HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL: The pitch count grows for top prospects

Decisions, decisions.

A standout football player, especially an incoming senior, will likely soon decide where to spend the next four years after high school.

Some have already made their choice.

Ansonia running back Arkeel Newsome recently verbally committed to play at UConn. Early this year, St. Paul quarterback Logan Marchi also picked UConn, while Norwich Free Academy running back Marcus Outlow gave his verbal commitment to Boston College.
The recruiting process, though, can often be confusing and overwhelming.

“A little (overwhelming),” West Haven running back Ervin Philips said. “It’s all new. It just takes some time to get used to.”

Philips and Hillhouse running back Harold Cooper are arguably two of the state’s more sought-after players who have yet to commit.

Philips has already taken unofficial visits to Syracuse and Temple, which he lists as his top choices. Both schools have made offers. Philips said he also received interest from Boston College, Maine, Rutgers, UConn, UMass and Villanova.

According to the NCAA rules for football, a student-athlete cannot make an official visit until the start of classes of their senior year, which for West Haven is on Aug. 29.

“As of right now, I want to wait until my senior year actually starts so I can take my official visits to really get the school experience,” Philips said. “From there, that’s when I think I’ll make my decision, so maybe late August into September.”

NEW HAVEN — DeAngelo Berry scored on a 1-yard run, and then ran in the successful two-point conversion with 51 seconds remaining, as visiting Xavier, ranked fourth in the Register Poll, rallied for a 50-49 Southern Connecticut Conference interdivision victory Friday afternoon at Bowen Field.

The Falcons (6-1) scored 29 unanswered points in fourth quarter to erase a 28-point deficit. Xavier also trailed by 21 points on three separate occasions in the contest.

Senior quarterback Tim Boyle connected with junior Joe Carbone on a 41-yard touchdown pass with 6:12 left to cut the Hillhouse (5-2) lead to 49-42.

On the ensuing drive, Chidi Broderick recovered a fumble to give the Falcons the ball at the Academics' 27-yard line which set up the winning score.

Berry rushed 17 times for 90 yards and scored three times. Boyle gained 39 yards on six carries and scored twice. Junior Andrew Meoli carried nine times for 106 yards and one score for Xavier.

Junior Harold Cooper rushed 20 times for 198 yards and two touchdowns. Je'Vaughn Moore, James Moore and Andre Anderson also had rushing touchdowns. Je'Vaughn Moore threw a 34-yard touchdown pass to Darryn Horner.

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

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

Harold Cooper, Hillhouse indoor track & field: The sophomore won the 55 dash (6.55) and was a member of the second-place sprint medley relay team and third-place 4x200 relay team at the State Open.

HONOR ROLL

Mike Lee, Hamden hockey: The sophomore forward had a hat trick and added an assist in a 7-4 win over East Haven.

Jake Scinto, Cheshire indoor track & field: The senior won the high jump (6-4) and the long jump (21-11.75) at the State Open.

Harold Cooper, Hillhouse, football: Sophomore finished with 322 rushing yards and four touchdowns and added a 59-yard TD reception to help Hillhouse beat Lyman Hall 46-7.

HONOR ROLL

Andrew Sileo, Foran, football: Senior had 16 carries for 218 yards and 3 TDs in a 41-20 win over East Haven.

Djordje Pantelic, Platt Tech, soccer: Senior scored three goals and had two assists in a 6-0 win over Vinal Tech on Wednesday, netted three more with an assist in Thursday’s 4-0 win over Goodwin Tech and had both of Platt’s goals in a 2-2 tie with Prince Tech on Friday.