We took a day off Saturday, the last real day off of the summer. But the teams around the state continued to gear up and fall in for the 2013 season.

There were scrimmages galore, with various reports filtering over via Twitter.

The most intriguing scrimmage occured up at Fontana Field in Southington between Southington, Berlin and Masuk.

Once again, YouTuber Rick Volk was on the scene the night after we checked out Ansonia-West Haven.

Perusing the video, Masuk, which has made a couple dubious headlines of late, looked pretty darn good, thank you, against two other 2012 state playoff participants.

Since we weren't there, we can only go by what we see. What we see is Masuk running a pretty effective attack and a solid defense behind QB Malik Cummings, among others.

Masuk did more than hold its own, it pretty much looked like its old self. Perhaps the feelings of impending demise is far from accurate, eh?

That's what coach Dave Brennan and members of the team told Connecticut Post's Michael Fornabaio in a Sunday story from the scrimmage.

From the article:

"We had a team meeting, and (Brennan) basically told us we've all got to come together," senior running back Joe DaMota said. "We've got him the rest of the year. We've got a journey. We improved from the Shelton scrimmage (Wednesday)."

According to RickVolk, the scrimmage was via 10-play format.  Also featured is Southington QB and Yale recruit Stephen Barmore.

Again, these are scrimmages, take from them what you will.

Here's a short vid with highlights from all three teams.

Here's a more comprehensive package between just Masuk and Southington.

ALL GAMES AT RENTSCHLER FIELD, EAST HARTFORD

FRIDAY

CLASS LL

 No. 5 Norwich Free Academy (12-0) vs. No. 3 Xavier (11-1), 7:05 p.m.

SATURDAY

CLASS S

No. 3 North Branford (12-0) vs. No. 1 Ansonia (13-0)

CLASS M

No. 4 Hillhouse (10-2) vs. No. 2 Berlin (11-1)

CLASS L

No. 2 Windsor (11-0) vs. No. 1 Hand (12-0)

ALL GAMES ON SUNDAY

Class LL

No. 1 Staples vs. No. 5 NFA at West Haven, 12:30 p.m.
No. 3 Xavier at No. 7 Glastonbury at Cheshire, 12:30 p.m.

CLASS L

No. 1 Hand vs. No. 4 Masuk at West Haven, 5 p.m.
No. 2 Windsor vs. No. 6 New Canaan at Bunnell (Stratford), 12:30 p.m.

CLASS M

No. 4 Hillhouse vs. No. 8 Montville at Middletown, 5 p.m.
No. 2 Berlin vs. No. 6 Weston at Bunnell (Stratford), 5 p.m.

CLASS S

No. 1 Ansonia vs. No. 5 Hyde at Middletown, 12:30 p.m.
No. 3 North Branford vs. No. 7 Woodland at Falcon Field, Meriden, 12:30 p.m .

Here is the ballot I submitted for the New Haven Register Top 10 football poll after Week 7. Voters are asked to vote for 15 teams. Points on tabulated on a 30-28-26-24-22-20-18-16-14-12-11-10-9-8-7 basis.

The poll should be up later tonight on the Register's website and will appear in Tuesday's print editions.


1. Hand
2. Staples
3. Ansonia
4. West Haven
5. Xavier
6. Windsor
7. Greenwich
8. Newtown
9. Masuk
10. Southington
11. Berlin
12. North Branford
13. Norwich Free Academy
14. Glastonbury
 15. Hillhouse

Here is the ballot I submitted for the New Haven Register Top 10 football poll after Week 6. Voters are asked to vote for 15 teams. Points on tabulated on a 30-28-26-24-22-20-18-16-14-12-11-10-9-8-7 basis.

The poll should be up later tonight on the Register's website and will appear in Tuesday's print editions.


Some interesting games last week:

No. 1 Hand survived against No. 8 West Haven
No. 10 Southington edged No. 9 Glastonbury
No. 5 Windsor rallied past previously unbeaten Middletown

With that being said, this week's ballot:

1. Hand
2. Staples
3. Ansonia
4. West Haven
5. Xavier
6. Windsor
7. Greenwich
8. Newtown
9. Masuk
10. Southington
11. Berlin
12. North Branford
13. Norwich Free Academy
14. Fairfield Prep
15. Glastonbury

Here is the ballot I submitted for the New Haven Register Top 10 football poll after Week 5. Voters are asked to vote for 15 teams. Points on tabulated on a 30-28-26-24-22-20-18-16-14-12-11-10-9-8-7 basis.

The poll should be up later tonight on the Register's website and will appear in Tuesday's print editions.


Last week's No. 1 Xavier lost to Hand, 40-20, snapping the Falcons' 30-game winning streak.

I decided to go with Hand as the new No. 1 team, jumping the Tigers over Staples from last week's ballot. Staples, Ansonia and Windsor are all worthy candidates for No. 1, but Hand's domination over Xavier in the second half impressed me enough to give Hand the nod (for now).

1. Hand
2. Staples
3. Ansonia
4. Windsor
5. Xavier
6. Greenwich
7. Newtown
8. West Haven
9. Masuk
10. Berlin
11. Southington
12. Glastonbury
13. Norwich Free Academy
14. North Branford
15. Fairfield Prep

Here is the ballot I submitted for the New Haven Register Top 10 football poll after Week 4. Voters are asked to vote for 15 teams. Points on tabulated on a 30-28-26-24-22-20-18-16-14-12-11-10-9-8-7 basis.

The poll should be up later tonight on the Register's website and will appear in Tuesday's print editions.


One team from my previous ballot lost (New London), so I dropped it out and added a new team.

1. Xavier
2. Staples
3. Hand
4. Windsor
5. Ansonia
6. Greenwich
7. Newtown
8. West Haven
9. Masuk
10. Berlin
11. Southington
12. Glastonbury
13. Norwich Free Academy
14. North Branford
15. North Haven

Here is the ballot I submitted for the New Haven Register Top 10 football poll after Week 3. Voters are asked to vote for 15 teams. Points on tabulated on a 30-28-26-24-22-20-18-16-14-12-11-10-9-8-7 basis.

The poll should be up later tonight on the Register's website and will appear in Tuesday's print editions.


Two teams from my previous ballot lost (Darien and Ledyard), so I dropped them out and added two new teams.

1. Xavier
2. Staples
3. Hand
4. Windsor
5. Ansonia
6. Greenwich
7. Newtown
8. West Haven
9. Masuk
10. Berlin
11. Southington
12. Glastonbury
13. New London
14. Norwich Free Academy
15. North Branford

Here is the ballot I submitted for the New Haven Register Top 10 football poll after Week 2. Voters are asked to vote for 15 teams. Points on tabulated on a 30-28-26-24-22-20-18-16-14-12-11-10-9-8-7 basis.

The poll should be up later tonight on the Register's website and will appear in Tuesday's print editions.


Two teams from my previous ballot lost (Hillhouse and New Canaan), so I dropped them out and added two new teams.

1. Xavier
2. Staples
3. Hand
4. Windsor
5. Ansonia
6. Greenwich
7. Newtown
8. Darien
9. West Haven
10. Ledyard
11. Masuk
12. Berlin
13. Southington
14. Glastonbury
15. New London

Here is the ballot I submitted for the New Haven Register Top 10 football poll after Week 1. Voters are asked to vote for 15 teams. Points on tabulated on a 30-28-26-24-22-20-18-16-14-12-11-10-9-8-7 basis.

The poll should be up later tonight on the Register's website and will appear in Tuesday's print editions.


Since none of the teams from my preseason ballot lost, I will go with the same 15 teams.

1. Xavier
2. Staples
3. Hand
4. Windsor
5. Ansonia
6. Hillhouse
7. Greenwich
8. Newtown
9. Darien
10. West Haven
11. Ledyard
12. Masuk
13. Berlin
14. New Canaan
15. Southington

Here is the ballot I submitted for the New Haven Register Preseason Top 10 football poll. Voters are asked to vote for 15 teams. Points on tabulated on a 30-28-26-24-22-20-18-16-14-12-11-10-9-8-7 basis.

The poll should be up later tonight on the Register's website and will appear in Wednesday's print editions.


1. Xavier
2. Staples
3. Hand
4. Windsor
5. Ansonia
6. Hillhouse
7. Greenwich
8. Newtown
9. Darien
10. West Haven
11. Ledyard
12. Masuk
13. Berlin
14. New Canaan
15. Southington

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.

UNH receiver Josh Smart











WEST HAVEN — University of New Haven wide receiver Josh Smart describes himself as a possession receiver.

Smart takes pride in taking on linebackers over the middle and crushing charging safeties and cornerbacks. However, even the tough guys get scared sometimes.

“I just remember freshman year,” Smart said, “being nervous, 18 years old going against these 23-year-old grown men around the conference. It was real nerve-wracking.”

Read more from Henry Chisholm here.



STORRS — Max DeLorenzo took a handoff, slipped through the line and broke to the outside for 30 yards.

It was another big gainer for UConn’s tailback from Berlin, who had an impressive spring practice Saturday. Linebacker Sio Moore, watching the play from the sideline, shook his head and wondered if it wasn’t someone else wearing the No. 44 jersey.

“He looks like Mike Alstott running the ball,” Moore said.

Moore pretty much hit the analogy on the head. DeLorenzo, a 5-foot-11, 213-pound redshirt freshman, looked an awful lot like a smaller version of Alstott, the former Tampa Bay Buccaneers power back.

Read more from Chip Malafronte here.

Ansonia running back Montrell Dobbs was named the Connecticut High School Coaches Association Player of the Year at the annual football banquet held Sunday at the AquaTurf.

Dobbs rushed for 3,445 yards and 45 touchdowns as a senior, while leading the Chargers to an 11-2 record and an appearance in the Class S state championship game.

Other award winners included:

Class LL MVP: Graham Stewart, Xavier
Class L MVP: Kevin Macari, New Canaan
Class M MVP: Max DeLorenzo, Berlin
Class S MVP: Tyler Matakevich, St. Joseph
Team of Year: Xavier
Scholar Athlete Award: Pat Murray, Staples. Murray will play at Yale in the fall.

Award winners were limited to seniors, and to players who made the CHSCA overall all-state team. MVPs were chosen among the Top 3 vote-getters in each class using the previously mentioned criteria.

Register All-State selection Max DeLorenzo, a 6-foot, 197 pound running back from Berlin, has made a oral commitment to attend UConn in the fall of 2011.

Last season, as a junior, DeLorenzo rushed for over 2,100 yard and 26 touchdowns while leading the Red Coats to the Class M state title.

The news was first reported on the Hartford Courant blog.

Max DeLorenzo scored four touchdowns and accounted for over 380 yards of offense to lead the Berlin football team to a 46-6 victory over Bethel in the Class M championship game Sunday at Municipal Stadium in Waterbury. It was the first state title for the Redcoats in six state final appearances.

Berlin (10-2) dominated from the start, taking the opening kickoff 60 yards in 14 plays despite three minor penalties. DeLorenzo capped the drive with a two-yard run. On the Redcoats’ second drive, DeLorenzo carried on eight of the nine plays and scored from the 3.

Bethel converted its initial first down early in the second quarter but fumbled. When Berlin’s ensuing drive stalled, Devin Silverman booted a 36-yard field goal. DeLorenzo scored his third touchdown of the first half on a 35-yard pass from Dan Hackett to give Berlin a 25-0 halftime lead.

Bethel (9-3) scored its lone touchdown in the third quarter when quarterback Bill Ramirez hit Javier Reyes for a 71-yard catch and run.

With the end of the decade fast approaching, this week’s Top 10 lists the top teams from this decade.
The rankings are based upon a combination of state playoff appearances, number of finals a team reached and championships won.

1. New Canaan
The Rams, who play in, arguably, the toughest league in the state, the Fairfield County Interscholastic Athletic Conference, have qualified for the state playoff seven times this decade.
They advanced to five finals and have won four championships.

New Canaan is the three-time defending Class MM champions, and are one of the favorites in that class this season as well.

The Rams also won the Class M title in 2001. They went to the final in Class M in 2000, and the semifinals of Class MM in 2005.

The team did not make the playoffs in 2003 (the Rams went 5-5-1) and 2004 (6-4).

2. Ansonia
The Chargers, out of the Naugatuck Valley League, qualified for the playoffs eight times this decade, one more than New Canaan, and the most of any team on this list.

Ansonia went to five finals, and won Class S titles in 2002, 2003, 2006 and 2007. The Chargers also appeared in last year’s final before losing to Cromwell.

Ansonia, which has won a state-record 16 CIAC titles, lost in the Class S semifinals in 2000, 2001 and 2004.

3. Greenwich
Like fellow FCIAC member New Canaan, the Cardinals made the playoff field seven times this decade.

Greenwich won back-to-back Class LL titles in 2006-2007. The Cardinals lost in the Class LL final in 2000, 2001, 2002 and 2004.

The team’s six championship game appearances is the most of any team on this list. Greenwich also made the Class LL semifinals in 2003 before losing to eventual champion New Britain.

4. Staples
The Wreckers are the third FCIAC to make the list. Staples went to the playoffs seven times this decade.

The team won the Class MM title in 2002 and the Class L title in 2004 and 2005.

The Wreckers went to five straight finals from 2002-2006, and seven straight playoff appearances from 2001-2007.

Staples lost in the Class L final in 2003 and 2006, and lost in the Class L semifinal in 2001 and 2007.

5. Masuk
The Panthers, out of the South-West Conference, have made the postseason seven times this decade, including the last four seasons.

Masuk is the defending Class L champions, the only title it has won this decade.

The Panthers, however, have been in four other finals (2000, 20003, 2005, 2007) this decade but finished as the runner-up each time.

Masuk lost in the Class MM semifinals in 2002.

6. New Britain
The Golden Hurricanes, members of the Central Connecticut Conference, had a sensational start to the decade.

New Britain, which leads the state in career victories, won three titles in four years. The Golden Hurricanes captured Class LL titles in 2001, 2003 and 2004.

New Britain also went to the Class LL semifinals in 2000 and 2002, for five playoff appearances this decade.

7. Hand
The Tigers had a remarkable run during the middle of this decade.

Hand, the Southern Connecticut Conference’s lone representative on this list, won three straight Class M titles from 2003-2005.

The Tigers also made the Class MM final in 2007 before losing to New Canaan.

8. Seymour
The Wildcats, another NVL school, have made five playoff appearances this decade.

The Wildcats won their only title of the decade after capturing the Class SS crown in 2007.

Seymour went to the final last season in Class SS, and also made the Class M final in 2001 and the Class MM final in 2002.

In 2000, the Wildcats were defeated in the Class M semifinals.

9. Bloomfield
The Warhawks, also from the CCC, were another team that had success early in the decade.

Bloomfield made the playoffs four straight times from 2000-2003. The team won the Class M title in 2000, the Class S championship in 2001 and the Class SS crown in 2003.

In 2002, Bloomfield lost in the Class SS semifinals, and the team lost in the Class S final in 2006 to Ansonia.

10. Ledyard
The Colonels, out of the Eastern Connecticut Conference, have made the playoffs six times this decade.

It’s lone title came in Class M in 2007, which was the last game in legendary coach Bill Mignault’s career.

Ledyard lost in last year’s Class M championship, and the team also lost in the Class M final in 2002 and 2003.

The Colonels also lost in the Class M semifinals in 2004 and 2006.

Honorable mention goes to:

Berlin (six appearances, one final (Class M 2007)
Hyde (six appearances, three titles (Class S 2000, 2004, 2005)
Shelton (four appearances, two titles (Class LL 2000, Class L 2003)
West Haven (four appearances, one title (Class LL, 2003)

Did your team make the list? Who would you add? Let us know. Leave a comment below.

Below is our list of the Top 10 must-see scrimmages.
Times and dates are as listed on the CIAC website, and are subject to change.

1. Ansonia at Shelton, Sept. 11, 7 p.m.
This has the intensity of a regular season game, and it’s treated as such.
There may not be a bigger hotbed for high school football in the state than the Valley, so players, coaches and fans highly anticipate this preseason meeting. It’s the perfect way to kickoff the year.

As usual, both teams should field competitive teams. Ansonia, which is a member of the Naugatuck Valley League, lost a bunch to graduation, and junior running back Montrell Dobbs will be called upon to carry most of the offensive load.

Shelton, out of the Southern Connecticut Conference, returns quarterback Ray Pendegast, who saw spot duty last season, running back Joel Youd and Paul Piccirillo, who can play four positions.

2. Bunnell at Staples, Sept. 2, 4 p.m.
Two of the state’s best coaches, Bunnell’s Craig Bruno and Staples’ Marce Petroccio, square off here.

Bunnell, out of the South-West Conference, lost All-State quarterback Chris Sloat to graduation, in addition to several other talented starters from last season, when the Bulldogs went 9-2 but failed to qualify for a third straight playoff berth. It may be a rebuilding year for Bunnell.

Staples, from the Fairfield County Interscholastic Athletic Conference, also failed to make the postseason. Bunnell defeated Staples for the Class L title in 2006, and again in the Class L semifinals in 2007.

The Wreckers, however, should improve on last season’s 6-5 mark, as the team had a large junior class.

3. Hyde at Hamden, Sept. 11. 6 p.m.
Hyde has only a short ride up Dixwell Ave. for this contest with the Green Dragons, out of the SCC.

The Howling Wolves, from the Pequot Conference, return senior quarterback Kendell Groom and wide receiver/linebacker DeShawn Murphy. Hyde went 9-3, and advanced to the Class S semifinals a year ago.

Hamden also advanced to the state semifinals, before losing to Cheshire in Class LL. The Green Dragons might return the most talent of any team in the state, including quarterback Jason Lassiter and two-way lineman Jo-Von Ladson.

4. Masuk at Darien, Sept. 11, 4:30 p.m.
The biggest off-season transaction was Casey Cochran transferring to Masuk.

Cochran, a sophomore quarterback, led New London to the Class SS state title last season after taking over the starting duties for the injured Jordan Reed at mid-season. Cochran is the son of former New London coach Jack Cochran, who was fired in the spring.

The Panthers are usually contenders in the South-West Conference, but with Casey Cochran’s arrival, Masuk may just repeat as Class L champions.

Darien went to the Class MM final before losing to fellow FCIAC member New Canaan. The Blue Wave suffered heavy graduation losses, but veteran coach Rob Trifone should have Darien in the mix again.

5. Ansonia at West Haven, Sept. 4, 6:30 p.m.
As mentioned above, Ansonia lost most of its skill players to graduation, but the Chargers should contend for the NVL title and a Class S playoff berth.

As with the Shelton scrimmage, this annual preseason tilt is usually just as exciting and competitive as a regular season game.

Fiery West Haven coach Ed McCarthy is an entertaining sideshow. The Westies have some talent returning, and should improve on last season’s 6-4 record.

6. Ridgefield at Ledyard, Sept. 12, 3 p.m.
This is a battle between two of the state’s most consistent programs.

Ledyard went 10-3 and advanced to the Class M state final in coach Jim Buonocore’s first season with the team. The Colonels lost quarterback J.J. Jablonski to graduation, but Ledyard should rebuild nicely.

Ridgefield, an FCIAC member, went 8-3 and just missed a playoff berth in 2008. The Tigers lost plenty of skill players, but coach Kevin Callahan and his staff have put together consistently good seasons recently despite a usually brutal schedule.

7. Cheshire at Windsor, Sept. 11, 7 p.m.
Cheshire must adjust to life without quarterback/defensive back Billy Ragone, the 2008 Register All-Area MVP.

But the Rams do return running back Dan Sweeney and wide receivers Brian Havlicek and Brian Debisschop, who should keep Cheshire’s spread offense chugging along.

The Rob Fleeting era begins at Windsor. Fleeting previously led Weaver to five playoff appearances in 10 seasons. The 1999 edition won the Class M state title.

Quarterback Pierre Narcisse, who threw for over 1,500 yards last year, returns for his senior season for the Warriors.

8. Stamford at Holy Cross, Sept. 5, 10 a.m.
The main reason to attend this scrimmage is to see Stamford linebacker Khairi Fortt in action. The 6-foot-3, 220 pound Fortt is the state’s top recruit on the website Rivals.com, and ranks No. 26 nationwide.

Among the interested schools are Georgia, Penn. State, North Carolina, Tennessee, Michigan and USC.

Stamford, from the FCIAC, is looking to be better than last’s season 6-5 record.

Holy Cross, from the NVL, went 5-6 last year, but first-year coach Mike Giampetruzzi thinks the Crusaders could be one of the top five teams in the league. Senior running back Pat Cronin will lead the offense.

9. Seymour at Branford, Sept. 11, tba
Both teams have new coaches.

Mike Tracy takes over for Gary Gravina at Branford. Gravina led the Hornets to the 2005 Class MM title.

Branford went 7-4 last season, and returns a solid nucleus this year. Senior quarterback Andrew Luzzi is a threat to both run and pass the ball. He threw for 17 touchdowns and ran for 10 last season.

Tom Lennon inherits the Seymour reigns from legendary coach Paul Sponheimer, who retired with four state titles and over 200 victories.

Lennon was left in good hands. Quarterback Connor Shugrue, running back Taylor Searles and two-way lineman Jacob Drozd, who may be the best returning player in the NVL, return. The Wildcats are a legitimate contender for the NVL and Class SS titles.

10. Cromwell at Berlin, Sept. 11, 4 p.m.
Berlin moves from the Nutmeg League to the powerful Central Connecticut Conference. The Red Coats have qualified for the state playoffs in five of the last six years. They lost to Ledyard in the 2007 Class M final.

Berlin returns a solid nucleus from a young team that went 6-4 last year. However, a tough schedule that includes games with Weaver, Bristol Eastern and New Britain, will be challenging.

Cromwell is coming off a 12-1 record, which included winning the Class S state title, the school’s first. The Panthers, however, were a senior-laden team, but still look for Cromwell to compete in the Pequot Conference.


Which scrimmage are you looking forward too? Leave a comment below.