AMITY

Sim Field, Woodbridge

Coach: Bert Mozealous
Conference: SCC
2012 Record: 4-6
2013 Kickoff: Seymour, Sept. 11, 7 p.m.
Top offensive players: Dave Ryan, 6-4, 195, Sr., QB; Joe Choiniere, 5-9, 185, Sr., capt., RB/WR/DB; Nick Bottone, 6-4, 165, Sr., WR; Ben Feola, 6-0, 180, Sr., WR/LB; Cory Ricks, 5-8, 165, Sr., RB/DB; Eric Laugeni, 5-10, 220, Sr.,capt., OL; Joe Capela, 5-9, 210, Sr., OL; Tyler Burns, 5-8, 160, Jr., QB/WR/DB; Lyle Luth, 5-9, 175, Sr., K/P.
Top defensive players: Choiniere, Sr., DB; Feola, Sr., LB; Ricks, Sr., DB; Burns, Jr., DB; Matt Attolino, 5-8, 170, Jr., DB; Mike Butler, 6-1, 255, Sr., DL; D’Andre Wilson, 5-9, 155, Sr., LB; John Mezzone, 6-2, 185, Sr., LB.
Key losses: Dennis Flanagan, OL/DL; David Attolino, RB; James Semmonella, RB.
Outlook: The line on both sides of the ball suffered heavy graduation losses, including two-time all-SCC selection Dennis Flanagan, and Greg Purcell. Quarterback James Semmonella and running back David Attolino (1,136 yards, 13 TDs) also graduated. But some talent returns. Ryan will get the start under center. He has good size and strength but is untested. Choiniere and Ricks will likely share the duties at running back. The two will also be threats to catch passes out of the backfield, while Bottone, Feola and Burns will add depth to the receiving corps. Luth is expected to be one of the top place kickers in the SCC. He made 46 of 47 extra points and nine of 10 field goals as a junior.

Previous entries in the Inside The Huddle series:


Derby
Fairfield Prep
Guilford
Hamden Hall
Morgan
New Canaan
North Branford
North Haven
Norwich Free Academy
Notre Dame-West Haven
Pomperaug
Sheehan  
Wolcott
Woodland
Xavier 

DIVISION I

OFFENSE

OL-Dennis Flanagan, Sr., Amity
OL-John Thomas, Sr., Hamden
OL-Zack Creeron, Sr., Xavier
OL-Greg Purcell, Sr., Amity
K-Ed Groth, Sr., Shelton
WR-Kris Luster, Sr., Xavier
WR-Chris Perry, Sr., ND-WH
WR-Kyle Drost, Jr., Shelton
WR-Kyle Anderson, Sr., Hand
RB-DeAngelo Berry, Sr., Xavier
RB-Ervin Philips, Jr., West Haven
RB-Cameran Tucker, Jr., ND-WH
RB-David Attolino, Sr., Amity
QB-Tim Boyle, Sr., Xavier
QB-Brendan Bilcheck, Sr., Hand

DEFENSE

DL-Alex Chow-Yen, Sr., Cross
DL-Peter Gerson, Sr., Hand
DL-Eddy Williams, Sr., West Haven
DL-Anthony Palazzolo, So., Fairfield Prep
LB-Nick Crowle, Jr., Fairfield Prep
LB-Matt Walsh, Sr., Hand
LB-Max Tylki, Sr., Xavier
LB-Kadialy Toure, Sr., West Haven
LB-Chris Golger, Sr., Fairfield Prep
DB-Alex Tuccero, Sr., Hand
DB-Jack Cunningham, So., Cheshire
DB-Sam Pascale, Sr., Cheshire
DB-Amore Gee, Sr., West Haven
DB-Vincent Sansone, Sr., Cheshire
P-Ysaan Frazier, Sr., Wilbur Cross

DIVISION II

OFFENSE

OL-Matt Marcarelli, Sr., North Haven
OL-Zach Hubler, Jr., Foran
OL-Nick Casagrande, Jr., Law
OL-George Knoth, Sr., Law
OL-Sean Merrill, Sr., Sheehan
OL-Colton Schilling, Sr., Guilford
WR-Nick Weissauer, Jr., Foran
WR-Ryan Bohne, Sr., Lyman Hall
RB-Harold Cooper, Jr., Hillhouse
RB-Jalon White, Sr., North Haven
QB-Jake Kasuba, So., Foran
QB-Joe Nault, Jr., Guilford
UT-K.C. Horton, Jr., Guilford

DEFENSE
DL-Andrew Klarman, Sr., Branford
DL-Mark Spadacenta, Sr., East Haven
DL-Anthony Jones, Sr., Branford
DL-Teno Simpson, Sr., Hillhouse
LB-Mike Halloran, Jr., North Haven
LB-Ford Linell, Jr., Guilford
LB-Alex Borkowski, Sr., Branford
LB-Terrell Fairweather, Sr., Hillhouse
LB-Quincy Pecora, Sr., North Haven
DB-Je'Vaughn Moore, Sr., Hillhouse
DB-Kyle Paolella, Sr., Sheehan
DB-Darryn Horner, Sr., Hillhouse
DB-Andre Anderson, Sr., Hillhouse

Ansonia wins NVL title

WATERBURY — Through 10 games, an opponent has yet to solve, much less contain, Ansonia’s potent offensive attack.

In the Naugatuck Valley League championship game with Woodland, it was essentially the same script its been all season: another decisive victory for the Chargers.

Through the air and on the ground, Ansonia, ranked third in the Register Top 10 Poll, operated on all cylinders Thursday.

Led by junior Arkeel Newsome, who rushed 23 times for 222 yards and three touchdowns, the Chargers cruised to a 56-26 win over the Hawks at Municipal Stadium.

It was the second straight league title for Ansonia (10-0), which has won 24 straight games.

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THURSDAY'S ROUNDUP

Hamden scored 20 unanswered points in the fourth quarter to rally for a 26-24 win over Amity in Hamden on Thursday night.

Quarterback Eli Bonadies scored on a 5-yard bootleg with just under a minute left to cap the Green Dragons’ rally.

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FRIDAY'S ROUNDUP

Quarterback Phil Cohen completed 14-of-20 passes for 201 yards and four touchdowns to lead the Valley Regional/Old Lyme football team to a 45-0 Pequot Sassacus win over East Hampton in East Hampton on Friday.

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SATURDAY'S ROUNDUP

HYDE CLINCHES CLASS S PLAYOFF BERTH

Kevin Jones scored two rushing touchdowns and also tossed a touchdown pass for the Hyde football team in a 48-0 Pequot Conference Sassacus Division win over Nonnewaug Saturday at New Haven.

The Howling Wolves (9-0) clinched a Class S state playoff berth. Jones scored on runs of 70 and 5 yards and threw a 17-yard td pass to Kahlil Morant.

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No. 4 Xavier comes from behind to stun Hillhouse

NEW HAVEN — The Xavier football team responded to its coaches’ challenge at halftime to play more aggressively and as a cohesive unit.

It just wasn’t until early in the fourth quarter, and the Falcons facing an almost insurmountable deficit, that the message finally resonated.

Once it did Xavier, ranked fourth in the Register Top 10 Poll, rallied for a dramatic 50-49 Southern Connecticut Conference interdivision victory over host Hillhouse Friday afternoon at Bowen Field.

Senior DeAngelo Berry scored on a 1-yard run, and then ran in the successful two-point conversion with 51 seconds remaining, to provide the winning score for the Falcons (6-1).

Xavier scored 29 unanswered points in the fourth quarter to erase a 49-21 deficit. Xavier also trailed by 21 points on three separate occasions in the contest.

PHOTOS: Xavier rallies to beat Hillhouse

“There was never any doubt in our minds,” said Berry, who carried 17 times for 90 yards and three TDs. “Every time we come down here it’s always a hard environment; no fans, and they have all their fans. But the coaches let us know that it’s never over until it’s over. We knew we could do it.”


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No. 9 West Haven takes out Cheshire 

WEST HAVEN — The Cheshire football team had West Haven right where the Rams wanted it in a Southern Connecticut Conference Division I East contest Friday evening.

Leading in the first quarter and having taken 7 minutes off the clock, momentum was clearly on Cheshire’s side.

Then West Haven, the No. 9 team in the Register Top 10 poll, turned to Ervin Philips and its running game to score 22 unanswered points in a 49-20 West Haven victory in a Southern Connecticut Conference Division I East game at Ken Strong Stadium.

PHOTOS: West Haven takes out Cheshire

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Guilford runs past Branford 

GUILFORD — The Guilford football team came into Friday night’s game wanting to prove that it was better than its 1-4 record.

After close losses to Hillhouse and West Haven, the Indians proved just that by rushing for 483 yards in beating Southern Connecticut conference Division II West rival Branford 41-14 at Kavanaugh Field.

“What I wanted was for our guys to show the fans, their families and the town that they are an excellent team,” said Guilford coach Tommy Unger. “There’s no morale victories, but these kids are really good. I’m happy we got this win tonight.”

PHOTOS: Guilford tops Branford

READ MORE 


ROUNDUP: Amity shocks Fairfield Prep

Pingree, Piccirillo help Shelton edge Amity

SHELTON — Junior Michael Pingree took home a souvenir for his defensive effort in Shelton’s comeback victory over Amity.

Although Pingree was awarded the black baseball bat with the Gaels’ logo on it, it could have been presented to any member of Shelton’s defensive unit.

The gritty Gaels defense shut out the Spartans in the fourth quarter and Shelton rallied for a 34-28 Southern Connecticut Conference Division I West victory Saturday at Finn Stadium.


D’Angelo Berry rushed for 168 yards, including touchdown runs of 1 and 54 yards, and added an 85-yard kickoff return for a touchdown to lead No. 1 Xavier to a 35-14 Southern Connecticut Conference Division I West win over Fairfield Prep in Middletown on Saturday.

Quarterback Tim Boyle completed 10 of 14 passes for 130 yards and two touchdowns and Kris Luster had six receptions for 48 yards and a 5-yard touchdown catch.

Quarterback Strecker Backe completed 6 of 26 passes for 116 yards and two touchdowns and Joseph Ganim had six receptions for 78 yards for the Jesuits (2-1). Xavier improves to 3-0.

MORE ROUNDUP AND BOX SCORES



HAMDEN has been nominated for the TEAM OF THE WEEK. VOTE!

Sophomore Mark Piccirillo connected with Kyle Drost on an 11-yard touchdown pass and then Piccirillo hit Will Karcher with the successful 2-point conversion pass with 5:34 left in the fourth quarter as host Shelton hung on in this SCC Division I West contest Saturday at Finn Stadium.

Piccirillo completed 16-of-25 passes for 218 yards. He threw a 30-yard touchdown pass to Ed Kochiss and also scored on a 9-yard run. Piccirillo rushed 14 times for 60 yards.

Jason Thompson (12 carries, 52 yards) scored on a 1-yard run and Ed Groth kicked field goals of 34 and 41 yards for the Gaels (2-1).

David Attolino rushed 22 times for 135 yards and three scores for the Spartans (1-2).

No. 3 Hand wins 15th straight, beats No. 7 Hillhouse

Amity runs all over Sheehan


No. 1 Xavier pulls away from North Haven


ROUNDUP: Derby edges Naugatuck


Follow our Week 2 Scoreboard


VOTE for Friday's STAR: ND-WH's Cameran Tucker and Ansonia's Andrew Matos are nominated!

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.

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.

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.

Bunnell 55, Barlow 19: Quarterback Bryan Castelot threw three touchdown passes and Kevin Hernandez added a 59-yard touchdown run to lead Bunnell to its SWC interdivision win at Stratford.
Castelot completed 11-of-15 passes for 225 yards, including a 73-yard touchdown pass to Bryan Camille, 11-yard touchdown pass to Josh Diaz and 17-yard touchdown pass to Jibril Chisholm.

Woodland 21, Kennedy 6: Jack DeBiase ran for 153 yards and a touchdown on 19 carries and also intercepted two passes for Woodland in its NVL victory.

Shelton 38, Sheehan 11: Shaq Holman scored a pair of touchdowns, including a 99-yard kickoff return, and Jonathan Groth threw for a pair of scores to lead the victory in Shelton.

Amity 44, East Haven 6: Kyle Kalanta rushed for 201 yards and three touchdowns as Amity gained 447 yards of total offense in the rout at Amity.

Notre Dame of West Haven 52, Branford 20: Ahmir Vess rushed for 206 yards and two touchdowns as Notre Dame crushed Branford.

North Haven 13, Hamden 2: Joe Schwab rushed 25 times for 151 yards for the visiting Indians in this SCC interdivision contest at Hamden.

Valley Regional/Old Lyme 40, Lewis Mills 0: Quarterback Jimmy Fairfield-Sonn had touchdown runs of 74, 13 and 43 yards and added a touchdown pass to lead the Warriors to their Pequot Sassacus win in Deep River.

Haddam-Killingworth 36, Old Saybrook 3: At Haddam, Dan Milardo ran for 113 yards on seven carries, including a 73-yard touchdown, to lead H-K to its victory.

Sacred Heart 38, Derby 19: Ray Kreiger passed for two touchdowns and ran for another in Derby’s NVL home loss.

It’s crossover week in the SCC, when teams from Division I compete against opponents from Division II. Below are some interesting tidbits released by SCC commissioner Al Carbone.

There are three match ups being played for the first time since the inception of the SCC in 1994 (Foran at Xavier, Law at Wilbur Cross and Hillhouse at Cheshire).
In addition, there are six games being contested for the first time in a number of years.

*Branford at Notre Dame (first meeting since 1997, a 20-0 Notre Dame win).

*Guilford at West Haven (first meeting since 1997, when West Haven won 42-7).

*East Haven at Amity (first meeting since 1999, when Amity won 21-12).

*North Haven at Hamden (first meeting since 1999, a 27-8 Hamden victory).

*Lyman Hall at Hand. Hand won the last meeting, 27-19, in 2001.

*Sheehan at Shelton. The former Housatonic League (pre-1994) and former SCC Housatonic Division (from 1994-2003) rivals meet for the first time since 2003, when Shelton emerged with a 52-7 victory.

Kevin Philips scored on a 62-yard run in the third quarter and, although the extra point kick attempt was muffed, West Haven recovered as Nick Nieves completed the successful two-point conversion pass to Willie Belton to lift the Westies to this SCC Division I victory. The Westies are 1-0.

Sebi Alberti scored on a 7-yard run for Amity in the fourth quarter. The extra point kick was no good. Kyle Kalanta rushed 18 times for 96 yards for the Spartans (0-1).

Amity athletic director Paul Mengold announced that Bert Mozealous has been named the Spartans' football coach, taking over for Mike DeVito, who stepped down in the off-season.

Mozealous was a special teams/receivers coach last season. He coached as an assistant at Amity in the 1970s, and returned to the program in 1999, where he's been ever since. Mozealous is retired from his full-time job as an elementary school teacher and now works part-time as a substitute at the high school.

"He's coached every facet of the game since he's been here," Mengold said.

Mike DeVito stepped down as the football coach at Amity after six seasons Tuesday.

DeVito’s been a part of the program for 15 years, including stints as a freshman coach, a junior varsity assistant and the offensive coordinator on varsity before becoming the head coach.

Since the start of this year, DeVito, a Milford police officer, has struggled with the decision to return. DeVito went 32-29-1 during his tenure with the Spartans, including 3-7 this past season.

"It really comes down to not having the time, energy and resources to commit to coaching," DeVito said. "In fairness to the kids, they deserve someone to commit the right amount of time. I was there 24-7. It was a full-time job. I just can’t do it anymore."

DeVito was a wide receiver on the 1978 Amity state championship team, the only state title the Spartans have won in the sport.

"We’re going to miss him," Amity athletic director Paul Mengold said. "Mike is an Amity person all the way. He’s been tremendous for our school district in so many ways. He’s someone who will be difficult to replace."

The Guilford at Amity football game, originally scheduled for Friday at 7 p.m. at Woodbridge, has been postponed due to an outbreak of the H1N1 Flu at Guilford High School.

The game will now be played on Nov. 19 at 6 p.m.