Thanks to the tireless work of Bob Barton and Gerry DeSimas Jr., we Connecticut High School football mavens once again have been treated to an updated record book for the 2013 season.

This version -- the 14th edition -- came in waaay ahead of schedule. And it's awesome, as usual.

This year, on the heels (or front toe) of Elsa Formiglio's kicking performance for NFA in the Class LL state championship game, the guys added a section for female participants. They also added more records for the top crowds and completed the history of the coaches' poll.

Read more about the different features in this year's book at DeSimas' home base, the Collinsville Press.

And be sure to thank him and Mr. Barton if you happen to cross their paths this year.

13 CT Football Rec BK by Sean Patrick Bowley

No. 3 Hand will meet No. 1 Xavier on Friday (7 p.m. at Palmer Field, Middletown) in a clash between two of the state's best programs.

Xavier has won 30 straight games; Hand 17 in a row.

Below is the series history between the two schools, compiled by former New Haven Register editor and columnist Bob Barton.

1978, Nov. 10 – Hand 30, Xavier 21

1979, Nov. 9 – Xavier 21, Hand 0

1980, Nov. 14 – Hand 29, Xavier 22

1981, Nov. 13 – Xavier 20, Hand 6

1982, Nov. 12 – Hand 30, Xavier 14

1983, Nov. 11 – Hand 28, Xavier 20

1984, Nov. 9 – Hand 25, Xavier 21

1985, Nov. 15 – Hand 21, Xavier 13

1986, Oct. 4 – Xavier 19, Hand 3

1987, Oct. 3 – Xavier 20, Hand 0

1988, Sept. 30 – Hand 14, Xavier 7

1989, Sept. 29 – Hand 14, Xavier 6

1990, Sept. 28 – Hand 12, Xavier 7

1991, Oct. 4 – Hand 27, Xavier 0

1992, Oct. 2 – Hand 40, Xavier 27

1993, Oct. 1 – Hand 24, Xavier 18

1994 (first year of SCC) – DNP

1995 – DNP

1996 – DNP

1997 – DNP

1998 – DNP

1999 – DNP

2000 – DNP

2001 – DNP

2002 – DNP

2003 – DNP

2004, Sept. 17 – Hand 34, Xavier 27

2005, Sept. 16 – Xavier 27, Hand 21

2006, Sept. 15 – Xavier 7, Hand 0

2007, Sept. 14 -- Hand 31, Xavier 16

2008 – DNP

2009 – DNP

2010 – DNP

2011 – DNP

Hand leads series 14-6. 

All you need to know about high school football in this state this year is right here.

Below are links from the Register's 2012 preview.


Xavier lands at No. 1 in Preseason Top 10 Poll

Ervin Philips, Harold Cooper and Arkeel Newsome ready to run all over area defenses

Nutmeg Nuggets: Top 30 Players to Watch 

Sean Merrill, Sheehan thinking big this season

Haddam-Killingworth quarterback Alex DiMauro-D'Amico will miss senior season

Whitney Tech set to embark on first varsity season

Bob Barton: Many high school nicknames need a name change,  Everything you needed to know about nicknames

Hand's Pete Gerson, Matt Walsh lead tenacious Tigers 'D'


North Branford favored to win Pequot Conference

Xavier takes aim at a hat trick

Staples chases another championship season

Fairfield Prep focused on taking another step forward

Bryan Castelot, Bunnell hope to have foes on the run

Condors developing O'Brien Tech pride in program's second year

CAP THIS

CCC Capsules

ECC Capsules

FCIAC Capsules

NVL Capsules

Pequot Capsules

Preps Capsules

SCC Capsules

SWC Capsules

Bob Barton's annual football column calls for nickname reform.


By Bob Barton, Special to the Register
Twitter: @nhrsports

What does high school football in Connecticut need?

Better attendance? Sure.

Corporate sponsors, especially if playoff finals are to stay at Rentschler Field? You bet.

A “mercy rule” that won’t require coaches to shave points in lopsided games? Absolutely. (Shortening the third and fourth quarters would be a start.).

But there’s another need, long overdue for a solution, that ought to be addressed: Nickname reform.

Why? Too many Indians, for one thing. Also too many Panthers, too many Eagles, too many Red Raiders. And that’s just for starters.

Think of it: The Central Connecticut Conference, with 32 members, has four teams that call themselves Indians: Manchester, Farmington, Newington and Northwest Catholic. The Naugatuck Valley League, with 14 members, has two sets of Red Raiders (Torrington and Derby), two sets of Wildcats (Seymour and Wilby), two sets of Eagles (Kennedy and Wolcott) and another team of Indians (Watertown).

It’s tough on sports writers. When Guilford plays North Haven, the headline can’t read “Indians win,” because the Indians also lost. Nobody seems to have thought of that when they both joined the Southern Connecticut Conference.