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

The Day here. Xavier vs. Hand. No. 1 vs. No. 3.

Here are some preview stories on tonight's big game.  (7 p.m. at Palmer Field, Middletown)

 Tigers defense faced with toughest test

MADISON — If any opponent has the personnel to slow down Xavier’s potent offensive attack, it may just be Hand.

The Tigers defense features two players headed to Division I schools next fall in linebacker Matt Walsh (UConn) and lineman Peter Gerson (Yale).

The rest of the unit, including senior strong safety Alex Tuccero, certainly has the talent to play at the next level, too.

It will likely take a Herculean effort from a defense to derail the Falcons. Hand gets that chance tonight at 7 at Palmer Field in a much-anticipated Southern Connecticut Conference showdown.

Read more here.

Marinan, Falcons loving the spotlight: Read more from the Middletown's Press' Jim Bransfield

Connecticut sports writers pick the winner: Find out their  picks 
  
TALE OF THE TAPE: A comparison between the two storied programs
  
Ticket, parking, radio and TV information: Get informed here

Here are some tips from the Middletown Press' Jim Bransfield for those planning to attend Friday's  Hand at Xavier game:

MONDAY MORNING MUSINGS: Get there early for Xavier-Hand football

Get there early. As in very early.

The Hand vs. Xavier game Friday night needs no additional hype. But here it is anyway. It’s the undefeated Class L champion, Hand of Madison, taking on the state’s defending Class LL champion, undefeated Xavier, at Palmer Field at 7 p.m.

Xavier, ranked No. 1 in the state and Hand, ranked No. 2 or 3, depending on which poll you like, ought to put an enormous crowd into the local ballyard. Hand comes in with signature wins over Hillhouse (3-1) and Cheshire (3-1). Xavier has won 30 in a row. The winner, with some objections from Staples of Westport and Ansonia, will likely be rated the No. 1 team in the state next week.

Going to the game? Pay attention. The city will open Veterans Park for parking. There will be portable lighting installed in the park and at the footbridge that links Vets with Palmer Field. Xavier will have a ticket booth stationed at the footbridge.

 Do NOT park on the property of businesses adjacent to the park along Route 66 and Bernie O’Rourke Drive. It’s not fair to them and you will run the risk of having your car towed. I’m not going to make suggestions about where to park, but if you don’t mind walking a bit -- hey, it’s good for you -- use your imagination about areas that might be a half mile or so from the park.

Pay attention to city police. The local department has always been great about handling big crowds and just do what they say. If you arrive 15 minutes before game time and expect to be able to park anywhere near the park, you live in Fantasyland. Get there early, grab a Famous Palmer Field hot dog (you will be supporting the local Legion baseball team), find a seat and enjoy.

The baseball stadium will be open and while you’ll be a ways from the football field, yeah, you can see. There are 5,000 seats in the place, but arriving at 6:30 and expecting to sit at the 50-yard line means you, too, live in Disney World.

High school football fans should circle Friday, Oct. 12, on their calendars.

On that Friday night, Hand High visits Xavier for a reasonably interesting football game at Palmer Field. For those with short memories, Xavier finished last season ranked No. 1 and Hand was ranked No. 2. Both were undefeated. Xavier was the LL champ and Hand was the L champ.

Having said that, things often change dramatically from year-to-year in high school. Some 20 Xavier seniors will graduate and sources say the Tigers have lost a lot, too. However, these are programs that generally reload and not rebuild. Is it reasonable to expect both to be as good as they were last year? Of course not.

But it’s reasonable to think both will be pretty good. Maybe better than pretty good.

Read more from Jim Bransfield here.