 starters, relative inexperience on offense at key positions, tradition and defense will be a team strength.Walsh made over 60 unassisted tackles last season and was a Register All-Area selection. Gerson made 56 solo tackles, 15 sacks and recovered two fumbles in 2011. Filippone calls Gerson the most explosive player he's ever coached. Senior strong safety Alex Tuccero made three interceptions as a junior. Seniors Cam Gravina and Matt Saganelli will anchor the offensive line. Anderson, who made 49 catches and seven touchdowns in 2011, is one of the SCC's top receivers. O'Toole is expected to take over the running back duties full-time after Frey graduated. Senior Brendan Bilchek is expected to be the team's starting quarterback. Filippone says Bilchek has good arm strength and is a capable decision maker.

Recruiting watch: Walsh has given his oral commitment to play at UConn. Gerson will attend Yale next fall. 

Ansonia junior running back Arkeel Newsome, the reigning Register player of the year, was featured in an article on Max Preps.com. The article states that Newsome has the potential to eclipse the national mark for rushing yards in a career (11,232) set by Ken Hall of Sugar Land, Texas from 1950-1953.

~~~~excerpt~~~~~

They are crowning achievements that stand as magically in sports history as the fabled athletes who scripted them:

Joe DiMaggio's 56-game hitting streak. Wilt Chamberlain's 100-point NBA game. Jack Nicklaus' 18 major golf titles. Jerry Rice's 208 NFL touchdown catches. Wayne Gretzky's 215 points in one NHL season. Pele's 1,279 soccer goals scored. Cal Ripken's 2,632 consecutive games played.

High school football has one, too, similarly revered and mystical yet seemingly just as unreachable for six decades: the 11,232 career rushing yards compiled by Ken Hall of Sugar Land (Texas) from 1950 to 1953.

In prep parlance, Hall is the Babe Ruth of high school football. This Bambino was known as the Sugar Land Express.

An unreachable record for nearly 60 years? Without question. A record within the sights today of Ansonia (Conn.) junior sensation Arkeel Newsome? Could be.

~~~~excerpt~~~~


Last season, Newsome rushed  313 times for 3,763 yards and 58 touchdowns.
Newsome has career totals of 610 carries, 4,372 yards and 70 touchdowns.


Below is a video posted with the article. 

In response to @BigPat31 on Twitter, below are some games around the state that might be worth checking out in 2012.

You can follow me on Twitter @MikePucciNHR.

Dates, sites and times are subject to change.

CCC

New Britain at Glastonbury, Sept. 14, 6:30 p.m.
Southington at New Britain, Sept. 21, 7 p.m.
Rocky Hill at Berlin, Sept. 21, 7 p.m.
Bloomfield at Northwest Catholic, Sept. 29, 10:30 a.m.
Windsor at Hartford Public, Oct. 6, 6:30 p.m.
Berlin at Northwest Catholic, Oct. 13, 7 p.m.
Windsor at Middletown, Oct. 19, 7 p.m.
Rocky Hill at Bloomfield, Oct. 19, 7 p.m.
Glastonbury at Southington, Oct. 19, 7 p.m.
Berlin at Bloomfield, Nov. 9, 7 p.m.
Berlin at New Britain, Nov. 21, 6 p.m.
Northwest Catholic at Rocky Hill, Nov. 22, 10:30 a.m.

ECC

Fitch at Norwich Free Academy, Sept. 29, 1 p.m.
Norwich Free Academy at Ledyard, Oct. 5, 6:30 p.m.
Fitch at New London, Nov. 2, 6:30 p.m.
New London at Ledyard, Nov. 10, 10:30 a.m.
Norwich Free Academy at New London, Nov. 22, 10 a.m.

FCIAC

Greenwich at Ridgefield, Sept. 14, 7 p.m.
St. Joseph at Staples, Sept. 14, 7 p.m.
St. Joseph at Darien, Sept. 29, 1:30 p.m.
New Canaan at St. Joseph, Oct. 20, 2:30 p.m.
Staples at Darien, Oct. 27, 1:30 p.m.
St. Joseph at Trumbull, Nov. 21, 7 p.m.
New Canaan at Darien, Nov. 22, 10:30 a.m.
Staples at Greenwich, Nov. 22, 10 a.m.

NVL

Torrington at Wolcott, Sept. 21, 7 p.m.
Woodland at Ansonia, Sept. 21, 7 p.m.
Derby at Ansonia, Sept. 28, 7 p.m.
Holy Cross at Torrington, Sept. 28, 7 p.m.
Ansonia at Holy Cross, Oct. 5, 7 p.m.
Woodland at Torrington, Oct. 19, 7 p.m.
Wolcott at Ansonia, Nov. 2, 7 p.m.
Holy Cross at Woodland, Nov. 2, 7 p.m.
Woodland at Wolcott, Nov. 9, 7 p.m.
Wolcott at Holy Cross, Nov. 22, 10 a.m.
Naugatuck at Ansonia, Nov. 22, 10:30 a.m.

PEQUOT

Cromwell at Hyde, Oct. 6, 2 p.m.
Gilbert/NW Regional at Avon, Oct. 13, 6:30 p.m.
North Branford at Cromwell, Oct. 27, 1 p.m.
Hyde at North Branford, Nov. 21, 6 p.m.
Haddam-Killingworth at Valley Regional/Old Lyme, Nov. 21, 6:30 p.m.

SCC

Hand at Hillhouse (Bowen), Sept. 21, 4 p.m.
North Haven at Xavier, Sept. 21, 7 p.m.
Sheehan at Amity, Sept. 21, 7 p.m.
West Haven at Notre Dame-West Haven, Sept. 28, 7 p.m.
Fairfield Prep at Xavier, Sept. 28, 7 p.m.
Shelton at Fairfield Prep, Oct. 5, 6 p.m.
Hand at Xavier, Oct. 12, 7 p.m.
Hillhouse at North Haven, Oct. 12, 7 p.m.
West Haven at Hand, Oct. 19, 7 p.m.
North Haven at Sheehan, Oct. 19, 7 p.m.
Xavier at Hillhouse, Oct. 26, 3 p.m.
Xavier at Shelton, Nov. 2, 7 p.m.
Shelton at Hand, Nov. 9, 7 p.m.
West Haven at Xavier, Nov. 9, 7 p.m.
Foran at Guilford, Nov. 14, 7 p.m.
Amity at North Haven, Nov. 22, 10 a.m.
Fairfield Prep at West Haven, Nov. 22, 10:30 a.m.

SWC

Bethel at Bunnell, Sept. 14, 7 p.m.
Pomperaug at Masuk, Sept. 14, 7 p.m.
Bunnell at Brookfield, Sept. 21, 7 p.m.
Pomperaug at Newtown, Sept. 21, 7 p.m.
Brookfield at Newtown, Oct. 5, 7 p.m.
Masuk at Bunnell, Oct. 5, 7 p.m.
Masuk at Brookfield, Oct. 19, 7 p.m.
Brookfield at Pomperaug, Oct. 26, 7 p.m.
Bunnell at Newtown, Nov. 9, 7 p.m.
Masuk at Newtown, Nov. 21, 7 p.m.
Bethel at Brookfield, Nov. 22, 10 a.m.

Non-league

North Haven at New London, Oct. 5, 6:30 p.m.
Stamford at Norwich Free Academy, Oct. 20, 1 p.m.
Middletown at Xavier, Nov. 22, 10 a.m.
Cheshire at Southington, Nov. 22, 10:30 a.m.

AMITY

Coach: Bert Mozealous (3rd year, 8-12)

League: SCC

Last season: 4-6

Top offensive players: James Semmonella, 6-0, 195, Sr., QB; David Attolino, 5-10, 185, Sr., RB

Top defensive players: Greg Purcell, 6-0, 260, Sr., DL; Mike Vitale, 6-4, 275, Sr., DL

Key losses: Tyler Vallie QB, Cody Ellison WR/DB, Subhe Salah, OL

Inside the huddle: Mozealous says this year’s team will go as far the experienced line takes them. The Spartans have decent size up front, led by Purcell, Vitale and Toro. Another key will be the play of Semmonella, who moves from running back to quarterback. Semmonella replaces Tyler Vallie, who graduated. Vallie passed for 1,206 yards and 12 touchdowns last season and rushed for 918 yards and 13 scores. There are six starters returning on each side of the ball. Mozealous believes Amity should be very competitive this season.

Stat Facts: Semmonella rushed 63 times for 434 yards and four touchdowns last season and caught 22 passes and two more touchdowns.

EAST HAVEN

Coach: Greg Volpe (5th year)

League: SCC

Last season: 2-8

Top offensive players: Dom Dellacamera, Jr., RB; Mike DeMarco, Jr., RB

Top defensive players: Mark Spadacenta, Sr., DE; Bryant Maranda, Sr., LB

Key losses: Niko Fiorillo, QB/S; Joe Costanzo, RB/LB; Mike Vessicchio, WR/DB; Shawn Tarnawa, OL/DL

Inside the huddle: Very young team, small numbers, depth will be an issue, so remaining healthy will be key. Volpe says the team has implemented a new offense, which may take time to develop. Easties lost most of their skill players to graduation. Volpe says East Haven is the smallest team in the league, and is at a disadvantage against most teams.

Stat Facts: According to Max Preps, Dellacamera rushed 42 times for 184 yards and one score in six games that stats were entered last season.