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

FOOTBALL: Haddam-Killingworth quarterback Alex DiMauro-D'Amico will miss senior season

By Jimmy Zanor, Register staff

When Haddam-Killingworth opens its season at home against traditional Pequot Conference power Hyde on Friday (6:30 p.m.), the Cougars will be without starting quarterback Alex DiMauro-D’Amico.

Just one year after the “biggest win” of his long coaching tenure — a 6-0 Thanksgiving Eve victory over rival Valley Regional/Old Lyme that propelled H-K into the CIAC Class S playoffs — Dennis O’Rourke and the rest of Cougar Nation are dealing with one of their most “significant” losses.

DiMauro-D’Amico, who would have been a four-year starter and senior captain, will miss the season after suffering a broken leg in a scrimmage against Rocky Hill last week.

“It’s a downer,” said O’Rourke, now in his 37th season at H-K. “His loss is significant in terms of leadership and the positions he plays on the field. He was going to do it all.”

H-K scored 29 unanswered points in the second half to erase an 8-point deficit to win this Pequot Conference Sassacus Division victory at Bowen Field.

The game was tied at 22 at halftime. Hyde's Akeem Berry scored on a two-yard run and then Devan Dolphin caught the 2-point conversion pass from Kevin Jones as the Howling Wolves took a 30-22 lead in the third quarter.

Then, Patrick Dougherty caught a 29-yard pass from Alex DiMauro-D'Amico, but the 2-point run failed and H-K trailed 30-28.

Nate Cruz then scored the winning touchdown on a 9-yard run with 7:34 left in the final stanza. Dan German added two rushing touchdowns later in the quarter for the Cougars.

German finished with 93 yards on 15 carries. Cruz carried 11 times for 32 yards. Greg Duval ran back a kickoff 64 yards for another H-K score.

Kevin Jones went 7-for-11 for 149 yards and two touchdowns for Hyde. Elijah Nixon had 4 catches for 115 yards and two TDs.

It was the fifth straight loss for Hyde dating back to last season, and the first win for H-K over the Howling Wolves since 1999.