Here's how I voted for the 2013 New Haven Register Top 10 Football Poll after Week 1.

The Poll will be posted on-line later tonight and appear in Tuesday's print editions.

1. Ansonia
2. Xavier
3. New Canaan
4. NFA
5. Newtown
6. Middletown
7. Southington
8. St. Joseph
9. Greenwich
10. Shelton
11. New London
12. Masuk
13. Darien
14. Fairfield Prep
15. West Haven

Here is the schedule for football games to be broadcast on CPTV.

High School Football (subject to change)

Game	Premiere Date	Repeat Date(s)
Staples at Xavier (LIVE)	Wed., Sept. 11 at 6:30 p.m.	Sat., Sept. 14 at 1 p.m. & Tues., Sept. 17 at 9:30 p.m.
Waterford at Platt (LIVE)	Fri., Sept. 13 at 6:30 p.m.	Sat., Sept. 14 at 10 a.m. & Thurs., Sept. 19 at 9:30 p.m.
Southington at Glastonbury (Sept. 12 game)	Wed., Sept. 18 at 8 p.m.	Sun., Sept. 22 at 10 a.m. & Tues., Sept. 24 at 9 p.m.
Wolcott at Naugatuck (LIVE)	Fri., Sept. 20 at 7 p.m.	Sat., Sept. 21 at 10 a.m. & Thurs., Sept. 26 at 9:30 p.m.
Montville at Norwich Free Academy (Sept. 21 game)	Wed., Sept. 25 at 8 p.m.	Sun., Sept. 29 at 10 a.m. & Tues., Oct. 1 at 9 p.m.
Northwest Catholic at Bloomfield (LIVE)	Fri., Sept. 27 at 7 p.m.	Sat., Sept. 28 at 10 a.m. & Thurs., Oct. 3 at 9:30 p.m.
Cromwell at Ellington/Somers (Sept. 28 game)	Wed. Oct. 2 at 8 p.m.	Sun., Oct. 6 at 10 a.m. & Tues., Oct. 8 at 9 p.m.

 

Ledyard at New London (LIVE)	Fri., Oct. 4 at 6:30 p.m.	Sat., Oct. 5 at 10 a.m. & Thurs., Oct. 10 at 9:30 p.m.
Hyde Leadership at Canton (Oct. 5 game)	Wed., Oct. 9 at 8 p.m.	Sun., Oct. 13 at 10 a.m. & Tues., Oct. 15 at 9 p.m.
Fairfield Prep at Shelton (LIVE)	Fri., Oct. 11 at 7 p.m.	Sat., Oct. 12 at 10 a.m. & Thurs., Oct. 17 at 9:30 p.m.
North Branford at Avon (Oct. 12 game)	Wed., Oct. 16 at 8 p.m.	Sun., Oct. 20 at 10 a.m. & Tues., Oct. 22 at 9 p.m.
Xavier at West Haven (LIVE)	Fri., Oct. 18 at 7 p.m.	Sat., Oct. 19 at 10 a.m. & Thurs., Oct. 24 at 9:30 p.m.
Masuk at Ansonia (Oct. 17 game)	Wed., Oct. 23 at 8 p.m.	Sun., Oct. 27 at 10 a.m. & Tues., Oct. 29 at 9 p.m.
Weston at Newtown (LIVE)	Fri., Oct. 25 at 7 p.m.	Sat., Oct. 26 at 10 a.m. & Thurs., Oct. 31 at 9:30 p.m.
Simsbury at South Windsor (Oct. 26 game)	Wed., Oct. 30 at 8 p.m.	Sun., Nov. 3 at 10 a.m. & Tues., Nov. 5 at 9 p.m.
Oxford at Joel Barlow (LIVE)	Fri., Nov. 1 at 7 p.m.	Sat., Nov. 2 at 10 a.m. &  Thurs., Nov. 7 at 9:30 p.m.
Berlin at Rocky Hill (LIVE)	Fri., Nov. 8 at 7 p.m.	Sat., Nov. 9 at 9 a.m. & Thurs., Nov. 14 at 9:30 p.m.
Naugatuck at Holy Cross (Nov. 7 game)	Wed., Nov. 13 at 8 p.m.	Sun., Nov. 17 at 10 a.m. & Tues., Nov. 19 at 9 p.m.
Derby at Woodland (LIVE)	Fri., Nov. 15 at 6:30 p.m.	Sat., Nov. 16 at 9 a.m. & Thurs., Nov. 21 at 9:30 p.m.
Gilbert/NW Regional at Valley Regional/Old Lyme (LIVE)	Fri., Nov. 22 at 6:30 p.m.	Sat., Nov. 23 at 10 a.m. & Tues., Nov. 26 at 9 p.m.
Middletown at Windsor (LIVE)	Wed., Nov. 27 at 6:30 p.m.	Sun., Dec. 1 at 10 a.m. & Wed., Dec. 4 at 9 p.m.
Capital/Classical at Prince Tech (Nov. 23 game)	Fri., Nov. 29 at 7 p.m.	Sat., Nov. 30 at 10 a.m. & Thurs., Dec. 5 at 9:30 p.m.

FAIRFIELD PREP

Alumni Field, Fairfield

Coach: Tom Shea (4th year, 14-16)
Conference: SCC
2012 Record: 6-4
2013 Kickoff: at Stamford, Sept. 12, 7 p.m.
Top offensive players: Colton Smith, 6-0, 170, Jr., QB; John DelliSanti, 6-2, 190, Jr., WR; Joe Ganim, 5-10, 180, Jr., RB; Anthony Palozzollo, 6-6, 302, Jr., OL; Andrew Ostrosky, 6-3, 220, Sr., TE; Stephen Walsh, 6-0, 175, Sr., WR; Jack Snopkowski, 5-8, 140, Jr., WR.
Top defensive players: Nick Crowle, 6-3, 245, Sr., LB; Anthony Johnson, 6-0, 198, Sr., LB; Tony Fox, 6-3, 254, Sr., DE; Max Trudeau, 6-0, 195, Sr., LB; Tom Cirillo, 6-1, 252, Sr., DE; Tim Falvey, 6-0, 177, Sr., DB.
Key losses: Chris Golger, RB/LB; Stecker Backe, QB; John Moten, RB; Matt Montani, LB; David Gerics, DB.
Outlook: Shea says the offensive line has good size but can they jell into an effective unit? Another question is: can the defense allow as few of points as last season? The Jesuits allowed just 13.9 points last season. Smith will start under center after playing sparingly last season. Ganim will be called upon to be the team’s primary running back after the graduation of Chris Colger. Fairfield Prep also lost junior running back John Moten, who transferred to a school in Missouri after rushing for 509 yards and 12 touchdowns as a sophomore. DelliSanti, pictured above, could have a breakout year at receiver after catching 18 passes and three touchdowns last season.  Crowle and Fox have the talent to be two of the best defenders in the SCC. Crowle has verbally committed to Yale, while Fox is headed to Fordham. Palozzolo is being recruited by Boston College, UConn, Miami and Penn State. 

Previous entries in the Inside The Huddle series:


Derby
Guilford
Hamden Hall
Morgan
New Canaan
North Branford
North Haven
Notre Dame-West Haven
Pomperaug
Sheehan  
Xavier 

Via e-mail from Ludlowe AD Dave Schulz

Athletic Director Dave Schulz has announced the hiring of Vinnie Camera as its new varsity football coach. 

Vinnie started the football program at Platt Tech in 2007 and has been its head coach ever since. He began his coaching career as an assistant coach at Fairfield Prep prior to moving on to Platt Tech.  A graduate of East Haven HS, he was a three year letter winner playing football for Fairfield University where he earned his degree in 2001.

 “Vinnie was the standout candidate in the interview process and we are looking forward to him joining our staff at Fairfield Ludlowe," Schulz said.

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

West Haven defeats Prep, earns Class LL state berth

WEST HAVEN – After suffering a complete thumping at the hands of Xavier 10 days earlier, West Haven coach Ed McCarthy was not sure how his team would respond. Up until kickoff against Fairfield Prep, McCarthy still was not sure.

It took the Westies just three series into the game to ease the concerns of McCarthy. Scoring the first three times they touched the ball, the Westies defeated Fairfield Prep 24-7 at Ken Strong Stadium Thanksgiving morning.

With the victory, West Haven improved to 8-2 and clinched the No. 8 seed in the Class LL state playoffs. The Westies will face top-seeded Staples in the quarterfinals Tuesday evening in Westport at 6:30 p.m.






READ MORE

PHOTOS: West Haven defeats Fairfield Prep

 










 

Cooper, Anderson lead Hillhouse over Cross in Elm City Bowl 

NEW HAVEN – The objective was clear and concise for the Hillhouse football team on Thursday.

Beat city rival Wilbur Cross and make a return trip to the CIAC Class M tournament, a division it won two years ago. Lose and, most likely, pack up the equipment.

It took some time to shake the cobwebs of nearly two weeks off, but the Academics left little to doubt. Junior Harold Cooper scored four touchdowns in a 42-0 win in the annual Elm City Bowl at Wilbur Cross.

Hillhouse (8-2) not only clinched a playoff spot, but earns a home game. As the No. 4 seed in the division, thanks to a tiebreaker over St. Joseph, the No. 5 Cadets will make the trip up I-95 from Trumbull.

READ MORE

OTHER ACTION

FOOTBALL: Jalon White leads North Haven over Amity
PHOTOS: North Haven defeats Amity

FOOTBALL: Inspired Cadrin leads Foran past Law
FOOTBALL: Ansonia coaching legend Jack Hunt dies
FOOTBALL: Ansonia tops Naugatuck as Chargers mourn passing of Jack HuntFOOTBALL: Shelton comes from behind to beat DerbyFOOTBALL: Notre Dame-West Haven tops Hamden in Green Bowl
FOOTBALL: Branford blanks East Haven
FOOTBALL: Southington defeats CheshireFOOTBALL: Dominguez dominant in Sheehan win over Lyman HallFOOTBALL: Boyle, Berry lead Xavier over MiddletownFOOTBALL: Graham leads Platt Tech over O'Brien Tech
FOOTBALL: Zelkowitz breaks FCIAC record as Staples defeats Greenwich
FOOTBALL: Justin Potts, Platt rout Maloney in battle of Meriden

CIAC Playoff Pairings

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.

READ MORE



HAND remains No. 1 in Register Top 10 Poll

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

Here is the ballot I submitted for the New Haven Register Top 10 football poll after Week 6. Voters are asked to vote for 15 teams. Points on tabulated on a 30-28-26-24-22-20-18-16-14-12-11-10-9-8-7 basis.

The poll should be up later tonight on the Register's website and will appear in Tuesday's print editions.


Some interesting games last week:

No. 1 Hand survived against No. 8 West Haven
No. 10 Southington edged No. 9 Glastonbury
No. 5 Windsor rallied past previously unbeaten Middletown

With that being said, this week's ballot:

1. Hand
2. Staples
3. Ansonia
4. West Haven
5. Xavier
6. Windsor
7. Greenwich
8. Newtown
9. Masuk
10. Southington
11. Berlin
12. North Branford
13. Norwich Free Academy
14. Fairfield Prep
15. Glastonbury

Here is the ballot I submitted for the New Haven Register Top 10 football poll after Week 5. Voters are asked to vote for 15 teams. Points on tabulated on a 30-28-26-24-22-20-18-16-14-12-11-10-9-8-7 basis.

The poll should be up later tonight on the Register's website and will appear in Tuesday's print editions.


Last week's No. 1 Xavier lost to Hand, 40-20, snapping the Falcons' 30-game winning streak.

I decided to go with Hand as the new No. 1 team, jumping the Tigers over Staples from last week's ballot. Staples, Ansonia and Windsor are all worthy candidates for No. 1, but Hand's domination over Xavier in the second half impressed me enough to give Hand the nod (for now).

1. Hand
2. Staples
3. Ansonia
4. Windsor
5. Xavier
6. Greenwich
7. Newtown
8. West Haven
9. Masuk
10. Berlin
11. Southington
12. Glastonbury
13. Norwich Free Academy
14. North Branford
15. Fairfield Prep

 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

Fairfield Prep blitzes Shelton 

By Mary Albl, Register Staff
malbl@journalregister.com / Twitter: @MaryAlbl

Shelton's Mark Piccirillo looks for room through the Fairfield Prep's defense during the first quarter of Prep's 42-3 win. Photo Peter Casolino/New Haven Register.

FAIRFIELD — All season long Fairfield Prep football head coach Tom Shea has preached the message of beating an elite opponent. Last Saturday, the Jesuits hopes of doing that were crushed in a 35-14 loss to top-ranked Xavier.

Friday night at Alumni Field, Prep answered the call with a dominant 42-3 Southern Connecticut Conference victory over Shelton to move to 3-1.

“Listen, they’re (Shelton) an outstanding program with a great tradition,” Shea said. “You cannot be a good team unless you’re able to play with, compete with and beat a team like that. For us, we hope it’s a step forward.”

Masuk runs wild over Bunnell

STRATFORD — At tradition-rich programs like Masuk, where there’s usually an abundance of talent, most players must wait their turn until they’re seniors to play full-time.

 Andy Fredeen is one of those players. Fredeen played sparingly last season when the Panthers advanced to the Class L state semifinals.

Fredeen returned the game’s opening kickoff 65 yards for a touchdown against rival Bunnell, helping the Panthers cruise to a 63-14 South-West Conference victory Friday.

“He’s a senior who’s been waiting for his time,” Masuk coach John Murphy said. “He stepped up tonight when we needed him. (Had a) big one on the opening kickoff to get us going. I thought Andy had a great game.”

PHOTOS: Masuk runs past Bunnell

ROUNDUP: Hillhouse shuts out Law

Andre Anderson ran for 135 yards, scored three touchdowns, had an interception and eight tackles and JeVaughn Moore ran for 85 yards one seven carries and a touchdown as the Hillhouse football team routed Law 47-0 in New Haven on Friday afternoon in a Southern Connecticut Conference Division II game.

Cheshire 48, Notre Dame-West Haven 13: Vin Sansone threw three touchdown passes and ran for two more amassing 175 total yards and Sam Pascale had two rushing touchdowns as Cheshire won the SCC Division I East game.

Jack Cunningham had five tackles, two interceptions, a blocked PAT and on offense, six rushes for 69 yards for Cheshire (3-1) in the win over Notre Dame-West Haven (1-3).

No. 3 Hand 49, Wilbur Cross 14: Seven different players scored for Hand in a SCC Division I East game at New Haven.


Hillhouse's Andre Anderson and North Haven's Jalon White have been nominated for FRIDAY'S STAR. VOTE!

Pingree, Piccirillo help Shelton edge Amity

SHELTON — Junior Michael Pingree took home a souvenir for his defensive effort in Shelton’s comeback victory over Amity.

Although Pingree was awarded the black baseball bat with the Gaels’ logo on it, it could have been presented to any member of Shelton’s defensive unit.

The gritty Gaels defense shut out the Spartans in the fourth quarter and Shelton rallied for a 34-28 Southern Connecticut Conference Division I West victory Saturday at Finn Stadium.


D’Angelo Berry rushed for 168 yards, including touchdown runs of 1 and 54 yards, and added an 85-yard kickoff return for a touchdown to lead No. 1 Xavier to a 35-14 Southern Connecticut Conference Division I West win over Fairfield Prep in Middletown on Saturday.

Quarterback Tim Boyle completed 10 of 14 passes for 130 yards and two touchdowns and Kris Luster had six receptions for 48 yards and a 5-yard touchdown catch.

Quarterback Strecker Backe completed 6 of 26 passes for 116 yards and two touchdowns and Joseph Ganim had six receptions for 78 yards for the Jesuits (2-1). Xavier improves to 3-0.

MORE ROUNDUP AND BOX SCORES



HAMDEN has been nominated for the TEAM OF THE WEEK. VOTE!

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

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

 HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL: Fairfield Prep focused on taking another step forward

By Mary Albl, Register Staff
malbl@journalregister.com / Twitter: @MaryAlbl

FAIRFIELD — Fairfield Prep started the 2012 football year without spring ball. Instead, the team took advantage of a week of double days in August with the focus on cohesion, momentum and keeping the team focused on fall ball.

It was a rare opportunity head coach Tom Shea seized.

“This definitely helped, (it) was good for us,” running back Dillon Ryan said. “(We’re) pretty far ahead of other schools, I’d think.”

The extra time together early in the season is all part of Shea’s blueprint that was started when he took over the program in 2010. It’s been a steady climb back to having consistent, winning seasons after going through a rough 0-10 campaign in 2009.

“We started a couple years ago when we hadn’t won anything,” Shea said. “We talked about playing well on a play, everyone doing that. Then playing well for a quarter, then playing well for a game. Then winning a game and then winning on the road.”

Via press release.

Fairfield Prep senior Serge Jean-Baptiste signed an Athletic National Letter of Intent to play football for Stonehill College on February 13.

Serge has been a three-year starter as an offensive and defensive lineman. In his sophomore year, Jean-Baptiste played defensive tackle and was chosen as the team’s Most Improved Player. As a junior he led his team in tackles for a loss and sacks. He was selected as a team Co-Captain for the 2011 season and, to enhance his team’s ability to score, he moved to offensive guard.

His size, 6-2 and 275 lbs, and his athletic ability made him an outstanding pulling guard and he led his team to rush for 210 yards per game in the highly competitive Southern Connecticut Conference.

Serge was named to the Coaches’ Class LL first team All-State team and first team All-SCC. Serge has been a member of the S.E.E.D. Diversity Club and volunteered at the Jewish Home for the Elderly in Fairfield. He is a resident of Norwalk.

Roundup and box scores

Notre Dame-West Haven beats Fairfield Prep, stays in playoff race


No. 1 Xavier tops West Haven

See the highlights below:

By Mike Pucci, Register staff
mpucci@nhregister.com
@MikePucciNHR

For the first time since 2007, the Fairfield Prep football team has won three of its first four games.

The Jesuits’ reward? A date with No. 1 Xavier on Friday in Fairfield.

Still, Fairfield Prep’s quick start is a refreshing change from several lean seasons recently.

“We haven’t been (in this position) in a while,” Jesuits coach Tom Shea said. “It’s new to the kids. It’s exciting, but now we got a real tough test coming up (against Xavier).”

In Shea’s first season last year, Fairfield Prep went 3-7.

The year before, the Jesuits didn’t win a game and were 3-7 in 2008.

In 2007, Fairfield Prep won three of its first four contests, finished 8-2, but failed to qualify for the state playoffs.

The last time the Jesuits advanced to the postseason was in 2006 when Fairfield Prep won its first three games. It lost to Greenwich in the state semifinals.

Read the rest of the football notebook here.

WEEK 4 HIGHLIGHTS

OFFENSIVE PLAYERS OF THE WEEK

♦ Ansonia So. RB Arkeel Newsome: Rushed for 387 yards and five touchdowns in a 45-13 victory over previously unbeaten Holy Cross. Ansonia is 4-0.

♦ Bethel Sr. QB Brandon Schmidt: Had 346 yards of total offense, including a pair of rushing touchdowns, in a 54-41 win over Oxford.

♦ Foran Sr. RB Andrew Sileo: Had 16 carries for 218 yards and three TDs in a 41-20 win over East Haven.

♦ Hillhouse So. RB Harold Cooper: Finished with 322 rushing yards and four touchdowns and added a 59-yard TD reception to help the Academics beat Lyman Hall 46-7.

DEFENSIVE PLAYERS OF THE WEEK

♦ Cheney Tech Sr. DE Mike Majewski: Had 10 tackles, three assists and an interception in a 22-6 win over Platt Tech.

♦ Hand Sr. LB Edward O’Neill: Had an interception and forced a fumble in a 31-14 win over Cheshire.

♦ Notre Dame-West Haven Sr. DB Malik Tinney: Made two interceptions in a 28-15 victory over previously unbeaten West Haven.

♦ Windsor Jr. DE Cole Ormsby: Made five sacks in a 46-0 win over Hartford Public. The total is tied for second in state history for sacks in a game.

SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYERS OF THE WEEK

♦ Naugatuck So. KR Nate Franklin: Returned a kickoff 72 yards for a touchdown in a 34-29 win over Sacred Heart.

♦ Sheehan So. KR Jeremy Gannon: Returned a kickoff 83 yards in a 41-7 loss to North Haven.

♦ Wilby Sr. KR JayLen Mahan: Returned the game’s opening kickoff 85 yards for a touchdown in a 38-28 victory over Derby. Mahan also ran for two touchdowns, made three two-point conversions and returned an interception 65 yards for another score.

♦ Windsor Sr. PR Aaron Berardino: Returned a punt 79 yards in a 46-0 victory over Hartford Public. He also made seven catches for 126 yards and a touchdown and also ran for a another score.

TEAMS OF THE WEEK

♦ Foran: The Lions defeated East Haven 41-20 to win their first game of the season.

♦ Harding: Torri Voss scored the game’s only touchdown on a 1-yard run in the third quarter as the Presidents won 6-0 to capture their first victory of the season and second in a row over Fairfield Ludlowe.

♦ Notre Dame-West Haven: Knocked off rival, and previously unbeaten, West Haven 28-15.

♦ Stratford: Defeated South-West Conference foe Notre Dame-Fairfield 41-38 for their first win.

ON THE AIR/WEB

♦ Guilford at Shelton, Friday, 7 p.m.: 960-WELI AM.

GET OUT AND GO

♦ Pomperaug (4-0) at No. 10 Bunnell (4-0): Both teams won hard-fought contests in Week 4. Bunnell rallied from a 7-0 halftime deficit by scoring 22 points in the third quarter to remain unbeaten after a 28-7 victory. In another defensive affair, Pomperaug returned two interceptions for touchdowns in a 16-9 win over previously unbeaten Newtown. Both Bunnell and Pomperaug are explosive offensively but were mostly contained last week. Will defense be key again, or will it be a high-scoring South-West Conference affair?

Check out the latest Top 10 Poll here.