Ansonia offensive lineman Dylan Vano will play one last high school football game before heading off to Southern Connecticut State University.

Vano will suit up for New Haven County in the 16th Hall of Fame Classic on Saturday at 5 p.m. at West Haven's Ken Strong Stadium. Then it's off to SCSU.

Vano decided to play for the Owls over St. Anselm, the University of New Haven and Monmouth.

"I really liked the family atmosphere (at Southern)," Vano said. "It's really close to home. I like the campus, the coaches and where the program's headed. I fell in love with the campus and the school itself."

Last fall, Vano helped lead the Chargers to the Class M and NVL titles. Vano knows there will likely be transition period from high school to the college level, but he's ready for the challenge.

"Coming out of Ansonia, we don't throw the ball," Vano laughed. "In college, you're going to throw the ball more, so I'm working on my footwork for pass blocking. That's the biggest transition. You can't really complain, though. I am just going to go out there and play my game and hopefully I can get on the field that first year."

Ansonia coach Tom Brockett believes Vano has the tools necessary to become an elite college player.

"He had good technique," Brockett said. "He loves football, he loves to play and he's willing to work at it. I expect him to have a great career at Southern."

Vano was a two-year starter for the Chargers, a Register All-State and All-Area selection last fall in addition to being selected to the coaches all-state team, the all-NVL team and the Walter Camp all-state team. He received the Richard Ewen Lineman Award given to Ansonia's most outstanding lineman.

Above is a submitted photo from when Vano signed to play at SCSU in March.

Read more about Vano and the Hall of Fame Classic here.

Via press release.

Ansonia senior lineman Dylan Vano was presented with the Richard E. Ewen Jr. at Ansonia's annual awards banquet this past Monday.

Vano was a Register All-State and All-Area selection, and a coaches all-state pick. He helped lead the Chargers to a 14-0 record, the NVL title and the Class M state championship.

Vano is interested in the University of New Haven or Monmouth University. He is looking to focus on Forensic Science or Pre-Med.

Richard “Richie” E. Ewen, Jr. attended Ansonia High School between 1974 and 1977. Excelling both on the field and in the classroom he exemplified how athletics and education can make a difference in a small town football player’s life.

His honors included All-State, All Valley, All Naugatuck Valley, as well as being selected as the Valley representative to the Boys’ State program. He also represented Ansonia as a Walter Camp Scholar Athlete. To round out his high school career he was named to the National Football Leagues, New Haven County Chapter, and Hall of Fame.

He attended Tufts University, on a four year scholarship, where he lettered every year as a four year starter ultimately being named to the All-New England team at guard. Sadly, on January 3^rd, 2008, a fatal heart attack took him from us at only 49 years of age.

This award is presented each year to an offensive lineman of the Ansonia High School football team that shares the same qualities that Richie had during his time at Ansonia and best represents the scholarship winner’s contribution to the team’s success, as well as for an athlete’s performance not only on the field but in the classroom.