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

With renovations still not complete at the Surf Club in Madison, Hand, the defending Class L champion, will now travel to New Canaan for its season opener on Sept. 11. Kickoff is scheduled for 6:30 p.m.

The game was originally scheduled for Sept. 12 at 6 p.m. at the Surf Club. The home-away series between Hand and New Canaan as part of the SCC-FCIAC challenge will continue next season, but with the game at the Surf Club in 2014.

"The field (Surf Club) is not ready," Hand athletic director Craig Semple said. "We thought it would be a well-attended game, so we wanted to have the best situation for the safety and security of the players and fans."

After visiting New Canaan, the Tigers visit Hillhouse on Sept. 20. Semple said the Surf Club will be ready for Hand's home opener against Wilbur Cross on Sept. 27 at 7 p.m. 

Semple added that bleachers on the home side still need to be installed, which will "take a week to assemble". The new bleachers will accommodate 2,000 fans. 

Other renovations at the Surf Club include an artificial turf playing surface. 

 

Updated SCC-FCIAC Challenge Schedule

Wednesday, Sept. 11

Law at Harding – 6 p.m.

Staples at Xavier – 6:30 p.m.

Hand at New Canaan – 6:30 p.m.

Warde at Foran – 7 p.m.

Thursday, Sept. 12

Hillhouse at Darien – 4 p.m.

Bassick at East Haven – 6 p.m.

Cheshire at Ridgefield – 6 p.m.

Ludlowe at Lyman Hall – 6 p.m.

North Haven at Bridgeport Central – 6 p.m.

West Haven at Greenwich – 6 p.m.

Danbury at Hamden – 7 p.m.

Fairfield Prep at Stamford – 7 p.m.

Trumbull at Shelton – 7 p.m.

Wilbur Cross at McMahon – 7 p.m.

Wilton at Guilford – 7 p.m.

Friday, Sept. 13

Trinity Catholic at Sheehan – 6 p.m.

Saturday, Sept. 14

Notre Dame at St. Joseph – 1:30 p.m.

NEW CANAAN

James Dunning Jr. Field (at Hawes Plaza), New Canaan

Coach: Lou Marinelli (33rd year, 283-96-7 overall)
Conference: FCIAC
2012 Record: 9-3 (Class L semifinalists)
2013 Kickoff: at Hand, Sept. 12, 6 p.m.
Top players: Nick Cascione, 6-0, 185, Sr., QB; Teddy Bossidy, 5-8, 175, Sr., QB; Michael Donnelly, 6-5, 277, Sr., OL; Jack Gilio, 5-9, 175, Sr., WR; Beau Santero, 6-3, 240, Sr., OL; Michael Root, 6-4, 220, Sr., LB; Cole Harris, 6-2, 210, Sr., LB; Connor Buck, 6-4, 245, Sr., DL; Mike DiCosmo, 5-9, 160, Sr., DB; Zach Allen, 6-6, 240, Jr., LB.
Key losses: Johnny Rhudy LB, Grady Lynch WR/DB, Casey Ouellette DB, Louis Hagopian RB, Dylan Karnedy OL, Bobby Erickson OL.
Outlook: Marinelli says the Rams are young at important spots, but 11 starters return from last season. Cascione and Bossidy will likely split time under center again. Cascione passed for 1,133 yards and 16 touchdowns, while Bossidy threw for 748 yards and nine touchdowns in 2012. Cascione also led the team in rushing yards. Defensively, New Canaan just may be the most talented team in the state, led by Root, Harris and Buck. Harris (pictured above) was a Register All-State selection, Buck has been offered by UMass and Root more than 100 tackles last season. New Canaan will attempt to reach the state semifinals for the ninth straight season. The schedule is tough, though, with league games against Greenwich, Staples and Darien , and a season-opening non-league clash with Hand.

Previous entries in the Inside The Huddle series:



Guilford
Morgan
North Branford
Pomperaug
Sheehan  
Xavier 

VIA PRESS RELEASE

Five of the eight CIAC Football Tournament semi-final games taking place Sunday will be broadcast live on various platforms.

The CIAC Network will be broadcasting three games live on-line at www.CIAC.tv while two of those games will also be available live on Connecticut Public Television. MSGVarsity.com will also have live broadcasts of two games.

The semi-final round of the tournament will feature a total of eight games at four sites with three sites hosting two games and single games at two other sites. The full schedule, along with links to the CIAC.tv contests can be found on the CIAC Tournament Central website at http://content.ciacsports.com/tournamentcentral.shtml.

The full schedule of games being carried live is as follows:

Sunday
Class LL semi-final, #5 NFA vs. #1 Staples, 12:30 p.m. (MSG Varsity.com)
Class L semi-final, #4 Masuk vs. #1 Hand, 5 p.m. (CIAC Network)
Class L semi-final, #6 New Canaan vs. #2 Windsor, 12:30 p.m.
(MSGvarsity.com)
Class M semi-final, #4 Hillhouse vs. #8 Montville, 5 p.m. (CIAC Network)
Class S semi-final, #5 Hyde vs. #1 Ansonia, 12:30 p.m. (CIAC
Network and CPTV)

Viewers can consult www.cptvsports.org for re-air schedules for the games as well. All live broadcasts on the CIAC network will also be available on-demand following the conclusion of the matches, and DVDs of all broadcasts are available for purchase at www.CIAC.tv.

This fall marks the first full season of the partnership between the CIAC and PlayOn Sports which provides live broadcast coverage of regular season and CIAC Tournament contests.

ALL GAMES ON SUNDAY

Class LL

No. 1 Staples vs. No. 5 NFA at West Haven, 12:30 p.m.
No. 3 Xavier at No. 7 Glastonbury at Cheshire, 12:30 p.m.

CLASS L

No. 1 Hand vs. No. 4 Masuk at West Haven, 5 p.m.
No. 2 Windsor vs. No. 6 New Canaan at Bunnell (Stratford), 12:30 p.m.

CLASS M

No. 4 Hillhouse vs. No. 8 Montville at Middletown, 5 p.m.
No. 2 Berlin vs. No. 6 Weston at Bunnell (Stratford), 5 p.m.

CLASS S

No. 1 Ansonia vs. No. 5 Hyde at Middletown, 12:30 p.m.
No. 3 North Branford vs. No. 7 Woodland at Falcon Field, Meriden, 12:30 p.m .

 Both Hand and Xaiver have lengthy win streaks heading into their showdown on Friday (7 p.m. at Palmer Field, Middletown).

• Xavier has won 30 straight games. Its last lost came against Staples in the Class LL state semifinals in 2009. The Falcons’ last regular season defeat was to Wilbur Cross in the season opener that year. 

•  Hand has won 17 in a row. This is the team’s first meeting since the Tigers emerged with a 31-16 victory in 2007.

Below is a list of the state's longest winning streaks:

MOST CONSECUTIVE GAMES WITHOUT A LOSS

School Games Years
Cheshire 49 1992-96
Ansonia 36 1975-78
Bloomfield 35 1996-2000
Ansonia 35 2005-08
Stamford (33-0-2) 35 1911-14
Derby (33-0-1) 34 1966-70
New Canaan 34 1967-70
Xavier-Middletown 34 1970-1973
Fitch-Groton 34 1999-2001
Southington (32-0-1) 33 1962-66
St. Joseph-Trumbull 30 1981-84
Xavier 30 2010-2012

On Nov. 10, 1973, West Haven stopped Xavier's 34-game winning streak, emerging with a 25-20 victory.

Here is the ballot I submitted for the New Haven Register Top 10 football poll after Week 1. 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.


Since none of the teams from my preseason ballot lost, I will go with the same 15 teams.

1. Xavier
2. Staples
3. Hand
4. Windsor
5. Ansonia
6. Hillhouse
7. Greenwich
8. Newtown
9. Darien
10. West Haven
11. Ledyard
12. Masuk
13. Berlin
14. New Canaan
15. Southington

The 2012 High School Football Record book has not yet been released (you can view the 2011 edition here), but here are the records that were broken in 2011 (courtesy of stat guru Bob Barton and Gerry deSimas, Jr.)

RUSHING

Most yards rushing, season – 3,763, by Arkeel Newsome, Ansonia (old record 3,596, by Alex Thomas, Ansonia, 2007).

           

Highest average gain per rush, season – 12.0 by Arkeel Newsome, Ansonia (old record 10.6, by Alex Thomas, Ansonia, 2007).

Highest average gain per rush, career -- 11.9*,  by Arkeel Newsome, Ansonia, 2010-11 (old record 10.2, by Alex Thomas, Ansonia, 2004-07).

 * Player remains active.

Most consecutive 300-yard games (record tied): 3, by Brenden Lytton, Torrington, 2011, and by Arkeel Newsome, Ansonia (twice), 2011 (original record 3, by Montrell Dobbs, Ansonia, 2010).

Most touchdowns by rushing, season – 59, by Arkeel Newsome, Ansonia, 2011 (old record 47, by Alex Thomas, Ansonia, 2007).

           

FORWARD PASSING

Most passes completed, game (record tied) --  38 by Matthew Milano, New Canaan, vs Hand, Dec. 10, 2011 (original record 38, by Jake White, Foran, vs. North Haven, Nov. 2, 2007).

Most passes completed, season --  257, by Matthew Milano, New Canaan, 2011 (old record 236 by Eian Bain, Stafford, 2003).

Most passes completed, career -- 635, by Casey Cochran, New London-Masuk, 2008-11 (old record 477 by Joe DellaVecchia, St. Joseph, 2007-10).

Most yards by passing, season -- 3,688, by Anthony Morales, Cromwell, 2011 (old record  3,558, by Matt Kelleher, Southington, 2005).

Most yards by passing, career -- 10,767, by Casey Cochran, New London-Masuk, 2008-11 (old record 7,710, by Joe Della Vecchia, St. Joseph, 2007-10).

Most touchdown passes, season -- 43, by Anthony Morales, Cromwell, 2011 (old record 42, by Matthew Milano, New Canaan, 2010).

Most touchdown passes, career -- 112 by Casey Cochran, New London-Masuk, 2008-11 (old record 85 by Joe DellaVecchia, St. Joseph, 2007-10).

PUNTING

Highest average distance, season: (minimum 25 punts) – 48.0, by Ardian Sahinovic, New Fairfield, 2011 (old record 47.5, by Jason Mawicke, Staples, 2010).

           

SCORING

Most points scored, season -- 388, by Arkeel Newsome, Ansonia, 2011 (old record  294, by Tim Washington, Bristol Central, 2000).

 Most touchdowns scored, season -- 62, by Arkeel Newsome, Ansonia, 2011 (old record 47, by Alex Thomas, Ansonia, 2007).

Most points for which responsible, all methods (rushing, passing, receiving, kicking), season -- 394, by Arkeel Newsome, Ansonia, 2011 (old record  350, by Tim Washington, Bristol Central, 2000).

Here is the ballot I submitted for the New Haven Register Preseason Top 10 football poll. 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. Xavier
2. Staples
3. Hand
4. Windsor
5. Ansonia
6. Hillhouse
7. Greenwich
8. Newtown
9. Darien
10. West Haven
11. Ledyard
12. Masuk
13. Berlin
14. New Canaan
15. Southington

NEW CANAAN

Coach: Lou Marinelli (32 years at New Canaan, career record of 274-93-7)
League: FCIAC
Last season: 11-2 (FCIAC East Champions, Class L finalists
Top offensive players: Duke Repko, 6-0, 160, Sr., WR; Grady Lynch, 6-0, 175, Sr., WR
Top defensive players: Michael Root, 6-2, 200, Jr., LB; Cole Harris, 5-11, 185, Jr., LB
Key losses: Matt Milano, QB; Patrick Newton, WR; Kevin McDonough, RB/LB; Bobby Distler, RB/LB
Inside the huddle: Young but talented. Need to replace Milano, who passed for 2,981 yards and 32 touchdowns in 2011. Repko caught 20 passes and three touchdowns last season. Lynch also made 20 receptions.
Fast fact: There is a quarterback competition brewing between junior Teddy Bossidy and junior Nick Cascione. Bossidy completed 23-of-43 passes for 176 yards and a touchdown last season, while Cascione completed 4-of-8 for 29 yards. The two combined to rush for 525 yards and five scores.

By Mike Pucci, Register Staff
mpucci@nhregister.com / Twitter: @MikePucciNHR

EAST HARTFORD — Two of the state’s most revered programs, and their legendary coaches, will square off to determine the Class L football champion.

The contest was set up in dramatic fashion.

Collin Shapiro kicked a 33-yard field goal with four seconds remaining as Lou Marinelli’s New Canaan team derailed Windsor’s unbeaten season with a 27-24 victory in the semifinals.

In the other semifinal, Steve Filippone’s Hand squad knocked off previously unbeaten Masuk 35-14, shutting out the Panthers in the second half. The result ended Masuk’s 24-game winning streak and the chance to defend its state title.

According to Marinelli, Hand’s victory changed the whole dynamic of the Class L tournament.

“All of a sudden, when (Hand) did that, we became the hunted instead of the hunter,” Marinelli said.

You see, there’s a bit of a history between the Rams and Tigers.

Click here to read more.

By Mike Pucci, Register Staff
mpucci@nhregister.com / Twitter: @MikePucciNHR

EAST HARTFORD — How do you stop Ansonia running back Arkeel Newsome and the rest of the unbeaten Chargers?

Ledyard coach Jim Buonocore has a simple strategy.

“First thing we have to try to do is have someone take out the Ansonia bus on the way to the Rent,” Buonocore laughed. “Or at least make sure Arkeel doesn’t make the bus.”

The Colonels will certainly have their hands full with Newsome, a sophomore who’s rushed for 3,399 yards and 55 touchdowns, during Saturday’s Class M state championship game.

Kickoff between top-seeded Ansonia (13-0) and No. 3 Ledyard (11-1) is set for 10:30 a.m. at Rentschler Field.

Buonocore talked more strategy at the CIAC football luncheon honoring the eight state finalists Tuesday at the Club Room at Rentschler Field.

Read more here.

The eight teams that advanced to the state championship games were honored at a luncheon Tuesday in the Club Room at Rentschler Field.

Among the highlights:

Ledyard coach Jim Buonocore on how to stop Ansonia, which the Colonels will face for the Class M title (Saturday, 10:30 a.m.):

"First thing we have to do is have someone take out the Ansonia bus on the way to the Rent, or at least make sure Arkeel (Newsome) doesn't make the bus."

Ansonia sophomore running back Arkeel Newsome has rushed for 3,399 yards and 55 touchdowns.

New Canaan coach Lou Marinelli on how the Rams were able to defeat Hand, which New Canaan will compete with for the Class L title (Saturday, 2 p.m.), three straight times:

"We were lucky".

Xavier senior WR/DB Ryan Jacobucci and the rest of the Falcons are well-aware there's a target on their backs by being the state's No. 1 team. Xavier (12-0) has won 25 straight games and is the defending Class LL champion. The Falcons will face Staples (11-0) on Saturday at 5:30 p.m.

"At Xavier, we're from all over," Jacobucci said. "A lot of the kids have friends back on the schools that we play, and we hear all the time that the teams that we play go so much harder, and they take it much more personally when they play Xavier. Not only do we have to play our 'A' game, but we have to practice so much harder. That keeps us on edge, and that's what keeps the whole team going. We have to keep the train going and keep getting the 'W'."

Class S finalist Cromwell will take on Holy Cross on Friday at 6:30 p.m. Cromwell coach Chris Eckert, in his first year with the Panthers, knew Cromwell had plenty of talent returning, including senior quarterback Anthony Morales and senior receivers Mike Antonio and Brett Director.

"Hearing from other coaches from around the league," Eckert said, "they let me know that we had a great group of seniors coming back and a great group of juniors coming up. The thing we needed to do as a staff was make sure they bought into our style of coaching and bought into our scheme early enough to make sure we were successful on the field. If they didn't buy into it, we had no shot. That was our major focus coming into spring camp and into the fall season."

Masuk (No. 8) and New Canaan (No. 22) are ranked in MSG's preseason tri-state Top 25 Poll.

Click here to see the complete poll.

Ansonia running back Montrell Dobbs was named the Connecticut High School Coaches Association Player of the Year at the annual football banquet held Sunday at the AquaTurf.

Dobbs rushed for 3,445 yards and 45 touchdowns as a senior, while leading the Chargers to an 11-2 record and an appearance in the Class S state championship game.

Other award winners included:

Class LL MVP: Graham Stewart, Xavier
Class L MVP: Kevin Macari, New Canaan
Class M MVP: Max DeLorenzo, Berlin
Class S MVP: Tyler Matakevich, St. Joseph
Team of Year: Xavier
Scholar Athlete Award: Pat Murray, Staples. Murray will play at Yale in the fall.

Award winners were limited to seniors, and to players who made the CHSCA overall all-state team. MVPs were chosen among the Top 3 vote-getters in each class using the previously mentioned criteria.

Masuk junior quarterback Casey Cochran was named the Walter Camp player of the year Saturday at the 4th "Breakfast of Champions" sponsored by the Dan Orlovsky Foundation, held at Anthony's Ocean View.

Cochran passed for 3,345 yards and 40 touchdowns for the Class L state champion Panthers. Other finalists included: Ansonia senior running back Montrell Dobbs and New Canaan senior wide receiver Kevin Macari.

Masuk's John Murphy was named the Camp's coach of the year. Murphy led the 13-0 Panthers to the South-West Conference and Class L state titles. Other finalists included: Tom Dyer (Hillhouse) and Sean Marinan (Xavier).

The Lifetime Achievement Award was presented to Larry Ciotti, former head coach at Hand High School who won five state titles during his 19 seasons (141-42-2 record).

Colin Markus scores on a 5-YD run for Masuk in Class L final. 849 left in third quarter.

Stats
First downs
New Canaan 14
Masuk 13


Rush yards
New Canaan 9 for 15 yards
Masuk 14 for 67 yards

Pass yards
New Canaan 297
Masuk 214

Matt Milano, New Canaan
21 for 32 297 yards 3 TDs

Casey Cochran, Masuk
17 of 27 214 yards, 2 TDs

Kevin Macari, New Canaan
8 catches, 192 yards 2 TDs

Thomas Milone, Masuk
3 catches, 115 yards, 1 TD

No. 2 Hand (10-1) faces No. 6 New Canaan (10-1) in the Class L state semifinals Saturday at 7 p.m. at West Haven's Strong Stadium. New Canaan has won four straight state titles. The two last met in the 2007 Class MM final, with New Canaan rallying from a 17-point fourth quarter deficit to emerge with a 34-30 victory.

Was at Hand's practice today.

A feature story on the Hand-New Canaan match up, and capsules of all eight semifinals (with predictions) will run in Saturday's Register.

Below are some soundbites on the anticipated meeting between these two state powers. Hand has won nine state titles, New Canaan eight.

Hand quarterback Zach Miller:

"They definitely have some play makers; we have some play makers. Both defenses are pretty strong. It's going to be a good game. I'm hoping that we're going to be able to come out on top."

Hand coach Steve Filippone:

"We and New Canaan are really very similar football teams. (New Canaan coach) Lou (Marinelli) and I are very similar coaches. We're very close friends, and we try to do things the same way."

Filippone on Hand's surprising season. The Tigers had to rebuild their offensive line and replace quarterback Nick Merullo, who graduated.

"We were thinking 7-3, and we were hoping with the new playoff system (a quarterfinal round and the addition of eight teams was added this year) set-up that 7-3 might get us in. We thought that was a legitimate possibility if we did everything we were capable of doing."

Filippone on Hand's difficult schedule:

"We were able to beat a very good Cheshire team by one point. We lost to Notre Dame (-West Haven), came back to play a very tough (Wilbur) Cross team that was still a contender at the time, and then the following week played (and beat) an undefeated West Haven team. We had our work cut out for us, and the kids rose to the occasion in way we couldn't anticipate."