Via e-mail from Ludlowe AD Dave Schulz

Athletic Director Dave Schulz has announced the hiring of Vinnie Camera as its new varsity football coach. 

Vinnie started the football program at Platt Tech in 2007 and has been its head coach ever since. He began his coaching career as an assistant coach at Fairfield Prep prior to moving on to Platt Tech.  A graduate of East Haven HS, he was a three year letter winner playing football for Fairfield University where he earned his degree in 2001.

 “Vinnie was the standout candidate in the interview process and we are looking forward to him joining our staff at Fairfield Ludlowe," Schulz said.

FOOTBALL NOTEBOOK: Platt Tech off to 3-0 start for first time

With a talented and experienced group returning this season, Platt Tech expected to be competitive.

The Panthers did last year, too, but the team fell short of their goals and finished at 4-6.

“Last year, on paper, we had some talent and expected to win six to eight games,” Platt Tech coach Vin Camera said. “But we had some injuries, and kids who didn’t come out that we were expecting to, and we won just four games.”

This year the Panthers took a different approach in managing expectations.

RUSH HOUR

North Haven senior Jalon White has certainly made the case that he is perhaps the state’s best running back.

The numbers speak for themselves.

Despite losing to top-ranked Xavier 49-12 on Sept. 21, White rushed 23 times for 235 yards. He scored on runs of 51 and 78 yards in the fourth quarter while the Falcons’ starters were still in the game.

This past week, the Indians earned an impressive 34-20 victory over previously unbeaten New London. White carried 36 times for 354 yards and all five touchdowns.

“It was a huge night for him,” North Haven coach Anthony Sagnella said. “He’s at a different speed right now. He was certainly a good player the first two years, but he’s also in a different role now. He’s taking on the role where he’s the guy now, and that’s great.”


HAND-XAVIER POLL

Who do you think will win Friday night’s contest between No. 3 Hand and No. 1 Xavier?

You can cast your vote right now at www.nhregister.com/sports/high_school. The poll will be open until just before game time.

Kickoff is at 7 p.m. at Palmer Field in Middletown. Both teams are 4-0.


XAVIER, STAPLES, HAND lead Top 10 POLL 

WEEK 4 HIGHLIGHTS

OFFENSIVE PLAYERS OF THE WEEK

♦Hamden Hall Jr. WR Mike Breuler: Made seven catches for 197 yards and two touchdowns in a 27-20 win over Fieldston (N.Y.) on Saturday.

♦Haddam-Killingworth Sr. RB Nate Cruz: Rushed 26 times for 205 yards and four touchdowns in a ♦Hopkins Jr. RB Jim Martino: Rushed 16 times for 229 yards and six touchdowns in a 40-8 win over Rye (N.Y.) on Friday.

DEFENSIVE PLAYERS OF THE WEEK

♦Cheshire So. DB Jack Cunningham: Had five tackles, two interceptions and blocked an extra-point attempt in a 48-13 win over Notre Dame-West Haven on Friday. Cunningham also rushed six times for 69 yards.

♦Hillhouse Sr. DB Andre Anderson: Made eight tackles and an interception in a 47-0 win over Law on Friday. Anderson also ran for 153 yards and three touchdowns.

SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYERS OF THE WEEK

♦Amity Jr. Lyle Luth: Kicked two field goals and seven extra points in a 61-43 win over Guilford on Friday.  

♦Coginchaug Jr. Jack Granger: Returned a punt 69 yards for a touchdown in a 40-0 win over Lewis Mills on Saturday. Granger also scored on a 15-yard run.

ON THE AIR

♦Seymour at Ansonia, Thursday, 6:30 p.m.: 960-WELI, 960WELI.com, iheart radio

♦Hand at Xavier, Friday, 7 p.m.: 960-WELI, 960WELI.com, iheart radio


MORE HIGHLIGHTS

 Hyde continues to impress with 21-10 win over Cromwell

By Jimmy Zanor
Register Staff

NEW HAVEN — Hyde football’s 2012 Redemption Tour continued to get rave reviews following the Howling Wolves’ 21-10 Pequot Conference victory against Cromwell Saturday at the Wilbur Cross Athletic Complex.

With last year’s 55-20 loss to the Panthers still fresh in their minds, Hyde took advantage of four Cromwell turnovers and grabbed a 21-0 lead in the first quarter.

“The kids circled the calendar for this one,” said Hyde coach Melvin Wells. “We’ve got a group of seniors that played last year and they remember the feeling and it wasn’t a good one. We felt embarrassed. This year they dedicated themselves to getting better and today we came out prepared.”

An interception by Hyde linebacker Khalil Morant set up the Howling Wolves’ first score, a 17-yard touchdown pass from senior quarterback Kevin Jones to Tyquan Franklin, who was open in the corner of the end zone.


VOTE for Hyde's KEVIN JONES for Saturday's STAR OF THE DAY! 

DIAZ LEADS OXFORD 

Oxford 55, Notre Dame-Fairfield 20: Quarterback Brennen Diaz threw two touchdown passes and ran for another and Chris Van Kamerik caught the two touchdown passes and added a 50-yard interception return for a touchdown to lead Oxford to its SWC Patriot win in Fairfield. Kamerik had five receptions for 72 yards and Dan Trombetta had five carries for 112 yards, including a 93 touchdown run, for Oxford (3-1).

READ MORE ROUNDUP HERE

PLATT TECH has been nominated for TEAM OF THE WEEK! VOTE!

Check out The Scout Team, the Register's weekly football show.

The Scout Team, Mike Wollschlager and Mike Pucci, are back with a Thanksgiving special. They preview the big Thanksgiving rivalry games and look ahead to the upcoming playoffs. The latest installment includes interviews with players and coaches from Xavier, Hand, Notre Dame-West Haven, North Haven and North Branford. Check it out, and Happy Thanksgiving.

Follow the game action on our Football Scoreboard.

Platt Tech runs over rival O'Brien Tech

Matt Paola leads Pomperaug past Oxford

Harrison Hudson rushed 18 times for 137 yards and four touchdowns for the visiting Panthers in this CSC win over the Condors at Shelton's Finn Stadium.

Anton Graham rushed 14 times for 166 yards and a score for Platt Tech (4-6).

Tom Buckles scored on a 21-yard run for O'Brien Tech (3-7).

No. 8 West Haven survives scare from Hamden.

Fairfield Prep finishes off Wilbur Cross.

Ansonia's Arkeel Newsome rushes for 401 yards in win over Derby.

Platt Tech making strides.

Roundup/Box Scores

Vote for the TEAM of the WEEK

Chris Turner ran for a 65-yard touchdown and Harold Cooper scored on a 17-yard run as the Hillhouse football team defeated North Haven 12-0 Friday night in Southern Connecticut Conference interdivision play at North Haven.

The first half was played Thursday before lightning and heavy rain postponed the second half to Friday.

Ansonia 41, Woodland 36: Elliot Chudwick threw for three touchdowns and Montrell Dobbs rushed for three touchdowns as the Chargers edged the Hawks in Naugatuck Valley League play at Beacon Falls.

Dobbs rushed for 213 yards on 35 carries. Chudwick threw for 138 yards for Ansonia (1-0). Jack DeBiase threw for 146 yards and two touchdowns and rushed for 169 yards and two touchdowns for Woodland (0-1).

Cheshire 27, Hamden 0: Quarterback Max Slade rushed for two touchdowns and added a touchdown pass to lead the visiting Rams, ranked seventh in the Register Top 10 poll, to their SCC Division I win at Hamden.

Bunnell 54, Bethel 27: Quarterback Brian Castelot completed 22 for 32 passes for 408 yards and four touchdowns to lead host Bunnell to its South-West Conference win at Stratford.

Sheehan 37, Law 30: Sheehan quarterback Bill Gannon rushed for 103 yards and a touchdown and threw for two more scores to help Sheehan hold off Law in a SCC Division II interdivision game at Wallingford.

Oxford 41, Barlow 26: Nick Donofrio scored five touchdowns to lead the Wolverines to their SWC Patriot win in Redding.

Lyman Hall 39, Platt Tech 0: Zac Falconeri rushed for 74 yards and two touchdowns on eight carries for Lyman Hall in a non-conference win at Wallingford.

Justin May carried 28 times for 276 yards and five touchdowns and caught a 62-yard touchdown pass to lead the Tigers to a Constitution State Conference victory at Milford.

May's 49-yard touchdown run on a fake punt broke a 30-30 tie to give Bullard Havens (7-1) the lead for good late in the third quarter.

Geremy Grate rushed 31 times for 249 yards and five touchdowns and caught a 44-yard touchdown pass for Platt Tech (3-5).

Platt Tech 39, Wilcox Tech 6: Geremy Grate rushed 21 times for 244 yards and four touchdown to lead the Panthers to a Constitution State Conference victory at Milford.

Matt Carroll rushed for 93 yards and had 12 tackles, a fumble recovery and an interception for Platt Tech (1-2).

Harrison Hudson returned a kickoff 60 yards for a score, and added six tackles and an interception for the Panthers.


Hackley 17, Hopkins 14: Samuel Budlong kicked a 31-yard field goal to lead Hackley to a prep school victory at New Haven. Hackley is 3-0.

Bryan Turkel and Ryan D’Souza had rushing touchdowns for Hopkins (1-2).