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's how I voted for the 2013 New Haven Register Preseason Top 10 Football Poll.

Each voter is asked to rank their Top 15 teams. The Preseason Poll will be posted on-line later tonight and appear in Tuesday's print editions.

I'm sure my ranking will change after Week 1 and throughout the year, but here goes.



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

 Middletown football sets sights on big season 

By Jimmy Zanor, The Middletown Press

MIDDLETOWN --- Middletown’s 21-14 loss to Masuk in last year’s Class L quarterfinals was the elephant in the Blue Dragon’s weight room this offseason.

The defeat, one in which Middletown squandered a two touchdown lead in the second half, still seemed to linger Tuesday at the Keigwin Middle School where head coach Sal Morello pushed his team through some practice drills on a patch of grass that was starved for water.

The Blue Dragons are also hungry. And poised for a big season.

“(Masuk) was a tough loss,” said Morello, “but I tell you what, it’s led into a pretty good offseason in the weight room. We’ve got to learn from that experience. The kids seem to be hungry to get back there but at the same time it’s my job and the coach’s job to understand that there is a process and we’ve got to take it one step at a time.”

Middletown went 8-3 a year ago, losing to Class L finalists Windsor and Class LL champion Xavier before their playoff defeat.

“The big thing we learned from last year too is there has been a real big emphasis on taking care of the ball and on defense going to get the ball,” Morello said. “So we shot ourselves a little bit with that last year and that’s one area we definitely have to get better at.”

The Blue Dragons, who lost Isiah Swain, Otto Marcello, and Akeino Chamberlain to graduation, still possess enough speed to drive defensive coordinators crazy. But they’ve also added some size into the mix.

“We’re bigger than year’s past,” said Morello. “When people see Middletown or hear Middletown they think speed. I think we’re a little bigger and more physical. The weight room has really paid off. We’ve got three running backs over 200 pounds so we’re going to come downhill as well. And we think we’ve got some speed on the outside as well to really put some stress on a defense.”

Leading the way will be junior quarterback Dario Highsmith (5-11, 180), junior running back/linebacker Isiah Thompkins (6-1, 200), senior center Jeff Woodcock (5-11, 215), senior defensive end RaJahn Johnson (6-0, 211), senior receiver Jacob Homar (5-10), senior defensive tackle Sam Rivera (6-1, 280), senior linebacker Cody Carrillo (6-1, 185) and the Bednarz twins, senior linemen David (6-7, 275) and Anthony (6-7, 250).

 

Here is the ballot I submitted for the New Haven Register Top 10 football poll after Week 10. 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.
My Top 10 ballot stays the same from last week.

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

Here is the ballot I submitted for the New Haven Register Top 10 football poll after Week 9. 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 Wednesday's print editions.


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

Here is the ballot I submitted for the New Haven Register Top 10 football poll after Week 8. 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.


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

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

 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

No. 3 Hand will meet No. 1 Xavier on Friday (7 p.m. at Palmer Field, Middletown) in a clash between two of the state's best programs.

Xavier has won 30 straight games; Hand 17 in a row.

Below is the series history between the two schools, compiled by former New Haven Register editor and columnist Bob Barton.

1978, Nov. 10 – Hand 30, Xavier 21

1979, Nov. 9 – Xavier 21, Hand 0

1980, Nov. 14 – Hand 29, Xavier 22

1981, Nov. 13 – Xavier 20, Hand 6

1982, Nov. 12 – Hand 30, Xavier 14

1983, Nov. 11 – Hand 28, Xavier 20

1984, Nov. 9 – Hand 25, Xavier 21

1985, Nov. 15 – Hand 21, Xavier 13

1986, Oct. 4 – Xavier 19, Hand 3

1987, Oct. 3 – Xavier 20, Hand 0

1988, Sept. 30 – Hand 14, Xavier 7

1989, Sept. 29 – Hand 14, Xavier 6

1990, Sept. 28 – Hand 12, Xavier 7

1991, Oct. 4 – Hand 27, Xavier 0

1992, Oct. 2 – Hand 40, Xavier 27

1993, Oct. 1 – Hand 24, Xavier 18

1994 (first year of SCC) – DNP

1995 – DNP

1996 – DNP

1997 – DNP

1998 – DNP

1999 – DNP

2000 – DNP

2001 – DNP

2002 – DNP

2003 – DNP

2004, Sept. 17 – Hand 34, Xavier 27

2005, Sept. 16 – Xavier 27, Hand 21

2006, Sept. 15 – Xavier 7, Hand 0

2007, Sept. 14 -- Hand 31, Xavier 16

2008 – DNP

2009 – DNP

2010 – DNP

2011 – DNP

Hand leads series 14-6. 

Former Cromwell coach Sal Morello, who stepped down as the Panthers' coach at the end of last season, will be the head coach at Middletown this season.

Read the story that appeared in the Middletown Press here.