WOLCOTT

Monroe Field, Wolcott

Coach: Jason Pace (3rd year, 17-6)
Conference: NVL
2012 Record: 9-2 (Class M quarterfinalists)
2013 Kickoff: vs. Sacred Heart, Sept. 13, 7 p.m.
Top offensive players: Joe Lynch, 5-10, 185, Sr., RB; Tom Longo, 6-2, 240, Sr., OL; Tyler Staples, 5-10, 190, Sr., OL; Zac Burksa, 5-9, 160, Sr., OL; Jay Pelletier, 5-8, 150, Jr., WR; Vin Gambino, 5-9, 150, Jr., QB; Adam Santopietro, 5-10, 165, Sr., WR.
Top defensive players: Dan Catania, 5-10, 170, Sr., LB; Nick Rinaldi, 5-9, 180, Sr., LB; Sean Brooks, 5-7, 165, Jr., LB; Longo, DL; Staples, DL; Burksa, LB.
Key losses: Mike Nicol, QB; Jim Nelson, OL/DL; Brandon Walker, LB; Matt Cyr, WR/DB; Ryan Caggiano, WR/DB; Dylan Rossi, OL/DL.
Outlook: The Eagles, who qualified for the postseason the past two seasons, will begin life without all-state quarterback Mike Nicol, who passed for 1,535 yards and 19 touchdowns and rushed for 1,271 yards and 20 scores. Nicol graduated, along with 18 other seniors. Filling those voids will determine how successful Wolcott is this season. Pace hopes to employ a more collaborative approach on offense. Gambino takes over under center. He completed 7 of 12 passes for 66 yards and a touchdown and also rushed for 46 yards in a mop up role last season. The standout should be Lynch, who could be one of the best running backs in the NVL. Lynch rushed for 857 yards and 14 touchdowns as a junior.  Pelletier has the talent to have a breakout year at receiver.

Previous entries in the Inside The Huddle series:


Derby
Fairfield Prep
Guilford
Hamden Hall
Morgan
New Canaan
North Branford
North Haven
Notre Dame-West Haven
Pomperaug
Sheehan  
Xavier 

VIA PRESS RELEASE

Six former high school football standouts, a retired coach and an athletic director will be inducted into the New Haven Gridiron Club Hall of Fame on Sept. 19 at the Cascade Banquet Facility, Sherman Avenue, Hamden. Two longtime club members will also be honored.

Ex-players selected to represent their schools are Fred Balsamo, North Haven; John Brecevich, Notre Dame of West Haven; Burt Cohen, West Haven; Dick Pannella, Hamden; Ron Parisi, East Haven; and Latef Roberts, Wilbur Cross.  Also chosen were Tim Jennings, coach of the unbeaten 1985 Hillhouse team that topped the statewide Register poll, and Paul Mengold, athletic director at Amity Regional of Woodbridge for more than a quarter-century.

Pannellla (guard, 1957) and Roberts (receiver, 1991) were Register All-Staters; Brecevich (tackle, 1970) was All-District League and Balsamo (back, 1969) All-Housatonic. Cohen was the center for West Haven’s 1968 state poll champions, who scored 58.4 points per game and were ranked fifth nationally. Parisi led East Haven in scoring for three seasons (1963-65). Jennings lifted Hillhouse from a winless season in 1976 to a District title in 1981 and a 12-0 record and Class MM championship in 1985.

Chosen as members-at-large of the Hall of Fame were Nancy and Brent Nielsen, wife and son of the club’s executive director, Don Nielsen of Orange.  Nancy is the club’s longtime treasurer, while Brent has supplied photographic and logistical support.

 The dinner, on a Thursday night, will begin at 7 with a social hour at 6.  Tickets are $50 each and may be reserved by sending checks to New Haven Gridiron Club, PO Box 32, New Haven 06501, before Sept. 13.  For further information, contact Don Nielsen, (203) 795-5331. 

FAIRFIELD PREP

Alumni Field, Fairfield

Coach: Tom Shea (4th year, 14-16)
Conference: SCC
2012 Record: 6-4
2013 Kickoff: at Stamford, Sept. 12, 7 p.m.
Top offensive players: Colton Smith, 6-0, 170, Jr., QB; John DelliSanti, 6-2, 190, Jr., WR; Joe Ganim, 5-10, 180, Jr., RB; Anthony Palozzollo, 6-6, 302, Jr., OL; Andrew Ostrosky, 6-3, 220, Sr., TE; Stephen Walsh, 6-0, 175, Sr., WR; Jack Snopkowski, 5-8, 140, Jr., WR.
Top defensive players: Nick Crowle, 6-3, 245, Sr., LB; Anthony Johnson, 6-0, 198, Sr., LB; Tony Fox, 6-3, 254, Sr., DE; Max Trudeau, 6-0, 195, Sr., LB; Tom Cirillo, 6-1, 252, Sr., DE; Tim Falvey, 6-0, 177, Sr., DB.
Key losses: Chris Golger, RB/LB; Stecker Backe, QB; John Moten, RB; Matt Montani, LB; David Gerics, DB.
Outlook: Shea says the offensive line has good size but can they jell into an effective unit? Another question is: can the defense allow as few of points as last season? The Jesuits allowed just 13.9 points last season. Smith will start under center after playing sparingly last season. Ganim will be called upon to be the team’s primary running back after the graduation of Chris Colger. Fairfield Prep also lost junior running back John Moten, who transferred to a school in Missouri after rushing for 509 yards and 12 touchdowns as a sophomore. DelliSanti, pictured above, could have a breakout year at receiver after catching 18 passes and three touchdowns last season.  Crowle and Fox have the talent to be two of the best defenders in the SCC. Crowle has verbally committed to Yale, while Fox is headed to Fordham. Palozzolo is being recruited by Boston College, UConn, Miami and Penn State. 

Previous entries in the Inside The Huddle series:


Derby
Guilford
Hamden Hall
Morgan
New Canaan
North Branford
North Haven
Notre Dame-West Haven
Pomperaug
Sheehan  
Xavier 

HAMDEN HALL

Sonny Coughlin Field, Hamden

Coach: Joe Linta
Conference: Fairchester
2012 Record: 5-5
2013 Kickoff: vs. Woodstock Academy, Sept. 12, 6:30 p.m.
Top offensive players: Mike Whalen, 5-10, 175, Sr., WR; Mike Breuler, 6-2, 180, Sr., WR; T.J. Linta, 6-4, 225, Sr., QB.
Top defensive players: Jason Criscio, 6-0, 252, Jr., DE; Brandon Ginnetti, 6-2, 230, Jr., DE.
Key losses: Cole Perrone, C/LB; Alex Chiodo, RB/LB; Nick Linta, WR/S.
Outlook: Coach Linta says:  If the Hornets can improve defensively from last year, it should be a solid season. Hamden Hall allowed more than 35 points per game last season, although they averaged the same amount offensively. In 2012, the Hornets averaged 324 passing yards per game. T.J. Linta (pictured above) completed 192 of 340 passes (56.5 percent) for 3,110 yards and 28 touchdowns against just eight interceptions. T.J. Linta has Division I talent, although he's more likely to go the Ivy League route. The Hornets return three of their top four receivers. Whalen and Breuler are both 4.5 sprinters in the 40-yard dash. Breuler caught 63 passes for 1,089 yards and 14 touchdowns, while Whalen caught 44 passes for 792 yards and 11scores last season. Joe Linta thinks the Hornets should challenge Kingswood-Oxford and King for the league title. 

Previous entries in the Inside The Huddle series:


Derby
Guilford
Morgan
New Canaan
North Branford
North Haven
Notre Dame-West Haven
Pomperaug
Sheehan  
Xavier 

NOTRE DAME-WEST HAVEN

Veteran's Stadium, West Haven

Coach: Tom Marcucci
Conference: SCC
2012 Record: 4-6
2013 Kickoff: at St. Joseph, Sept. 14, 1:30 p.m.
Top offensive players: Cameran Tucker, 5-10, 208, Sr., RB; Blake Rice, 6-1, 165, Sr., RB; Owen Barnell, 6-1, 235, Jr., G; Drew Arciuolo, 6-0, 178, Sr., WR; Kyle Cullen, 6-2, 215, Jr., T; Joe Palmieri, 5-7, 161, Sr., WR; Prince Brooks, 5-8, 165, So., RB.
Top defensive players: Sal Esposito, 6-0, 195, Sr., LB; Matt Abati, 6-0, 228, Jr., DE; Tim Jambor, 5-11, 184, Jr., LB; Andrew Natale, 5-10, 165, Jr., DB; Joe Petrosino, 5-10, 235, Jr., T; Zack Cofrancesco, 5-8, 158, Jr., DB.
Key losses: Chris Perry, WR/DB; Matt Shumaker, LB; Jordan Williams, DE; Zack Averna, C.
Outlook: Marcucci says the key is that the returning players have improved. There are many returners with significant varsity experience. There is also a very strong sophomore and junior class combined with those experienced seniors. Marcucci expects his team to compete in every game. Marcucci noted that team speed and strength have greatly improved.  Tucker, pictured above, will be one of the top running backs in the SCC. He basically carried the load last season as the Green Knights struggled with injuries. Tucker rushed 215 times for 1,697 yards and 19 touchdowns as a junior. Rice returns under center, although he missed some time with injury last season. He completed 54 of 105 passes for 623 yards and five scores. Esposito saw some time in the backfield and as a receiver but he will be called upon to lead the defense. He made 54 tackles last season.

Previous entries in the Inside The Huddle series:


Derby
Guilford
Morgan
New Canaan
North Branford
North Haven
Pomperaug
Sheehan  
Xavier 

SHELTON — Kyle Drost and the rest of the senior members of the Shelton football team are hoping to end their high school careers the way they began. As freshmen, the senior class went unbeaten.

So, with the return of those seniors, as well as junior quarterback Mark Piccirillo, there was certainly a sense of excitement as the Gaels opened fall practice Monday.

“We’ve been waiting for this opportunity,” said Drost, a 6-foot-3, 220 pound wide receiver. “All the guys who started as freshmen have grown and matured. We’ve been lifting all summer, every single winter, and now it’s time to perform.”

Said Piccirillo: “The coaches know we can be that good. They keep pushing us harder and harder.”
Shelton coach Jeff Roy is well-aware that this season could be a special one.

“Anytime you get an undefeated freshmen team, as long as they stay together and work, you get excited. There’s a lot of talent there, and there’s confidence. We’re all excited, the players and coaches. We’re ready to get it going.”

Almost all of the Gaels’ receivers return, including senior Mike Pingree, who caught 14 passes last season. Drost made 24 catches for 425 yards and seven touchdowns. Shelton will also benefit from the return of senior running back Jason Thompson, who missed almost all of last season with injury.

“Between those two (Piccirillo and Thompson), we’re going to be able to run,” Roy said, “and with most of the receivers back, we’re going to be able to throw, too.”

Piccirillo, who gained about 15 pounds, is a dual threat. He passed for 1,558 yards and 15 touchdowns and rushed for 560 yards and five scores as a sophomore.

“(He) puts defenses in a bind,” Roy said. “He’s 190 pounds, and can run. That’s something else you have to defend against. He worked his tail off in the offseason. He’s heavier, faster, and he’s throwing the ball better. We’re looking for big things out of him this year. We think he’s going to have a great year.”