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

Don Drust, who led Cheshire to a 6-4 record this season as interim coach, has officially been hired on a full-time basis it was announced Friday. Drust took over for Mark Ecke, who resigned this past spring after an off-field altercation. Below is the press release on Drust sent by Cheshire High officials.

 

Cheshire High Principal Jeff Solan and Athletic Director Steve Trifone are pleased to announce the naming of Don Drust as Head Football Coach at Cheshire High School effective immediately.  

The decision to hire Mr. Drust was grounded in his commitment to the development of students as learners, citizens, and athletes.  Mr. Trifone indicated that “Don is fully vested in our athletes not only as football players, but as students and community contributors”.  Mr. Solan added that “Mr. Drust serves as an outstanding role model for our student-athletes on and off the field of competition and Cheshire High School is honored to make him part of our team”.  

 

With the identification of a head coach, Mr. Drust and the athletic department will begin to post available assistant coaching positions.  

Anyone interested in joining the football coaching staff should contact Athletic Director, Steve Trifone at strifone@cheshire.k12.ct.us.

HAMDEN HALL KNOCKS OFF RIVAL HOPKINS

HAMDEN — T.J. Linta was well aware of the task at hand.

If his Hamden Hall football team was going to beat rival Hopkins for the first time since 2001, the Hornets would need to capitalize on their scoring opportunities and keep the Hilltoppers’ offense off the field.

Linta and his teammates were up to the challenge. The junior quarterback threw for 226 yards and two touchdowns, ran for another score, and the Hamden Hall offense used time-consuming drives to defeat Hopkins 37-20 in a Fairchester League contest at the Beckerman Athletic Complex.

PHOTOS: Hamden Hall beats Hopkins

READ MORE

SATURDAY'S ROUNDUP: Hillhouse, Cheshire earn wins

Andre Anderson rushed 10 times for 145 yards and two touchdowns for the host Hillhouse football team in a 45-7 Southern Connecticut Conference Division II victory over Sheehan Saturday at Bowen Field in New Haven.

Anderson surpassed 1,000 rushing yards for the season and 3,000 total yards in his career.

Cheshire 33, Hamden 0: Sam Pascale rushed 16 times for 132 yards and a touchdown to lead the visiting Rams to this SCC Division I win at Hamden.

READ MORE 

  FRIDAY'S ROUNDUP: Notre Dame-West Haven stuns Fairfield Prep 

Chris Perry caught a fourth-quarter 27-yard touchdown pass from Blake Rice and then caught the two-point conversion to help the Notre Dame-West Haven football team upset Fairfield Prep 21-14 in a Southern Connecticut Conference Division I game in Fairfield on Friday.

The Green Knights (3-5) led 13-0 at the half after a Cameron Tucker nine-yard touchdown run and Jaime Raymond recovered a fumble and ran it back 45 yards.

READ MORE 

 NO. 1 HAND rolls past Shelton

 

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.”


READ MORE

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

READ MORE 

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

NO. 1 HAND SURVIVES AGAINST NO. 8 WEST HAVEN

MADISON — Down by one following an Ervin Philips touchdown run, eighth-ranked West Haven decided to attempt a two-point conversion in the closing minutes of its contest with No. 1 Hand.

The call was gutsy, but fitting for the type of performance the Westies delivered on the road Saturday at the Surf Club.

West Haven executed the play exactly as it was drawn up, with senior quarterback Javon Taylor rolling right and two receivers emerging from the backfield and getting open in the flat.

The ball was thrown, hit Philips’ fingertips and fell incomplete.

Hand took over, proceeded to run out the clock and escaped with a thrilling 21-20 Southern Connecticut Conference Division I East victory.

PHOTOS: Check out the action from Hand's one-point win over West Haven.


READ MORE


 BRANFORD has been nominated for the TEAM OF THE WEEK! VOTE!

SATURDAY'S FOOTBALL ROUNDUP: Foran tops ND-West Haven

Quarterback Jake Kasuba completed 20 of 28 passes for 298 yards including two touchdown passes to lead the Foran football team to a 50-35 victory over Notre Dame-West Haven Saturday in a Southern Connecticut Conference interdivision game at Milford.

Nick Weissauer had nine catches for 101 yards and a touchdown and added two touchdown runs for the Lions (4-2). Sean Deegan added four catches for 146 yards and two touchdown receptions and Niko DeRosa had 132 yards on 18 carries, including a 1-yard touchdown run for Foran.

Cameran Tucker led the Green Knights (1-5) with two touchdown runs.

 READ MORE 

 CHESHIRE edges WILBUR CROSS

 FRIDAY'S ROUNDUP 

THURSDAY'S ROUNDUP 

 No. 3 Hand snaps No. 1 Xavier's 30-game win streak 

MIDDLETOWN — It’s been quite a while since the Xavier football team has been outplayed and outmuscled. Maybe not since the Falcons’ last loss — way back in 2009.

But Hand, gritty, resilient and physical, snapped Xavier’s lengthy winning streak, and did so, at least in the second half, in convincing fashion.

Led by five touchdowns from UConn-bound senior Matt Walsh, the Tigers knocked off the top-ranked Falcons 40-20 in a Southern Connecticut Conference showdown Friday before 4,500 fans at Palmer Field. Xavier (4-1) had won 30 games in a row since losing to Staples in the Class LL semifinals in 2009.

A 2-yard touchdown run by Walsh tied the score at 20 in the third quarter, and then senior Brendan Bilcheck connected with senior Caleb Ewald on a 31-yard touchdown pass with 1 minute, 31 seconds left in the third quarter to give No. 3 Hand (5-0) the lead for good.

While Walsh capped five of Hand’s drives, Bilcheck, Ewald, senior running back Ian O’Toole, and senior receiver Kyle Anderson were instrumental in leading the offense.

PHOTOS: Hand tops Xavier


Read more here.


MALAFRONTE: Hand proved it was the No. 1 team

XAVIER: Tigers' defense shuts down Falcons in second half

VOTE FOR THE NEW NO. 1 FOOTBALL TEAM

ROUNDUP/SUMMARIES: Fairfield Prep rolls past Cheshire

Hillhouse prevails over North Haven

Hyde beats Valley Regional, remains undefeated

 Both Hand and Xaiver have lengthy win streaks heading into their showdown on Friday (7 p.m. at Palmer Field, Middletown).

• Xavier has won 30 straight games. Its last lost came against Staples in the Class LL state semifinals in 2009. The Falcons’ last regular season defeat was to Wilbur Cross in the season opener that year. 

•  Hand has won 17 in a row. This is the team’s first meeting since the Tigers emerged with a 31-16 victory in 2007.

Below is a list of the state's longest winning streaks:

MOST CONSECUTIVE GAMES WITHOUT A LOSS

School Games Years
Cheshire 49 1992-96
Ansonia 36 1975-78
Bloomfield 35 1996-2000
Ansonia 35 2005-08
Stamford (33-0-2) 35 1911-14
Derby (33-0-1) 34 1966-70
New Canaan 34 1967-70
Xavier-Middletown 34 1970-1973
Fitch-Groton 34 1999-2001
Southington (32-0-1) 33 1962-66
St. Joseph-Trumbull 30 1981-84
Xavier 30 2010-2012

On Nov. 10, 1973, West Haven stopped Xavier's 34-game winning streak, emerging with a 25-20 victory.

No. 9 West Haven thrashes Notre Dame-West Haven

By Mike Madera, Special to the Register

Ervin Philips (left) of West Haven runs for a touchdown in the first quarter against Notre Dame on 9/28/2012. Photo by Arnold Gold/New Haven Register AG0464B

WEST HAVEN — The West Haven football team has had plenty of time to think about its last visit to Veterans Stadium. The contest, which resulted in a West Haven loss, was one of the reasons the Westies failed to qualify for the postseason last year.

Fast forward to Friday night and the Westies have new — and better — memories. Behind a powerful running game which accumulated 330 rushing yards, the Westies defeated Notre Dame-West Haven 34-13 in a Southern Connecticut Conference Division I East game.

“This is a real big win for us,” West Haven’s Ervin Philips said. “We worked hard in practice all week. We wanted to get a win here. We knew we needed a good showing on offense. We are just taking it a week at a time.”

No. 3 Hand cruises past Cheshire

By Dave Phillips, Special to the Register

MADISON — Steve Filippone called it a one-time only deal. But maybe the way Hand played Friday night, he ought to reconsider.

With the Tigers’ usual home at the Surf Club under water from the afternoon heavy rain, third-ranked Hand played for the first time at its high school turf field and was extremely impressive, dominating Cheshire, 35-7.

“I didn’t like it at all,” said a soaked Filippone after Hand upped its record to 3-0. “There’s nothing like the Surf Club, but we got this done tonight. We’re never going to play on this field again. This will be retired undefeated with Hand football.”

Hand, which runs out of the spread offense, rushed for over 280 yards a week ago in a 37-19 victory at Hillhouse. On Friday, the Tigers did most of their damage on the ground again.


ROUNDUP

Harold Cooper ran for four touchdowns and JaVaughn Moore ran for a 63-yard score as Hillhouse downed Branford 32-18 in Branford on Friday.

Cooper had touchdown runs of 78, 27, 27 and 13 in the win for the Academics (2-1).

Alex Borkowski had two rushing touchdowns and 116 rushing yards for the Hornets (1-2).


Hillhouse's Harold Cooper and Notre Dame's Cameran Tucker have been nominated for FRIDAY'S STAR

Here's what happened in Week 1 on Friday:

 

 No. 1 Xavier blanks Notre Dame-West Haven

Fairfield Prep shuts out Wilbur Cross

 

 

North Branford rolls past Valley Regional/Old Lyme

 

Philips, Williams lead West Haven past Hamden in season opener

 

ROUNDUP: Cheshire slips past Shelton

 

Follow the action on our Week 1 Scoreboard

Fairfield County erased a 13-point second half deficit and scored 23 unanswered points to defeat New Haven County in the 16th Hall of Fame Classic before 1,849 fans Saturday at West Haven's Ken Strong Stadium.

HIGHLIGHTS

FAIRFIELD COUNTY

Bunnell's J.J. Bivona returned an interception 50 yards for a touchdown on the final play of the third quarter.
Bunnell's Jawad Chisholm caught eight passes for 97 yards and two touchdowns.

NEW HAVEN COUNTY

Cheshire's Kyle Pulek kicked field goals of 27 and 42 yards.
Sheehan's Brodie Corless caught a 1-yard touchdown pass from Amity's Tyler Vallie.

MVPs

Fairfield County

Offensive: Chisholm
Defensive: Bivona

New Haven County

Offensive: Pulek
Defensive: Ansonia's Jake LaRovera (blocked punt)

Connecticut has won nine straight meetings over Rhode Island in the Governors' Cup football series. The 14th edition takes place Saturday at 4:30 p.m. at Rentschler Field in East Hartford. (Tickets are $8).

Not only has CT won the last nine games, but it hasn't been close. CT has won by an average of 24 points, and has scored more than 40 points four times. CT leads the series 10-3.

It's a trend that CT is hoping continues.

"We not only want to win the game, but we're trying to dominate the game," Xavier linebacker Jovan Santos-Knox said. "We think we have one of the best teams CT's ever had."

The CT roster is certainly an impressive group and includes 12 that made the Register All-State team and four more that made the All-Area team.

Five are headed to Ivy League schools, including Cheshire's Sebastian Little (Yale) and Notre Dame-West Haven's Ludovic Richardson (Brown), and four more are headed to NESCAC schools.

"I think we go under the radar a lot," said Santos-Knox, who will play at UMass. "I think a lot more people can go to bigger schools, but we get overlooked because we're from Connecticut. As you can see, we get some players that go to some big-time schools. We get our names out there."

The reason?

"We just do it the hard way," Santos-Knox said. "We come out and we play physical. There's no excuses. We work hard all the time."

CT coach Harry Bellucci admitted this year's roster is impressive in several ways.

"Not only are they great players, but they're just really good kids," Bellucci said. "When we discuss these kids we may make a call to a coach asking what kind of kid he is. You can't have a team full of problem kids because we have 10 days to get ready for a football game. These kids are such great character kids. That's why they're here.

"They're all-state kids for a reason. They take to coaching, they listen, they hustle, and they try to get better every day. They compete hard against each other, and there's a great little window for them to see what football's going to look like at the next level."

Mark Ecke said Tuesday that lack of support from school officials played a role in his decision to resign as Cheshire’s football coach.

Ecke said in an e-mail to media outlets Monday that he is stepping down.

His decision comes almost two weeks after being suspended due to an incident at a junior varsity lacrosse game in Glastonbury involving his son Tucker on May 3 in which police were called to the field.

Ecke, the head coach at Cheshire since the 1995 season, was awaiting a hearing that had yet to be scheduled by Cheshire’s Board of Education.

“It’s not a decision I wanted to make, but a decision that had to be done,” Ecke told the Register on Tuesday. “I was told by (Cheshire superintendent Greg J. Florio) that I would not enjoy the support of the administration if it went to a hearing. I kind of was boxed into a corner.”

Read more here.




Chip Malafronte weighs in on the Ecke issue. Read it here.

Here is a press release Ecke sent this evening.

5/21/12

I am contacting you this evening to let you know that I have decided to step down from my duties as head football coach at Cheshire High School. It was a difficult decision, but one that I believe best serves my family, the football program and my players.

It has been my honor to coach our players over the last 24 years, players that have gone on to all levels of success not just in football but in life. I will always have great memories of the big wins, and still lose sleep over the heartbreaking defeats. To me, however, the wins and losses pale in comparison to the opportunity that I’ve had to be a positive influence on so many student-athletes’ lives. I have had the chance to coach players that have honored our country with service in the military, players that have attended all the service academies, nearly every Ivy League Institution and NESCAC school and other great schools around the country. Our program has alumni that are doctors, lawyers, teachers, police officers, and many that run their own successful businesses. It is always a thrill to get together with them and reminisce about our time together.

If you speak with any of our players or coaches, I believe they will share with you that I am passionate about the game of football, I am passionate about our program and our players, and I am most passionate about my family. I feel very protective of each of them, and, if I feel one of them is not being treated properly, I am vocal about it. 

I look forward to new challenges for myself, and plan to coach again. I leave behind a tremendous group of seniors that I have grown very close to. I know that they will rise to the challenge that is being placed before them and I wish them well. 

I would like to thank everyone for the countless e-mails, phone calls, and texts, as well as those that have approached me offering support over the last few weeks. I would also like to thank my peers in the high school coaching community. Your thoughts and words of encouragement have meant a lot to me and my family. I would also like to thank the community, parents and the longtime supporters of Cheshire Football for all your support over the last 24 years. It has been my honor and pleasure to work with all of you.

See you in the Fall,

Mark.

A spokesman for the Glastonbury Police Department confirmed Monday that Cheshire High School football coach Mark Ecke did not have to be forcibly escorted from a junior varsity lacrosse game at Glastonbury High School on May 3rd.

Ecke was suspended last week by school officials for unspecified conduct issues associated with an incident at a Cheshire-Glastonbury game which he was attending as a parent. Ecke admits that he angrily berated a game official for not calling a penalty when his 15-year-old son Tucker was injured when a Glastonbury player made helmet-to-helmet contact with the boy, but said he was not arrested and left the game with the teenager to seek medical attention.

Glastonbury Police Sergeant Richard McKeon, a police spokesman, confirmed that Ecke was not arrested. McKeon said officers were summoned to the game because of reports of an “unruly parent.”


Read more from Luther Turmelle here.

Cheshire High School football coach Mark Ecke has been placed on suspension from his position pending a hearing due to unspecified conduct issues, Gerry Brittingham, chairman of the Cheshire Board of Education, said Friday.

Brittingham declined to comment on the circumstances surrounding the suspension or when it initially took affect. Brittingham also said the hearing has not been scheduled yet.

“We are waiting to get the schedule of (board labor attorney) Floyd Dugas,” he said.

Multiple sources have told the Register that the incident occurred at a May 3 Cheshire junior varsity lacrosse game at Glastonbury in which his 15-year-old son, Tucker, was playing.

Read more here.

Senior Javon Grey rushed 24 times for 173 yards and three touchdowns for the Green Knights in this SCC Division I East victory over Cheshire at Veteran's Stadium in West Haven.

Grey scored on runs of 1, 21 and 4 yards all in the first half as Notre Dame led 21-7 at halftime.

Mike Palmieri had a sack and returned a fumble 75 yards for a touchdown for the Green Knights (6-2).

Mike Ecke (17 carries, 128 yards) scored on a 65-yard run for the Rams (4-4).

The installation of a new turf field at Cheshire is still not complete. The Rams had hoped to host Wilbur Cross on Friday in the first game on the new field.

That game has now been moved to Sheehan High (Wallingford) Friday at 7 p.m.

http://www.weather.com
Officials involved with the turf project at Cheshire High have confirmed a rumor that there is an outside chance the Rams football team could play its first game on the turf this Friday against Wilbur Cross at 7 p.m.
Playing on the turf this week all comes down to Mother Nature. Sheehan High was secured weeks ago to host the Cheshire “home” game with Wilbur Cross if it is necessary.
“Using the turf this Friday is totally weather dependant at this point,” said Bob Behrer, chairman of the Cheshire Turf Committee. “The crew from Georgia (construction company Shaw Sportexe of Kennesaw, Ga.) is installing on schedule but the issue of weather comes at the end game. Sand and rubber infill can not be done in the rain according to their foreman.”
Cheshire High athletic director Steve Trifone echoed Behrer’s remarks and said rain later this week could delay the final phase of installation.
The information on www.weather.com indicates a 70 percent of rain for Wednesday, 30 percent chance for rain in the morning on Thursday and 40 percent chance for rain early during the day on Friday.
Regarding another rumor, Trifone and Behrer shot down the notion that the installation of the new track surrounding the turf field will be delayed until the spring.
“I am not aware of the track installation being delayed until spring,” Trifone said. “The weather should be fine for the track installation this fall. Daytime temperature must be around 42 degrees and late October, early November should cooperate with those temps.”
Behrer said if the area has normal fall weather the track installation will start “the week of Oct. 17 and be finished in 2-3 weeks.
“Again, this phase is dependent on the weather,” Behrer said. “We’re talking temperatures of 42 degrees and rising in the morning with no moisture (rain) because of the bonding and coating that needs to take place.”

Nick Vitale caught 13 passes for 156 yards and Matt Walsh scored twice on 1-yard runs to lead No. 5 Hand past Cheshire in a SCC Division I East win at Falcon Field in Meriden.

Kevin Frey scored on a 41-yard run, Henry Foye scored on a 1-yard run and Ryan Bell kicked a 29-yard field goal for the Tigers (4-0).

Foye was 22-of-35 passing for 238 yards.

Sam Pascale scored on a 1-yard run and Michael Ecke threw a 77-yard touchdown pass for the Rams (2-2).