Today, the Register begins its countdown to kickoff for the high school football season with daily features.

Today's preview is on Wilbur Cross, and its standout quarterback Dontay Long and running back James Ward. Click here to view the story.

Look for an expanded section Wednesday, highlighted by the preseason Top 10 Poll.

The Southern Connecticut Conference should, once again, be one of the top leagues in the state.
The league is filled with some of the best athletes the state has to offer. Among them should be:

Notre Dame
QB Sean Goldrich
WR Tirrell Young
WR Phil Bentley

Wilbur Cross
RB James Ward
QB Dontay Long

Hamden
RB Jordan Teague

Xavier
LB Graham Stewart

Shelton
WR Mike Georgalas

Lyman Hall
RB Joe DeSandre

Branford
QB Kyle Nolan
RB Harrison Goodkind

Hand
DL Joe Demichele

North Haven
QB Joe Schwab

Team Connecticut compiled a 7-1 record at the Badger Sports/New Level National 7-on-7 Eastern Regional Tournament this past weekend at Rutgers University.

Below are pool play scores:
Game1: CONNECTICUT 31 vs RHODE ISLAND 7
Game2: CONNECTICUT 26 vs PENNSYLVANIA 7
Game3: CONNECTICUT 40 vs MAINE 18
Game4: CONNECTICUT 36 vs DELAWARE 0

The following are elimination game results:
Game1: CONNECTICUT 32 vs VERMONT 6
Game2: CONNECTICUT 26 vs NEW JERSEY # 2 8 (QUARTER-FINAL)
Game:3 CONNECTICUT 26 vs MARYLAND # 2 21 (SEMI - FINAL)
Game4: MARYLAND #3 34 vs CONNECTICUT 21 (CHAMPIONSHIP)

Connecticut finishes 7-1 and second out of 18 teams. The team advances to the national championship on July 4th weekend at the University of Alabama.

Below are stats from the tournament:
Offense
Tyler Dube (Southington) 34 Catches / 6 TD's
Mike Georgalis (Shelton) 28 Catches / 4 TD's
Anthony Gieamo (Masuk) 37 Catches / 6 TD's
Kevin Macari (New Canaan) 30 Catches / 6 TD's
Colin Markus (Masuk) 5 Catches / 1 TD
Tyler Matakevich (St. Joes) 32 Catches / 8 TD's
Garrick McQueen (New London) 28 Catches / 4 TD's
James Ward (Wilbur Cross) 21 Catches / 2 TD's
Passing
Casey Cochran (Masuk) 215-of-259 37 TD's
Defense
David Camille (Bunnell) 4 Breakups
Juwad Chisholm (Bunnell) 7 Breakups
Stephan Dance (New London) 11 Breakups / 1 Int.
Lucas Desousza (Brid. Central) 9 Breakups / 1 Int.
Kyle Geer (Bassick) 6 Breakups / 1 Int.
Kevin Macari (New Canaan) 3 Breakups / 1 Int.
Colin Markus (Masuk) 3 Breakups / 1 Int.
Tyler Matakevich (St. Joes) 10 Breakups / 1 Int.
Skyler McNair (Montville) 5 Breakups / 1 Int.
Garrick McQueen (New London) 14 Breakups / 2 Int's
Tariq Odom (Bloomfield) 9 Breakups / 1 Int.
James Ward (Wilbur Cross) 8 Breakups / 1 Int

James Ward of Wilbur Cross has been selected to participate in the 2010 U.S. Army National Combine, joining an elite group of the nation’s best underclass student-athletes.

The Combine will take place on January 7-9, 2010, during “Bowl Week”—the week-long festivities leading up to the 2010 U.S. Army All-American Bowl on Saturday, January 9, 2010, at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas.

The annual classic East vs. West match-up will be televised live on NBC at 1:00 PM EST and will feature the nation’s top 90 high school football players.