Middletown football sets sights on big season 

By Jimmy Zanor, The Middletown Press

MIDDLETOWN --- Middletown’s 21-14 loss to Masuk in last year’s Class L quarterfinals was the elephant in the Blue Dragon’s weight room this offseason.

The defeat, one in which Middletown squandered a two touchdown lead in the second half, still seemed to linger Tuesday at the Keigwin Middle School where head coach Sal Morello pushed his team through some practice drills on a patch of grass that was starved for water.

The Blue Dragons are also hungry. And poised for a big season.

“(Masuk) was a tough loss,” said Morello, “but I tell you what, it’s led into a pretty good offseason in the weight room. We’ve got to learn from that experience. The kids seem to be hungry to get back there but at the same time it’s my job and the coach’s job to understand that there is a process and we’ve got to take it one step at a time.”

Middletown went 8-3 a year ago, losing to Class L finalists Windsor and Class LL champion Xavier before their playoff defeat.

“The big thing we learned from last year too is there has been a real big emphasis on taking care of the ball and on defense going to get the ball,” Morello said. “So we shot ourselves a little bit with that last year and that’s one area we definitely have to get better at.”

The Blue Dragons, who lost Isiah Swain, Otto Marcello, and Akeino Chamberlain to graduation, still possess enough speed to drive defensive coordinators crazy. But they’ve also added some size into the mix.

“We’re bigger than year’s past,” said Morello. “When people see Middletown or hear Middletown they think speed. I think we’re a little bigger and more physical. The weight room has really paid off. We’ve got three running backs over 200 pounds so we’re going to come downhill as well. And we think we’ve got some speed on the outside as well to really put some stress on a defense.”

Leading the way will be junior quarterback Dario Highsmith (5-11, 180), junior running back/linebacker Isiah Thompkins (6-1, 200), senior center Jeff Woodcock (5-11, 215), senior defensive end RaJahn Johnson (6-0, 211), senior receiver Jacob Homar (5-10), senior defensive tackle Sam Rivera (6-1, 280), senior linebacker Cody Carrillo (6-1, 185) and the Bednarz twins, senior linemen David (6-7, 275) and Anthony (6-7, 250).

 

We've begun to post more Preview Capsules by Conference on-line. We will post more in the upcoming days.

Southern Connecticut Conference

South-West Conference

Preps: Hamden Hall and Hopkins


Central Connecticut Conference


Here are some we posted the other day.




Note: Only teams where information was made available have been included.

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.

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.

GLASTONBURY

Coach: Scott Daniels (2nd year, 8-3)

League: CCC

Last season: 8-3 (Class LL quarterfinalists)

Top offensive players: Ben Berey, 5-11, 180, Sr., QB; Josh Hill, 6-2, 220, Sr., WR

Top defensive players: Ty Janssen, 5-11, 190, Sr., LB; Andy Cavana, 6-0, 220, Jr., DL

Key losses: Devin O'Reilly, CB; Nick Latty, CB; Nick Colasante, C; Bobby Volle, LB

Inside the huddle: Team speed is above average, according to Daniels. Defense should be a team strength. Development of the offensive line will be key. Berey, who also plays safety, is expected to be one of the top players in the CCC.

Championship Fact: The Tomahawks will attempt to qualify for the postseason for the fifth straight year.

WINDSOR

Coach: Rob Fleeting (4th year)

League: CCC

Last season: 11-1 (Class L semifinalists)

Top offensive players: Robert Quinn Fleeting, 6-0, 180, Sr., QB; Rhyeime Moore, 6-0, 180, Sr., WR

Top defensive players: Cole Ormsby, 6-4, 240, Sr., DE; Brendan Gale, 6-0, 195, Sr., LB

Key losses: Aaron Berardino, WR/DB; Khamal Valentine, LB; Ben Compton, DL

Inside the huddle: Returns several key skill players, including Fleeting at quarterback. Spread offense should be highly explosive (team averaged 36.3 points per game last season). Defense expected to be strong, anchored by twins Cole and Lance Ormsby. Has the talent to make return trip to Class L playoffs, and just might be considered the favorites in that class at this point.

Stat Facts: Quinn Fleeting, the coach's son, threw for 2,802 yards and 30 touchdowns last season. Moore caught 36 passes for 911 yards and nine scores, Cole Ormsby made 64 tackles and 13 sacks and was a Register All-State selection.

Recruiting watch: According to Fleeting, the coach, Quinn Fleeting has been offered by CCSU. Cole Ormsby has been offered by UMass, while brother Lance has been offered by CCSU. 

The Central Connecticut Conference has made changes to its football divisions.

Read the complete story from the Record Journal here.

This week's Top 10 rates the state's best divisions. The bigger debate has always been which is the state's best conference. However, this state doesn't have 10 conferences, so the next best thing is to rate the divisions. State championships weren't the only barometer, but winning state titles, and reaching the postseason, is a good way to measure consistency.

Feel free to leave your choice below.

1. SCC Division I East
Of the Southern Connecticut Conference’s four divisions, this one is, arguably, the best.
The SCC was formed in 1994. The football divisions realigned into four divisions starting with the 2004 season after Milford schools Law and Foran joined the league.

By using 1994 as a reference point, since that’s when the SCC was founded, this division has won the most state titles of any other division in the state.

Four of the five division members have won at least one state title, while both Cheshire and Hand have won four championships since 1994.

Cheshire won four straight, from 1994-1997. The Rams’ returned to a state final (Class LL) last season before losing to Glastonbury.

Hand is 4-2 in state finals. The Tigers won Class L in 1997 and Class MM from 2003-2005, defeating teams from four different divisions. Hand lost in the Class M final, to SCC member Foran, in 1994, and in the 2007 Class MM final to New Canaan.

Notre Dame-West Haven defeated Fitch in the 2001 Class L final, while West Haven edged Greenwich in the 2002 Class LL title game. West Haven also appeared in the 2003 Class LL final.

2. FCIAC East
Starting last season, the Fairfield County Interscholastic Athletic Conference expanded from two to three divisions.

While all three current divisions are equally as challenging, the East Division teams have won the most state titles since 1994.

New Canaan has won five in that span, the most of any team in the FCIAC. The Rams are the three-time defending Class MM champion, and also won Class M titles in 2001 and 2002. New Canaan has won seven championships overall since the inception of the CIAC playoffs in 1976.

Darien claimed the Class S title in 1996. The Blue Devils have been to four other finals since then, including losing to New Canaan in the Class MM final last season.

Wilton lost to Brookfield in the Class M final in 1995. Trinity Catholic hasn’t been to a final since it won Class S in 1993. St. Joseph owns eight state championships, but hasn’t been to a final since winning Class M in 1990.

3. SCC Division I West
The SCC makes another appearance in the Top 10.

Only two of the five teams in this division have won state titles since 1994. But this division is still one of the most competitive in the state.

Shelton leads the division with three titles since 1994. The Gaels won Class LL in 1995 (over FCIAC member Trumbull) and 2000 (over FCIAC member Greenwich) and Class L in 2003 with a victory over Staples, from the FCIAC. Shelton lost to Greenwich in the 2007 Class LL final.

Xavier defeated Southington, from the Central Connecticut Conference, for the 2005 Class LL title, in the Falcons’ only championship game appearance since 1994.

Hamden lost to Cheshire in the 1996 Class LL final, and again lost to the Rams in last year’s Class LL semifinals.

Neither Amity or Fairfield Prep has made a state final since 1994.
Amity made the Class LL semifinals in 1997 and 2002, while Fairfield Prep made the Class LL semifinals in 1999 and 2006.

4. FCIAC West
Only one of this divisions six teams have won a state title since 1994, but, up and down the division, its teams are as competitive of any division.

Greenwich has claimed three titles in seven trips since 1994. The Cardinals defeated Southington, from the CCC, in the Class LL final in 1999, Southington again in the 2006 Class LL title game and SCC member Shelton in the 2007 Class LL championship.

Trumbull lost to SCC schools Cheshire (in 1997) and Shelton (in 1995) in the Class LL championship game.

Bridgeport Central advanced to the Class LL semifinals in both 2004 and 2007.
Danbury, Norwalk and Westhill haven’t made a final since 1994.

5. CCC Division I
The CCC will continue to have four divisions this season, but gone are the geographical references, such as East or West, that designated each division in years past.

There are now 32 schools in the CCC, which makes it the state’s largest conference, after the league accepted seven schools from the Northwest Conference and Nutmeg Conference and Tolland from the North Central Connecticut Conference.

Glastonbury is the defending Class LL champion, the Tomahawks’ only title since 1994.
Newington advanced to the Class L final last season, before losing to Masuk.

Windsor went to the Class L semifinals last year, and lost to Ridgefield in the 2002 final in that class.

New Britain has won three titles since 1994. It defeated Greenwich in 2001 and 2004, and West Haven in 2003, all in Class LL.

Southington defeated Norwich Free Academy for the Class LL title in 1998, and lost in four other trips to the finals since 1994.

Hall and Middletown, the divisions two other teams, have not made a state final since 1994.

6. FCIAC Central
A third FCIAC division makes the list.

Staples has been to six finals since 1994. It defeated Seymour, from the Naugatuck Valley League, for the 2002 Class MM title, then defeated East Lyme in the 2004 Class L final, and Masuk in the 2005 Class L championship.

Ridgefield won the Class L title over Windsor in 2002, while McMahon won its only title on 1994 after defeating Killingly in Class MM.

7. SWC Colonial Division
Two of this division’s teams won state championships last season.

Masuk captured Class L, for its second title in six appearances since 1994. It also won Class L in 1998, when the Panthers defeated Fitch.

Brookfield edged Ledyard for the Class M title in 2008. It was the Bobcats’ second title in five trips since 1994. Brookfield defeated Wilton, out of the FCIAC, for the Class M title in 1995.

Bunnell won back-to-back Class L titles in 2006 and 2007, while Pomperaug defeated SCC member for the Class MM crown in 2004.

Another division member, Newtown, lost in the Class LL semifinals last season.

8. NVL Brass
This division has been dominated by two teams in its short existence. This division begins its third year of play this fall, after the NVL changed from a large and small division format in 2006.

Ansonia has won six titles in nine appearances since 1994. The Chargers have appeared in three straight Class S championship games. Ansonia has won a state-best 16 titles overall.

Seymour captured the Class SS crown in 2007 and won the Class M title in 1998 with a victory over Darien. The Wildcats also appeared in three other finals.

Crosby, Watertown, Wolcott and Wilby have not reached a final since 1994. Derby/O’Brien Tech joins the league this year.

9. ECC Large
The biggest of the Eastern Connecticut Conference’s three divisions is, arguably, the best.
The five member schools have won four titles since 1994.

Fitch won back-to-back Class L crowns in 1999-2000. It made four straight trips to the final, losing in both 1998 and 2001.

Ledyard won Class M in 2007, and went to the final last season before losing to Brookfield.

East Lyme captured the Class MM title in 2003, and went to the Class L final in 2004, and the Class MM championship game in 2005.

NFA lost in the 1998 Class LL final, while Windham was defeated in the 2006 final by Hillhouse.

10. Pequot Sassacus
This may be a division comprised of smaller schools, but two of its teams have been successful in reaching the postseason.

Three teams from this division made the playoffs last year.

Cromwell won its first title in school history when it defeated Ansonia for the Class S crown last season. It was the Panthers’ third trip to a final since 2003.

Hyde has been victorious in all three of its trips to a state final. It won Class S titles in 2000, 2004 and 2005. It lost to Cromwell in last season’s semifinals.

Haddam-Killingworth lost to Putnam in the 1994 Class S final, while North Branford lost to Bloomfield in the 2001 Class S final. The Thunderbirds were also a Class S semifinalist last season.