DERBY

DeFilippo Field, Derby

Coach: George French (4th year, 15-15)
Conference: NVL
2012 Record: 6-4
2013 Kickoff: St. Paul, Sept. 13, 7 p.m.
Top offensive players: Tyrae Small, 5-10, 215, Sr., RB; Michael Kreiger, 6-2, 185, Jr., QB; Jordan LaRue, 5-10, 165, Sr., WR; Sal Frosceno, 5-8, 155, Sr., WR.
Top defensive players: Arben Komani, 6-2, 235, Sr., DL; Brian Eliasson, 5-9, 165, Jr., LB; Mike Mauro, 5-7, 155, Jr., LB.
Key losses: Dillon McMahon, WR/DB; Matt Nicolari, RB/LB; Blair Mitchell, OL/DL; Dave Ahearn, OL/DL.
Outlook: The Red Red Raiders lost their top offensive player (McMahon, 30 catches, 8 TDs) and defensive player (Nicolari, 101 tackles, 3 sacks) to graduation. But Derby returns several offensive players who contributed last season. Small rushed for 1,172 yards and 15 touchdowns last season. He's expected to be one of the top running backs in the NVL. Kreiger (pictured above), meanwhile, completed 76 of 132 passes (57.6 percent) for 1,144 yards and 17 touchdowns. LaRue caught 18 passes last season, while Frosceno caught 17. They combined for six touchdown catches. Derby does have to replace all five offensive lineman from a year ago. French thinks his team has a lot of work ahead of them, but if the offensive line jells, and the defense comes together, it could be an exciting year. Derby notched its first winning season above .500 for the first time since 1996 last season.


Previous entries in the Inside The Huddle series:



Guilford
Morgan
New Canaan
North Branford
Pomperaug
Sheehan  
Xavier 

MIDDLETOWN — When Derby’s Dillon McMahon heads off to UConn in the fall, his athletic career will essentially be over.

McMahon, a three-sport standout who played football, basketball and baseball this season for the Red Raiders, will not play an organized sport on the next level.

But McMahon will compete in one final football game before his high school career officially ends. McMahon will be a member of the National Guard, which faces the Marines in the first Hall of Fame Classic Military Bowl high school all-star game on Saturday at 4:30 p.m. at Rentschler Field.

“It’s just another chance to show what I can do,” McMahon said. “It’s my last go for it all, I guess.”
Since practice started last week, McMahon has made quite the impression.

“Dillon has actually been a pleasant surprise,” National Guard coach Jim Buonocore said. “We’ve been really impressed with him and his ability to pick up the offense, and just the football savvy that he is showing. He’s competing. He’s competing with the best that Connecticut has to offer.”

McMahon will be part of a seven-man wide receiver corps.

“He’ll be in the rotation,” Buonocore said. “Normally our personnel grouping will consist of four on the field the majority of the time, but he’ll rotate with the six others.”

During his senior season at Derby, McMahon caught 30 passes for 542 yards and eight touchdowns and was named a Register All-Area selection. He also rushed for five touchdowns and scored four times on special teams. McMahon finished as a two-time all-Naugatuck Valley League and Class S coaches all-state pick during his football career.

NOTEBOOK: Notre Dame-West Haven comes of age with win over Fairfield Prep

Notre Dame-West Haven finally earned a signature victory after rallying past Fairfield Prep this past Friday in Fairfield.

The Green Knights led 13-0 at halftime before the Jesuits responded with 14 points in the third quarter.

In the final period, senior Chris Perry caught a 27-yard touchdown pass from junior Blake Rice and then Perry and Rice hooked up for the successful two-point conversion pass to lift Notre Dame to a 21-14 victory.

The loss all but ended Fairfield Prep’s playoff hopes, while the Green Knights celebrated a victory over one of the Southern Connecticut Conference’s more competitive teams.

READ MORE

WEEK 9 HIGHLIGHTS

OFFENSIVE PLAYERS OF THE WEEK

Derby Jr. RB Tyrae Small: Carried 15 times for 182 yards and five touchdowns in a 46-6 win over Crosby on Saturday. Small also made eight tackles and an interception.

Foran So. QB Jake Kasuba: Threw for 357 yards and six touchdown passes in a 46-6 win over Branford on Friday.



DEFENSIVE PLAYERS OF THE WEEK

Cheshire So. LB Andrew Yamin: Made eight tackles, a sack and an interception in a 33-0 win over Hamden on Saturday.

Derby Sr. DL John Piazza: Had six tackles, caused a fumble and recovered another in a 46-6 win over Crosby on Saturday.

SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYERS OF THE WEEK

Derby Sr. Dillon McMahon: Scored on an 80-yard kickoff return in a 46-6 win over Crosby on Saturday.

Hartford Public Sr. Kwame Kitson: Kicked a 45-yard field goal in a 35-10 loss to Middletown on Saturday.

TEAMS OF THE WEEK

Darien: Nick Lombardo caught a 35-yard touchdown pass from Henry Baldwin with 7 seconds remaining in regulation in a 26-20 victory over previously unbeaten Trinity Catholic on Saturday.

Derby: Defeated Crosby 46-6 on Saturday to clinch its first winning season since 1996. The Red Raiders are 6-3.

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HAND remains No. 1 in Register Top 10 Poll

 Linta leads Hamden Hall

T.J. Linta completed 23-of-37 passes for 240 yards and two touchdowns to lead host Hamden Hall to a 28-18 victory over Morristown-Beard (N.J.) at Hamden.

Derby 55, St. Paul 26: Dillon McMahon scored four touchdowns, two on offense, one on defense and another on special teams, to lead the Red Raiders to their Naugatuck Valley League interdivision win in Bristol.

Cromwell 51, East Hampton/Vinal Tech 14: Derrick Villard scored three touchdowns on the ground as the host Panthers rolled up 241 rushing yards in the Pequot Conference win.

Oxford 35, Immaculate 0: Brennen Diaz passed for 107 yards, threw two touchdowns and kicked an extra point as the Wolverines shut out the Mustangs in  this SWC contest.

More roundup.

VOTE for Linta and McMahon for Saturday's STAR OF THE DAY!

EAST HAVEN has been nominated for the Register's TEAM OF THE WEEK!

DERBY

Coach: George French (3rd year, 9-11)
League: NVL
Last season: 4-6
Top offensive players: Dillon McMahon, 5-8, 150, Sr., WR; Tyrae Small, 5-10, 205, Jr., RB
Top defensive players: Matt Nicolari, 5-10, 195, Sr., LB; Duane Jones, 5-10, 215, Sr., DL
Key losses: Ray Kreiger, QB; Brian Dobek, WR/DB; Tim Adanti, TE; Luis Casco, OL/LB.
Inside the huddle: Six returning letter winners, including three starters on offensive/defensive lines. Experience on the line should be invaluable, especially on defense. McMahon caught 50 passes for 1,089 yards and 11 touchdowns as a junior.
Fast fact: Kreiger was a four-year starter at quarterback. His brother, Michael, a sophomore, is expected to start at the position this season.

OUTLOOK

In 2010, Derby played as part of a co-op with O'Brien Tech. Last season, most of the team's more experienced and talented linemen attended O'Brien Tech and played for the Condors as that school fielded a varsity football team for the first time.

French, though, is confident that Derby's line should be improved with the return of several starters who gained valuable experience playing on the varsity level last season.

"The offensive line, they have a year in, and we have most of those kids coming back," French said. "This is probably the first year (since French has been coach) that we have some experience coming back on the line."

French added: "I expect much improvement from a 4-6 season last year."

ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT

Last season, despite Derby scoring an average of 33 points per game, the defense surrendered 32.

"Defensively, we were hurt big time last year," French said. "In the off-season, these kids have really worked their butts off to get bigger, stronger, faster. We're really taking a hard look at our defense, really work hard on our fundamentals and going back to basics. We have not set our sights low when it comes to defense this year."

UNDER CENTER

With the graduation of Ray Kreiger, there will likely be a quarterback competition as summer camp progresses.

"It's the first day of camp so we're taking a hard look at it," French said. "Michael's had a great off-season. He's been throwing the ball very well."

McMahon can also play the position, as well as sophomore Ben Slowik and junior Sal Frosceno.

BIG AND SMALL

Another area Derby hopes to improve upon this season is its running game. Small will likely be the team's featured running back.

"Tyrae had an excellent off-season," French said. "He's put on about 20 pounds of muscle, he grew another inch or two. He's really learning how to run. A lot of people don't understand how young he is. He's a junior, but he's only played football since his freshman year. He's still learning the game. Each year of him carrying the football he's gotten better and better. He looks very good so far."

Said Small: "I'm expecting a great season. I think I'm going to be able to run the ball well with my line blocking. We have to be more balanced so teams don't think we're just a passing team."